There is still time to enter the Rockin' Around the Raven Xmas Tree Contest where you can win some fantastic prizes.



For all the details, visit http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/Rockin_Raven_Xmas_Tree_Contest.htm 

~Ann 

After a planned week away goes bust, Mercedes Black takes to the road. Years of unexplained memory lapses have ruined her relationships with men and left her future uncertain. That is until a good-looking stranger appears along the desolate highway, and she offers him a ride. The moment he enters her car, an internal switch is turned on and her body craves his touch. Figuring she has nothing left to lose, besides her memory, she gives in to her impulses.
 

Nox Messina has never been the same after volunteering for what he thought was advanced medical research. For years he has been on the run. Tired of being hunted, he decides to take down the doctor who ruined his life, and to insure that no one will stand in his way again. His plan for vengeance gets sidelined when an exquisite beauty offers him much more than a ride, and he can't refuse.
 

As their feelings deepen for one another, they discover the man Nox plans to kill plays a crucial role in their future. Not only does he want the beauty for himself, but he wants beauty's beast out of the way for good.
 
~Ann

About the book

A Handcuffs and Lace Tale

Cassidy Valance is one part woman, one part Kitsune—a rare shape-shifting fox. She finds solace inside an estate, away from the hunters who have invaded her home in the forest. As a woman, she finds the nights unsatisfying with her insatiable appetite for sex. Tired of prowling for men to slake her relentless desires, Cassidy yearns for one man who can tame her wild ways, and love her despite what she is.

Officer Ian Valenti is assigned to investigate an abandoned estate after reports of unusual activity are called into the station. Since the death of his wife, he has fully devoted himself to his job. When he goes to inspect the house, he finds the suspect inside, naked and alluring.

Ian’s instincts and years serving on the force tell him to cuff Cassidy and haul her in for breaking and entering. But she would rather he cuff her and treat her like the submissive she longs to be. With her restrained and primed, Ian brings Cassidy’s fantasies of a Master to life. And willingly lets down the guard around his heart.

An excerpt from the book

Cassidy Valance sat on her hindquarters and licked both paws clean. Earlier she’d nourished her appetite with a small pheasant. It hadn’t been the feast she’d hoped for, but it quelled the hunger pangs. She swished her bushy red tail and wandered over to her favorite part of the garden. To her delight, several of the blue and goldenrod pansies had survived the winter. Soon spring would arrive and tiny shoots would pop up out of the ground. But tonight, spring seemed a long way off. An unusual chill penetrated through her fox fur straight to her bones. The evening frost bit at her paws and dried her nose. She needed shelter or risk freezing to death.

For the past few months, she’d been content in her forest burrow. She’d stored enough food to graze on and spent considerable time asleep. Until the hunters woke her with deafening gunshots, causing her to flee for safety. February had come too swift, and with it brought the start of fox hunting season.

Over the last two years, the estate had been a welcome sanctuary with its wrought iron gate, fountains and private garden. She couldn’t understand why it remained abandoned so long, but it was to her advantage. The inside sported five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a great room, a study, a spacious kitchen, a formal dining room and a breakfast nook. Floors were covered in hickory, pine and maple except for the entryway, which had an intricate marble tile. Her favorite room was the study with its cozy furniture, old books, sleek black piano and a slate stoned fireplace. But it was the garden that kept her coming back.

For months, groundskeepers tended to the garden, but lately it had been left untouched. She knew to own a place of this stature would require money, something she had very little understanding of. In her experiences, money turned kind people into thieves and drove men to violence. It also motivated the nearby hunters into skinning and selling her fur.

Cassidy stretched the kinks out her fox form and shivered. Another minute outside and she’d never warm up. The new moon made it dark enough for her to change into her human form. She nudged her nose against the special rock with its hidden key, and with her tongue, slid the black piece open. Between her teeth, she gripped the key and allowed the transformation into a woman happen.

Naked, she hurried to the doorway and thrust the key into the lock. With a quick turn of the knob, she entered. To get the blood circulating in her legs, she ran up the luxurious staircase and straight into the study. She raised the tasseled cushion of the window seat and grasped the lace robe. Though sheer and lightweight, it offered a covering while she lit a fire.

She’d never bothered with a fire in the house before, but tonight she had little choice. Nothing short of an embrace from strong, powerful arms would temper her inner chill.

