Release 1/25/18
I just finished editing my newest set of books and I am so excited to share them with you. To give you an idea of what I’ve been working on I thought I would post a couple of excerpts. These are from books 1 and 2. I hope you enjoy.
Excerpt:
From Chased
The next morning Taylor woke in Chase’s bed. She remembered snuggling into Chase’s side and resting her head on his shoulder. Then her eyes started drooping during her show. Chase wrapped an arm around her. He never did anything more though. Aaron’s hand would have been down her shirt or in her pants when really all she wanted was to snuggle. Taylor smiled as she dressed so she could go see Jake.
It was a chilly morning, and Jake was still dozing when Taylor found him in the front pasture. Her saddle was nearby in a pole barn, and she couldn’t resist a quick ride. Briefly, she thought about waking Chase, but surely she’d be alright for an hour. Taylor saddled Jake and headed for the closest trail.
Taylor rode through the woods enjoying the peace and solitude. It gave her time to think. It gave her space from Chase. He was devastatingly handsome and kind and so far a perfect gentleman. But, Aaron started off the same way. He was oh so charming until they slept together and he wiggled his way into her heart so deep that she felt like she couldn’t live without him. Then it started, nothing was ever good enough for Aaron, she wasn’t pretty enough, or smart enough, she didn’t make enough money, her hair was even the wrong color. Aaron didn’t like blondes.
Taylor sighed unsure why she was thinking about this. That was a lie she knew precisely why. She could fall for Chase, hard. He was sexy, competent, smart, funny, and he actually liked horses. So why was she hesitating? Aaron. He’d ruined everything. It took her six months to feel like she was worth anything again she wouldn’t let herself be that vulnerable a second time.
Taylor still wondered what Chase looked like without his clothes on. What it would feel like to run her hands over those muscles on his chest and stomach. Abruptly Taylor was pulled out of her thoughts when Jake refused to move. He stopped dead, and nothing she could do would budge him. Then a bear stepped onto the path ahead of them. Taylor thought of her bear mace safely tucked into her pack back at Chase’s house. She tried to get Jake to turn, but he wouldn’t move. The bear took one aggressive step forward and made a rumbly roar at her.
*****
Chase woke in a good mood the next morning despite the dreams that plagued him the night before. His dragon was determined to speed things along and sent every thought it could in hopes of nudging Chase in that direction. Chase wanted women before, but never like this and his beast never seemed to care one way or the other. It certainly liked its fair share of romps, but this felt like more. After all, he’d nearly challenged Asher.
Chase tiptoed into his room hoping to grab jeans without waking Taylor. The bed was empty. The rest of the house was too. He rushed out the door hoping she was out with her horse. Chase caught her scent and followed it as far as the trail leading into the woods. He cursed and let his dragon slide over him. There were bears in those woods. He hadn’t been on the path for a year, and his scent wouldn’t keep them away. Chase took to the sky frantic to find her before anything happened.
His dragon was silent as it hunted for Taylor. He knew better than to startle a horse that wasn’t used to dragons. Martha wouldn’t care. He could land next to her and breathe a wall of fire before the stubborn mare flinched, but Jake didn’t know him. The trees were thick in this portion of the woods. Luckily, Chase kept the trail clear and there was less cover over it. He caught Taylor’s scent as well, and she wasn’t too far ahead. His dragon was elated to find her so quickly. He skimmed the treetops preparing to release control to Chase when it caught the scent of another predator.
The dragon circled overhead irritated that it could not land. He wanted to torch the forest to get to their mate. The only thing that prevented it was the worry that Jake would throw her or run off with her. Chase argued with his beast longer than he wanted before it finally agreed to relinquish control. The dragon flew as low as it dared and Chase returned to his human form in mid-air.
