Excerpt 1:

Thirty-four years ago—Chicago—January

Instead of bright lights and pearly gates, Serena opened her eyes to a dimly lit bedroom. A fire crackled in a large fireplace across from the wide, comfortable bed. Warm blankets held her in place. The only other illumination came from a small lamp on the nightstand next to the bed. A dark figure sat in one of two armchairs placed at angles to the fireplace.

“You are awake.” The man’s accent was unusual. His words weren’t a question but a statement.

“Yes. Where am I?” Serena should be afraid, but she was too tired and groggy to be concerned. Although her coat and winter knee boots were gone, her sweater and skirt appeared to be intact.

“My home, not far from where I found you.” He rose from the chair then walked toward her. His height towered over the bed. His hair was close-cropped, its natural kinkiness giving it texture. His skin was black as coal. The pale blue turtleneck sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows emphasized his darkness. Muscular forearms appeared as sculpted ebony wood.

Fleeting fear tugged at her mind, but the temptation to touch him, make sure he was flesh and not a carved statue, was almost overwhelming. She’d never been in such an intimate situation with a black man. Common sense said she should be concerned. Instead, a shiver of something she couldn’t quite define shook her body then warmth enveloped her.

His full lips curved into an indulgent smile. “You fell in the parking lot. You should be more careful.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Is there someone I can call?”

“No. No one locally.” She glanced away from the sparkling obsidian eyes. “My car wouldn’t start. I was trying to get to a phone, call a tow truck.”

“You shouldn’t have been down at the lake in this kind of weather.”

“How do you know where I was?” A little shred of fear slipped through the fog in her brain.

“I see you there a lot.”

Serena turned back toward him. “I like the peace and quiet. Let’s me think. If you see me there, then you must like it as well.”

“This apartment is the warehouse you were attempting to reach.” His arm swept out indicating the room.

“Really?” She glanced around the room. Opulent beyond anything she’d seen outside of magazines, the room was large. Heavy dark red drapes covered the windows. The fireplace opening was almost the height of her host. The furnishings were heavy, thick with cushions and trimmed with dark, rich-looking wood. Nothing to indicate it was in an old warehouse. “I always thought this place was abandoned.”

“I prefer people think so. I don’t care for the curious trespassing on my privacy.” His teeth flashed in a brilliant grin against his ebony face.

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave…” Her head swirled as she pushed up on her elbows. Dizziness and her host’s dark hand pressed her back into the pillows.

“I don’t think so. The weather has turned into a blizzard. I’m afraid you’re here for the duration.” He smoothed the cover over her. “Even if we could reach your car and get it started, you are in no condition to drive. You have a mild concussion.”

“That would explain the headache and dizziness.” She reached up to feel a large knot, tender to the touch, centered on the back of her head. “I slipped…on the ice.” The vague memory clarified slightly. Flexing her ankle caused a sharp pain. “Sprained my ankle.”

“Yes, and a rather spectacular fall it was.”

“You saw?” A frowned creased her forehead.

He canted his head toward the window. “I was watching. You almost made it.”

“I guess I owe you my life. I would have frozen out there.” Sleep pulled at her eyelids. “Thank you… I don’t know your name.”

“Zaki Bashandi at your service, madam.” His body bent slightly at the waist in a quick, formal bow. On most men the action would look silly. Him…it suited.

“I’m Serena Whitmore. Zaki Bashandi…nice to meet…you… Unusual name…” Her words slurred.

“It’s African.” His lilted accent suddenly made sense.

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Excerpt 2:

Quebec—Present day

Serena Whitmore stood behind a two-way mirror. The two men in the next room were expecting her, but they didn’t know she could see them. Three years ago she’d found them on the street, broke musicians playing for their supper. She’d offered them more money than they made in a month for their time. They didn’t realize what she wanted back then. Now, although moderately successful in the local clubs, they kept a standing appointment with her once a week. And they knew exactly what she needed from them.

She’d join them at the right moment. Until then, she watched their intimate play.

Kneeling on the bed, David, tall, lean and fair, kissed his lover with a passionate flair. His lips alternated between nibbling and ravenous bites. His hands pulled at the T-shirt covering Andrew’s back. David’s fair hand paled against Andrew’s tanned skin.

Watching the two men sent a thrill of arousal shivering through Serena’s body. They knew why they were here, but it never seemed to affect their intense need for each other. Maybe it even encouraged their desires.

Andrew yanked at the fly of David’s jeans. His hand curled inside the white briefs he revealed. Long strokes of David’s hidden cock made him jerk Andrew closer. The tip of the crown peeked over David’s waistband before Andrew’s body hid it from view.

Soft whispers reached her keen ears. Words like love, need, want, emphasized their actions.

Andrew shoved David down on the bed. His hands ripped at the faded denim, pulling his lover’s jeans down muscular thighs. The white cotton underwear followed. Lying between David’s spread legs, Andrew leaned over the thick, hard cock.

His tongue traced the edge of the flared head several times before his lips kissed the length to David’s balls. His mouth disappeared from Serena’s view but David’s flailing hands let her know Andrew wasn’t idle.

After he kissed a path back up David’s hard flesh, Andrew flashed his lover a mischievous grin. His tongue ran across his lips. The wet shine of saliva gleamed in the dim light. In a swift dive toward David’s groin, Andrew swallowed David’s cock in one long stroke. His nose nuzzled the neatly trimmed pubic hair.

David arched into his lover’s mouth, but Andrew held on. Moans of pleasure interrupted David’s mumbled words. “Not yet. Too soon.”

Serena left the hidden window. Opening the narrow door to the bedroom, she slipped in on silent feet. Without pausing to close the door, she hurried to the bed.

His body writhing with desire, David’s eyes were closed. When Serena’s weight dipped the bed, his eyelids flew open. “Now…” he whispered. His neck arched as his cock plunged into his lover’s mouth again. His body convulsed with pleasure.

The scent of semen filling Andrew’s mouth let her know it was time. Leaning over David’s sweat-slick body, Serena loosed her canine fangs. The taste of salty sweat added to the hunger in her soul. The sharp teeth pierced layers of skin, sinking into David’s jugular vein.

The sweetness of his endorphin-laced blood filled her mouth. Each mouthful created a warm trail down her throat. An intense satisfaction filled her with each gulp. Temptation warred with her remaining humanity. She released her hold on her prey. Teeth retracted into tiny pockets in her gum line. She had never killed and vowed she never would. Sated for now, she licked the tiny wounds.

Andrew kissed a path up David’s body and joined her lips on his neck. David groaned under the double assault.

With a sweet kiss to David’s lips, Serena eased off the bed.

Andrew continued to shower David with kisses as his body covered his lover.

Serena backed away, watching the two men. She envied their closeness. If only she and Zaki could be together for more than a few days. Retreating through the opening she’d entered through, Serena closed the door with a soft click.

Her body hummed with arousal. Her own scent hung heavy in the air. She could have joined the two men for more than just the feeding, but she wouldn’t. Only Zaki had the pleasure of her body.

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