I'm a Tease

Okay, I meant, I'm teasing you with a bit of the fourth novel. Mean, but yeah. The following is from the fourth book of the Sabrina Strong series, Vampire Caprice. Hoping to get this one out by the end of the year.

Enjoy!

~*~

The music became a little more sultry. The low, slow notes of the saxophone vibrated down my spine, emptying into my tail bone and then a heat radiated and settled in my groin. An odd relaxation overwhelmed me, too. The heady mix of spicy vampire pheromones and warm candlelight, intoxicating music was a bit more than I could handle—and yet I wanted more. Tremayne was nothing but extremely talented when it came to seducing his intended. I had been his intended for a long while.

“When a vampire mates he takes his time,” Tremayne said low, his eyes claiming mine.

“Mate?” I said, and the heat between my legs became a delicious throb keeping beat with the swanky music.

That's when the dagger decided to wrestle in it's confines at my side. Startled, I looked down at it.

“Perhaps you should take that off and put it somewhere safe?” he suggested.

“It might be a good idea.” Without hesitating, I stood and undid my belt. I wound the leather up, but I had no idea where to put the thing so that it didn't go after him.

“Here,” he said, hand out to me. I placed it carefully, almost reluctantly in his large hand. He took it, ducked low, and the sound of a drawer sliding open, and then close came. He straightened. “That should keep me safe.” He reached and took my hand again, lacing his fingers through mine, then held it aloft as though he were about to take me out onto the dance floor. He stepped around the bar to join me, and turned the chair I sat in so that I now faced him. His eyes roved my face and then he dropped his eyes to my lap. He made a strange little growl, as his hands went to my thighs and parted them so that he could fill the gap with his narrow hips. The motion, and his nearness sent shock waves through me and my libido spiraled out of control.

“That's better. Where were we?” he asked, his large hands slipping around my back. He laced his fingers there, pulling me closer to him. “Oh, yes. You were asking permission to go out with Chris tomorrow.”

“I wasn't asking you if I could 'go out' with him,” I said, my aggravation making my voice go low. “I only asked if it was alright that I go to town with him. Tomorrow. I don't even know why I'm asking you. I should just do it without your permission. It's not like I'm your damned slave.” Why was he making this such a big deal? Why was he coming on to me? And why did this feel natural—again? I knew it was the pheromones, but it was as though the whole idea of sleeping with him had been more my idea than his—and I knew it wasn't.

He chuckled, head low to come even with mine. “Do you think you're my slave, Sabrina?”

I looked away. What was my problem with him? Was he like my surrogate father? Father figure maybe? Not in this position he wasn't. God, I'm messed up. I let go a defeated sigh.

His fingers found my chin and turned it in order to angle it up to face him. Being this close to Tremayne was not in any girl's best interest if she was trying to keep the blood in her veins, or her clothes on her body. This was as uncomfortable as I'd felt with him—since that night in his secret abode where he got me stripped and in his bed in ten seconds flat. But tonight, this was different. He was being purposefully slow, sly and knew all the moves, where I was inexperienced as far as men and such things.

“Sounds very safe. Very innocent. If you want to go with Chris tomorrow, go ahead.”

“You don't trust me?” I accused. “And by the way, since when do you tell me who I can or can't see?”

“You're forgetting one thing,” he said, sounding trite.

“What's that?”

“Tonight I've got you all to myself.” His hands came up and cupped my face and his lips covered mine. A warmth began at the base of my neck and went south and settled in my groin. I tried to reach for my glove to get it off my right hand so that he couldn't thrall me. I couldn't reach my glove from around his wide shoulders. I moved my hands downward, between us and began to tug at the glove. It was as though it were glued on.

Realizing what I was doing, he grasped both my wrists and placed them at his sides, and then filled the gap between us with his body, preventing me from doing something—I forget what I had been about to do.

“Now, ask me again. What was it you wanted to do tomorrow?” he said, smile broad.

“I-I don't remember,” I said looking up into his handsome face. The soft light in the room threw shadows across the contours of his face, making it look somewhat like a fine piece of artwork. I realized I had not had the opportunity to really take in the details of his high cheekbones, the curve of his lips, almost-straight nose, the arch of his brows.

“I like that answer,” he said. His lips captured mine once more, then his kisses traveled down my neck. Naturally, I arched my neck and my back, his arms holding me to him. I waited for him to sink his teeth into m, super aware of the throb at my womanhood. This was becoming maddening. There was only so much I could take. Teasing me into a whirlwind of desire, his hands went down, grabbed my shirt and it was off before I knew what had happened.

“There,” he said, his eyes crawling over my exposed flesh. “Much better. My turn.”

