Category Archives: Teasers

Shifters’ Sea Teaser Tuesday

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Romantic Moments, Book 5

 

Paranormal Romance

Date Published: 06-01-2024

 

 

Kai – Once upon a time, my kind were protectors, but the modern world
doesn’t believe in legends, so I cruise the oceans, happily single
with no responsibility. During a storm at sea, I rescue an irresistible
woman and get dragged into a battle with a crazy cousin who has developed a
taste for selkies.

Ivy – When I left home to escape an arranged marriage to the leader
of our selkie harem, I didn’t expect to be caught in a storm and
hauled aboard an old tub by a gorgeous guy. Kai is everything I want, but
when I return home to tie up loose ends, I find a killer hunting my people.
We selkies learn fast that to kill a shark, it takes a shark.

 

Excerpt

The seal fights its way closer to the boat. I’m about to dive in
after it when it reaches the edge. Grabbing a coil of rope, I toss it
overboard. The seal shifts to a blond woman. She clings to my line.

Grunting, I haul her up, fighting wind and water, until she lands, naked
and panting on my deck.

“Hey are you okay?” I kneel beside her. Still breathing hard, she
lifts her gaze to mine and nods. I’m momentarily stunned. She has the most
amazing green eyes I’ve ever seen, not to mention a gorgeous body. Muscles,
generous curves, long legs. If we weren’t in the middle of a storm, I’d be
slack-jawed, but right now my main concern is to keep us afloat. Not that I
couldn’t survive in the open sea, even in a storm, but I’ve gotten attached
to this boat and I’d rather not lose it.

“Come on. I have clothes you can put on.”

We stand and the ship lurches. I reach out to steady her, but her sea legs
are just as good as mine. Not shocking, considering what she is.

I glance off to the side. Another giant wave rises and in it, I glimpse a
big, dark silhouette with glowing amber eyes. It’s gone in seconds.

“What’s wrong?” asks my unexpected guest.

“I thought I saw something, that’s all.”

About the Author

Kate Hill

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic
fantasies. When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working
out, watching horror movies, and researching vampires and Viking history.
She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog that is dedicated to antagonists,
antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni
Quinby.

 

Contact Links

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Blog

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Rebel Teaser Tuesday

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A Dixie Reapers Bad Boys Romance

Savage Raptors MC, Book 5

 

Motorcycle Club Romance

Date Published: May 24, 2024

 

 

Isy — Being the daughter of a Dixie Reaper isn’t as wonderful as it
sounds. Not when your dad expects you to be this perfect little princess who
never causes trouble, never dates, and just… sits on a shelf
collecting dust. It sucks. When I get the chance, I run. I didn’t
exactly have a destination in mind, but ending up in Bryson Corners turned
out to be a good thing. The first Savage Raptor I saw, I claimed. I should
feel bad for Rebel, but… he’s just so sexy, and now he’s
all mine!

Rebel — You know the saying be careful what you wish for? I should have
listened. I wanted a family and fate literally threw Isy into my arms.
I’d thought I was saving her. It never occurred to me she’d
announce she was my girlfriend. Although, I have to admit there’s
chemistry between us. It’s hard to keep my hands off her. I’d
thought the kidnap attempt was a one-time thing, but I was wrong. Isy has a
stalker, and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. She’s mine,
and I’ll make damn sure everyone knows it!

 

WARNING: Rebel is an insta-love story intended for adult readers. It
contains violence, stalking, bad language, and adult situations.

 

Rebel tablet

 

 

EXCERPT

Rebel

The scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke clung to the air, setting the
perfect tone for a typical night at the Savage Raptors MC clubhouse. I sat
perched on a worn-out barstool, nursing my drink and taking in the rowdy
chaos around me. The clubhouse was alive with the sounds of laughter,
cursing, and the clinking of glass as my brothers let off some steam.

I could have gone to a bar in town, but the beer here was free. Sort of.
The club treasurer took a percentage of the club take for any jobs and
funneled it over to an account used for stocking the bar. Even though we
hadn’t had a lot of runs lately, we’d picked up two local
businesses. Bought them cheap when they were about to close up, so now we
had a gas station and a honky-tonk. Both brought in good revenue.

