Katalina Leon is Uncaged

Uncaged book 25, is my second contribution to the Black Hills Wolves series. Portrait of a Lone Wolf, book 7 was my first. I can’t say enough great things about this amazing series. I love all the books, and each of the authors has been a joy to work with. I have at least two more Black Hills Wolves books coming in early 2016. There will be some fun surprises too.

Uncaged, has a special place in my heart. It’s dedicated to my late sister Christy. I was fortunate enough to have Christy spend her last months in my home. During one of our most poignant conversations, she confessed, “I thought my life would have more romance.” She had a few intense relationships and lots of drama, but never a loving romance with someone who really cared. Within a day of her passing, I started writing Uncaged, determined to give Christy the protective, understanding hero she never had in real life. I created Mitchell for Christy, but I hope you’ll love him too, because we all deserve a hero who can love us as we are.

Uncaged

Black Hills Wolves Book 25

By: Katalina Leon

Blurb:
....Mitchell Waya was born to rage in a cage. Every time he competes in a mixed martial arts match, he brings two secret weapons to the ring—a raging heart and the blood of a wolf. When the beast within explodes, no man stands a chance. Scaling the heights of an international career, he’s not prepared for the tragedy and scandal that overtakes him.
....At fourteen, Christy was abducted and abused by a brutal cult of survivalist. In a brave act of defiance, she attempts to escape but finds herself facing execution in a dark alley. When Mitchell appears from the shadows like an avenging angel to rescue her, she catches a glimpse of the protective wolf’s fury. They form a brief but intense bond but then Fate pushes them apart.....Four years pass. Fortunes change. Concerned about Mitchell’s welfare, Christy reaches out, but her kind deed puts her squarely in a killer’s sights, and only the courage of a wolf can save her.

 Excerpt:

“Gee!” he shouted over his shoulder. “Two cheeseburgers and fries.”

“No cheese on mine,” she added. “I’ll pay. I appreciate you taking the time to sit down with me.”

He shook his head. “Gee will put cheese on it anyway. In his mind, a hamburger comes with cheese. I’ve tried asking him to leave the cheese off mine, but he won’t do it. He’s an eccentric. I used to peel it away, now I just eat it.”

“Okay.”

“The burgers are on me. I’ve got a tab here, and I rent a room upstairs.”

“Here?” She appeared scandalized. “You live above a pool hall? I figured you owned a trophy home somewhere nearby.”

Settling into his chair. “Nope.”

“This place looks rowdy. It must be hard to sleep.”

How could he explain the clack of pool cues and blaring music filtering through the floorboards were pleasant alternatives to the angry voice in his head telling him he was a worthless jerk. “I don’t mind.”

Drumming her fingertips on the table, she glanced around. “So, the Tex Wilkins story is true? You really are broke?”

“Disappointed? You sure don’t look like a gold digger.”

She didn’t skip a beat. A spark of compassion shone in her eyes. “You deserve better.”

Her words sounded convincing as if she did care. He took a long look at her. Even a half-dozen layers of frumpy clothes didn’t obliterate a graceful frame and hint of soft curves. Tons of wild auburn hair tumbled in waves around her face. Her lush lips sent conflicting messages. A new terror entered his thoughts. He half feared she might be one of the women he’d hooked up with on the circuit and long forgotten, or didn’t recognize minus the heavy glamor makeup. He hoped to God he’d never messed with anyone this young. “Have we met?”

She seemed anxious, almost breathless. Her lips parted. “Once.”

Panic set in. “I am so sorry if I did or said anything to hurt your feelings or mislead you. During a chunk of my life, everything moved so fast it became a blur. I’m not proud of my promiscuous behavior, but I can’t say I regret it either. If I—”

Her jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”

He gulped. “Have we…the two of us…you know?”

Her cheeks flushed. “No! Absolutely not.”

“That’s a relief. I’d hate to forget someone like you.”

Turning her face, she stared at the wall. “I made a big mistake approaching you this way.”

He threw his hands in the air. “I told you not to come. Don’t pretend to be shocked. I thought you wanted a where-is-he-now interview. The more horrid stuff dug up about me the better, am I right?”

Uncaged releases August 21^st 2015.

Amazon | ARe | Kobo | Bookstrand

Bio: Katalina Leon

Katalina Leon is an artist and author who can’t commit to a single genre. Her favorite playgrounds are historical, Sci-fi, contemporary, and most of all paranormal realms. Katalina brings a sense of adventure and a touch of the mystical to erotic romance. She believes there's a daring heroine inside every woman who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero.

