I think part of  a demon’s charm is that he (or she) can be incredibly seductive.  And speaking of seduction…today’s Snippet Saturday focuses on seduction, or, rather, failed seduction.  All of the authors participating in this Snippet Saturday are posting excerpts (or discussing) failed seductions.

For my excerpt, I’ll focus on a scene in which the hero’s seduction of the heroine just doesn’t quite work out.  🙂 Here’s my failed seduction scene, from my upcoming (only 10 days until release!) demon book, MIDNIGHT’S MASTER:

***

“I’m not going to back off this story.”  Holly’s lips tightened.  No hint of the dimple showed now.  Pity.  “I am going to find out who killed Carl.  I came to Paradise, to you, because I thought you’d want to help me.”

“You thought wrong.”  Then, because it might just be his last chance and because, well, he wanted to taste her again, with the lights of the stars shining above them, he kissed her.

Holly’s lips were parted, her mouth open as she prepared to berate him, and, oh, but the sweet human tasted good.
His tongue stroked into her mouth.  Taking, demanding a response from her.

And the lady sure as hell gave him one.  Her mouth widened.  Her tongue snaked out to meet his.  The explosion of hunger hit him them, like a fighter’s punch in his gut, and his already erect cock stiffened even more.

Her breasts pressed against him.  He could feel her tight nipples nudging against his shirt.  Her hands were on his arms, wrapping around his biceps, squeezing.

Not fighting.  No, Holly wasn’t pushing against him, not trying to break loose—

She was trying to get closer.

Just as he was.

Her mouth fit him.  Her lips, soft, full, felt right against his.  Her tongue…ah, the lady knew how to use her tongue.

Knew how to stroke.  How to torment.

How to drive him even wilder.

Maybe the human did want to play. Absolutely-damn-perfect—

Holly tore away from him, wrenching out of his arms and stumbling back.  “No.”  Her wide eyes watched him.

With hunger.

With horror.

Ah, now that look wasn’t anything new.  He’d seen it more than his share of times. Yet he still found himself stiffening.

He didn’t like for her to look at him that way.

She lifted a hand to her lips, as if to wipe away his taste, and Niol’s eyes narrowed.

“You think…” Holly began slowly, then stopped and swallowed.  “You think you can threaten to fuck my mind…then try and fuck me?”

He didn’t speak. What would he have said?

“No.  I’m not one of your demon wannabe sluts, Niol.  I don’t want to jump you in the dark so that I can have the thrill of saying I screwed a monster.”

Hit.  The reporter obviously understood more than she’d pretended about the human women who came to his bar.

***

Want to read more seduction snippets?  Check out these participating authors:
Sylvia Day
Leah Braemel
Shelli Stevens
Michelle Pillow
Jaci Burton
Anya Bast
Juliana Stone
Moira Rogers
Vivian Arend
Shelley Munro
Lacey Savage

Update:  Thanks for all the great comments!  The winner of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER (ARC) is…Edie! Congrats, Edie!!  And if you didn’t win, well, Leanna still has  a prize for you.  Send Leanna your mailing address (email her at leannareneehieber@yahoo.com) and she will send you an excerpt booklet–the first 3 chapters of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER.  Now that’s a great deal!

Today, I’m jealous. Yes, I’ll just come right out and admit it–I’m jealous b/c I want the prize that my guest author is offering.  Who is my author today?  The lovely and talented Leanna Renee Hieber.  And guess what she’s giving to one very lucky commenter?  An autographed ARC of her upcoming Dorchester release, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker.  I cannot wait to read this particular book!!! When August 25th gets here, I’ll be at the front of the bookstore line, this book clutched in my greedy hands.  😉

Welcome, Leanna!

I’m sure you’re as excited about Midnight’s Master as I am and so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be here! Thanks Cynthia!

What I love about demons is the ambiguity; the endless possibilities of them.

What exactly can a demon do? What is it bound by? Really, it’s limited only by the rules the author lays down. They can be anything and everything, and honestly I find them the most unpredictable and intriguing of characters, mysterious and powerful. I’ve yet to write a nice or redeemable one. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but a good one hasn’t yet crossed my path.

Demons don’t seem to have the same sets of cultural baggage/established expectations you find with familiar creatures like Vampires and Werewolves. With a demon, you’re never sure what you’re going to get, and that’s dangerous and exciting. They are an elevated form of spooky, a higher category of powerful, whether the author chooses to use them for good or for evil. Either way, they’ve always captivated me.

That’s why when writing The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, a Gothic Victorian fantasy full of ghosts, fierce camaraderie and an epic love, I decided to make my sinister characters demon-esque. They needed to be set apart from all the ghosts, a different breed. These creatures are informed by mythological roots. While I don’t say out and out who/what they are, my heroes make demon inferences as they try to comprehend what they’re dealing with. To my heroes, the Guard- essentially Ghostbusters in Victorian England- any supernatural thing other than their usual ghostly suspects is a new problem. They are equipped to fight spectres. Not demons. When Jack the Ripper starts spreading its terror, it is a new breed of horror they’ve never before encountered.