While the flames crackled in the stone fireplace, Cassidy admired the familiar items inside the old trunk in the corner she’d discovered from an earlier visit. She considered it a treasure chest with its handheld mirror, jeweled hair combs, elbow-length satin gloves, and her favorite¾a lace choker that she fastened around her throat. It made her think of a collar. Something she never wanted as a fox. But with the right Master, she would dutifully wear it and submit to all his demands.

Many wintry nights she stole inside and sat with a book on her lap, envisioning what she would do if this were her home. She’d work out in the garden. Let her fingers sink into the cool earth and grow everything from fruits to vegetables to herbs and wildflowers. She would laze in the sun on a tree-strung hammock. Read a book by the water fountain. And always have a fresh bouquet of daisies on the dining room table.

Most of her ideas came from pictures found in magazines left inside the old walnut desk drawers. The ones that depicted how domesticated women lived and the homes they kept. Showed how they dressed. Some wore elegant gowns that swept along the floor. Others dressed in outfits that exposed miles of skin. Both styles appealed to her. The pictures were a glimpse into a life she longed to be part of, but feared.

Cassidy closed up the trunk and took a seat in the velvet chair. She loved its lush material against her skin. It fit her body well, as if made for her. She let the robe fall open so the heat from the fire bathed her skin. The soft texture against her bare sex sent tiny thrills along her spine. All the pictures and magazines couldn’t distract her from the gnawing need coiling deep inside her core. The insistent need for sex worsened at the onslaught of spring. Relief would have to come by her own hand tonight.

She had long since given up on being satisfied by strangers who thought only of their needs. Her cravings went further and more risqué than anything they could accomplish. She needed a man who could tame the wild beast inside her. Until then, she’d forever be at the mercy of an insatiable libido. Unsatisfied and sex-starved.

(copyright 2009)

~Ann Cory

Today I'm blogging over at The Raven Blog about kitsunes and nogitsunes and would love for you to stop by. Each month I'll be posting about a new shape-shifter, and would love to hear about what your favorite shape-shifter is. http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog/



Immortally Theirs is available now at Fictionwise http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b98435/Immortally-Theirs/Ann-Cory/?si=0 and is 15% off!

 

About the book

When Shayla McDormand first moved into her parent's old mansion, she had no idea the property was already occupied by two very handsome vampires, Bastian Trabor and Armand Coudray.

Over time, she gave into their affections and enjoyed all they had to offer. Bastian is all about powerful strokes and bringing her to a fierce orgasm every time. Armand believes sex should be artistic and savors her body with his tongue.

Spoiled but satisfied, Shayla loves everything about their time together. Until they demand that she choose between them or they will leave and never return.

Can Shayla make up her mind before it's too late? Or will fate make the decision for her?

An excerpt from the book

Shayla McDormand smoothed her hand along the sleek banister as she climbed the stairs. The hem of her nightgown trailed along the crimson velvet carpet that had lost its plush feel over time. Much of the wallpaper and fixtures around the manor showed heavy wear. In many ways, it reflected the way she viewed herself.

She’d inherited the property from her parents after they had passed away. The gesture came as a surprise, considering their lack of communication since she’d left home. And the fact she never came back to visit. Not that she wanted to be perceived as a bad daughter or ungrateful for all they’d done for her while growing up, but once she’d left, she’d promised never to return.

And here she was—another broken promise in a long line of them.

The first day she’d stepped through the doors, guilt consumed her. Her mother’s perfume scented the air, as did her father’s pipe tobacco. Old feelings from her childhood resurfaced. She should’ve visited instead of punishing them. Looking back, she knew they had only moved there to offer her a better education and a safe place to grow up. But the cruelty she experienced on her first day of school shattered any and all hopes of fitting in. Her classmates had deemed her a freak. Shunned her for living in a haunted house where the previous owner hated children. Treated her as though she didn’t exist until graduation day, when she finally left to start over.

Sure, there’d been ghosts. Some even became her playmates.

Twelve years later, there were still ghosts, but none from her childhood.

The ambience of the house fit the bitter adult she’d become. It almost suffocated her. By the end of the first week, she thought the depression would consume her. And she’d probably have given into the darkness if it hadn’t been for Armand Coudray and Bastian Trabor, her vampire lovers who knew no boundaries when it came to pleasures of the body. They’d saved her from…well herself, really.