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00BIXI8BQ

Facebook: www.facebook.com/katalinaleonauthor

Website: www.katalinaleon.com

 Twitter: @Katalina_Leon

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/katalinaleon/

Author Vivien Paige Reveals Her HOT AND UNUSUAL Cover

HOT AND UNUSUAL – Book 1

Series: Glamour Nannies – Falling for the Billionaire

Genre: Contemporary romance (sensual)

Release date: 18 August 2015

Blurb:....

....If there's one thing emotionally unavailable party-princess, Tayla Watkins knows, it’s clothes. Kids? Not so much. But when her foster brother leaves her with a deathbed wish regarding the son he never had a chance to meet, she can’t refuse.

....Armed with a Nannying for Dummies guidebook, all Tayla needs is three weeks at the mansion where the little boy lives to suss out the situation, confirm his well-being then leave without anyone ever knowing who she really is. Totally doable, except she chooses the wrong bed on her first night and faces off with the sexy uncle intent on knocking her off her six-inch heels.

....When billionaire adventurist, Jared Miller, discovers his nephew’s sixty-year-old nanny has been replaced with a sparsely clad beauty, his trusted instincts fly off the charts, and so does his intrigue-meter. The glamorous nanny has as many secrets as she does shoes, and he’s determined to shadow her every move to uncover them all.

Excerpt:

....“I’m the new nanny. Temporary nanny. My name is Tayla Watkins.”

....He rubbed his jaw. His silence made her nervous, his scrutiny of her face, anxious. But when his gaze flicked down her body, heat soaked her cheeks. Could he see right through her nightie? The curve of her breasts, her nipples, the absence of her panties because she’d been too tired to put on a pair.

....The light chiffon hid nothing. Yet a deep-rooted defiance forced her to stand there, face him head-on as opposed to hiding her partial nakedness behind the curtains while getting all bent out of shape at his daring inspection.

....She did the next best thing. With casual pretense, she picked a decorative cushion off the floor and hugged it to her body. The longish rectangle shape, edged with gold tassels, covered her private bits.

....“I liked Mrs. D better,” he said, fingering the cut across his forehead oozing a bit with blood. “What happened to her? Is she okay?”

....“Mrs. Davis had scheduled a medical procedure and hired me to fill in for her.” She needed to shorten the amount of time she spent in his company with nothing but a cushion separating him from her near-nakedness. “I’m sorry we got off on the wrong…foot.” When really, the word ‘bed’ came to mind. “And I’m sorry about throwing the lamp at you.” She gestured toward his head. “I thought you were dead. Then you moved. I’ll get you something for it.” Without giving him her back and with as much grace as she could muster, she walked the small space sideways back toward the open door.

....“No, don’t bother. I need to get a lot of sleep, preferably on that bed, alone, so if you don’t mind, say good-night.” His succinct dismissal irked her, but his large hand, curling over her hip then to the small of her back, forcing her to face forward so he could usher her out, stung her nerves with raw heat. “You know, Ms. Nanny, you did much better in my dreams.”

Pre-order at Amazon Here.

Bio:

Vivien Paige has been eagerly consuming romance novels since her early teens. Strong, dark alpha heroes. Cute, feisty heroines. Combustible, emotional roller-coaster rides to a splendid happy ever after. Perfect! That's what makes her such an awesome wife...well depending on who you ask :) Now she writes her own romance novels, too.

Website: www.vivienpaige.com

Twitter: @VivienPaige

Facebook: facebook.com/vivienpaige

Erzabet Bishop Invites You to Club Beam

Club Beam

Beyond Fairytales

By: Erzabet Bishop

....In the Shadow World, nothing is as it seems.

....Detective Sydney Marr is having a very bad day. Her boss is on the warpath, she’s being treated for a werewolf bite, and her current case has hit a dead end. When her friend Erika talks Syd into going with her to Club Beam, she jumps at the chance, even if it means spending an evening without her spell arsenal. A high-class vampire bar and fetish club, Club Beam is fantasy made real.

....Club owner and Dom Gideon Raines spies the red-haired beauty and is transfixed. A fight against a skillful murderer brings war for fae and vampire alike. Sometimes when you play with monsters, the monsters play back.

