When
Melissa fleetingly meets Sascha in The Black Lion nightclub, she hopes he will
approach her.
Sascha has
secrets and it’s a long time since there was a woman in his life. He hesitates,
even though he’s drawn to her until...
When she is
threatened, he acts. When he is hungry, she hunts.
Unknown to
both of them someone watches jealously.
Will this
jealousy stop the budding romance between two people who both have something to
hide?
A sizzling,
paranormal romance, full of surprises.
Read the excerpt: Edited by the author from the 18+ original in the book to PG for this blog
Sascha
gazed at the young woman, whose name, Melissa, he’d stored away like a precious
jewel. He memorized the heart shaped face, the big green eyes, the dimple in her
right cheek. He moistened his top lip with the tip of his tongue as he
considered her mouth. I’d love to hold
her close, just feel her warmth against me. I’d like more … I bet her hair
feels like silk. He sighed as his gaze traced the length of her glossy
chestnut hair. It fell around her shoulders and down her back. Sascha longed to
grasp a handful, pull her close, and kiss her. He imagined it. He recalled her
look in the mirror at the bar. She was
interested in him. It was obvious, and his own ineptitude was why he stood
staring down at her, instead of grasping her to his form. I could have compelled her. I
could give her so much love…
A
low voice to his left suddenly invaded his thoughts.
“She’s
not for you, brother. I see your scrutiny. I saw her first.”
Sascha
prickled with anger at the voice and himself for not hearing the approach, nor
scenting this man who leaned casually against the barrier. His fury burned in
his chest and he whispered dangerously. “Who the hell are you?”
The
man stood straight and so did Sascha.
They
faced each other.
Sascha
caught the vague smell of vampire heavily disguised by a mix of sandalwood,
cedar, rosemary. How could I have missed
a vampire in the club? He must have just arrived.
“I’ll
ask you again. Who are you? I know what you are.”
The
man before him sighed and waved a hand elegantly. “Fonteyn. Pleased to meet
you, brother.”
Sascha
bristled. “I’m not your brother.”
“Come
now, it’s just a greeting, between two of the same kind. I’ve seen you here
before. You’re not very careful or perhaps you’re more daring than I am. I
thought to make a friend after many years without meeting another … vampire.”
His low voice dropped to a conspiring whisper. He mouthed the last word and
then grinned.
Sascha
ached to slaughter this threat to his happiness. He was far from desirous of a
friend. He’d never experienced anything but rivalry from other vampires and
didn’t trust any of them, although he stopped short at violence toward them. His life in the early days had been
harsh and he knew it could be a difficult life. “You disguise yourself well.
I’ve never seen you here.” Sascha decided on a friendlier approach.
“Practice,
herbs, and the truth is I’ve only been here a few times before tonight.”
Fonteyn glanced away from Sascha’s face and down at the table where the young
woman now sat alone watching her friends gyrate on the dance floor a few yards
away.
Sascha’s
instinct was to back off—pretend he had no more interest in the girl to make
sure she wouldn’t be in any danger from this other vampire. “I didn’t realize
she was with you, Fonteyn. How long have you known her?” He coated his voice
with acceptance, resignation.
Fonteyn
looked back at him. His black eyes full of suspicion, and then he changed. His
expression told Sascha this vampire Fonteyn believed he was no longer
interested in the girl.
“I
followed her here. Her fragrant blood drew me like a moth to a flame. The sway
of her hips, the shimmer of her hair as she passed me on the corner of the
street were like a magnet for me. I fell in love. What a morsel. What a tasty,
rare treat she will be when I eat later.”
Sascha
was as tall as Fonteyn, but more muscular and healthy. Turned in the early
prime of his life, Sascha retained his youthful looks, his beauty enhanced by
vampirism. He radiated masculinity, sex. Ancient, his life experience made him
gentle.
Fonteyn
was older when turned. Still, he was handsome, Sascha reflected. His black hair
traced with only a few strands of silver. His black eyes fringed with dark
lashes, he had an exotic air.
Sascha
gave the slightest nod of his head. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Fonteyn’s
dismay at Sascha’s intention to go was apparent on his face.
“Going
so soon, brother? Maybe I’ll see you again here.” He almost bowed. It was a
weird, old-fashioned movement, and caused Sascha to question what era Fonteyn
hailed from.
Sascha
shook his head. “I’ve tired of the place. I dropped by tonight out of habit. I
doubt I’ll be back.” His lie left a bitter taste in his mouth. He turned and
left the place via the balcony. He only stopped shaking with anger when his
feet touched the ground below.