I wasn’t much for country music, so I avoided the honky-tonk unless I
had no other options. It was always lively. Lots of pretty girls there too.
Unfortunately for me, I apparently looked more like the good-time guy than
boyfriend material, because they only ever wanted one night. There were
times that was perfectly fine. Most of the time I was looking for something
else. Not that I’d admitted as much to anyone.

“Fuck yeah, man!” Stinger shouted from across the room, landing
a winning shot on the pool table. Ever since Atilla decided to follow the
Dixie Reapers’ example and ban club whores from the compound, our
clubhouse had changed quite a bit. Of course, we were a smaller club, so
we’d never been as rowdy anyway.

Now, instead of women, we had a pool table, dartboard, and a poker table. I
had to admit, I much preferred it this way. The women who came here were
nothing but trouble. Although, Truth had kept them in line before.
He’d disliked most females, and certainly hadn’t respected them,
until he met his wife. He’d changed a lot since Madison came into his
life. They’d even adopted a son, which mellowed Truth even more.

When he’d wanted to claim Madison, I’d thought for sure Atilla
would tell him no. The way he’d always treated women, he was the last
one I’d expected to settle down. Now my brothers were all falling, one
after another. We’d gone from all being bachelors to four of us having
families.

I couldn’t help but crack a smile at my brothers’ antics as I
watched them. We were a family — a ragtag group of misfits bound together
by brotherhood and loyalty. But beneath the camaraderie and wild nights,
something gnawed at me, leaving me restless and itching for more. It
wasn’t precisely a new feeling, but one that was steadily growing with
each passing month. It started a few years ago, and clearly wasn’t
going away.

“Nice shot, Stinger!” I called out, raising my own bottle in a
toast before taking another swig. My gaze drifted around the room. Even
though I sat by myself, I wasn’t alone. Not here.

General and Spade were locked in an intense arm-wrestling match, veins
bulging and sweat pouring down their faces as they strained against each
other. A few brothers had gathered around them, placing bets on who would
emerge victorious.

“Come on, Spade, you got this!” someone yelled, egging him on
with a slap to his back.

“Fuck that, General’s gonna wipe the floor with his ass!”
another voice countered, earning a snarl from Spade. Yeah, probably not the
brightest idea to piss off the club’s VP. Whoever had made the comment
was most likely going to get the shit jobs for a while. Or forced to scrub
toilets both here and at our businesses.

I’d been living this life for years — the booze, the bikes, the
women — but it all felt so hollow now. Like I was missing the one thing
that would make it all worthwhile. I still hooked up with women sometimes,
but not recently. In fact, I hadn’t been with anyone in over three
months. I always got tested afterward, just to be safe. Being with random
women wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Even a condom wasn’t
foolproof.

The feeling I’d had wasn’t one I’d been able to label
until recently. Helping out Cowboy’s son, Jackson, in the past few
weeks had certainly made an impact on me. He’d been willing to do
anything for his wife and kid, and it had taken me a few days to realize I
was jealous as hell. I’d had no reason to be, until I came to the
conclusion the restless feeling inside me was because I wanted a family of
my own. Not just a brotherhood, but a wife and kids.

“Hey, Rebel!” Stinger called out, snapping me from my thoughts.
“You want in on the next game?”

“Maybe later,” I replied, tossing him a grin before taking
another swig of my beer. My mind refused to let go of the thought there
should be more to life than this — something deeper, more meaningful. And I
was determined to find it, whatever the cost. Not that the town of Bryson
Corners was crawling with women I’d want to claim for more than a
night. If it was, they’d all given me a wide berth. Maybe I
wasn’t the kind of man they thought would want a lasting relationship.
I needed someone who could handle living with the club, accept this way of
life. Some might think it sounded amazing, but the reality would most likely
send them running at some point.

My gaze drifted across the clubhouse, finally landing on Lynx and Atilla,
who were seated nearby, beers in hand, deep in conversation.

“Man, I never thought I’d see the day when Grizzly would let
his daughter be part of our world,” Atilla chuckled, taking a swig
from his bottle. As the President of our club, he’d never backed down
from a challenge, and always kept us in line. “It’s too bad
he’s not here to see how much progress Meredith has made. She’s
almost like a different woman these days. May Grizzly’s soul rest in
peace!”