Here’s the scene from The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker in which I first introduce my demon-informed characters:

From the eternally dim shadows of the Whisper-world a voice resonated like a deep, angry bell tolling three o’clock: “Where. Is. She?”

“I’ve no idea, dear,” replied a softer, feminine voice. “Was I supposed to do something about her? I thought you’ve been looking all this time. While you’ve only just noticed, it’s been eighteen of their years. She could be anywhere. She’s not my responsibility, you know.”

The deep voice grunted. “Do. Something.”

The woman sighed, her fair skin glowing in the moonlight. Placing her hands to her coiled tresses atop her head, she found something sharp. With a hiss, she brought her thumbs back into view; their pricked pads sprouted thick, dark jewels, garnets that began to overflow and weep.

Lifting up her hands, she watched in fascination as the crimson trail spread from her thumbs onto her palms. She turned her hands one direction, then the other. “Hmm,” she said after a long moment.

“Well?” pressed the voice in the shadows.

“London,” she replied.

“Something wicked, then?” the voice gurgled.

The woman turned and smiled, nonchalant. “By all means, let the dog loose.”

There was a grinding of stone. A ferocious growl erupted from the deep, before a barking, snarling, ugly cloud leaped into the sky. It vanished into the shimmering portal opposite the shadows where the woman’s master stood brooding, a portal where now rose the Tower of London. The voice tolled again from the shadows. “There will be hell to pay.”

***

Come visit me at www.leannareneehieber.com, connect via any of the social networking platforms of your preference, and I hope you’ll pick up a copy of The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, releasing on 8/25! (Preorder: www.tinyurl.com/strangelybeautifulbn) In August I’ll be launching my Strangely Beautiful Haunted London Blog Tour and Cynthia has graciously allowed this lovely blog of hers to be a stop on the tour where I’ll describe real, documented London haunts I use in the book! Happy Demon Hunting – or Loving!

Today’s guest is Sandy Lender, author of CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS.  I have to say, I think that is one fabulous book title.  And, yes, I’m a title gal.  Titles draw me in, they make me want to pick up the book, flip it over and dive into that blurb! 🙂

Sandy, welcome to the demon fun!

(A quick note:  Sandy is participating in a blog tour, and I’m happy to be one of the stops on her tour.  During each week of her blog tour, she selects one commenter–from all the blogs she visits–and that person wins a hard-cover, first edition, autographed copy of Choices Meant For Gods.)

“Don’t Set Deals with Demons”

By Fantasy Author Sandy Lender

http://www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com

To start today’s Demon Discussion, here’s a brief excerpt introducing one of the demons from my first fantasy novel, CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS. In this scene (already underway) Nigel and Chariss practice their sword technique in the training arena at Arcana. Nigel toys with Chariss because he just wants to get to know her a little better.

***

Excerpt:

At one point, she thought Nigel ignored an accidental opening she’d left, and it angered her to think he wasn’t trying his best. Did he think she needed favors to win the match? Did he think she wasn’t an excellent swordsman herself? When she went on the offensive, seriously, he was caught by surprise.

The press, the attack, the speed with which she suddenly came at him stunned him nearly as much as her skill. It took a minute of this onslaught, but she managed to lock the hilt of her sword against his and they struggled closely. She was shorter than him by a good seven inches, and didn’t have nearly the upper body strength he did.

So the last move was a mistake, she thought. She’d wring her way out of it and try another tactic. But she didn’t get the chance.

With his empty hand, Nigel reached his arm around her waist and spun her. Now that her sword arm was free and her back to him, she beheld one of the training monsters rushing toward them.

“By the gods!” she gasped, taking up a stance beside him.

Assuming Mia or Hrazon had entered the arena and conjured this beast, she began the usual two-man assault. Nigel had trained here, too, even if in secret, so he knew how to follow suit.

This quickly proved to be no simple training exercise. In fact, as they pressed the putrid-green and yellow beast with swords clanging against its exoskeleton, Chariss saw its foot—the size of her torso, by the way—land outside the training ring.

That shouldn’t have happened.

***

The demon Nigel and Chariss find themselves fighting in this scene is called a ryfel. The ancient (and evil) goddess Julette created these things during the First War in Onweald’s history and they are large, poisonous, mindless beasts that exist solely to rip apart and eat followers of The Master (the society’s highest active god). Think Cthullu with less arms. He he.

At one point in CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS, Chariss (the heroine) becomes annoyed with teen Jake Taiman’s flirtations and starts lecturing him on what his family does and doesn’t expect of him. It’s not a long lecture because, personally, I don’t like reading lectures in books and figured my audience would appreciate an abbreviated one from Chariss. But she does tell Jake to watch out for pretty girls who might be demons in disguise. He tells her, basically, “yeah, I know not to set deals with demons.”