Teaser Tuesday ~ More of Drakulya's Castle: The Stairway

Today, my pretties, I give you another view of Drakulya's place. I only had this picture to get you into the mood.

Enjoy~

The door shut with a definitive click, and I strode along the hallway with Rumbel leading me up the curving stairway. I realized it was carved out of marble. The carvings were exquisitely done, if only I could get past the fact each and every newel was an impaling. The good old days personified in marble. Lovely. He had not impaled anyone here recently—like within the last two months. I would have read it from the occupants of the dining hall, and seen the impaled carcasses along our way here. The only one in recent history was the werewolf lady Jett had mentioned. From my estimation, Drakulya had graduated from the need to let blood flow on the ground, to drinking it to his fill. Thus, impaling was not his ideal mode of punishment any more. I had yet to meet any of his Blood Mares—no they were not Zenyetta and Chairelott. I had to wonder where they were kept. Probably locked in one of those special rooms like I would be tonight. copyright 2012 Lorelei Bell

COFFEE KLATCH MONDAY !!!?

I had no idea what to call this Monday's Coffee Klatch. I think the exclamation points and question mark sort of show that. And I've got the goblet here, instead of a cup. It's sort of a theme today.

I've been writing these posts on Sunday, because I feel that it should go up early, and I have no time to write these in the a.m.'s as I'm usually getting ready for my "real" job.

This weekend had some surprises. One was the wonderful review put up by Christina Bahr, who won Vampire's Trill in a contest, and upon realizing this was the second book, she bought the first one, Vampire Ascending. I was totally blown away about it, as she first friended me on facebook, and then posted her link of the review she gave me there on my timeline the other day. If you haven't had the chance to read it, (Although I don't know how you missed it, since I shared it all over the place!), here is the link at ALL THINGS ME. Plus the link is now in my "Reviews" Page.

Plus, yesterday I posted that I was almost finished with edits of the third book, and announced the title. The title was giving me a problem the whole time. And then I reminded myself that I wanted to make all the titles with the word Vampire in it. So, I thought about it some more. Then, because of the fact that I had originally decided the titles would also have something to do with a classical music description, I went back to my old notes and found the word "Nocturne". It was perfect for this one since this book is a mishmash of romance, mystery, adventure, steam punk and the usual Sabrina Strong antics, with a dash of horror, I decided this described it beautifully.

Sabrina will travel once again to another world. This world is stuck in the Victorian age. She's about to meet the most notorious vampire in the world: Drakulya--For real! As with all of my books, I give you another page turner, Sabrina will get to use her Dagger of Delphi in this one several times on some vampires and something I call Dreadfuls in this one.

There are a few surprises and of course some twists and unexpected turns! I haven't even written a description for my publisher yet! But all in good time. I need a break from the series, and will take a three-month one to work on other things.


Well, this post was longer than most, but I hope you forgive me for rambling about "all things me". After I get the book out to publisher, I may have a little more time to loung (yeah, right). I do have a few projects in the wings, and several blogs/facebook groups to keep track of as well.

Hope your week will go great!

Sabrina Strong's Character to be played by...



Danica Patrick in poster



You know how it is... you've written a book and you're so into the characters and you think "God, this could make a great movie!" So then you begin wondering who would play your main characters. It's normal for authors of fiction to do this. I'm certain I'm not the only one out there who does this.

So, yeah. I've thought about it. Some. Tried to find someone to play my 7 foot Viking vampire. Haven't found him yet.

However...

My husband has come up with someone to play Sabrina Strong, the clairvoyant and main character.

Yep. She's a local girl. From Rosco, Illinois. Danica Patric race car driver. She's been doing adds for "Go Daddy.com" and my husband has chosen her as the lady to play Sabrina Strong. I definitely trust my husband's instincts on this one. She'd be a box office draw. People would come to this movie if she was in it.

Well, look at her. I mean really. She's beautiful! She's a real woman, and she's down to earth like Sabrina. She could act in the off season of her NASCAR, or whatever she plans to do.

Well, after 4-5 glasses of white zin and my famous fried chicken, I couldn't help myself and you'll excuse me now as I weave through some lines of the next book--whichever it was...

PAPERBACK IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Hello, my prietties.

Yes! That's the news! The paperback is now available via the usual distributors, for those of you who would rather hold a book in your hands than some electronic device... and I don't blame you. I do too!

I've had quite a week driving later in the day into the night, and so I have had to adjust. And now, because of the long 1 hour long route (my usual bus route is only a half hour), my back is letting me know that I'm just not able to do this sort of thing much longer. So... please tell people about my books. If you have friends who enjoy vampire fiction, direct them to the series. They will thank you. I will thank you. And maybe some day I'll be able to get off this bus and not be in such pain I can't even make my bed ( my husband had to do it this morning... that's why I love him--among other things, of course (^;)

All for today. Have a very good day, and be careful driving around. People are not paying attention!