Sascha
burned with fear for Melissa. He groaned in pain at the thought of her becoming
Fonteyn’s meal. A huge shudder went through him. He tore into the nightclub not
even a blur to the doorman nor the patrons. His presence like a breeze, moved
the frilly cuffs of Goth shirts, ruffled tendrils of long hair, put ripples in
satin evening dresses, and he picked the young woman up. He flew with her so
fast her hair streamed out behind her, her cry of surprise and fear was lost in
the night. The small evening bag on its gilt chain draped across her body,
bounced against her hip.
Sascha
stopped running only when he was halfway home. He settled on a rooftop and
looked around. He held Melissa close to his chest. He dropped a kiss on the top
of her head.
“Don’t
be afraid. I’m saving you from someone who meant to harm you.” He raised his
head and breathed in the night. Identifying smells and sifting through sounds
in search of Fonteyn. There was no sign that he’d followed … no sign at all.
Sascha placed the trembling woman on the felt membrane of the flat roof. They
stood behind a sign. Huge letters cut from wood were anchored to the edge of
the roof. Sascha could tell it read, Happy Inn.
“Melissa,
please don’t be afraid. I had to do this. My name is Sascha.”
Her
eyes wide, she stared at him.
He
picked her up and looked around. The next roof had a small table and chairs on
it. Strings of tiny, colored fairy lights blinked around a door in a wall.
Someone lived over the top of the neighboring business. He leapt to the next
roof. Strode to the table and chairs, sat on one and brought Melissa onto his
knee. He cradled her there against his chest.
Sascha
felt her shaking. His arm tightened around her and with the other hand, he
stroked her hair, her cheek. “Shush … shush … you’re safe with me. Safe…” He
whispered the words. Even though his breath caught in his throat, as he fought
down the need to kiss her—to devastate her with kisses. He swallowed the scent
of her now. He sensed only a little fear in her. Something else made her shake.
She wasn’t easy to read, unless his heightened emotions were in the way. He
rocked her gently. His hand slipped through her hair and he held her head to
his chest. “Melissa, I had to do this, please … I’ll explain, but it will be
scary. What I tell you will be shocking.” A fleeting thought furrowed his brow, if being carried at enormous speed isn’t
shocking enough.
He
rocked her.
She
put a hand on his chest to push away from him. “Tell me. It’s okay. I’m not
afraid.”
Sascha’s
eyes closed for a few seconds. A rush of desire tightened his stomach at the
sound of her voice and touch of her hand.
“You’re
shaking.”
She
shook her head. “Not with fear.”
Copyright Elodie Parkes, Hot Ink Press, a division of
Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Buy the Book
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Lion-Elodie-Parkes-ebook/dp/B00LU918A6
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Lion-Elodie-Parkes-ebook/dp/B00LU918A6
https://www.amazon.ca/Black-Lion-Elodie-Parkes-ebook/dp/B00LU918A6
Available to read free on Kindle Unlimited
5 stars on Good Reads
“From the
minute I met out hero Sascha, I was intrigued and a bit in love. He has an old
world quality that endears you, and when you discover his secret… you understand
why. Melissa has her own mysteries. Independent and feisty, she has an instant
connection with Sascha. They come together in a dazzling display of lust,
possibility, and emotion. Their bond deepens swiftly, and as the story goes on,
we begin to really understand why.
Black lion
is a fantastic short. Sexy, inventive, and charming, it’s the perfect novella
to cuddle up with when you’re looking for a paranormal romp in fantasy land. I
highly recommend it.”
4 stars,
reviewed by Natasha Jackson for a Readers’ Favorite
“When The Black Lion begins we know
that a man, who we later learn is called Sascha, is on the hunt. For sex or
something else, we aren’t quite sure until he spots a beautiful woman from whom
he can feed. But when he spots, well ... smells, Melissa he has a lot more than
food on his mind. Melissa is enthralled, but Sascha is gone before he can make
a move and so begins Elodie Parkes’ new paranormal tale of love and lust.
When Sascha intercedes to save her
from another of “his kind,” Melissa isn’t shocked because she has her own
secrets. But before secrets are revealed, the attraction between Sascha and
Melissa must be acted upon before the jealous person looming in the shadows can
make their move.
From the moment they meet at the
The Black Lion club there is a strong connection pulling Melissa and Sascha
together, or is it something else? This short story from Elodie Parkes is a
perfect fantasy combining love, secrets, and a hidden enemy in just a few short
pages. And the love scenes are as hot as I’ve come to expect of Parkes; they
are just descriptive enough to make you blush and understand how a couple could
so quickly succumb to their emotions. The Black Lion is short but it is well
written and the author has a frank voice that cuts to the chase, because why
should supernatural beings waste so much time being poetic when they've been
talking for centuries? This genre is an acquired taste but Elodie Parkes gets
the job done every time.”
