Seductive and lethal vampire, Léopold Devereoux, returns to the Big Easy to find a killer. His search leads him to a beautiful and mysterious woman, who awakens desires and emotions that he’s long fought to keep buried. After centuries of self-imposed solitude, the billionaire philanthropist struggles to restrain his growing thirst for the intriguing, lovely female who’s captured his attention.
Laryssa Theriot, an antiques proprietor in the Vieux Carré, agrees to help the commanding yet debonair stranger, who seeks her assistance. She withholds her secret abilities, afraid to trust the man who threatens to unleash her darkest fantasies. All the while, Léopold consumes her thoughts, testing her erotic limits and bringing her to new levels of ecstasy. As the menacing force that has stalked Laryssa for years finally catches up to her, she submits, putting her life into the hands of the dominant vampire who offers his protection.
Deep in the heart of New Orleans, they embark on a perilous adventure, forced to search for an ancient sacrificial relic that they hope will save their lives. As they face formidable challenges, Léopold and Laryssa surrender to the passionate intimacy that possesses them. After hundreds of years of denying himself love, will Léopold bond to the woman who has begun to crack the impenetrable shell around his heart? As evil draws near, will Laryssa survive the demon that has come to take her soul?
Dimitri crossed the room and sat on the bed, taking in the listless state of the vampire. He observed that Léopold’s eyes were now closed, and the wound had started bubbling apart. Before he could stop himself, he’d made the suggestion.
“I’ll feed you.”
Léopold’s eyes flew open, meeting Dimitri’s. “What?”
“You heard me. Come on, let’s do this thing. You can bite my arm, right?”
“I don’t know…I can’t ask this of you. The donors, they come to me freely.”
“Yeah, well, so do I. Come on. You did this for Wynter. You had her back, I have yours. It’s no big deal, right? I mean, it’s not like you’re going to have some weird bond to me.”
“No.” Léopold gave him a small smile. “No bonds. No sires or anything. But still…”
“The faster you’re on your feet, the faster we can go try to find connections to Mariah’s past.”
Léopold’s lips tightened and he looked away.
“Ya know I’m right. We can’t waste any more time. You didn’t fly me all the way out here to lie around, did ya?”
“No, but I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Well let me put it this way…At some point, possibly very soon, whoever wanted that kid dead is going to realize that she’s still very much alive. Then they’re gonna go after her again. And since she’s staying with Logan, I don’t want them going after my Alpha and his mate. So let’s go. Come on, just take a little, enough to get you by until we find your donor.”
“I won’t need much. Your blood; it’s strong. You’re wolf,” Léopold admitted.
“There ya go, then. Let’s get to…what do you need here?” Dimitri sat on the bed and considered how best to feed a vampire. What the fuck am I thinking? Too late now. He sat cross-legged, and then changed his mind, lying onto his back.
Léopold grew amused at his friend’s insistence. Not that he didn’t appreciate the offer, but he wasn’t accustomed to needing anyone. Dimitri’s blood, given in friendship, felt all too intimate, making him uncomfortable. Yet the lancing pain to his gut reminded him of his dire situation. He shifted onto his side, cradling Dimitri’s arm in his hands. Slowly he lowered his head to the wolf’s wrist. The aromatic scent of blood called to him as he found the strong beating pulse.
“You’re sure?” he asked, locking eyes on Dimitri’s.
“Yeah, I can take it. Do it now, before I change my mind.” Dimitri glanced away as if someone was about to give him a needle.
Without hesitation, Léopold’s fangs extended, striking the wolf’s arm. He closed his eyes, allowing the pungent flavor to coat his tongue. Deliberately, he suctioned the life-sustaining fluid, releasing his own power into Dimitri’s body. Léopold, grateful for the gift, would cause the wolf no pain, only pleasure. He knew Dimitri would resist, confused by his reaction to the bite. Léopold clutched the wrist to his lips, watching as his friend’s body bowed off the bed.
As soon as Dimitri felt the pinpricks, his body flooded with unexpected warmth. The tug of Léopold’s lips sent a rush of blood to his **. What the fuck is happening? He wanted to rip his arm away from the vampire, but he felt paralyzed to fight. Desire washed over him from head to toe and before he knew what he was doing,[...]. Goddess, this feels wrong on so many levels. His mind screamed at him to move, to struggle, yet his lips parted, releasing only a moan.
Léopold licked the wounds he’d caused, and released Dimitri’s arm. Thoroughly energized, he sat up, and stared down at Dimitri, whose face had grown tight in both arousal and anger. Léopold laughed, and rolled off the bed. He watched in amusement as the wolf attempted to launch himself off the mattress but fell backwards, clutching himself.
“Fuck me.” Dimitri shook his head at the realization of what he’d just said. He quickly took his hand off his groin and glared at Léopold. “No. I didn’t mean that. Don’t touch me.”