“I honestly thought he’d lose his shit and demand I send her
home,” Lynx said, running a hand through his reddish hair as he
smiled. “But Meredith’s been a true blessing in my life.
Wouldn’t trade her for anything. We have a good life here, and I hope
he’s watching over her and sees that she’s right where she
belongs.”

“Damn straight,” Atilla replied, raising his bottle in a toast.
“To love and brotherhood.”

The genuine smiles spread across their faces struck a chord within me.
There was a depth to their happiness I had yet to find in my own
experiences. It gnawed at me, a hunger no amount of drink or late-night
escapades could satisfy. Family. What those two had with their women was
more than I’d ever thought to have for myself. Except now, I wanted it
more than anything. I was only in my thirties, and I knew a lot of brothers
my age who weren’t ready to settle down. Some would say I still had my
entire life ahead of me, but why spend all those years alone? Easy pussy
wasn’t as satisfying as it had been a decade ago.

“Rebel, you all right?” Lynx called out, noticing my stare. I
hadn’t realized how long I’d been watching them.

“Uh, yeah. Just thinking,” I said, offering a half-hearted
grin. “Guess I zoned out for a minute.”

“Careful, brother. Don’t wanna strain that little brain of
yours,” Atilla teased, his laughter echoing through the room as Lynx
joined in.

“Fuck off, old man!” I shot back. Thankfully, he knew I was
joking, otherwise the Pres would have put me on my ass.

I couldn’t help but envy their camaraderie. I’d noticed those
who had settled down with a woman and kids seemed closer than ever before.
It made me feel left out.

“Seriously, though,” Lynx continued, his expression sobering,
“if you ever need someone to talk to, we’re here for you. Looked
like you had something heavy weighing on your mind.”

“Appreciate it,” I replied, giving them a nod. But as their
laughter resumed and they dove back into their conversation, my thoughts
continued to churn. If I was going to find a woman around here, I would have
by now. I’d lived in Bryson Corners most of my life. But unless I ran
into her on a run to another city or state, it wasn’t likely I’d
have the chance to search for my one and only. Not anytime soon.

My eyes flicked back to Lynx and Atilla, the sight of their contentment
only deepening my desire for something more. And as the noise and chaos of
the clubhouse washed over me, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t settle
for anything less. I needed to find that missing piece, the connection that
would make my life complete.

Lynx’s phone went off, and he stood to go outside to answer.
He’d only been gone a few minutes before he returned, his face pale
and his hands clenched into fists. I wondered what the call had been about,
but I wasn’t going to pry. He sat down and leaned closer to Atilla.
Whatever he’d said made Atilla check his phone as well. The Pres let
out a curse and disappeared down the hall to his office.

As curious as I was, I knew if it was anything club related, I’d find
out eventually. I only hoped it wasn’t anything too bad. With the way
Lynx looked, I knew it wasn’t good news, though.

As the night wore on, I slouched on my barstool, arms braced on the bar top
in front of me. I twisted my empty beer bottle, trying not to feel sorry for
myself. No one had approached me so far. Probably thought I was drunk off my
ass, and honestly, I was getting close. How many beers had I had already?
I’d lost count.

“Another round?” Benjamin asked. The Prospect held out a bottle
toward me, and I nodded. He popped the top and handed it over.

“Rebel, you ever think about settling down?” The question came
from Ace, our newest member, who sat two barstools down from me. His eyes
sparkled with mischief, and I wondered if he was about to try setting me up
with a stripper or some stranger he’d just met. Wouldn’t be the
first time. He’d done it to every single man here at one point or
another. Last time he’d tried it with me, she’d been a no-show.
I counted myself lucky.

Poor Knuckles had ended up with a stripper who’d been high as a kite.
He’d caught her shooting up during their date and walked out. Good
thing too since she’d OD’d later that night. If Knuckles had
been with her at the time, the police would have given us hell. Last thing
we wanted was a spotlight on us.

“Me? Nah, not my style, man,” I replied dismissively, unwilling
to share my true thoughts with anyone just yet. I knew my brothers would
give me shit if I admitted I wanted a wife and kids more than
anything.