Chase landed on the trail ahead of Taylor and met the bear head on. It stood on its hind legs growling and rumbling its bear-like roar. Chase growled right back letting his dragon near the surface. The wind was blowing the wrong direction though, and the bear didn’t recognize him as a dragon. They were going to have to do this the hard way. It took a mighty swing with a massive paw, and Chase grabbed it pushing the bear back. It struggled against him until it wrestled a paw free and cut Chase’s side. Chase swung letting his claws out and slashed the bear’s face. Finally, it backed off and left.
Taylor rushed to his side worried about the gash along his ribs. She pulled off her button up shirt and pressed it to his wound hoping to stop the bleeding. “It will stop in a minute. Dragons heal fast. “
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“You were in danger. You shouldn’t have gone without me.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking about bears,” She admitted.
“If you still want to go on a ride, I’ll get Martha, and I’ll take you up to the falls.” Chase tempted.
“Really, you’d do that?”
“It will take most of the day. We’ll need to pack a lunch, and you’ll need a new shirt.” Chase thought out loud.
“Maybe you should get dressed too.” Taylor pointed out that he still wore only his sweatpants from the night before.
When Chase realized she was gone this morning nothing mattered except finding her. “Good point.”
From By Design
Sebastian was making coffee when Brook emerged from the bathroom. She was dressed in her clothes from the day before. She was clean and surprisingly had on a little makeup. Sebastian was instantly drawn to her. She moved beside him and poured a cup of coffee. It was the first cup of the pot. As a rule, it would irritate him that she wouldn’t wait until it was done, but not with her.
Sebastian’s dragon was awake once more studying her movements. He watched as she moved about his kitchen like she already lived there. She found the sugar in the upper cabinet and stretched to reach it. The effort was futile she was too short. Sebastian would have to change so many things in his apartment and his life for Brook. He would do it happily if she would just stay.
****
Brook found the sugar and stretched up on her toes for it. It was no use she was too short. Suddenly Sebastian was behind her. He got the sugar down and remained in front of her. He looked down at her and Brook was dumbfounded.
Sebastian stared down at her with emerald green eyes. That wasn’t what took her breath away though, it was the look he gave her. She’d seen that look before. It was plastered on Chase’s face every time he looked at Taylor. How in the hell had she earned that expression from Sebastian in a day? His eyes faded back to moss green as he stepped away cold and distant. Brook knew she definitely didn’t deserve the treatment she received now. Sebastian stopped halfway out of the kitchen and Brook thought he might apologize. He moved on instead shutting the door behind him as he stepped into the bathroom.
****
Sebastian stepped away and closed off his emotions. He wasn’t getting tied up with this woman. Brook wasn’t moving in. She wasn’t his girlfriend, wasn’t going to be his wife and sure as hell wasn’t his mate. His dragon made him stop. It wasn’t ready to leave Brook yet. Sebastian fought him for control and went into the bathroom. “I’ll take her to breakfast then whatever else she wants today but unless we’re fucking we aren’t staying here,” Sebastian told his dragon.
The dragon growled at him, and Sebastian was taken aback. ‘Show some respect. No matter what you think she is or is not to us, she is still a woman. Don’t be so crude.’ The beast calmed considerably but was still restless. ‘Your compromise is acceptable. I want to watch her, my time to sleep is over.’ The great dragon in him stretched then sat up waiting. It was a little disconcerting for Sebastian to have his beast so present after its long sleep. They usually switched places rather than shared a mind like this. Sebastian took a minute to gather himself before leaving the bathroom.
****
Brook sat in the car on the way to breakfast wondering what was going on with Sebastian. It wasn’t quite the morning after awkwardness. It was the exact opposite based on how eager he’d been to go again that morning. But, then he was distant when he found her towels. Brook couldn’t figure it out. He switched so fast on her. When he did the same thing in the kitchen Brook was even more confused.
Sebastian said nothing about what happened. He drove in silence as Brook stared out the window. She was beginning to think she was imaging things. Brook chewed a nail absently. Maybe she hadn’t seen that look of devotion plastered on his face. Brook glanced at Sebastian. He smiled slightly. No, she saw it, Brook was sure of it.
R. Tran Books 