Release date: May 5, 2015

Pages: 106

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Line: Beyond Fairy Tales, Shadow World Series

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy, Fairy Tale, m/f

Inspiration and motivation:

....When I first contacted Decadent Publishing to inquire about their fairy tale line I was assigned a story called “The Beam.” I looked it up and found out it was about a wizard who is bested by a woman and he exacts his revenge. Whenever I encounter a new project like this, I have to sit down and think about what all the moving parts mean. In this case, how to turn a story like this into a modern romance that readers would find appealing. Since I tend to write urban fantasy slanted pieces, I immediately laser beamed in on the wizard and witch part. I mean, how cool is that to have a ready-made story ripe for the picking? I just had to add some modern twists. What would be more modern than a witchy karaoke event and fairy tale fetish night? 

....The process of writing for me is an organic one. It begins with a legal pad and a series of colorful sticky notes and a foam board. I start thinking about the chapters and what needs to happen to make the story move and there you go-plot points on sticky notes I can adjust as needed. It works too. Sydney had lots of thoughts on where she wanted to go and believe me, she is still in there talking.

The second book in the Shadow World series is already writing itself (think dragon shifters and a psychic) and I can see the fireworks shaping up nicely.

....Check out further adventures with Master Gideon and Sydney in Sci Spanks 2015 now available on Amazon. You might just get invited for a session behind the Red Door. Master Gideon has a paddle and he’s ready to play. There will be more where that came from, you can count on that…

....Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Sci-Spanks-2015-Collection-Spankings-ebook/dp/B0105JDMQE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1438833298&sr=1-1&keywords=sci+spanks+2015

....I hope you will enjoy the introduction to my Shadow World series and return to Club Beam for many more adventures. I am happy to share that the audio book is now in the works.

Buy links:

B&N: http://goo.gl/6eNqdL

ARe: https://goo.gl/WXuk51

Google: https://goo.gl/YHJzTh

Kobo: https://goo.gl/VTt0FZ

iTunes: https://goo.gl/HXXsTAAmazon: http://goo.gl/gt5vRv

Excerpt:

....“Once upon a time….” Erika sang and waggled her eyebrows. “Come on, Sydney. Live a little. This club is smoking hot, and you’ll love it.”

....Sydney grumbled under her breath and watched the club-goers parade past, each dressed like a fairy-tale character. The Little Mermaid trounced by in a see-through, diaphanous gown revealing too much in the way of personal attributes. Sleeping Beauty sashayed down the sidewalk with a leash around the neck of her Prince Charming. A woman in a way-too-short Red Riding Hood outfit approached. Her arm was wrapped around a seductress dressed in wolf ears, a tail, and a skimpy thong-style bikini. Red carried a basket full of what looked like pink fuzzy handcuffs and a can of whipped cream, which she swung into Syd.

....“Hey!”

....The red-cloaked vixen sent her a wink and traipsed on by, joined by a near-pornographic version of the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland. Any shorter and the skirt would show her naughty bits. Or maybe that was the plan.

....Syd had just gotten off her day shift as a detective, and the last thing she wanted to do was be around more people. Especially people with more skin showing than on late-night cable shows. Her head hurt from the lights and the pulse of the music, and her stupid witch costume was pinching her toes. Erika’s scant fairy costume hugged all her curves, her breasts bursting from the bodice. The skirt barely covered her backside, and the strappy silver sandals showed off her silver-glitter nail polish.

....The building loomed next to them. A giant warehouse-like structure, it was large enough to house all manner of mischief, and Syd was itching with the desire to get inside and find out just what was going on behind its doors. The sidewalk was flagged by trees lit up with twinkly white lights, adding an upscale ambiance to the area. What in the daylight looked like an industrial area gone to the dogs had been transformed into an attractive and well-attended venue.

....She didn’t have the heart to tell Erika she’d been here once already today for the case she was working on, but the entrance had been sealed up tighter than a drum. Sydney’s recourse was to infiltrate Club Beam by night as a patron. Her sergeant, Debra, would kill her if she realized Syd had even considered going in without backup. So would her partner, James. Erika had asked her to come so she wouldn’t be alone, and, despite herself, Syd couldn’t resist. To catch a vampire, you had to go out at night, and Club Beam was the hot spot. After last month’s fuckup, she had to do this and do it right, even if it killed her. James was on medical leave, and it remained up to her to get this guy before someone else got killed or turned furry.

....I will not think about becoming one of the terminally furry. It’s over. Move on. Take the pills the doctor gave you and freaking pray.

....“Oh look. I think I see Snow White.” Erika stood on her tiptoes and craned her head along the huge expanse of line they still had to navigate to get inside.

