Snippet Saturday – Beginnings
Dec
24
2011

How about something from REVELATION?

DE LA VEGA CATS: REVELATION by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing

Max knew the moment she’d finished, felt the subtle and delicious shift of her magick. He loved that about her. She was rich and spicy with power, a scent so heady it made him drunk whenever he was around her.

The first time he’d laid eyes on Renee’s sister he’d been hooked. Hooked on her scent. The sound of her voice. Her prickly demeanor. Oh how he loved that she could be so bitchy. She was a woman who would brook no bullshit, though he had the feeling she hadn’t always been so.

As a human, even being a powerful witch wouldn’t overcome the prejudice some of his jamboree would feel about her. As such, any woman he’d bring home who wasn’t a shifter needed a strong will. When he brought her home the first time, and he would, she’d need to set the tone. He’d talk with Renee about it, knew his parents would be behind the relationship, as would Galen and Gibson. The rest would be hers to win over or scare into leaving her alone.

He had a plan for the future of his jamboree. A plan to leave behind the rules that reinforced the prejudices of the past. Kendra would be integral to that, a partner in the future of his people.

Kendra was it for him. The person he’d been waiting for. His father had always told Max he’d know it when he finally met the right woman. Mainly Max had thought that had been a bunch of woo-woo bullshit. Until Kendra.

He’d been dating someone until right after she’d come to town. It’d taken him a little while to be sure his attraction to Kendra wasn’t just about her ass, and God knew it was the finest ass in all creation. Damn he loved each and every mouth-watering curve Kendra Kellogg possessed. Once he’d known it was more than chemicals dancing around between them, he’d broken things off neatly and carefully and given himself some time between the breakup and the asking out. Not that he’d stopped thinking about her, or that he hadn’t spent every moment creating a plan of attack. He was, after all, a predator.

Now it was time. He didn’t like it that they didn’t share enough intimacy to have him come into her apartment and have him stay the night. If she’d been a Were, things would have been different. She’d have either bloodied him for getting too close, or pounced on him if she wanted him. She wasn’t a Were though, she was human and his behavior needed to reflect that. He wanted her to be totally safe, totally comfortable, and watching her just then sent his cat pacing with wanting her.

He stood, loving the way she greedily took in how he looked. Sending her a raised brow and a smile, he held a hand out. “Ready?”

Taking his hand, she sent him a look that went straight to his toes. “Thanks. I’m sorry you have to run me home. I’m sure you have to be tired too.”

“It’s my pleasure to take you home, Kendra. I only need about four hours sleep each night anyway. I’m often up at four so I can work out before I go to the office.” He walked her out, sending Galen an annoyed look when he hugged Kendra. Gibson, of course, saw the look and delighted in not only hugging Kendra, but kissing her cheek.

“Come on, let’s get you home so you can rest a little before you have to be at work.” He shot Gibson a raised brow, promising retribution as they walked past. His brother, nonplussed, rolled his eyes and flipped Max off. Punk.

He wanted to drag out his time with her, but saw the fatigue written into her face. “You’re not getting enough rest,” he said as he stopped at a red light.

“It’ll be better in a few weeks, once I get myself situated here better.” She blew that little lie with a yawn.

“How’s school?”

Kendra had recently started teaching a third/fourth grade combo class at a private magnet school. He knew the school was very prestigious. The judge he was appearing before in just a few hours had two kids who went there.

“I haven’t been there long enough to know a whole lot, but from the experiences I’ve had so far, it’s really good. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work with the rest of the faculty and the students. It’s a sister school to the one I taught at back in California, so it gave me a bit of weight in the hiring process. The opening was right exactly what I needed and where I’d fit best.” She shrugged. “It was meant to be.”

“Yeah. I think so too.”

He pulled up in front of her building. It was a decent enough place, had been Jack’s before so it would be safe, though probably smelled of wolf. Max managed to hold back a sneer. Not that he didn’t like wolves. He just didn’t want his woman smelling like one, a male one who’d mated with his brother and sister-in-law.

He could get past that part because he knew for sure she’d be safe there. The place was also close to Renee, which was important to Kendra. Near the T stop she took to the school since her car had been stolen. Well lit, though he’d been looking for those little fuckers who’d stolen her car. He would find them eventually. Gibson was on it. No one stole from their people and got away with it. He hated the very idea of her being without a car, even in a city as mass transit friendly as Boston. And he really hated that she’d been taken advantage of by thugs.