It’s interesting foreshadowing because Jake is slow to follow his own advice, we learn later that his father has already gone across that spiritual divide to disastrous effect, and a young lady who threatens our hero and heroine’s happiness needs some other-worldly dealings. Then, of course, the villain has joined forces with the ultimate demon. (Does he really think that’s going to get him all that he wants?)

In my fantasy world of Onweald, demons are bad. The edras and ryfel that Julette created have ugly, poisonous characteristics. While the ryfel are mindless, lumbering beasts that enter the mortal world by a gifted person’s command, the edras are intelligent enough to carry on conversations. They can solve problems. They can bow down and worship the evil goddess that called them into being. They can hunt down their prey. Luckily, they stink like rotting flesh so you can tell when one’s near at hand. These two examples aren’t the kind of beasts who seduce you with pretty words and lusty desires. These two are the kind of beasts who follow commands from dark forces and attack the innocent. I wouldn’t set any deals with them.

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Update:  The ARC winner is…Melissa!! Congrats, Melissa!

“The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind ‘cos he was way behind: he was willin’ to make a deal.”

Oh…one of my favorite childhood songs.  🙂  These lyrics are from “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (by the Charlie Daniels Band).  Sometimes, I catch myself singing this song to my son as a lullaby.  Yes, we have odd lullabies in my house.

But the songs draws me b/c I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that the devil–or just demons– can appear and make deals with humans. Deals that don’t end well.  According to legend, if you go to the crossroads,  you can make a deal for just about anything.  Did Tommy Johnson make a deal?  Guess only he knows. And what about Robert Johnson?

I like to read different myths and legends.  Sometimes it’s interesting to see the same basic story, told in different cultures.

Have you heard any good tales? Any good urban legends that you’d like to share?  Leave me a comment–and I’ll pick one person to win an ARC of BELONG TO THE NIGHT. Yep, I’ve got more ARCs just waiting for you!

(By the way, I’ve been at a crossroads in Mississippi, and I sure didn’t stop for long!)

Update:  Time for winners!  The winner of FAERIES GONE WILD is Barb Patric!  And the winner of THE HIGHWAYMAN is bridget3420!  Congrats!!!

I’m actually in the middle of reading Michele Hauf‘s latest release now (FAERIES GONE WILD), and I’ve got to say–it’s great.  🙂  If you’re looking for a hot paranormal author, then should definitely check out Michele’s stories.  Welcome, Michele!

(And, guess what?  Michele will be giving out not just one great prize today, but two!!  She will giveaway a signed copy of THE HIGHWAYMAN and a copy of FAERIES GONE WILD. Be sure to comment for your chance to win!)

***

I Kissed A Demon (And I Liked It)

Ok, so I didn’t actually kiss one.  That would be…creepy.  But I am coming around, meaning, I’m finally beginning to see the sexy side of demons.

My first paranormal romance, Dark Rapture (pubbed in ‘97) was about vampires.  I lurve me some vampire.  Vampires.  Nom.  I’ve been very happy writing vampires.  They are sexy, aristocratic, never have one of those orange overdone suntans, and even if they do bite on the first date, it’s a kiss to remember.

The paranormal romance genre has exploded over the past few years.  Werewolves are seeing their day in the spotlight.  I never had an interest in the hairy dudes.  Leave them for those authors who write them well.  Until a werewolf walked in as a secondary character in one of my stories.  Oh, man, I love those hairy guys now!

Which brings me to demons.  Demons, to me, used to fall on the same level as werewolves.  No, to be honest, they were actually much lower, the lowest of the low when it came to feasible romantic heroes.  I just could not see not.  Couldn’t wrap my head around a demonic being actually being tender and a love interest.  Case in point: I did the Dark Enchantments series with three friends for Nocturne.  Each of the other three had demon heroes.  I told them “Nope, can’t do it.  Can’t do a heroic demon.”  So in my book, I had a demon hunter who slayed every demon in sight.  And my upcoming July release, The Highwayman, features another demon slayer.  He wields a whip that glows with anti-demon sigils, slicing demon heads off left and right.  Hey, it’s fun kicking demon butt!

But some switch flipped in my brain recently.  I confess, my current work in progress features a demon hero.  A real live, conjured-from-the-depths-of-Hell demon.  I initially balked at this hero.  What the heck?  He should be the villain, yes?  How can some demon whose flesh is forged from black steel and whose black blood runs with a rage for slaying angels ever hold a mortal heroine tenderly and understand the concept of love?  That’s when the switch flipped.  What an awesome challenge!  I’ve always liked dark, damaged heroes, and demons are as dark and damaged as they come.  What a man to try and redeem on the page!  (And if he looks like Gerard Butler?  Oh yeah!)

So I guess what I’ve learned (and am constantly learning) is never say never when it comes to the paranormal and the vast variety of characters a writer can play with.  I’ve expanded my reading interests with this new attitude as well.  Used to be all—wait for it—vampires.  Now I slip some demons into my TBR pile every once in a while, alongside the weres and faeries and shapeshifters.

Demons rock!

Michele