....Syd peered into the crowd and grimaced. Hairy legs. More makeup than a Mac commercial. “Nope. That was a guy in drag.”

....Erika narrowed her eyes. “God, Syd. You’re the world’s biggest wet blanket ever.”

....Sydney shifted her weight and moved another two steps toward the door as the line inched forward. “I told you, I’ve had a hard day. We had a homicide case come in, and I’ve been out beating the street. I want to go home and bury my head under my pillow. But, no. Out of the kindness of my heart, here I am standing in line at a vampire bar with a bunch of overgrown kids playing dress-up in fairy-tale fetish wear.”

About the Author:

Erzabet Bishop is the author of Club Beam, Sigil Fire, Written on Skin, Tethered, Pomegranate, Temptation Resorts Jess and Marnie interactive choose your own adventure romances and more. She is a contributing author to The Big Book of Submission, Slave Girls, Hungry for More and many other anthologies. She is a winner of  two 2015 Goldie Awards for her work in anthologies and an active member of the Romance Writers of America. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry children and is often playing at local bookstores. Follow her posts on Twitter @erzabetbishop.

Newsletter sign up: http://erzabetwrites.wix.com/erzabetbishop

Authors - Looking for Something New to Write?

Ever been interested in writing within a shared world? 

Do you like wolf-shifter stories? 

Then this open call is for you!

Dawn has come to Los Lobos, and a nearly decimated wolf pack has found its feet again. Drew Tao has ousted his father, the Alpha, reclaimed his mate, and is determined to make things better than they ever were before. 

Come join the Black Hills Wolves pack. 

E-mail submissions at submissions@decadentpublishing.com, and request your copy of the Black Hills Wolves bible, which outlines the series. These are shorter stories, 18-35K in length. See the books already published here.

Claiming the She-Wolf by Louisa Bacio @DecadentPub #BlackHillsWolves

When her older brother leaves the Black Hills to go to college, Tala Graystone stays behind, determined to restore their dilapidated home into a B&B for the pack. As more people return to the area, the need for temporary housing increases. Now, if only she can find someone to help with the heavy lifting.

Yas Collins fled Los Lobos as a child with his mother. As he struggles with his wolf and overpowering shifts, a desire for nature and the forest strikes hard. Black Hills, South Dakota, beckons him. With a background in construction, he easily finds work at Tala’s dilapidated B&B, but not everyone in town greets him with open arms.

As the remodel gets underway, Tala and Yas fight their growing attraction. Yas doesn’t trust his wolf urges around beautiful B&B owner. The she-wolf, however, has other plans.

On sale: July 17, 2015

Available for pre-order via Amazon, ARe, iBooks, Kobo.

Advanced reviews: “Scorching hot romance can only win your heart and leave you looking for more of this series!” – Roxie Ferguson, Goodreads

About the Author:

....A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length novels.

....Bacio shares her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and a multitude pet craziness: Two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters, rabbits and hermit crabs. In her other life, she teaches college classes in English, journalism and popular culture.

Contact Details:

Website http://www.louisabacio.com

Email: louisabacio@yahoo.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/louisabacio

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/louisabacio

Enjoy the following excerpt for Claiming the She-Wolf:

A growl from low in his throat threatened to escape. The rumble started in his chest, and he fought to keep it down.

She turned, looking down at him. “Did you say something?”

“Umm, no. Just clearing my throat.”

He needed to get his base instincts under control. Recent research showed that wolves in the wild killed in order to protect their domains and to get more space. He didn’t want to be ruled by his wolf. He’d grown up in the city, with humans, not out in the forest. His mom had tried to talk to him about shifting, but as a woman, she didn’t have the same experience.

He couldn’t go to a shifters anonymous group for help with his sexual urges. Maybe he needed to start his own support group. He snorted at the idea. At the top of the landing, Tala turned to the right, and he followed.

They entered what had to be the master bedroom suite. It was painted a vibrant lavender color, and the bed had a green floral comforter with an abundance of fluffy throw pillows. White dollies rested on the two nightstands, and a vase of wildflowers called for attention. The feminine room seemed in sharp contrast to his host. She didn’t look frilly.

“This will be your quarters.” Her lips pursed, and she blinked a few times.

The idea shocked him. “What? I’m sorry, but it looks like your room.”

“Well, it has been. But it’s the nicest room in the house, and as a guest, figure you should have it to be comfortable. I’ll move my things into another one.”

