My new Urban Fantasy novel, PLAN A: LYCAON’S KISS will be released on July 21st!!! (Exactly 1 year after my first novel, GREEN)
Since Summer has snuck up on me, I figured I’d give you a bit of a teaser. Take a look at Chapter 1!
I’m so excited to share it with you!!!
PLAN A: LYCAON’S KISS
Chapter 1
“What is this place?” I breathed nervously as I fingered a mobile made of what looked to be crystals. I shuddered as I glanced around. “This place is kind of weird.”
The room was decorated floor to ceiling in red, maroon and black colored velvet. To top things off, what I could only describe as chamber music wafted throughout the small room. It reminded me of those horror movies where a virgin was ruthlessly sacrificed. Needless to say, that didn’t spell well for me.
“Jen, what is this place?” I asked a bit more forcefully. I glanced over at my boyfriend. Even after two years together he still sent a wave of butterflies down to my stomach (and other regions). I took a moment to appreciate his classic “Clark Kent” good looks. Piercing blue eyes coupled with a dark mop of perfectly styled hair. Yes, I was one lucky girl…or so I thought.
“I told you to stop calling me that,” he snapped, never bothering to look up at me. The way he fidgeted made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but I chose to ignore the heaviness in my gut. So we were in a weird magic store, there was nothing to be worried about…right?
Jensen rolled his shoulders and muttered, “My name is too feminine as it is.”
I smirked and replied, “It’s a family name. I think people will forgive you.” I walked around the small shop, taking great lengths to avoid bumping into the various crystals, which seemed to be hung everywhere. I ran my hand carefully against a velvet table cloth and wandered over to a single black candle at the far corner of the room. It was roughly about three feet tall and from the look of it, seemed more than halfway burned through. I couldn’t even imagine how tall it stood when brand new.
“Be careful with that!” A strangely high male voice called out from the opposite end of the room.
I quickly spun around and bumped into a table. I yelped and grabbed it, steadying it just in time to save a goblet from toppling over. I grinned sheepishly and stuttered, “How’d that get there?” I hung my head and apologized.
“Is this seriously what you’re bringing me?” the man snapped. I raised my head and got my first good look at the stranger. He seemed about a good decade older than my twenty-two years and had the strangest hairstyle I’d ever seen. His head was for the most part buzzed, except for a strip of jet black that reached from the top of his forehead to the nape of his neck. I assumed he normally styled it as a Mohawk, but that day his hair flopped around lifelessly around his head. His cheeks seemed a bit gaunt and sunken in, but clean shaven nonetheless. Then there were his eyes…His eyes were lined in a deep kohl liner, which accentuated a beautiful hazel color. Had it not been for the perpetual scowl, those eyes would have been the most beautiful I’d ever seen.
“Greg!” Jensen greeted happily – a bit too happily. “Nice to see you man.” He hesitated slightly before walking over to the scrawny man. Though Greg was a good foot shorter than Jensen, my boyfriend was visibly fearful around him. It terrified me.
“Wish I could say the same thing about you,” Greg snarled. His head turned towards my direction and he narrowed his eyes. “This her?” I couldn’t help but feel stripped down as he scanned me from head to toe.
I cleared my throat. “Um, I’m Morgan.” I extended my hand only to pull it back when Greg merely flicked his tongue against his teeth in response. I gulped and walked over to Jensen, weaving my arm through his. “Who’s your friend?” I asked nervously.
Jensen visibly gulped, his Adam’s apple bouncing in the process. “This is Greg, he’s…uh…a business associate of mine.”
“I guess you can call me that,” Greg snickered and crossed his arms. I hate to stereotype, but I was expecting them to be covered in tattoos. To my surprise, both his forearms were bare except for the numerous welts and scars, which ran down his elbows to wrists. As my eyes ran along his arms, Greg and I caught eyes. He flashed me a smile and I instantly felt myself redden in embarrassment.
“So, Jensen,” Greg began as he made his way towards us. “I hope you know she doesn’t count as payment, just collateral.”
My heart instantly began to speed up. My eyes widened and I pushed away from Jensen. “What is he talking about?”
Jensen threw me an apologetic smile. “It’s only temporary,” he replied quietly. “I promise I’ll get you back.”
“Jensen,” I said firmly. “What are you talking about?” At this point I had already begun to make my way door. I reached out for the door handle only to find a hand firmly atop my wrist. I whipped my head around and found myself looking Greg in the eye. “That’s impossible,” I whispered.
Greg automatically grabbed my forearm. He spun me around so that I was facing Jensen. As I stared at my boyfriend Greg leaned over so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath hit my skin. Softly, he whispered in my ear, “Take a look at this scumbag you call your boyfriend. Owes me fifty grand that he’s not able to pay back.” He began laughing and shook his head in amusement. “Offered you up as collateral until I get my money back.”
“Jensen!” I screamed hysterically. “Tell me this is some sort of sick joke.” I began struggling against Greg, but his grip on my arm wouldn’t budge. It was as if all the strength in my body wasn’t enough to fight against the strength in his one hand alone. “Jensen!” I wailed as tears began to fall from my eyes. “Please….you can’t possibly be serious.” With my free hand I reached for the phone in my pocket. “I’m calling the police! You people are crazy!”
As soon as I freed the fluorescent pink phone from my pocket, Greg’s hand shot out and grabbed it from mine. I watched helplessly as he crushed it effortlessly within the palm of his left hand. “Sweetie, that’s not very nice,” he scolded. He looked up at Jensen who had inched his way towards the door. With a sneer Greg shouted, “You have two weeks to get me the money! If you’re not here by midnight on the twentieth, your girl is going to be the newest member of my pack, you hear me?”
Jensen nodded his head frantically and made a beeline for the door. I screamed at the top of my lungs as I watched the glass door shut behind him. I vaguely heard Greg’s words of feigned comfort as my tears began to blind my eyes.
