Midnight Touch by L. Ann
Trouble always finds Shaun Jacobs…
So, really, the sizzling hot alpha male shouldn’t have been surprised when a move to a new town and a fresh start doesn’t go according to plan – especially when Shaun’s wolf lays claim to the beauty he unexpectedly finds on his property.
Passion soars, but Cassie comes with her own brand of trouble in the form of an ex who can’t take no for an answer.
To make matters worse, there’s a hunter on Shaun’s tail. One who will stop at nothing to take down the Midnight pack once and for all.
The stakes are high but Shaun won’t be going down without a fight.
Description
Find more from this author on:
Amazon
Author Site
GoodReads
FacebookAbout the author:
L. Ann has been writing stories since she first discovered those squiggly lines on the page were words. She writes paranormal romance and enjoys nothing more than throwing in twists and turns readers don’t see coming. A fan of alpha males and strong female characters, her books are jam-packed with heated romance and snarky humour. When she’s not writing, she’s supporting fellow authors – promoting their work and devouring their stories.
Here is a short sample from the book:
Cassie was less than a mile away from The Lodge when it finally dawned on her what a stupid decision it had been. When she first ran out of the apartment she shared with Rebekah and had dashed down Main Street to the town limits, her only thought had been to get as far away from her roommate and Sam as she could.
The Lodge, five miles outside of town, was a four-bedroomed house sitting on the edge of a privately owned forest. Her parents had bought it when they first got married, twenty-six years ago, and had raised both Cassie and her sister within its welcoming walls. Even after leaving home to move into town, it remained the place she ran to when she was troubled or upset. Her sister called it her ‘safe space’. And, after walking into her apartment to find Sam, her boyfriend of two years, bare-ass naked between Rebekah’s legs, her only thought had been to run.
So that’s what she did.
Legs aching and eyes burning with unshed tears, she slowed her pace as the drive leading to The Lodge came into view. And, of course, that was when she remembered.
The Lodge no longer belonged to her family. Her mom had sold it a few months earlier, just after her dad died, and bought herself a new condo in the ‘nicer’ part of town. She had told Cassie and her sister that she could no longer bear to live there without her husband.
Too many memories and a silent house was far too upsetting, she had claimed. Especially since Cassie and her sister no longer lived there.
With the remaining money, she had treated herself to a six-month luxury cruise, waved to her two daughters and not looked back.
Cassie sniffed and mentally shrugged away memories of the many arguments she had had with her mother over the sale of their family home and finished the walk up the drive to the front door. Now she was thinking about it, she remembered her mother saying she had sold it to someone from out of town, who had also bought the forestland behind and surrounding the house. She reached out to turn the handle, only to find it was locked and whispered a curse beneath her breath.
Of course it was locked! Why wouldn’t it be?
The house was empty. All the keys had been sent to the new owner. Cassie heaved a sigh and turned to begin the long walk back into town, then stopped. Not every key had been returned. There was one only she and her father had known about. That should still be right where her father had left it.
Cassie made her way over to the small rockery to the left of the decked porch – she remembered the weekend she had spent with her father building it when she was eight, carefully selecting each rock and giving long and considered thought to the placement to each one. She crouched down and traced her fingers over the stones, counted up four rows, then tipped up the purple-coloured stone on the fifth level to display a rust-coloured key nestled against the tufts of grass and dirt.
Our little secret, Cassie-bear, her dad had whispered to her and hugged her close.
Cassie scooped up the key, hurried back to the door and slipped the key into the lock. A wave of grief washed over her as she pushed the door open and entered. Everything in the hallway was just as it had been the last time she’d been home. The day after her dad’s funeral – she shied away from that memory and let her eyes close, breathing heavily around the lump in her throat.
Then she heard it …
The shower was running …
Rational thought fled, and instinct took over. Cassie charged up the stairs to her parents’ bedroom, not even considering what hearing the shower really meant.
For one wild moment, as the shower cut off, she imagined her father walking out of the en suite bathroom. She wanted the last four months to have simply been a terrible nightmare and, with that sole thought in her head, she flew through the open door. With her heart hammering painfully in her chest, her eyes sought out the one person she was desperate to see again, and her jaw dropped.
Coming out of the en suite was a man – but that was where the similarity to her father ended. Tattoos covered both his arms down to his knuckles and over the right side of his torso – swirling lines and patterns, glorious shades of red, gold and black. His skin was golden and toned beneath the colours, making them stand out boldly, and the artist in Cassie rose to the surface. She took a step forward, unthinking, and stretched out a hand to touch the bold lines, to commit them to memory so she could draw them at her leisure later.
A guttural curse snapped Cassie out of her daze seconds before her palm made contact. She felt her wrist caught in a vice-like grip and the breath left her body as she was slammed up against the wall behind her. Her eyes jerked up to meet emerald-green ones blazing with anger.
“How the fuck did you get in here?” he snarled.
The venom in his voice froze the response on her lips, and she dropped her gaze instinctively, her eyes locking onto the closeness of the tattoos across his shoulders where he pinned her in place with his own body. Her attention was caught, once again, by the patterns as they twisted from his shoulder down across his chest and ribs. From there they snaked over his right hip. He shifted, and she felt something hard press against her thigh … and it was then she realised he was completely naked.