He waved his hands in front of him, as if shooing away something physically bad. “No way. No can do. Give me the second best, then. My first job can be fixing it up.”

She smiled. “Well, second best would be my brother’s room, and even though he’s on a trip right now, I don’t feel comfortable moving his stuff. So third best, and we work today to make it more, um, livable?”

Her choice of words made him pause. “Deal.”

Obsessed with #ParanormalRomance and #Shapeshifters? @DecadentPub @Katalina_Leon #BHW

Today, Garland & Gould has debut author Katalina Leon talking about her newest obsession....

....My name is Katalina Leon. Writing paranormal romance with wolf-shifters is my current obsession. I’ve got wolves on he brain. My contribution to the Black Hills Wolves series is “Portrait of a Lone Wolf” It’s book 7 in Decadent Publishing’s multi-author series. I’m happy to announce, I have a second book coming soon. I can’t wait to share it.

....I joined the Black Hills Wolves because Rebecca Royce invited me to. I love Rebecca. She’s someone I’d described as talented, generous and creative. I’ve worked with her on other book series and she is a high-integrity person. She’s an author to keep your eye on, and she’s here to stay. I can’t believe how much she accomplishes as an author on top of being a full time mother to three young boys. I have one boy, and I get exhausted just thinking about all she juggles.
....The Black Hills Wolves project has been in the works for two years. I signed on in March 2013. “Portrait of a Lone Wolf” is my first book in the series and my first contracted book with Decadent Publishing. The story introduces two lonely characters, Sela and Rio, who haven’t belonged to anyone or anything for a long while. Despite a rough start, they soon discover they make sense as life-mates. My heroine Sela Lopez, is a divorced, filmmaker. She arrives in the Black Hills intent on producing a documentary of the Black Hills beleaguered wolf population and gets a big surprise. The wolves of the Black Hills are more than they appear to be.
.....My hero Rio Waya—“Waya” is Cherokee for wolf, is a retired Army Ranger. He’s spent his adult life on the move, and in deliberate avoidance of Black Hills wolf-pack dysfunction. At one time, an Alpha-tyrant named Magnum, did a generation of damage to the pack. With Magnum out of way, pack members in my books return to the Black Hills and begin to explore what life in a wolf-shifter community has to offer. Of course he’s tired of being a lone wolf and is ready to take a life-mate when unsuspecting Sela rolls into town…
 

Portrait of a Lone Wolf

Black Hills Wolves Book 7

Katalina Leon

 

 

....A mixed-blood Native American wolf-shifter, abandoned by a teenage mother and ignored by an absentee father, Rio Waya has never fit in or felt worthy of love. But when he comes home to the Black Hills, he realizes he wants a mate of his own.
....Recovering from a cheating ex who started a new family behind her back, Sela López seeks escape to pull her life back together. As a documentary filmmaker and wildlife photographer, she rents a cabin in the Black Hills with plans to film the beleaguered wolf population. But she’s so busy looking through a camera lens she doesn’t see trouble coming.
....Sparks fly as mutual fears and vulnerabilities surface when Sela and Rio meet. She can’t figure out why the mysterious Mr. Waya is so anxious about having a documentary made of the Black Hills Wolves. But when his secret is exposed, all hell breaks loose. Can Rio win Sela’s trust and soothe her fears about allowing a hunky wolf-shifter into her heart?


EXCERPT:

....“López, my name’s Sela López. I’ll be a resident of Los Lobos County this summer. I’ve rented a cabin on Gray Paw Mountain.” Everyone perked up in a weird way. They looked a bit too interested in what she’d said. The response was unsettling.

....Gee glowered. “You’re the one renting the cabin?”

....She realized this was probably a good time to change the subject. “I would like my patty medium rare.”

....Damn. Why the hell had she announced to a bunch of strange men in a bar she was going to living alone in a remote cabin on the edge of a national park? Not smart.

....“López?” Gee guffawed He appeared amused as if he were privy to the funniest private joke in the world. “López means ‘wolf’! You gotta love the irony.” He gave Plaid Shirt a nudge. “Rio, did you know her name was López?”

....Rio lifted his chin. “I knew.”

....“What’s going on?” Sela’s temper flared. “Am I missing something? What’s so funny about my name? López is a common Hispanic surname.”

....Rio offered her his hand. “Miss López, my name is Rio Waya. You rented the cabin on Gray Paw Mountain from me. You’re hours late. I was expecting you to arrive before sunset.”