Teaser Tuesday ~ From Chapter 12: The Mystic Ring

The origin of the Mystic Ring is debatable, but it now is on Sabrina's finger. This is a discussion between herself and Bill Gannon about it and a gloomy forecast of things to come.

“Get out of my way!” I growled and moved through the ruined room. He caught me by the shoulder. My eyes flicked down at his strong hand, and then upward, meeting a gaze that threatened to melt me, should I allow it. His fingers released me as I jerked out of his grasp. We faced one another in Mrs. Bench's living room.

“Sabrina, this is far from over. Be prepared for war,” Bill warned. “There are many supernaturals who now know who you are and where you live. The portal opening has announced it in the strongest way.”

“I never asked for this! Why would they care?” I felt the tears rush to my eyes again. I couldn't hold them back as I looked up at him. Maybe that dark-winged angel had been there, after all.

“You wear the mystic ring of King Solomon.” He gestured with his eyes toward my hand.

“What?” Too rattled to catch on, I didn't understand what he meant.

“The ring,” he explained, his tone still moderate, his expression unreadable. “It is thousands of years old, and has many powers.”

I looked down at my right hand and found that my glove was missing — I didn't remember it coming off, and couldn't see where it had gone. I gazed at the wide band of dull silver on my middle finger, but knew it wasn't silver, or it would have burned me. It was extremely dense. In the butter-soft lighting of the room, I could see there was strange-looking writing around the band — nothing I'd ever seen before, and clearly, nothing I could decipher.

“The mystic ring was once owned by King Solomon, the magician,” Bill explained. “He used it to help him rule demons. He collected a variety of magical things in his lifetime, but it wasn't his to keep. It is very ancient.”

I stood staring at him with my mouth open trying to comprehend this. It was like he was trying to explain physics to me, and so, naturally, it went over my head.

“It was hidden on a higher plane until the next sibyl was born. You.” He pointed at me. “They had to wait until you were born, and then find you through the cosmos.”

“I don't understand. You're saying that, supposedly, I was around during Solomon's time?”

“No. You are born in this lifetime. You are the only known sibyl in the world, now. Until only recently, your birth was a secret from us all. How fortunate that my grandmother happens to live across from you.”

I slitted my eyes at him, “Yeah, real fortunate.”

Up-dates by Sabrina

Moon will be full--I guess tonight. I notice things like that. There's a reason for it. Believe me (you'll find out if you read this next book).

Hi. This is Sabrina Strong in for Lorelei today. Just have a few things to impart.

First of all, the cover of the second book looks--absolutely evil. Like I've been up to something bad. That's all I'm going to say for now. It wasn't ready to share as yet. Lorelei gave her okay to her publisher, and I guess they'll go from there.

Another bit of business is Lorelei has a host post over on Katie Salidas' blog, Written In Blood, today. The piece is called "Why Vampires", and it seems to answer it really well, and goes beyond the fiction characters we all know, and delves a little deeper into the human kind of vampires. You'll not want to miss that.

I, meanwhile, am waiting patently for an electrician to come and make a hook up for a new electric oven. Apparently this guy is rather busy. I've been waiting on him for weeks. If he doesn't show, I'll fire him. Or, maybe I'll send one of my "friends" to visit him? Nah. Then I might get the reputation of being a nasty bitch. Actually, being the nasty bitch gets things done. You know what I mean?

I've also picked up a nice little book to read. It's called "Light Beneath Ferns" by Anne Spollen. I think it's a ghost story about a little girl who meets one. Sounds really good. Here is the cover.

Lorelei is telling me that she wants to read it after me, so I'd better have it done. She's about to be finished reading Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. I'm thinking she'll post a review on this as soon as she can.

I'm glad that the full moon is coming up and will be done with well before Halloween. I hate the very thought of what might happen when us creatures of the moon commune and cavort on Halloween when children are about. Hmmm. Sounds like that would make a great story!

Well, I've got some things to take care of before . . . you know . . . tonight.

Hello to my friends and fans . . . here are my updates:

It's been quite an up and down week--weather was up and down, definitely. Went from the 90's down to the 50's, had to drive in the most torrential rain I've ever driven in--along with lightning. Ah, the exciting moments of a bus driver. I had to apologise for not having towels, and welcomed them to Seattle as they got on rather soppy.

And my book's eBook sales went from the basement back up, and sort of hovered there for a few days, momentarily hitting an all-time high at # 31,940--for a brief few hours yesterday, and then dropped off. But that's expected. I just was a bit thrilled that a bunch of people are showing they are very interested in my book. If it gets to #1 I might just pass out, but it's a long ways from that.