A choked gasp escaped her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, shrinking back against the wall to try and put some space between her body and the part of him that suggested anger wasn’t the only emotion he was feeling at her intrusion.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” she babbled. “I’m so sorry!” She tugged at the wrist he held, then squeaked in surprise when he released it, but only long enough to grasp her hips and flip her around to face the wall. She felt his body press up against hers, briefly, his obvious erection nestling between the cheeks of her bottom and the breath caught in her throat.
“Stay there.” His warm breath tickled her ear and then the heat of his body was gone.
“I’m sorry,” she croaked out. “I … I didn’t know anyone was here.” Unwilling to turn her head to see what he was doing, she listened to the creak of floorboards as he moved around, trying to figure out where he was.
“Please be getting dressed. Please don’t be getting ready to kill me,” she whispered to herself.
“What are you muttering about over there?” His voice had lost the hard, angry edge, leaving it rich and husky – reminding her of good whiskey and chocolate.
“N-nothing.” Cassie swallowed.
There was a clink of metal and she tensed, waiting to be handcuffed or worse.
“Sure about that?” His slow drawl sounded amused.
Another floorboard creaked, and Cassie was sure she could feel him standing close behind him, feel the heat from his body, and she couldn’t stop a shiver.
“You can turn around now.”
Cassie hesitated, then turned slowly to find him standing in the centre of the room, a good three feet away. His arms were folded across his chest and his head was tilted to one side, watching her. He had pulled on a pair of black jeans which hung low on his hips, and his chest and feet were still bare. A thick chain belt hung in the jean loops – the noise she must have heard, and Cassie couldn’t hold back a sigh of relief.
His eyebrow cocked up at the sound, but he said nothing.
“My parents used to own this house,” she offered into the charged silence. “I didn’t think anyone would be here.”
One side of his mouth kicked up into a smile that screamed ‘of course they did’, and Cassie frowned.
“It’s the truth!” she blurted defensively.
He shrugged. “I didn’t hear a car. How did you get here?”
Cassie laughed nervously, a sound which quickly turned into a sob and she swallowed it down, taking a breath before replying.
“I ran … mostly.”
“You ran?” he repeated, his eyebrow hiking again. “From the town?”
Cassie nodded and tried not to squirm as his eyes slowly travelled over her. His gaze was sharp, intense, taking in everything from the blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, the cream blouse and beige slacks she wore for work and paused, eyes narrowing, on the flat shoes that were not designed for walking in the woods. His eyes changed direction and slid back up her legs.
Cassie shifted uncomfortably, almost feeling the path his eyes took, her skin reacting to the imagined caress, heating under his gaze. Her breath was coming in short shaky breaths by the time he finished his slow perusal.
“You have no bag, no coat. You’re not wearing running shoes. I feel like there’s a story here, but damned if I can figure it out,” he said softly, almost like he was talking to himself. “You look thirsty after your … run.” He drew the word out, almost savouring it. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I … yes, thank you,” she replied.
He unfolded his arms and waved a hand toward the door. “After you.”
Cassie peeled herself away from the wall, took a step forward and then stopped.
“Could you … I mean … if you wouldn’t mind, that is, would you put a t-shirt on?”
Related products
-
Infinity (Valkyries: Soaring Raven) by Sedona Venez @TLClarke_TLC
Infinity discovers a dark secret from her past that rocks everything she knows to be true.
Infinity is a troubled 22-year-old superstar singer with the worst reputation for drugs and hard partying. Now, she is on the road to a comeback with her controversial tour. But everything about doing the concert feels wrong from missing employees, to anonymous threats to ruin her career. Things spiral further out of control as she wrestles control of her life and career from a relationship that crossed the fine line between love and obsession. She deals with a powerful corporation determined to kill her and everyone she loves.
Infinity knows too much, with no way out.
Now she must put her safety and trust in the hands of sexy, tattooed and delicious Torch Channing and Boulder Vigari, hired to keep her from getting killed. Boulder wants to make her his. He won’t stop until he claims her. Torch struggles with his primal need to possess her and his hatred of everything she represents.
Infinity is determined to protect her heart while dealing with the pressure of pulling off another successful tour without spiraling into another mental meltdown.
(Due to sexual content and language, this book is recommended for 18+ – Adult Contemporary Women’s – Paranormal Romance – New Adult Fiction)
Coy Wolf by Stella Williams
Always ambitious, Tyr Greywulf fought his way to Pack Leader but his wolf demands more. The annual shifter gathering is his chance to solidify his Alpha status. Tyr could have any woman he wants but he has no time for mating games, until he meets Sequoia.
Sequoia Bainbridge is on the hunt for a mate. The gathering is the perfect place to start. Armed with a plan and a modest list of qualifications she sets out to find her perfect match. Tyr checks every box on Sequoia’s list except the most important. NO ALPHAs. Sold to the Alpha: A BBW Wolf-Shifter Romance by Cara Wylde
This complete edition contains all 6 books of Sold to the Alpha. It’s the full story of sexy, curvaceous Avelyn and her hot Alpha, Max Blackmane. No cliffhangers!