“Is Renee going to be all right?” He sent her that damned raised brow when she moved to grab the door handle and she sighed heavily. “I’ll get the door.”

“It’s really not necessary,” she said as he opened it for her.

“Of course it isn’t necessary.”

“So you’re doing it why?”

He laughed, brushing her hair from her face. “Because I want to do it. I like doing it.”

“Oh. Why?”

“So full of questions. Because I want to take care of you. It pleases me.”

Her frown was more of confusion than anger or fear. She had the sweetest line between her eyes, most likely from her tendency to wear every single emotion on her face. Not that he’d say so. Females tended to get pissed off when you pointed out any wrinkle, even if it was one he wanted to smooth away with his lips.

“It does? Well then. I…”

Fascinating. He’d flustered her.

He didn’t resist his desire to slide his thumb over that line between her eyes. She relaxed, slightly leaning into his touch, most likely not even knowing it. “No need to say anything. Right now anyway. Time for rest.”

She shook her head with a sigh, apparently letting go of whatever it was she was going to say. “Renee is fine. The wards are holding. She’s growing and her control of her power is also growing. I gave the place a look, there’s nothing inside that’s bad. She’s just remembering things. I’m sure Galen told you.”

“Some.” He frowned, hating that she and Renee had to shovel the emotional shit their piece-of-crap father had left in his wake.

“The memories she’s regaining, well…” Kendra paused, the pain on her face. “I hate to say it, but for a time anyway, it was better she didn’t know all this. Probably kept her safe. What could she do as a child with that anyway? But she’s not that child anymore and she’s fine now. Stronger than most people assume.”

He brushed his thumb over the dark smudges under her eyes. What he really wanted to do was to pick her up and take her to his house. Wanted to get her a mug of tea, a hot bath, a massage and lots of sleep. Oh and sex. But mainly the taking-care part because she needed it.

“You’re both strong. Now, I’m walking you to your door.”

“It’s really fine. My place is safe.”

“I’m sure it is,” he murmured as he hustled her up the steps, waiting for her to unlock the outer door.

“You’re just going to leave your car?”

“We went over this before.”

She snorted. “Some people have all the luck.”

He laughed. “We’ll get you squared away with this car situation.”

“My insurance is getting me a check. No need to square away anything.” She unlocked her door and he went in first, taking a deep breath and instantly going hard.

Christ, her scent drove his cat nearly as insane as the man. Not even a hint of wolf. It was all sexy, fertile witch, and it brought a moan he had to tamp down. The cat had more patience because he knew she was his. But the man knew it would take a lot more than being his to lure the sexy Kendra Kellogg into his life and keep her there.

“All clear. Just you in here.” And now him. He smiled when she couldn’t see his face.

“Really? Golly I’m pretty sure I said that already.”

God he was messed up. Just the sound of her sarcasm made him have to fist his hands rather than haul her to his body and kiss her until she melted.

“You did. And now I can heartily agree with your assessment. Go to sleep, Kendra. I’ll see you later today at Galen’s.”

He went to the door but paused, changing his course and moving back to her. She looked up at him, her sleepy green eyes wide.

“I forgot something.”

“What?”

“This.” He leaned down—careful not to touch her or he’d have her clothes off in five seconds—and kissed her.

Just a soft, slow brush of lips against hers. She opened her lips to him, the sweetness of her mouth tempting him to do more.

Instead he made himself stop after one last nip of her bottom lip.

“Sweet dreams, beautiful Kendra.”

He left, smiling as he caught sight of her peeking out the window at his car, running, sitting next to the curb.

Be Sure to Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!

Lauren Dane
Rhian Cahill
Eliza Gayle
Selena Blake
Anne Rainey
Jody Wallace
Lissa Matthews
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Alison Kent
Delilah Devlin
Shelli Stevens
Shiloh Walker
HelenKay Dimon
TJ Michaels

Today’s winner, chosen from the comments to this entry, will receive signed copies of TRINITY and REVELATION!

What’s everyone Reading?

