Rebirth Excerpt

 Book Blurb

With the birth of the first man, the phoenix, Aiden is assigned as protector of the human species. After years of fighting at each other’s side, man turns on the fire bird craving immortality and the power of the bird’s healing tears. With humanity’s betrayal, Aiden is forced to inhabit the shadows. 

The bird is reborn every thousand years in a fiery ceremony and once more the time is near but Aiden is weary of living millennia after millennia alone, protecting a species that is proving itself increasingly self-destructive and unworthy of his defense. Lonely and questioning his purpose, Aiden is only able to resist the darkness threatening to consume his soul with the promise of finding his true mate.

Mackenzie Blackhorn is a budding artist on her way to bigger and better things, when abducted by a serial killer, her spirit is broken by the mad man. Unable to deal with the psychological trauma, Mackenzie seeks solace atop the snowy Montana Mountains. 

Literally stumbling upon each other, these two wounded souls instantly connect in fiery harmony but as time runs out, will their budding romance overcome Aiden's dark secrets?

Rebirth will be released August 1, 2012.

Rebirth Excerpt

A gust blew through, swaying the trees to the left before they snapped back to the center to do a merry dance, hanging icicles reflecting white light. It became still once more but for the willowy pirouette of the falling snow and Mac's anger drained into nothing but a shameful chill as she acknowledged that her anger was directed at herself. Suddenly her retreat felt very cowardly, like she gave up a life so many would have fought to have, all because she was afraid to face the past. The rush of emotion Aiden’s presence brought made her realize just how dead she’d been inside, burying unresolved feelings, just as she’d done her entirely life.

Merely existing was far from living. Being alone in these mountains for so long had shown her the difference. For the first time in five years, she felt like more than just a shadow of her former self, more than just an empty existence. She felt connected to another being. A spark of life heated her cells and she felt rejuvenated. 

“I’m sorry. I should not have taken my anger out on you,” she said, throwing a glance his way. “I’m not normally like this. At least not before…” she trailed off knowing she was about to reveal too much.

He acknowledged her apology with a nod. “We all have our moments.”

A companionable silence fell as they both looked into the wintery scene again. Shifting slightly she watched him from the corner of her eyes. He looked into the trees as well but instinct told her he was as aware of her as she was of him. He stroked her innate curiosity. With an enthusiasm she thought lost to her, she wanted to get to know him better. She wanted to know what made him different from everyone else. Well, apart from the obvious. There was a singularity that surrounded him like an invisible wall, making her wonder at his life. It seemed a very solitary way of being and that called to her. She understood loneliness, feeling like a tiny island in a vast ocean.

“You must be very lonely.” Her words clearly startled him. She startled herself with her forwardness.

He caught her gaze, the intensity making her breath come a little faster. “Why would you say that?”

“I image you don't have many friends.” What possessed her to say something like that? She scrambled to cover her careless words. “What I mean is, you probably don't tell many people about what you are. It must be hard living in the shadows.” She cringed internally. That sounded worse. “Oh no, I-” She trailed off before she dug a bigger hole for herself.

He did not answer but continued to look at her with a steady gaze that gave nothing of his thoughts away. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried.” She dropped her gaze and pulled at a thread that was sticking out of her jeans.

“Not many people would look at my existence that way. Most people think it's a novelty, a privilege.” She looked up at his statement and his gaze was keen as ever. “In the beginning I did very much enjoy being humanity’s protector but things have changed. I’ve changed. Humanity’s changed.” He sighed wearily and admitted, “While I may not be very happy with the way things have turned out, I would not give it up. We don't all get to choose our destiny. We can only make the best of the path we’re given.”

“Yes,” she agreed. His words made her withdrawal seem all the more craven. His isolation was not of his choosing. Unlike her own.

“But it’s not all bad. I get to impress the ladies with all my pretty feathers,” he said, breaking into her depressing thoughts.  A smile stretched his lips and by all that made the world go ‘round, it was devastating. It softened the hardness that was part of him and made him look more approachable, sexier. She answered with one of her own. Satisfaction, and something else, heated his gaze.  “You have a beautiful smile, Mac.”

Just that easily the light camaraderie transformed into something hotter. She licked her lips nervously and uttered a soft, “Thank you.”

He followed the gesture with a predatory gleam. The arousal that flowed in a slow, deep ache suddenly flared out of control. His nostril flared and like a wild animal he sniffed the air. “You smell divine,” he growled and with a blink he was a fraction of an inch away.

Before she could react, he pulled her forward and pressed his lips against hers. She froze as shock gripped her, but not for long as his tongue gently licked the seam of her lips and all thought of resisting dissolved. She sighed as heat speared through her, molten and all-consuming.

Her eyes fluttered shut as he licked at her quaking lips again. He did not rush, did not press for a deeper contact, the kiss only a slow tasting, the effort clearly costing him in the sexual tension vibrating off him. Giving into the sensation she allowed lips to hesitantly close over his lower one. She did it again as her fingers tangled in his hair, the gloves preventing the contact she desired. He allowed her to explore, to familiarize herself with his taste, the firm texture of his upper lip contrasting with the surprising softness of the lower edge.

It was a chaste kiss. There was no tongue on tongue action just a simple touching of lips yet she squirmed as her clit burned for harder, more intimate contact. Remembering the incident in the kitchen, she pushed at his chest weakly and he let go instantly. Slowly her eyes opened to stared up into his glowing eyes. He took a step back, his breathing was as labored as hers, the air around him heated, and unbelievable steam did come off him.

She nearly giggled but sobered instantly. Men like him did not go for women like her. She swallowed. “I don’t need your pity.”

His grabbed her wrist and placed it over his over his swollen length. “I have been aching for you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You are beautiful, sexy as hell and it is all I can do not to strip your body bare and sink into you as deep as I can get.”

He fairly growled at her, his features hardening, his eyes perusing her length in her fashion that made her feel nude. That he could feel the same way that she did, even a fraction of it, was astonishing. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

She cleared her throat, a nervous action she could not prevent.

“You have to stop that unless you’re ready for the consequences.”

Stop what? Oh…

Her fingers were squeezing and releasing him rhythmically.

“Oh God, sorry. I’m sorry.” She felt color explode on her cheeks as she snatched her hand away, looking straight ahead only to be confronted with the perfection of his chest.

He chuckled and the sounded washed over her, deep and rough, like the man himself. It was the first time she heard him laugh and the sound pleased her more than she cared to admit. “No need to apologize. Let’s go in. You’re too tempting out here.”

“I’m just standing here.”

“Exactly.”