Avelyn is a shifter bride, which means she has been raised and educated to become the wife of a shape-shifter and bear his children. The problem is that she doesn’t want to accept this fate. She will do everything in her power to gain her freedom and build a new life far away from shape-shifters and what society expects of her.
Alpha werewolf Max Blackmane is in search of a bride. When he comes to Alma Venus Boarding School, one of the best schools for shifter brides in the world, he is determined to buy a young woman who would bring him political advantages. However, when he sees Avelyn, his plans are turned upside down. He can’t imagine his life without her.
Avelyn uses every trick to convince Max to buy another bride. It doesn’t matter that his perfect body and smooth voice make her weak in the knees. She has a dream, and her dream does not include a wolf-shifter who thinks he can simply own her because the peace treaty between humans and shape-shifters says so.
Special Rewards Book 2 of The Coursodon Dimension Series by M.L. Ryan
What would you do if you discovered there was a parallel dimension?
Hailey Parrish used to be an average, everyday human. Boring, in fact. After being possessed by Sebastian Kess, a magically inclined enforcer from the parallel dimension Coursodon, her life took a decidedly less mundane turn. Besides coming to grips with the existence of supernatural beings, she risked her life helping Sebastian and her heart falling for his protégé, Alex Sunderland. Now, Hailey has to deal with the bit of arcane power that Sebastian left behind when he returned to his own body and try to stay out of the crossfire when an unknown assailant seeks revenge against Alex.
Special Rewards, book two of the Coursodon Dimension Series combines paranormal romance, urban fantasy, science fiction and a bit of quirky humor.
Lynxar’s searching Heart (Lynxar Series – The Vampire King, Book 7) by Melissa F Hart
Lynxar is happily settled with his wife Dr. Rachel Deering and their daughter Lynxiennia, until a new heart surgeon at his wife’s hospital raises his suspicions. Dr. Archer Speedlight is more than he seems, and it’s up to Lynxar to determine if he intends to use his supernatural powers for good or for evil. Follow Lynxar through this steamy and sexy novel as he seeks to learn the truth and keep the citizens of Colossal City safe.
Hunter, Hunted: Claimed by the Enemy by Madelene Martin
The human race is on the brink of extinction.
Adrianna’s people live on the edge of untamed forests, fighting back the wilderness and warring with supernatural creatures. From a long line of Hunters, she has been brought up to hate the werewolves, her peoples’ ancient enemy.
She has taught herself to make weapons, to use a bow, and how to kill a werewolf. But as a woman she is forbidden to hunt, instead fated to live her whole life in the village of her birth and marry the man her family has chosen for her.
Unable to accept her destiny, Adrianna learns how to hunt in secret. But when she finally encounters her enemy, what happens is beyond her wildest fears. Being claimed as the werewolf’s mate is the worst fate that could have befallen her.
But in her first days with her captor, Adrianna soon learns that the werewolves are not at all what she’s been taught to believe…
This erotic romance novella contains explicit sexual scenes and is intended for adult audiences.
Fangsters: Clan of the Jersey Boys by Ryan Field
At a glance, Anton Pagano looks and sounds just like any other twenty-something. He lives in a mansion in northern New Jersey with his mom and dad, and he's never had to worry about anything other than his wardrobe, his latest new car, and the secret love affair he's been having for years. However, Anton has more than just the love affair to hide: he belongs to a Sicilian vampire mobster clan that migrated to New Jersey in the late 1800s.
When Anton's dad, the head of their clan, decides it's time for Anton and his vampire cousin Digger to get into the “family business,” Anton's not all that excited about it. Until he meets a sweet, young human named Leo on his first night at work. They wind up spending the rest of the night together, but things get even more complicated when they bring Anton's secret vampire lover into the picture a few weeks later.
After a bloody battle with werewolves, and the beginning of what Anton predicts will be an all-out war between two vampire mob clans in New Jersey, Anton and his secret vampire lover decide it's time to consider turning Leo into a vampire so all three of them can be together for eternity. But thanks to fate, nothing is as simple as it looks, and they wind up doing the one thing they ever wanted to do to Leo as a last resort.
In Love With a Haunted House by Kate Goldman
The last thing Mallory Clark wants to do is move back home. She has no choice, though, since the company she worked for in Chicago has just downsized her, and everybody else. To make matters worse her fiancé has broken their engagement, and her heart, leaving her hurting and scarred. When her mother tells her that the house she always coveted as a child, the once-famed Gray Oaks Manor, is not only on the market but selling for a song, it seems to Mallory that the best thing she could possibly do would be to put Chicago, and everything and everyone in it, behind her. Arriving back home she runs into gorgeous and mysterious Blake Hunter. Blake is new to town and like her he is interested in buying the crumbling old Victorian on the edge of the historic downtown center, although his reasons are his own. Blake is instantly intrigued by the flame-haired beauty with the fiery temper and the vulnerable expression in her eyes. He can feel the attraction between them and knows it is mutual, but he also knows that the last thing on earth he needs is to get involved with a woman determined to take away a house he has to have.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.