....She gulped. “I’m sorry. I badly miscalculated the distances out here. I thought I would call when I got to town. I hoped perhaps you could give me directions over the phone and talk me in?”

....Rio shook his head. “You’d never find the cabin by yourself in the dark. This isn’t Los Angeles. There are no street signs. The cabin’s hidden beyond miles of timber, gravel, and unmarked dirt road. You’ll have to follow me. I’ll lead us in.”

....“Wait a moment!” Panic rose in her voice. This guy, attractive as he was, was still a man. She certainly didn’t need one of those, especially during her summer of soul-healing. “I was told I’d have privacy at the cabin. I don’t want a roommate or a landlord crowding me.”

....“I won’t be crowding you.” Rio’s expressive brows sank. Obviously, he’d taken offense. “The only thing we’ll be sharing is a mountain. I’ll be living five miles away at the Los Lobos ranger station. Will that satisfy your need for privacy?”

....“Yes.”

....His lip curled with a hint of sarcasm. “At least the first matter is settled. One thing at a time.”

....“Pardon me. Is there a problem I’m unaware of?”

....“Last night’s e-mail mentioned your desire to do a documentary on Los Lobo’s growing wolf population. Filming here is not a good idea. If I had known this was your intention, I would have refused you use of my cabin.”

....She was stunned. “I drove eleven-hundred miles to get here. The documentary is the entire purpose of my trip. All I’ll do is film and photograph wolves outside the national park. Who will I hurt?”

....Rio’s gaze hardened. “The wolves.”

....“How so? I’ll treat this subject with respect. This isn’t amateur wildlife photography, like you might be thinking. I plan to win the wolves over, gain their trust, and take portraits of each one as an individual. The presentation will be like a family album.”

....“Sounds sweet, but has it occurred to you publishing photographs of individual wolves and showing their exact location outside the protection of the park puts them at grave risk?”

....“From who?”

....“Pissed-off ranchers, poachers, and any number of psychos who get their kicks owning the pelt of an animal everybody else has fawned over. Do you have any idea how many creeps out there would love to say they shot ol’ White Socks and her pups or whatever you christen the wolves? A lot. The sad part is they’ll never be prosecuted. If they claim they felt threatened, they’ll be within their rights to shoot. The wolves aren’t protected on private land.”

....“I disagree. I plan to bring positive attention to Los Lobos wolf population. In the long run, the more people aware of the problem, the safer the wolves will be.”

....His hands clenched to fists. “No offense, Miss López, but you just drove in from Los Angeles. You can’t fully grasp how complicated our situation is.”

....“I have a Jeep parked in back, loaded with film equipment. I spent the last eight months of my life doing extensive wolf research and nearly all my savings on this project. I need this to work, so please don’t insult me by saying I haven’t given this serious thought.”

....Rio stood, revealing a powerful build. He stepped closer until she was forced to tip her chin up. “I could choose to give your deposit back. I don’t have to rent the cabin to you.”

....“You could, but I won’t be stopped. I’ll figure out something else.” She stared at Rio. He returned the stiletto gaze in the most provoking way with nostrils flared. She sensed this was a crucial challenge and held her ground, willing herself not to blink. He loomed so close she felt his warm breath on her cheek.

....Finally, he broke the death-stare and looked away. “I’ll give you credit for being determined. Miss López, will you accept some helpful advice?”

....The brief but intense mini-standoff left her rattled. “Sure.”

....“My advice to you is—accept helpful advice…”

 

BUY: Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | ARe
Find Katalina Online: Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter: @Katalina_Leon

She's a bad girlfriend. Can she change her wicked ways? Black Hills Desperado by D.L. Jackson @dlaree69 @DecadentPub #BlackHillsWolves

Black Hills Desperado

Black Hills Wolves

D. L. Jackson

 

She’s a bad girlfriend.

Nothing Xio Davis does is right. When she abandons her pack, riding out of town on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle, she finds she’s bitten off more than she can chew. First, it’s small-time crimes, then bank robbery. As Xio sinks into the criminal underworld, the FBI catches up with her. Now, she’s got one way out: snitch.

When Xio turns state's evidence against a Mexican drug lord, Agent Marcus Cazador steps up to take her home, giving up his career, his place in the El Paso pack, and all he knows to protect her.

Xio claims she’s not the same wolf who left ten years before, but can she convince Marcus she’s changed her wicked ways? Or will the Black Hills be the end of the road on her long journey to redemption?