“Fair enough.” He chuckled. “You’re older than me
but still young. Plenty of time for that I guess.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Since you brought it up, do
you have your eye on someone? Or were you just trying to unload some
unwanted attention?”

He laughed and shook his head. “No, to both, but I have to admit,
Atilla, Lynx, Maui, and Truth all look pretty content these days. Makes me
wonder if they’ve figured out the secret to happiness.”

“Hey, Rebel,” a sultry voice whispered in my ear, snapping me
out of my reverie. I glanced over to see Raven, a dark-haired beauty who
frequented the club, sliding her hand up my thigh. When the hell had she
gotten here? “Wanna have some fun?”

She wasn’t a club whore, and never had been. Which was why Atilla
allowed her to come to the clubhouse sometimes. However, she had a tendency
to hang out with a few of my brothers and seemed to worm her way into this
place on occasion. Like now. I didn’t know why she kept targeting me,
but she wasn’t my type. Too high maintenance.

I’d be willing to bet it took her over an hour to get ready every
day. I’d seen her around town often enough to know she fixed her hair
and makeup like this all the time. Had to admit I wondered what she’d
look like fresh out of the shower, but I doubted she’d ever let
someone see her like that.

“Thanks, Raven, but not tonight,” I muttered, brushing her hand
away. Her pout did little to entice me. The move was too practiced.

“Suit yourself,” she huffed, stalking off to find another
willing participant for her games. Of course, there was always the chance
she was angling for a property patch. If that was the case, she’d be
better off trying to con Stinger into taking her.

“Damn, Rebel. You turning down Raven?” Ace whistled, his
eyebrows raised in surprise. “You must be going soft. I know the two
of you have hung out a few times. Not to your taste anymore?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I growled, taking a swig of my beer,
welcoming the bitter taste. I’d played pool with her twice, and on a
night I’d been too drunk to stand up straight, I’d fucked her in
the bathroom. No one wanted to let me forget it either.

I’d always been fiercely loyal to my brothers, but as the night wore
on, the truth became clear: I needed something more — someone who saw
beyond the leather and tattoos, who could fill the void inside me. And until
I found her, I felt like I’d never truly be whole.

 

About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC
Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde
immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible
women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still
managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new
plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book.
She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies.
Visit Wylde’s website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and
don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts
and other exciting perks.

 

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today

 

 

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Uncertain Foundations Teaser Tuesday

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Uncertain Foundations cover

LGBTQ, Paranormal Women’s Fiction

Date Published: May 17, 2024

 

 

They’ve been there for each other through death and life, through
pain and joy. Their love life has held them together through all external
dangers. But what happens when the threat seems to come from within?

Charlie, half werewolf, has never felt so uncertain. Everything he’s
trusted in — his eyesight, his psychic ability, his confidence in making
decisions — is under attack. Even his mate, his Life dancer, Luis, seems
untrustworthy.

Luis, a psychic vampire, is consumed by terror and paranoia. Unable to tell
fact from fiction, and feeling Charlie pulling away, he lashes out.

These two lovers who have stood the test of time find themselves on
unsteady ground. Can their love prevail despite the terror working its way
through the pack?

 

Uncertain Foundations phone

EXCERPT

Luis stood his back to a wall. He gazed across the crowded room to his Life
Dancer, who was shaking hands with Princess Angelina Oakland. Scanning the
princess’s living room quickly, Luis noted the approaching dawn
lightening the sky in the east and the Pakistani land dragon speaking
quietly with Claudette, the water dragon from Western New York. He felt like
a stalker, watching all these people in their final moments of conversation
and leave-taking, but he wouldn’t let Charlie, his Life Dancer, be
alone. Too much had happened during this last delegate gathering.

“Go downstairs,” Charlie said, turning his head away from the
princess to meet Miguel’s gaze. The blood-dependent vampire, slave to
the darkness of night, was swaying on his feet.

“You are leaving,” Miguel said.

“This morning,” Charlie agreed.

“I wanted to say thank you.” He nodded to Princess Angelina.
“To you as well, Your Highness. I have lived without hope for many
years. To have it again is a marvelous blessing. And it wouldn’t have
been possible, Tilthos Charles, without your assistance.”