24 comments to “Snippet Saturday – Beginnings”

  1. Lindsey E
    December 24th, 2011 at 4:41 am · Link

    Just finished Left Hand Magic by Nancy Collins and Hour of the Lion by Cherise Sinclair which were both enjoyable. Started Enchanted Again by Robin D. Owens the next in her Mystic Circle series.
    linze_e at hotmail.com



  2. Christine
    December 24th, 2011 at 8:04 am · Link

    Just finished the Wicked Wykerlys by Patricia Rice



  3. JenM
    December 24th, 2011 at 8:25 am · Link

    I just finished Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep. I’m also in the middle of the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology which has a werewolves + Christmas theme. It’s great because I can read a story or two, then put it down for a bit.



  4. Carinne
    December 24th, 2011 at 9:01 am · Link

    Love the de la vega cats. I’m rereading the Brown sibling books right now, and I think after that I’m rereading these!



  5. Michelle AB
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:18 am · Link

    I love this series. I was so excited to hear that you were giving us another book soon. Thank you so much.



  6. Alaina
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:26 am · Link

    right now, i am in the middle of Jennifer Esteps’ Kiss of Frost..her YA series, and super awesome!



  7. Kris M.
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:38 am · Link

    Just finished Fallon’s Jewel by Sedonia Guillone. Now I am starting Master of the Mountain by Cerise Sinclair.

    please do not enter me in this one because i already have both of these books (awesome stories they are too 😉 )



  8. Angie M
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:56 am · Link

    This is a great book in a great series! Looking forward to Gibson’s story.



  9. Diane
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:29 am · Link

    I just bought Night Reigns by Dianne Duvall.



  10. azteclady
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:33 am · Link

    I’m reading Heart and Swords by Robin D. Owens. It’s a collection of four short stories set in her Celta world. I really love this series.



  11. Jessica T.
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:52 am · Link

    I’m re-reading the Promises series by Sarah McCarty. I’m on Promises Keep and I’m loving me some Cougar 🙂



  12. Diane Mc.
    December 24th, 2011 at 1:07 pm · Link

    Too Hot by Lauren Fraser.



  13. Linda
    December 24th, 2011 at 1:36 pm · Link

    I am catching up on my TBR pile including Heart of Darkness and Taste of Midnight.



  14. Viki S.
    December 24th, 2011 at 1:41 pm · Link

    I’m almost finished with Keri Arthur’s DARKNESS RISING.
    Happy Holidays!



  15. CrystalGB
    December 24th, 2011 at 2:25 pm · Link

    I am reading If You Hear Her by Shiloh Walker.



  16. MEL
    December 24th, 2011 at 3:37 pm · Link

    I am finishing up reading If You Hear Her – Shiloh Walker. After that, I am not sure.



  17. Jennifer M(OR)
    December 24th, 2011 at 4:23 pm · Link

    I’m reading Thea Harrison’s newest one, but have to keep putting it down. Dang these holidays and people expecting food and presents. It really takes away from my reading time.



  18. elaing8
    December 24th, 2011 at 5:32 pm · Link

    I’m reading Caught by Cassandra Carr

    Merry Christmas!



  19. GladysMP
    December 24th, 2011 at 6:25 pm · Link

    I am currently reading a Christmas story, “Christmas in Sugar CreeK” by Shelley Shepard Gray. I have had to sandwich reading between shopping for both Christmas presents and baby presents, decorating, cooking, cleaning, etc.; but I am hoping to finish the book before Christmas is a date in the past. LOL

    My house now smells heavenly. The turkey just came out of the oven and the huge pine Christmas tree in the living room has that room smelling great, too. Hubby has been playing Chrismas carols all day and we are just about ready for family members to arrive tomorrow.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours and don’t eat too much! I should talk after all the Thanksgiving leftovers I ate.



  20. StacieD
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:20 pm · Link

    I just started Pandora’s Gift by Jennifer Lynne.



  21. Hailey
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:48 pm · Link

    I just finished Ilona Andrews free novella Magic Gifts. I love Kate Daniels!



  22. Lori B.
    December 25th, 2011 at 9:32 am · Link

    I am actually re-reading your Cascadia Wolves series this Christmas Break! LOVE IT! 😉



  23. Mariann
    December 26th, 2011 at 8:52 am · Link

    I am reading Sophie Oak Found in Bliss — sooo good!!! 🙂



  24. Spav
    December 29th, 2011 at 5:48 pm · Link

    I’m reading Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch.