{"id":1220,"date":"2009-11-21T09:02:55","date_gmt":"2009-11-21T16:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alannacoca.com\/?p=1220"},"modified":"2014-08-01T02:38:26","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T08:38:26","slug":"the-wicked-kiss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alannacoca.com\/blog\/2009\/11\/the-wicked-kiss","title":{"rendered":"The Wicked Kiss"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Click<\/a>Monday 11\/23, Trina M. Lee’s <\/a>book The Wicked Kiss will be released to the world.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m posting this now so that just in case you haven’t yet, you have time to read the first in the Alexa O’Brien series Once Bitten<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Wicked Kiss is not your daughter’s vampire story. These guys don’t live on V-8 and iron supplements. They are monsters. Hence the word “Vampire”.\u00c2\u00a0 Alexa can hold her own though. See the two men behind Alexa? Shaz is a sweet but alpha werewolf, and Arys is a (not so sweet and) powerful vampire, but he does have a soft spot for Alexa. Even from the cover you can sense the tension between the trio, and with three powerful protagonists, you’ll be wondering, who’s protecting who?\u00c2\u00a0 Following is a blurb and excerpt straight from the author. The buy link will be active Monday evening. Keep yourselves busy\u00c2\u00a0until then by\u00c2\u00a0reading Once Bitten. Also, on Monday at 6:30pm EST, I’ll be joining the author in a release day chat<\/a>. Please stop by and visit!<\/p>\n

When two men share the heart of the same woman, it doesn\u2019t take long for the drama to escalate. Alexa O\u2019Brien\u2019s two lovers have been at each other\u2019s throats. The fact that one is her wolf mate and the other a vampire bonded to her by power, only increases the tension. She fears being forced to choose between them, knowing it\u2019s something she cannot do.<\/p>\n

Due to the bond she shares with her vampire lover, Arys Knight, Alexa has more power than she knows how to handle. It isn\u2019t long before power hungry creatures are drawn to her, including Arys\u2019 sire, Harley Kayson. Believing he is entitled to her, Harley makes it his personal mission to get a taste of Alexa for himself, whether she likes it or not. If he doesn\u2019t kill her, she just might wish that he had.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s just the beginning… Alexa\u2019s wolf mate, Shaz, feels the need to prove his dominance after a nasty dispute with a fellow werewolf. The battle for Alpha Male ensues, a position left unclaimed since the death of the former pack leader. Despite fearing for him, Alexa has no choice but to support the man that has loved her unconditionally, even when at her worst.<\/p>\n

Alexa feels as if nothing remains within her control, least of all the precarious co-existence between her two men. It\u2019s when she learns that there is one potential way to protect herself from Harley that she is faced with the biggest decision yet. But can her lovers put aside their differences when it matters most? Because this is one sacrifice that will forever alter her very mortality.<\/p>\n