“You’re welcome, but if you thank me again, I’m going to
have to demand payment.” Charlie sounded more concerned than flippant
despite his words. “Go. Down. Stairs. We’ll meet
again.”

Miguel shook hands with both of them and headed from the room.

He passed close to Luis and said softly, “Your lover is a beacon of
hope.” Then he was gone.

Luis watched Charlie making the rounds of the other magical creatures in
the room. All of these others were ignoring Luis, as if he was just a
bodyguard. That suited Luis just fine. Charlie didn’t really need his
protection, not in this room, and not usually in the world at large. The
leader of all the werewolves on this and the southern continent was only
half werewolf, and visually impaired also, but he’d held his position
without others defending him for over half a decade. He was confident. He
was strong.

And sexy as hell.

Luis firmly turned his thoughts from that particular channel because some
of the magical creatures gathered here had great senses of smell.
They’d know he was aroused if he allowed himself the luxury of
thinking of his Life Dancer without clothes on.

Charlie’s thoughts drifted through Luis’s mind, his psychic
tone lightly teasing. I think it’s too late for you to hide
anything.

Luis smirked and thought back, Good.

Gradually, the heads of this or that species left, taking their chauffeured
rides to private airplanes. Agent Jack Sowerby would be meeting some of them
at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, but some wouldn’t allow
the new head of SearchLight to see them off. Claudette, the water dragon,
was one of these, preferring to keep her exact departure a secret.

Luis knew she was flying out of Dulles, the airport south of here in
Virginia, but he was a tracker. It was his job to know the comings and
goings of those who might be a threat to SearchLight. Or to his Life
Dancer.

As the room emptied, he wondered if the princess would let him and Charlie
have one last fling in the bedroom she’d set aside for them. Although,
even if she did, Charlie might not want to hang around. He was anxious to
get back to their displaced pack.

“Tilthos Charles, do you need to rest before starting on your drive
home?” Princess Angelina asked as if she’d read Luis’s
mind. He didn’t think she had telepathy, and his shields were mostly
up anyway.

“That would be a better question for Luis, since I can’t
drive,” Charlie said, sounding amused. He tapped the end of his white
cane on the parquet floor. “Thank you, but I think we should get
going.”

Luis thought, keeping it hidden from his Life Dancer, Damn. And I was
hoping to be driving without blue balls.

Still, he had to admit he wanted to get home. And not just so that the
Tilthos Pack could return from where they’d been scattered to when all
the dominant protectors were occupied here in DC and Maryland. Luis had
concerns about those pack members here: Jeremy, Ethan, and Charlie.

Jeremy and Ethan would be driving back at some point soon, but first, Ethan
needed to regain his human shape. He’d taken to sticking close to
Jeremy and their son, Will, but in his werewolf guise. It was as if he
thought being in four-footed would somehow protect him from further
pain.

Luis had absolutely no doubt Jeremy would take care of his mate. The Night
Wanderer was protective anyway, and since Ethan had been forced to —

“Luis?”

He blinked, startled out of his thoughts by his Life Dancer calling his
name. Charlie stood about ten feet away, his gaze unfocused, as it always
was when he wasn’t trying to read some large print or looking at a
picture eight-year-old Will had drawn.

Luis crossed to him and touched his shoulder. “What is it?” he
asked gently.

“I guess you missed the change in plans.”

Luis smiled guiltily. “I was lost in my own world.”

“I realized –” Charlie said, lowering his voice and bending so
he could put his mouth next to Luis’s ear. “I need you before we
head out.”

Luis’s cock raised its head and he felt his asshole constrict in
anticipation. “Not here,” he ventured.

“Well, in this house, but, no, not in the living room. If we stained
any of her pillows or cushions, I’m sure Angelina would throw us out
and bill us through the nose.” He took Luis’s hand, pressing the
shaft of the white cane between their palms. “Will you guide
me?”

Luis knew Charlie didn’t mean that literally. He was independent to a
fault, was Tilthos Charles McLaughlin, alpha above all alphas. But having
Charlie make the request made Luis harder still. He kissed Charlie’s
palm and then encouraged him to take his arm.