“You’re fine,” Léopold assured him. He glanced in the mirror and finger-combed his hair back into place.
“This,” Dimitri gestured to his erection, “is not funny. Goddammit, I need to get laid. Not that you aren’t pretty, Leo, but you’re not my type. Shit, look what you did.”
“You may recall that I told you that feeding from you was not a good idea. But I must admit, your blood is fine. Very tasty.” A broad smile broke across his face.
“Really, Leo? What the hell, man?”
“Sorry, but there aren’t many choices when it comes to a bite, you know. Would you have rather had pain? I’m not a sadist by nature, but if you’d preferred it…”
“No.” Dimitri pushed himself up so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed. His painful erection was finally starting to subside.
“Well, then, you have to admit that it didn’t hurt. Go get a shower, see to your need. I’d love to help you but I’m afraid you’re not my preference either, wolf.”
“Really, [...]? Lucky me. For the record, if I ever am dumb enough to suggest this again, would you please just say no?” Dimitri hobbled over to the bathroom door.
“Hey wolf,” Léopold called from the doorway.
Dimitri lifted his gaze to him. “Yeah?”
“Seriously, Dimitri. I appreciate you helping me. I should’ve paid more attention. I let myself get run down. It won’t happen again.”
“No problem.”
“You need to know that it has been a very long time for me…this friendship thing. This isn’t something someone like me does.” Or deserves. Léopold’s eyes darkened and his tone grew serious. “These few days have been quite the adventure, and I suspect there is more to come. I must ask, however, that you keep what you experienced tonight to yourself. Not the bite but the travel. Logan knows as I couldn’t hide it from him when I showed up in his house last night. But no one else. It’s a special ability…one I’d prefer others not know about. Understood?”
“My lips are zipped.” Dimitri sensed sadness in Léopold. As wolf, with his pack, he was never truly alone. Perhaps he underestimated the loneliness that plagued the vampire.
“Well, then…see you downstairs in a few. I’ve got someone I want you to meet,” Léopold commented as he left the room.
EXCERPT
Dimitri crossed the room and sat on the bed, taking in the listless state of the vampire. He observed that Léopold’s eyes were now closed, and the wound had started bubbling apart. Before he could stop himself, he’d made the suggestion.
“I’ll feed you.”
Léopold’s eyes flew open, meeting Dimitri’s. “What?”
“You heard me. Come on, let’s do this thing. You can bite my arm, right?”
“I don’t know…I can’t ask this of you. The donors, they come to me freely.”
“Yeah, well, so do I. Come on. You did this for Wynter. You had her back, I have yours. It’s no big deal, right? I mean, it’s not like you’re going to have some weird bond to me.”
“No.” Léopold gave him a small smile. “No bonds. No sires or anything. But still…”
“The faster you’re on your feet, the faster we can go try to find connections to Mariah’s past.”
Léopold’s lips tightened and he looked away.
“Ya know I’m right. We can’t waste any more time. You didn’t fly me all the way out here to lie around, did ya?”
“No, but I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Well let me put it this way…At some point, possibly very soon, whoever wanted that kid dead is going to realize that she’s still very much alive. Then they’re gonna go after her again. And since she’s staying with Logan, I don’t want them going after my Alpha and his mate. So let’s go. Come on, just take a little, enough to get you by until we find your donor.”
“I won’t need much. Your blood; it’s strong. You’re wolf,” Léopold admitted.
“There ya go, then. Let’s get to…what do you need here?” Dimitri sat on the bed and considered how best to feed a vampire. What the fuck am I thinking? Too late now. He sat cross-legged, and then changed his mind, lying onto his back.
Léopold grew amused at his friend’s insistence. Not that he didn’t appreciate the offer, but he wasn’t accustomed to needing anyone. Dimitri’s blood, given in friendship, felt all too intimate, making him uncomfortable. Yet the lancing pain to his gut reminded him of his dire situation. He shifted onto his side, cradling Dimitri’s arm in his hands. Slowly he lowered his head to the wolf’s wrist. The aromatic scent of blood called to him as he found the strong beating pulse.
“You’re sure?” he asked, locking eyes on Dimitri’s.
“Yeah, I can take it. Do it now, before I change my mind.” Dimitri glanced away as if someone was about to give him a needle.
Without hesitation, Léopold’s fangs extended, striking the wolf’s arm. He closed his eyes, allowing the pungent flavor to coat his tongue. Deliberately, he suctioned the life-sustaining fluid, releasing his own power into Dimitri’s body. Léopold, grateful for the gift, would cause the wolf no pain, only pleasure. He knew Dimitri would resist, confused by his reaction to the bite. Léopold clutched the wrist to his lips, watching as his friend’s body bowed off the bed.