As some of you may know, I've sent in my second book to my publisher. I got word back that they are aiming for a late summer release. I told him that's fine with me, but my fans wanted it last week.

Sorry. But you know, if it were one of your big house publishers, you'd all have to wait a full year for the hard-bound copy to come out, and then another year after that for the softbound. I'm guessing you won't mind to wait just a few more months to get your hands on an eBook of my next installment of Sabrina Strong's escapades with the vampires, werewolves and shape shifters.

I've been posting little tidbits to do with the next book, little hints, and helpful background into sibyls, and something called the Dagger of Delphi, over at Vampire Writer's Retreat and there's a bit on the mystic ring, which has something called the Seal of Solomon, and such on it. The above are coins with the Seal of Solomon on them. Sort of a little thing I thought I'd put up here today.

I'm, of course, working on the third book, so I'm only getting out once in a while to post and make comments. Any of the work I am doing on the third book can be viewed over at Lorelei's Writing Journal. I may have portions of chapters, or just notes on what I'm doing. This third book is going to be somewhat different, taking Sabrina into a different world almost right away. This is my "steampunk" novel with all the delicious hunks to drool over, and a couple of mysteries to solve, and danger. Plus, if you have an avad interest in Dracula, you'll be pleased to know I've got him in this as well. You'll want to see how I've done this, I'm sure.

I'm also happy, I want to say, for my longest friend here on blogspot, Heather McCorkle of Heather's Oddessey. She has made a tough, but I think, good decision, after much work, on her book, "Secret of Spruce Knoll" and at trying very, very hard to find an agent to take it, and having to come to a very tough decision over self-publishing, or going with a small publisher.

I have been a follower of Heather's for four years, now, and she mine, and we've been supportive of each other this whole while, and I wouldn't think of stopping my support of her. I think if there were a nice award for friendship, I would give it to her. But being blogging friends is enough. I wish her the best of luck!

St. Patrick's Day ~ From a Vampire's Perspective

As the people of Chicago dye the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day, somewhere next to the river is Tremayne Towers, where the master vampire stands looking down upon it all, hands to slim hips and shakes his head uncomprehending it all.

"I'll never understand the Irish," Tremayne says to the man standing next to him. The man is six foot tall, but not quite as tall as Tremayne, who is seven feet tall.

"Don't even attempt it," says the man who has chosen a light green shirt beneath a darker green suit coat and a tie with shamrocks splashed all over it for the day. He doesn't normally have an Irish brogue, but today he has adopted one.

"Go, my friend. Take your people and enjoy the day," Tremayne says, clapping him on the shoulder.

"My people thank you," the man in green smiles and as he turns away adds, "May the sun not find you, today."

Tremayne smirks over his shoulder at the elf, and then turns back over the balcony, in the shadow of the North Tower, which is well out of the sun. He is the only vampire awake at this hour of the morning, merely because he needs no sleep because of his age. He has allowed the elves who runs the hospital and Sanguine Team of Tremayne Towers the whole day off. The rest of his staff on the north side, will take half the day off, and a swing shift to watch the monitors. He knows the day is one of celebration, but whatever reason people would want to drink green beer and consume the corned beef, is beyond him. They are Irish for the day. He could never pretend to be, nor would he want to. He will not admit to himself that he has done this out of niggling guilt for his human life where he had many times invaded the little green island on many occasions as a Viking is the reason he allows them all a day off, if they are fully Irish, as the elves surely are.

So it is with the master vampire, the magnate of the eastern half of the United States.

Sixty miles away, Sabrina Strong is celebrating in her own way, visiting her sister-in-law, Constance, in her shop, which is brimming with green--everything from green quilts to green teddy bears, and considers putting a shot of Bailey's in the hazelnut coffee Constance has in the back room. Vampires are not a thought for her today. Thankfully the big vampire Mogul has not called her in today, and she relishes the idea of having the whole day off, joining her brother, Randy, his wife Constance, and their two little girls later for dinner. But she will most likely not be wearing a silly green hat, and thinks about the real leprechaun she knows, Rick, and wonders what he might be doing today. She can envision him seated on his stool in Tom's Tavern, drinking a taker of ale, and wonders if it is tinted green, or if he'd rather it not be.

The thought is fleeting as a patron enters the store and she hears Constance's voice trill, filled with excitement. The sound of cheer and laughter pulls her away from the counter, and the Bailey's. Maybe later she'll consider drinking green beer with her brother, while he puts on the video of "The Quiet Man", and enjoy the corned beef Constance will have made.