 

Excerpt: 

....“A bank that’s never been robbed. There’s a first time for everything.”
....State-of-the-art security. Armed rent-a-cops stationed on either side of the double doors. A busy street making a speedy getaway difficult. A lot of excellent reasons for Xio Davis get back in her Beemer and get out of Dodge.
....None good enough to deter her from a challenge.
....The two men who’d ridden with her climbed out. The bigger of the pair, Juan, rolled his shoulders before reaching into the cab for a ski mask and weapon, then passing it off to Miguel. “Catch.” He grabbed another and tossed it over the roof to her.
....She caught it, slammed a full magazine home, and tucked it under her duster. With a wink, she retrieved her Day of the Dead mask from a recent celebration. “Okay, boys. Let’s break their lucky streak.”
....Diego gave her the freedom to do whatever she wanted these days, as long as she kept his bed warm, and whenever she left his hacienda, she remembered to take her escorts with her. Maybe it was his way of keeping his eye on her—or on his money. Whatever the reason, she didn’t like it, so Xio kept the boys too busy to stick their noses in her personal business. Too busy to get close to the truth.
....He didn’t smack her around or pass her among his friends and associates. And his men had long ago learned to respect her personal space. After one of his new hires had groped her, the man had lost a couple fingers and ended up in a body cast. Diego didn’t have to say a word or do anything to intervene. She’d policed her own problems.
....Her boyfriend had grown busy with cartel business and that suited her fine. Never present, all the better. They didn’t love each other, but had an understanding. He provided for her, protected her when she needed it. She scratched his itch and spent his money.
....But life had grown dull. Triggered by a botched bank robbery in El Paso, a restlessness had begun to swell inside her. Why, after all these years, she didn’t know, but it was there, a constant reminder she’d shackled her true nature in her quest to be free.
....Her wolf constantly paced in her consciousness. Xio found herself unable to settle, shift, or run in the wilds as her inner beast demanded. Not because she physically couldn’t but because outside forces conspired against her. That was what happened when you lived with humans.
....Wolf—dog—it didn’t matter. All made great sausage for hungry families in the villages surrounding the Sanchez ranch, and it was a risk she hadn’t taken in the ten years’ time since she’d almost ended up in a taco on some family’s dinner table.
....She didn’t want to be in Mexico, and she didn’t want to be with Diego anymore, but she really didn’t have a choice or anywhere else to go. Hence, the reason she’d crossed the border for this small amusement. Perhaps she could get some of the pent-up energy out. Open a valve and vent.
....Speaking of which….
....Xio pulled the mask over her eyes and strode through the front doors of the bank. Her two team members flanked her.
....No one seemed to notice them yet. Not very observant for a bank that claimed to have a robbery-free record. Deciding to wake them all up, she yanked an AKS-762 assault rifle—with a custom stock and barrel that catered to her size—from under her canvas duster and fired several rounds into the ceiling. Chunks of plaster rained down on the patrons in the lobby. Multiple people screamed and several of the customers hit the floor before she needed to provide them with instruction. Conversely, not everyone appeared to be a rocket scientist. Not a problem. She had great communication skills and hearing protection in her ears.
....Xio fired a second time, bringing down more of the ceiling. She pointed at the floor. “On your bellies, ladies and gentlemen.” As though doing the “wave” at a sporting event, they dropped.
....She strolled to the front of bank, kicked over one of the posts holding a velvet rope, and stepped over it. She’d never been patient enough to wait in line and wasn’t about to run their little maze now. Xio removed her earplugs and tuned in with her wolf hearing, listening for anyone who might want to be a hero. Not a peep—some crying, but that was par for the course.
....Not a daredevil in the bunch.
....She eyed the staff on the floor. The one thing all bankers feared was a robber who jumped the teller line, and she was about to become their worst nightmare. They’d taken classes, trained for robberies, all bank staff did—and what did their security specialists warn them about? Her—joining them behind the counter, up close and personal, with a loaded weapon.
....“Palms on the floor and your ankles crossed. I haven’t got all day.”
....She stopped at one of the windows and without the use of her hands, jumped up on the marble countertop. At five feet two, the feat should have been impossible for a human female of her stature, but she wasn’t completely human—and impossible wasn’t in her vocabulary. In fact, that was why she’d come here, chosen this robbery-proof bank. It was a matter of honor, and a little about her ego. The branch had never been successfully robbed, and she’d decided to change that.
....It was Wednesday, the day after their big shipment came in, and the third of the month, when a large majority of seniors got their Social Security checks. Prime for the picking. The setup couldn’t be any sweeter.