\n
When my conscious mind became aware that somebody was in the house, I was wide-awake, on full alert.<\/address>\n
My instinct had me swinging before I\u2019d identified the intruder. All at once, I realized it was Arys, but he had already deflected each of my blows, catching my wrists tightly in his grasp.<\/address>\n
\u201cAlexa,\u201d he whispered loudly. \u201cIt\u2019s me. But, a word of warning. Don\u2019t fall asleep with the front door unlocked.\u201d<\/address>\n
I stopped struggling against him and sat up on the futon. Arys leaned down over me; his face, more battered and bruised than it had been previously. He released my arms and stepped back as I pushed my disheveled hair from my face.<\/address>\n
\u201cWhat happened to you? That\u2019s not from Shaz.\u201d I reached out to brush a finger across his bruised eyelid but he caught my hand in his, kissing it softly.<\/address>\n
\u201cNo. I saw Harley tonight. At The Wicked Kiss.\u201d He stared at me with an intensity I felt in my toes.<\/address>\n
Arys looked worried, almost afraid. He wasn\u2019t the fearful type in any way. He pulled me into his arms, burying his face in my hair and inhaling my scent. I tried to pull away, pushing on his chest so he had to look at me.<\/address>\n
\u201cTell me what happened.\u201d<\/address>\n
He studied me, his jaw clenching hard. \u201cWe had a little confrontation. It didn\u2019t go so well.\u201d<\/address>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t say.\u201d I cocked my head to the side, taking in his battered appearance. \u201cStart talking, vampire.\u201d<\/address>\n
He reached out for my hand, and I surrendered it but didn\u2019t abandon my stiff position. That had never deterred this vampire though, and it certainly didn\u2019t now. Arys advanced on me, tipping my head up with a hand under my chin, kissing me with a fervor that I felt in my loins.<\/address>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not going to get you out of trouble, mister. Start talking. I want to know about Harley.\u201d I managed to pull away though I would have loved to let him continue as if nothing else mattered.<\/address>\n
He tensed noticeably, looking away from me to stare at the gruesome horror flick that played quietly. His averted gaze told me plenty. I had to bite my tongue so that I didn\u2019t ramble on in an attempt to pry the information out of him.<\/address>\n
When his piercing, blue gaze swung back to me, there was an angry fire burning in their depths. He ran his hand through his always bedroom-messy hair, a sign that he didn\u2019t want to tell me. I chewed my bottom lip nervously. If he didn\u2019t start talking, I was going to burst.<\/address>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s bad news, Alexa. He wants to see what could possibly be so tasty that even I can\u2019t get my fill.\u201d Arys eyed me closely as he spoke. I felt his gaze like a weight. \u201cHe wants to sample you for himself. His exact words were a little more crude, which resulted in the punch in his face that started our little brawl.\u201d<\/address>\n
I swallowed hard around the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat. Ok, now I was a little nervous.<\/address>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be joking.\u201d My hand went to my mouth, and for a moment, I thought I might throw up. \u201cWhat is it with people from your past wanting a piece of me? Why? What did I ever do to them?\u201d My voice took on a frantic, high-pitched lilt.<\/address>\n
\u201cOh, Catherine was nothing worse than the jealous-high-school-girl type. Harley is like the evil cartoon villain that never dies. But worse, because he\u2019s real.\u201d Arys lightly touched a finger to one of the bruises lining his strong cheekbone, a thoughtful expression on his eternally beautiful face. \u201cHe seems to think you\u2019d make a great toy. And, I know he\u2019s egotistical enough to think he can have whatever he wants. But, he can\u2019t have you. I\u2019ll kill him first.\u201d<\/address>\n
I drew him to me, a hand tracing the line of his jaw. \u201cWe have nothing to worry about. The very thing that he wants from us is what will give us the upper hand. I\u2019ll be ready for him.\u201d I pressed my lips to his in a kiss that had him wanting more, if his reaction was any indication.<\/address>\n
Arys crawled up on the futon so that he hovered over me on his hands and knees. Each of his legs was on either side of mine, and his hands came to rest on my pillow with my head caught between. The position forced me back so that I had to tip my head back to meet his eyes.<\/address>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t underestimate him, Alexa.\u201d He nipped lightly at my bottom lip. It sent a hot tingle through me, from head to toe. He had a way of always rousing the most savage energy within me. \u201cHe\u2019s powerful and so fucking sadistic, it turns my guts to think of him touching you.\u201d<\/address>\n
There was a sharp pain as he bit my lower lip; the blood welled instantly. Before it could spill down my chin, he caught it against his tongue. The warm, moist touch against my wounded lip was heavenly.<\/address>\n
\u201cI know that, Arys. But, don\u2019t underestimate me. I take out vamps like him all the time.\u201d It irritated me that he spoke to me like I was defenseless.<\/address>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Alexa, but you have never dealt with a vampire like him. I guarantee it.\u201d He pressed a kiss to my bleeding lip. \u201cAnd, don\u2019t you dare make this into a damsel in distress scenario. You know it\u2019s not like that.\u201d<\/address>\n
The power rose around us in response to the blood and sexual energy. It danced along my body like a strange second skin. His tongue slipped inside my mouth, and I tasted my own coppery blood. It made my heart race, and I sought to pull him closer, needing to feel him pressed against me.<\/address>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t start with me,\u201d I said, even as I gasped breathlessly. \u201cIt\u2019s always like that with you. I\u2019m not a breakable item that will crumble into dust at the wrong touch.\u201d<\/address>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he growled down at me. \u201cYou are. I\u2019m not arguing about your safety. Nobody is safe when Harley sets his sights on them.\u201d<\/address>\n
Just when I loved where we were headed, he pulled back, a serious expression on his face. \u201cI need you to promise me that you\u2019ll stay away from The Wicked Kiss. And, watch for Harley. Seriously. Just until I know how far he\u2019s willing to take this.\u201d<\/address>\n
\u201cArys…\u201d I wanted him to stop talking about danger and getting killed. It was really cramping the mood we\u2019d started.<\/address>\n
\u201cI mean it. Don\u2019t make me beg.\u201d He gave me an imploring look, and it was enough to unsettle me.<\/address>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t like you,\u201d I commented, trying for casual. \u201cWhat\u2019s with the extreme worry? He\u2019s not going to kill me.\u201d<\/address>\n
His wane smile grew sad and accepting all at once. \u201cThat\u2019s what scares me most. Harley has a penchant for collecting things, most of them being people. Like me. If he gets his hands on you, that\u2019s what you\u2019ll be. Another toy. But, what\u2019s fun for Harley is never fun for his toys.\u201d<\/address>\n
The creepiest chill crept over me as he uttered the words. Harley loved torture, and if he got his hands on me, I\u2019d be praying for death instead.<\/address>\n
\u201cStop,\u201d I whispered, suddenly afraid to speak any louder. \u201cI don\u2019t want to go there right now. You have to leave before sunrise. Let\u2019s not spend our time talking like this.\u201d<\/address>\n
A small bead of blood overflowed from my lip, down my chin. Arys\u2019 eyes followed it, and his little finger was quick to catch it.<\/address>\n
\u201cAlright.\u201d He brought the little crimson splash to his lips; his eyes glazed with the rush of energy, which he openly embraced. \u201cFor now, it\u2019s all about us.\u201d<\/address>\n
<\/address>\n
<\/address>\n

BUY THE WICKED KISS 11\/23\/09<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

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