As soon as Dimitri felt the pinpricks, his body flooded with unexpected warmth. The tug of Léopold’s lips sent a rush of blood to his **. What the fuck is happening? He wanted to rip his arm away from the vampire, but he felt paralyzed to fight. Desire washed over him from head to toe and before he knew what he was doing,[...]. Goddess, this feels wrong on so many levels. His mind screamed at him to move, to struggle, yet his lips parted, releasing only a moan.
Léopold licked the wounds he’d caused, and released Dimitri’s arm. Thoroughly energized, he sat up, and stared down at Dimitri, whose face had grown tight in both arousal and anger. Léopold laughed, and rolled off the bed. He watched in amusement as the wolf attempted to launch himself off the mattress but fell backwards, clutching himself.
“Fuck me.” Dimitri shook his head at the realization of what he’d just said. He quickly took his hand off his groin and glared at Léopold. “No. I didn’t mean that. Don’t touch me.”
“You’re fine,” Léopold assured him. He glanced in the mirror and finger-combed his hair back into place.
“This,” Dimitri gestured to his erection, “is not funny. Goddammit, I need to get laid. Not that you aren’t pretty, Leo, but you’re not my type. Shit, look what you did.”
“You may recall that I told you that feeding from you was not a good idea. But I must admit, your blood is fine. Very tasty.” A broad smile broke across his face.
“Really, Leo? What the hell, man?”
“Sorry, but there aren’t many choices when it comes to a bite, you know. Would you have rather had pain? I’m not a sadist by nature, but if you’d preferred it…”
“No.” Dimitri pushed himself up so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed. His painful erection was finally starting to subside.
“Well, then, you have to admit that it didn’t hurt. Go get a shower, see to your need. I’d love to help you but I’m afraid you’re not my preference either, wolf.”
“Really, [...]? Lucky me. For the record, if I ever am dumb enough to suggest this again, would you please just say no?” Dimitri hobbled over to the bathroom door.
“Hey wolf,” Léopold called from the doorway.
Dimitri lifted his gaze to him. “Yeah?”
“Seriously, Dimitri. I appreciate you helping me. I should’ve paid more attention. I let myself get run down. It won’t happen again.”
“No problem.”
“You need to know that it has been a very long time for me…this friendship thing. This isn’t something someone like me does.” Or deserves. Léopold’s eyes darkened and his tone grew serious. “These few days have been quite the adventure, and I suspect there is more to come. I must ask, however, that you keep what you experienced tonight to yourself. Not the bite but the travel. Logan knows as I couldn’t hide it from him when I showed up in his house last night. But no one else. It’s a special ability…one I’d prefer others not know about. Understood?”
“My lips are zipped.” Dimitri sensed sadness in Léopold. As wolf, with his pack, he was never truly alone. Perhaps he underestimated the loneliness that plagued the vampire.
“Well, then…see you downstairs in a few. I’ve got someone I want you to meet,” Léopold commented as he left the room.
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About the author:
Kym Grosso is the author of the erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans. The series currently includes Kade’ s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1), Luca’ s Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3) and Logan’s Acadian Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4).
In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy. She writes about autism at PsychologyToday.com and AutismInRealLife.com. She also is a contributing essay author in the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.
Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog and cat. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow-covered mountains. On any given night, when not writing her own books, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.
28 comments:
I cannot believe I have not heard of this series before! Another great read to add to the TBR list! Love the sound of it!
I love all things Vampire so this sounds great THANKS
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
Thank you for the amazing giveaway :)
Congrats to Kim on the newest release! Thanks for sharing ;)
Do you write in any other genre? Thanks for the giveaway!
Great excerpt and GORGEOUS cover, thanks for sharing!
The immortals of new Orleans series sounds great, I am a big vampire fan. My favorite reads. Thank you Kym
This book looks great, looking forward to reading it!
I love a good vampire book, and this one looks great, I can't wait to dig my teeth into it... lol thanks so much
thank you for the chance to win :)
OMG, great series. Fab. & splendid read. 2 fingers snap. Thanks for the awesomeness, the contest, & generosity.
promising books!!
I love reading and have since a child. I read just about everything at one point or another.
thx u for hosting kym ^^
You are awesome Kym!! Thanks for this giveaway :)
You have excellent taste in men! Those covers are HOT.
Hi Kym! I haven't read any of your books but I'm totally into anything paranormal in New Orleans! So since I just found you, I soon shall be losing some sleep catching up on some of your books!
Cant wait to read this book!
I am looking forward to reading this just getting into vampires
Thanks for this amazing giveaway! :)
Every time I see this cover it just sticks in my mind, I just love it!! The story sounds great. thank you so much
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
Thanks for the chance of a great giveaway
Really loving the book cover! Beautiful!
Loving the cover! A good vamp read is always great.
Great looking cover for the book
The excerpt sounds great! The book looks intriguing!
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