Devil’s Lair: Molotov Obsession: Book 1 Page 24
His eyes return to their bright, savage tiger hue. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Because I ran, I think woozily. Because you’re most likely a psychopath incapable of real feelings. Because none of this, especially you and me, makes any sense.
I end up giving the only reason I can, one that weighs on me heaviest of all. “Because if you’re right about Bransford, you and your family are in even greater danger.” My voice wavers as another wave of lightheadedness crashes into me. Still, I persevere. “You have to let me go. Now. Before it’s too late.”
A dark curve touches his sensuous lips, a glimmer of wry amusement kindling in his gaze as he gently cups my cheek. “I don’t know if you’ve picked up on it, zaychik,” he says softly, “but my family and I aren’t exactly strangers to danger. In fact, we’re well acquainted with it.”
He kisses me then, softly at first, then with increasing urgency, and despite everything, familiar heat sparks low in my core. He deepens the kiss, his tongue mating with mine in a primal dance that makes no allowance for our lack of privacy, and my head spins, my dizziness increasing until he’s the only solid anchor in my world. Overwhelmed, I cling to him, clutching fistfuls of his shirt, and with my thoughts dissolving under the dark pull of desire, it doesn’t matter that I’ve seen him take two lives today, that he may be the very definition of a monster.
Nothing matters except the two of us, and by the time he lets me come up for breath, we’re already past the gate, back in his domain.
“Don’t worry, zaychik,” he murmurs, his thumb stroking my lower lip as a shiver racks my battered body. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise. I’ll keep you safe.” And in his eyes, I read the unspoken:
Even if you object.
* * *
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Are you craving more dark, suspenseful romance? Check out my bestselling Tormentor Mine series, the thrilling story of a Russian assassin bent on revenge and the woman he becomes obsessed with.
Do you enjoy laugh-out-loud romantic comedy? My hubby and I cowrite raunchy, geeky romcoms under the pen name Misha Bell. Grab a copy of our debut novel Hard Code to meet Fanny, the quirky coder stuck with the task of quality testing sex toys, and her mysterious Russian boss, who steps in to help out.
Are you an Urban Fantasy fan? Check out The Girl Who Sees, written by my hubby Dima Zales, the epic tale of a stage illusionist who discovers she has very real powers and the hot alpha male mentor who helps her hone her skills.
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Now, please turn the page to read excerpts from Tormentor Mine and Hard Code.
Excerpt from Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires
He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.
Now he’s back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.
The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.
* * *
“Are you going to kill me?”
She’s trying—and failing—to keep her voice steady. Still, I admire her attempt at composure. I approached her in public to make her feel safer, but she’s too smart to fall for that. If they’ve told her anything about my background, she must realize I can snap her neck faster than she can scream for help.
“No,” I answer, leaning closer as a louder song comes on. “I’m not going to kill you.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
She’s shaking in my hold, and something about that both intrigues and disturbs me. I don’t want her to be afraid of me, but at the same time, I like having her at my mercy. Her fear calls to the predator within me, turning my desire for her into something darker.
She’s captured prey, soft and sweet and mine to devour.
Bending my head, I bury my nose in her fragrant hair and murmur into her ear, “Meet me at the Starbucks near your house at noon tomorrow, and we’ll talk there. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
I pull back, and she stares at me, her eyes huge in her pale face. I know what she’s thinking, so I lean in again, dipping my head so my mouth is next to her ear.
“If you contact the FBI, they’ll try to hide you from me. Just like they tried to hide your husband and the others on my list. They’ll uproot you, take you away from your parents and your career, and it will all be for nothing. I’ll find you, no matter where you go, Sara… no matter what they do to keep you from me.” My lips brush against the rim of her ear, and I feel her breath hitch. “Alternatively, they might want to use you as bait. If that’s the case—if they set a trap for me—I’ll know, and our next meeting won’t be over coffee.”
She shudders, and I drag in a deep breath, inhaling her delicate scent one last time before releasing her.
Stepping back, I melt into the crowd and message Anton to get the crew into positions.
I have to make sure she gets home safe and sound, unmolested by anyone but me.
* * *
Order your copy of Tormentor Mine today!
Excerpt from Hard Code by Misha Bell
My new assignment at work: test out toys. Yup, that kind.
Well, technically, it's to test the app that controls the toys remotely.
One problem? The showgirl who's supposed to test the hardware (as in, the actual toys) joins a nunnery.
Another problem? This project is important to my Russian boss, the broody, mouthwateringly sexy Vlad, a.k.a. The Impaler.
There's only one solution: test both the software and the hardware myself... with his help.
NOTE: This is a standalone, raunchy, slow-burn romantic comedy featuring a quirky, nerdy heroine, her hot, mysterious Russian boss, and two guinea pigs who may or may not be into each other. If any of the above is not your cup of tea, run far, far away. Otherwise, buckle in for a snort-water-up-the-nose-funny, feel-good ride.
* * *
“Me?” Eyes widening, he steps back.
I’m committed now, so I barrel ahead. “It makes sense. I presume you trust yourself not to toss me into the Harbor. The privacy of the project isn’t compromised. And, well”—I blush horribly—“you have the right parts for it.”
Unbidden, my eyes drop to said parts, then I quickly look up.
The elevator doors open.
“Let’s continue this in the car,” he says, his expression turning unreadable.
Crap, crap, crap. Is he hating the idea? Hating me for even suggesting it? Ugh, how awkward is it going to be if he says no?
Am I about to get fired for coming on to my boss’s boss?
We get into the limo again, sitting opposite each other this time.
He makes the partition go up. “Just to clarify: I test the male batch, acting as both giver and receiver, right? I actually already tested one of the pieces on myself after I wrote the app, so I could in theory do the same with the rest of them.”
Yes! He’s actually considering it. I want to jump up and down, even as the blush that had slightly receded on the walk from the elevator returns in all its glory. “That wouldn’t be good end-to-end testing, and you know it. You wrote the code; that makes you biased.”
His nostrils flare. “Then how?”
Even my feet are blushing at this point. “You just act as the receiver. I act as the giver, and record the testing data. It’s the proper way these things are done.”
His eyebrows lift. “That’s stretching the definition of the word ‘proper’ way outside its comfort zone.”
“Look.” I try to mime his accent as best I can. “If you want to quit, I understand.”<
br />
A slow, sensuous smile curves his lips. “I don’t shy away from a challenge.”
Can my panties really melt, or is that just a saying?
* * *
Order your copy of Hard Code today!
About the Author
Anna Zaires is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 international bestselling author of sci-fi romance and contemporary dark erotic romance. She fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works.
To learn more, please visit annazaires.com.