....She cocked her head and listened for sirens in the distance. Five minutes out, if her hearing served correct. “Here’s how we are going to do this. When I tap you on the shoulder, you get up and fill the backpack with cash. No bait bills. I can tell what they are, so don’t fuck with me.” She hopped off the counter and behind the teller line, nudging the first person there with the flash suppressor on the end of her weapon. “Move.”
....With tears in her eyes, the teller staggered to her feet, blubbering something about children at home. Over the last ten years, Xio had heard every story imaginable, and the young woman’s tale did little to change what she planned to do. No, she’d never killed anyone, nor did she intend to start today, but they didn’t know that.
....“Save the speech and stuff the bag.” She shoved the backpack into the blonde’s hands. “Now.”
....The young woman pulled the drawer open and grabbed handfuls of cash, leaving the bait bill in the till as instructed. Xio didn’t need to see the special ultraviolet ink on it to know what it was. Her wolf could smell that it had been handled a multitude of times by the same person. Once the teller finished, Xio shoved her back to the floor and nudged the next. “Your turn.”
....All followed instruction, until she reached the last person, a man. Something about him raised her hackles. She should have listened to the warning, but there were still two minutes left and she’d yet to empty the commercial drawer, where they kept the big money. Greed won over instinct, and Xio toed him with her combat boot. “Up, big boy.”
....And wasn’t that understatement of the year? As he stood, she realized he had to be at least six feet four, dwarfing her tiny frame. He didn’t look like your typical banker, at least not any she’d dealt with in the past, and he sure as hell didn’t smell like a banker.
....Wolf. Shit.
....He looked her in the eyes, holding her gaze for a few seconds, making her trigger-finger itch. She wore a mask from a recent Day of the Dead celebration and had salted her words with a Spanish accent, so unless he could pick out her eyes in a lineup, he wouldn’t be able to identify her.
....Regardless, she found his action brazen, considering she’d already fired several rounds, though not enough he’d think her magazine empty. None of the others so much as looked at her. This one had the balls to take a mental snapshot that would help a sketch artist. The last thing she needed. There was also one other thing missing. Fear.
....The feeling prodding her before roared to life. Cop. Ah, that’s the reason his scent had seemed so familiar. Double shit. Not only was he a cop, but they’d crossed paths before. This was the man, or should she say wolf, who had been on her trail for months, since her gang had slipped up in El Paso. Lord knew she’d tried to ditch him. Once a wolf got a scent of his prey, he didn’t back down. Things had just gone from bad to worse. She wasn’t sure what pack he was from. More than likely the El Paso Cazador in Southern Texas. Wolves didn’t tend to stray too far from their territories, not higher-ranking pack members, anyway. Something told her he was up there in the group, a Beta, if not an Alpha. The stench of authority clung to him.
....Wolf or not, one thing was for certain. He wasn’t here to administer pack law. Suddenly nervous—something that never happened to her—Xio stepped back to put space between them.
....She’d walked them into a trap, and if what she saw in the man’s eyes was correct, a carefully orchestrated one. Her only advantage was that she still had a loaded assault rifle. “We need to leave. Now,” she called out to her crew, who were supposed to be watching the customers in the lobby.
....No sound. No confirmation they’d heard her. Not good. She couldn’t smell them, but that didn’t mean anything. They could be near an air-conditioning vent or fresh-air exchange. Wouldn’t be the first time it’d happened. She chanced a glance back to see what they were doing, and saw no sign of them. Shit! They’d either bailed, left her to take the fall, or they’d already been apprehended while she’d been preoccupied with cleaning out the teller stations.
....As she turned to address the cop, her weapon was wrenched away and the butt caught her in the jaw. Xio dropped like a bag of rocks. Her wolf wasn’t helping her out of this one. That was what she got for letting her ego get involved.
....“Good morning, Miss Davis. Let me introduce myself. I’m Special Agent Marcus Cazador of the FBI. Didn’t anyone ever tell you banks are most often robbed within the first few minutes of opening? We figured you’d be here, after the invitation we’d extended. Safest bank in Texas. I can see you liked the billboard at the port of entry. You and I have a lot to talk about, but business first.”
....He’d used her real name, one she hadn’t heard in ten years. It sounded strange coming from his mouth, but also right, as though he’d been born to say it. Not good. This man was dangerous in so many ways. “Bite me.”

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Author Bio:
D. L. Jackson is an award-winning author of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers. www.authordljackson.com
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