Swinging his cane out before his feet, Charlie “followed” Luis
up the stairs and down the hall. The warmth of his hand, firm on the back of
Luis’s arm, was ambrosia to the anxiety Luis had been feeling for the
last week or so. Charlie trusted him. He glanced back and saw
Charlie’s eyes were closed and his cane no longer touched the floor.
He was letting Luis guide him completely.

Luis’s heart rose and he swallowed against sudden, stupid tears.
Te amo, Charlie,” he whispered.

A mischievous smile lit Charlie’s dark and handsome features.
“Of course, you do.”

Luis snorted. But before he could retort, Charlie stopped walking and
pulled Luis into a tight embrace. Luis inhaled, loving the scent of his
lover’s aftershave.

“I love you too. Now, come on. I need you.”

 

About the Author

Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender
women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she
created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its
problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a
host of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the
contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,”
Emily has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a
passionate quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central
or on her website.

Contact Links

Author’s Website

Emily on Facebook

Emily on Twitter

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

 

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Knox Teaser

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Knox cover

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: May 10, 2024

 

 

Evelyn: My life fell apart right before my eyes. The fire and losing
everything we had was bad enough, but when my boyfriend’s father
convinces me to go to the hospital, the one thing me and my kids had left
evaporates like a plume of smoke when I see their father with his…
pregnant wife. Not only do I feel like a complete fool, I’m left to
explain things to my children. Then there’s Knox. He’s my
boyfriend Danny’s older brother. The one everyone thought was dead.
The one who’s an older, bigger, scarier version of Danny. He is so
gentle with me and my children, so protective when he has no reason to be.
He’s also the man I have no hopes of resisting.

Knox: I let my family think I was dead for fifteen years. There were
multiple reasons. Not the least of which was securing a steady income for my
father after Danny blew through everything he had. I tried to keep tabs on
them, especially after Mom died, but I didn’t dig deep enough. As a
result, Danny’s girlfriend, Evelyn, is in the crosshairs of something
very sinister. Once I find out who’s responsible, there will be hell
to pay. No matter who brought death to those I love, I will make them pay.
When I do, I’ll be putting the loyalty of my club to the test. When
it’s all over, I hope Evelyn will be able to forgive me. Because
I’ve fallen in love with my brother’s woman and no one will come
between us. No one.

 

WARNING: Knox includes scenes of graphic violence and adult situations
including those that may be triggers for some readers. There’s also a
protective hero, a determined heroine, and an eventual happy ending. No
cheating, as always.

 

 

Knox tablet

EXCERPT

Evelyn

 

Fire.

Smoke.

I clung to Luke and Aneshya, trying my best to shield them from the chaos
around us. We coughed as we tried to make our way down the hall, but the
smoke was so thick, it was pitch-black inside the cramped space.

“We’ve gotta get out of here!” Mr. Knoxville from across
the hall was the children’s grandfather. The man always looked out for
us, even when his son couldn’t. “Evelyn!”

“We’re over here!” I clutched my children close. We had a
damp bed sheet over the three of us, but it wouldn’t do much for long.
The smoke was getting thicker and there was no way a bed sheet was going to
protect us from fire. “I can’t find Danny! He was just
here!” I coughed and coughed as I sucked in a lungful of smoke with
every breath. Luke tried to push me down, but I resisted. I needed to get my
family to safety and that included Danny.

“Mommy, we need to go!” Aneshya sounded frantic, a round of
coughing taking her as well. Luke stopped shoving at me and blanketed his
sister, taking her to the floor.

“Crawl, Aneshya! Mom! Come on! Now!” Luke was only twelve, but
he was protective of both me and his sister. “Grandpa! Make Mom follow
us!” He tried to take charge and I knew he was right. But my long-term
boyfriend and the kids’ father, Danny, had been beside me only a
moment before. I couldn’t just leave him.

Mr. Knoxville suddenly appeared in front of me. He was in his late
seventies, but the man was fit and strong as an ox. And protective as they
came. I thought it might be where Luke learned it from. If Danny had
inherited the trait from his father, he never showed it to me. Or the kids,
really. As evidenced by the fact that it was his father and son trying to
take care of me and Aneshya instead of Danny.