It was the evening before All Hallows Eve. The same night a year ago, they had appeared to her.

At first, she’d feared the vampires, afraid they would hurt her. But it didn’t take long before she looked forward to their visits. They made her laugh, and were gracious with compliments. Made her feel loved and wanted, as if everything was going to be okay. It was hard not to fall for their charms, or the way they catered to her every need.

Bastian had seduced her first, but later that same night, Armand had made his presence known. She’d awoken in a haze, happily wedged between two luscious hard bodies. It had been perfect.

Rare was the morning when she didn’t feel sated beyond all reason and comprehension. Soon the depression lifted and she looked forward to each day with a renewed spirit.

For almost a year, they’d become an important part of her life. Spoiled her rotten. Left her beautiful gowns once made for queens. Brought her breakfast in bed and often fed it to her. Drew hot baths. Read her stories. And best of all—pleasured her. Sometimes separately, but the most memorable of nights were when they were all together. Bodies rocking, swaying, moving as one. She didn’t ever want to come down from the rapturous highs they took her to with their hands, mouths and cocks.

But once again, a shadow of gloom hung over her. The vampires wanted a specific answer. An answer she didn’t want to give, an answer that would change her world—mortality and all.

Although sex with the dreamy vampires was phenomenal, her feelings for them went deeper. She genuinely cared for them both and couldn’t picture her life without one being a part of it. So when they told her she needed to choose which of them she would marry, it felt like a ton of bricks on her shoulders. She’d become used to their presence, their quirks and mannerisms, and the feeling of completeness that she’d never experienced before. To not have one by her side would be like day without night. She’d been so happy and never expected it would end.

Shayla had never wished for time to move slower.

Her thoughts remained jumbled as she ascended the steps. At the top of the stairs, she sighed and strolled toward her room, bypassing the other rooms along the way. Six rooms to be exact, not including the study—a room she avoided. The moment she’d entered the room, she feared being in there alone. A large eerie portrait of a man that hung on the far wall disturbed her. More than once, she removed it and stored it in the closet only to find the portrait put back the next day. And not by her hands. Since then she didn’t bother to go back in. It wasn’t worth the extra gray hairs.

She paused at her bedroom door and took a deep breath. Fatigue had set in early tonight, at least in her body. Her mind wouldn’t stop racing. It would feel good to lie down, though she didn’t expect to sleep. Not with such an important decision weighing heavy on her. She’d chosen the largest room at the end for the rich scarlet drapes of the large four-poster canopy bed, a place where she felt like a queen. They matched the scarlet curtains bordering the large picture windows that overlooked a stone courtyard with its many statues and a labyrinth of hedges. Hardly any flowers grew though, and those that did promptly died. Everything was a stone gray. Much like her thoughts this evening.

Shayla opened the door and at once, a smile curved her lips. A warm and inviting fire blazed in the fireplace. Someone had read her mind, and she guessed it was Armand. He had a flair for the dramatics and paid particular attention to the smallest details.

She leaned against the bedpost and stared into the flames, watching them flicker and sway. On rainy nights, Armand would read her romantic overtures from books and poems. Sometimes he’d act out the part of the anguished lover who ravaged the unsuspecting woman. She enjoyed it and the role-playing. He promised to treat her like a queen if the one chosen. He promised to give her everything she could ever want. Bastian offered the same in his own modest way.

While Armand liked sex to be artistic and savored her body with his tongue, Bastian was all about powerful strokes with his cock and taking command. Together they offered the perfect blend of pain and pleasure. Shayla often wondered what it would be like for them to drink her blood during the height of an orgasm. They never tried and she wondered if there was something wrong with her. Maybe someday she’d ask.

But for all the wonderful things they did, they didn’t always understand her. Being vampires, they had the luxury of knowing the future that lay in front of them, where she was clueless. They didn’t bother with regrets or agonize over the past of each day, trying to figure out ways to fix what they lacked control over. Though the thought of being immortal excited her, the thought of choosing which one she’d spend an eternity with didn’t. If she could just have a sign. A single glimpse into the future to show her which path to take.

She would have to come to a decision by the stroke of midnight tomorrow night, or they would both leave and never return. Once again, she’d be alone. The house would drive her mad, and she feared it would be her undoing.

Shayla sensed a presence and turned.