“Don’t worry about him, Evelyn.” Mr. Knoxville looked
hard and almost dangerous. When he looked like this, it made me want to do
anything he said without question. “He’s a grown man.
You’ve got to get the children out. Now!”

“But Danny –”

“Will be fine. Or he won’t. Your first priority — my first
priority — is you and the children.” I’d never heard Mr.
Knoxville speak so harshly to me. He was always the one to help me when
Danny didn’t come home. Or when Danny got mean. The kids were older,
but I didn’t like leaving them alone. Mr. Knoxville was always so
sweet and kind. But then, this situation didn’t call for sweet and
kind. “Now get them and yourself out of here, Evelyn!
Now!”

Luke and Aneshya were crawling on the floor down the hallway of our
apartment building. Mr. Knoxville pushed me to my belly and urged me to
crawl after the kids. The smoke was more tolerable low to the ground but
still surrounding us. I choked with every breath. The fire was mostly behind
us, but it was spreading. I thought I could hear sirens off in the
distance.

“Keep movin’, girl! Don’t stop!”

“Luke!” I called out to my son, the smoke so thick and dark
I’d lost sight of him and Aneshya as I lagged behind.

“We’re at the stairs!” Luke coughed again, his voice
faint in the distance separating us. I could hear Aneshya coughing too. I
hated that they had trouble breathing but was also grateful they were on the
move. “Hurry, Mom!”

“I’m coming, Luke!” I crawled faster. Mr. Knoxville
touched my ankle, urging me forward each time I hesitated. “Keep
going! Get your sister out!”

“You keep goin’ too, girl. We’re gonna get outta
here!” Mr. Knoxville’s voice was tight, and he coughed several
times as he continually shoved me along.

The roar of the flames was growing louder. Heat billowed in a great rush
from the flames I was certain were ready to bear down on us.

I heard the children cry out. Pain? Were they hurt?

“LUKE! ANESHYA!” When I sucked in another breath to scream
again, I breathed in smoke which started a coughing fit. My lungs burned and
spasmed, making it nearly impossible to take in another breath. I tried to
keep moving, but it was all I could do to breathe. Panic tightened around my
neck. With the smoke suffocating me, it really felt as if someone were
actually strangling me.

I stumbled to my feet, needing to get to my kids as fast as I could and
crawling wasn’t getting it done. I called out to them with every
breath I could suck in. Then strong hands grabbed my shoulders. In the
blackness of the smoke all around me, those hands were the first indication
I had there was someone in front of me.

“Get down.” The gruff voice was muffled, and I realized he had
on a mask. Firefighter? Then he shoved me back to the floor and pushed me to
give me direction. “Keep crawling that way. The stairs are a few yards
in front of you.”

“My children! Did you see –”

“They’re on the way out.”

“Mr. Knoxville’s behind me –”

“I’ll get him.”

“Danny –”

“I said go, woman! We’ll be right behind you.” He urged
me onward, and all I could do was crawl in the direction he said. I hoped,
since he’d sent me in that direction, he knew the way was clear. I
trusted that my children were in that direction.

The farther I went, the heavier the smoke. Right up until I descended half
the flight of stairs on my hands and knees. Coughing, I stood and hurried as
fast as I could. With the receding smoke, it was easier to breathe. To
move.

“Mom!”

“Luke?” I sobbed in relief as I recognized my son’s
voice.

“There she is, Luke!” Aneshya sounded strong. Not like
she’d been hurt or couldn’t breathe.

Then I was in the arms of my son, my daughter clinging tightly to me as
they moved me out of the apartment building. I barely made it out into the
grass before I collapsed, my legs finally giving out. I clutched Aneshya to
me as tightly as I could. Luke had his arms around me but was still trying
to get me to move farther away from the building.

“It’s not safe here, Mom. We need to get farther
back.”

“Mr. Knoxville.” Panic filled me. Did the older man get out?
“He was right behind me. Where is he?”

“The fireman said he’d make sure you both got out.”
Aneshya tugged at me, following her brother’s lead as usual.
“Come on, Mom. Let’s go.”

I sucked in breath after breath of clean air. Each breath seemed to bring
on more coughing, but I managed to get it mostly under control. “Where
are the other firemen?” I looked around, not seeing anyone other than
a few bystanders. I could hear sirens off in the distance getting closer,
but no one was here yet.

“Not sure,” Luke said with a frown. “First responder,
maybe? But he said he would get you and Mr. Knoxville out and for us to go
on.”

“We were waiting for you.” Aneshya’s voice broke and
tears made tracks through the streaks of soot on her face. “I thought
you’d gotten lost.”

It was then Mr. Knoxville stumbled through the same exit we’d managed
to escape through. The fireman was right behind him.

“Mr. Knoxville! Oh, my God! Are you all right?” I hurried in
his direction, trying to put the man’s arm around my shoulders so he
could lean on me if necessary. I should have known better. My knees were
weak already. There was no way I could hold the older man’s weight.
Instead, I found him holding me up with an arm around my waist as he urged
us farther away from the building which was more and more engulfed in
flames.

The guy coming up behind Mr. Knoxville was huge. He towered over all of us
and was solidly built. He still had on a full-face mask with SCBA gear but I
could see his face through the clear plate. The man looked familiar, but I
couldn’t quite place him.

“Please! My boyfriend, Danny! He’s still in there
somewhere!”

Instead of going back inside immediately, he turned to Mr. Knoxville.

“Up to you.” Mr. Knoxville had leaned over with his hands
braced on his knees while he coughed, same as the rest of us.
“Fuckin’ prick left his children in a burnin’
fuckin’ buildin’.”

“What?” I gasped in surprise, looking up at Mr. Knoxville. Not
only had I never heard the other man swear like that, but he was accusing
Danny — his own son — of deserting us in a crisis. “No! Danny and I
have had our problems, but he’d never leave his kids. We got
separated. He’s still in there. Probably looking for us! You have to
find him!”

The firefighter took off the mask, and it was like I was looking at a
slightly older, bigger, much scarier version of Danny. I sucked in a
breath…

… then immediately started coughing. Luke was at my side when I
collapsed on the ground on my knees. I fell forward onto my hands in the
grass, coughing uncontrollably.

“We need to get Mom to the hospital.” Luke handed me a bottle
of water. I had no idea where that came from, but I took a gulp before
promptly coughing again. I glanced over at Aneshya. She had a worried
expression on her face but wasn’t coughing anymore. Luke looked like
he wasn’t hurt either, but I had to be sure. Both of them were
streaked with soot.

“Are… you…” I gasped. “Are you…
hurt?”

“No, Mom.” Luke was quick to reassure me.
“Aneshya’s fine too. Drink some more.”

The next thing I knew an oxygen mask was placed over my face and the Danny
look-alike was in front of me, holding my gaze with a steady one of his
own.

“Take deep breaths, honey.” He put what looked like an inhaler
in the hole at the side of the mask and squeezed it. I felt the mist from
the spray enter my lungs as I inhaled. I still coughed, but after a few
seconds, the pressure in my chest relaxed a little. After another lungful of
air and more coughing, he did it again. After that, it wasn’t long
until the pressure in my chest eased almost entirely. I still coughed, but
it felt different. Like the coughing was actually helping to clear my lungs
instead of being a futile effort.

“Mom?” Aneshya looked up at me with worry in her expression.
She’d wiped her face with something, washing some of the soot off, but
smearing it over her face.

“I’m okay, sweetie.”

“Fire and EMS are on the way.” The man kneeling in front of me
moved the mask long enough to urge me to drink some more water before
replacing the mask. “Just take some slow, deep breaths. I gave you an
inhaler. Got something to help with the spasms in your lungs. Might make
your heart race a bit, but nothing too bad.”

“Who are you?”

He glanced over at Mr. Knoxville who was looking at him with a combination
of pride and relief. If there were tears in the gruff old man’s eyes,
I was sure it was from the smoke. “Denver. Boy…”

“It’s Knox.” He stood before his face split into a grin.
“It’s good to see you, Pop.”

 

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double
life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated
housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes
pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited,
vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a
blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her
writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning
delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying
conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband
with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for
preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts
(which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with
Marteeka’s latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her
website. Don’t forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you
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