Armand stood tall in his five foot nine, half-naked glory. Dark hair hung down to an inch above his shoulders with a jagged part at the side. She loved to stare into his deep green eyes that smoldered when he climaxed. Somewhat slender, his body was an equal mix of sinewy muscle and smooth planes. He considered himself a student of Shakespeare and Keats. Favored plays, poetry and fine literature. He loved to be in love and to express love with words. Love was art in his opinion. Her gaze followed the muscles of his abs downward to where his skintight black pants outlined his noticeable erection.

“Evening, love.” His voice echoed deep and seductive.

Her pulse sped up. If she could purr, she would have. “Evening,” she replied.

His glance heated her body from the inside out. “I don’t suppose you’ve made your decision early?”

His self-serving question quickly tempered the blaze in her belly. It was the last thing she wanted to discuss.

“I’m afraid not.” Her clipped tone came out harsher than she’d planned. Still, she wanted him to know the decision caused her nothing but anguish.

Armand raised a brow. “It has been a year, my sweet.”

“Almost, a year,” she corrected. “It will be one year tomorrow. I still have time to choose.”

He sighed. “You know the life I can offer you. Riches. Luxuries. Anything your heart desires.”

“Yes, and Bastian offers the same,” she countered.

He chuckled. “Bastian doesn’t come from the same bloodline as I.”

She knew Armand meant well, but sometimes his words came out downright arrogant. Bastian was every bit as handsome and debonair, but without the theatrics and conceit. At the same time, she knew Armand couldn’t help the way he was, and in the end she wouldn’t change anything about him.

“I don’t mean royalty and riches,” she explained. “Just that he offers an immortal life with all the perks, and then some. The same as you do.”

“But I only have eyes for you,” the vampire asserted.

“As does he.”

Armand clicked his tongue. “So he claims.”

“With the same fierce determination and loyalty as you,” she added.

Annoyance streaked his handsome features. “Then he steals my lines.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Always the actor.”

He reached out and traced a finger along her cheekbone. Her nipples instantly hardened. “Not when it comes to my love for you.” His expression turned serious. “That is all me. No acting required.”

Shayla exhaled and felt her entire body weaken at his touch. Sometimes she hated that her body responded so easily. Especially now when she wanted to be mad at them. Didn’t they understand what they were putting her through? How it ate her up inside? The stress was wearing heavy on her.

“It isn’t easy to have two men swear their undying love and have to choose between them,” she said softly. Her eyes blurred with the onset of tears, but she refused to let them show.

Armand waved his hand. “Bastian doesn’t even know the meaning of love.”

She narrowed her gaze and tilted her head. “Don’t say that.”

On cue, Bastian walked into the room with one brow raised. Shayla wondered how much he’d heard. Judging by the glare, he’d heard enough.

Bastian moved with a slow, sexy gait to the fireplace and stood in front of it. His long ice-blond hair and pale blue eyes were such a striking contrast to Armand’s darker features. He wore an artist’s shirt that showed off the planes of his chest, and leather pants practically painted on. The nomadic vampire’s preference was for swordplay and games. He too shared a passion for Shakespeare, but more for the darker side of love and the physical fighting than the poetic romance. He had a commanding approach, which is why she deemed him the fighter and Armand the lover. Though Bastian didn’t need any lessons in how to pleasure a woman.

Bastian nodded her way and then directed another heated glare at Armand. “Have you nothing better to do than hound her?”
(copyright 2009)

~Ann Cory

Cassidy Valance is one part woman, one part Kitsune - a rare shape-shifting fox. She finds solace inside an estate, away from the hunters who have invaded her home in the forest. As a woman she finds the nights unsatisfying with her insatiable appetite for sex. Tired of prowling for men to slake her relentless desires, Cassidy yearns for one man who can tame her wild ways, and love her despite what she is.

Officer Ian Valenti is assigned to investigate an abandoned estate after reports of unusual activity are called into the station. Since the death of his wife, he has fully devoted himself to his job. When he goes to inspect the house, he finds the suspect inside, naked and alluring.

Ian's instincts and years serving on the force tell him to cuff Cassidy and haul her in for breaking and entering. But she would rather he cuff her and treat her like the submissive she longs to be. With her restrained and primed, Ian brings Cassidy's fantasies of a Master to life. And willingly lets down the guard around his heart.

*tossing confetti*

~Ann Cory