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© 2006, Susan
M. Sailors Reviews For TORRID TEASERS Volume 16 by Susan M. Sailors “Lord of Blackwood and Lord of the Forest are two tales of paranormal passion that will have you looking for more! Susan M. Sailors turns up the heat in this pair of erotic romances, and she’ll have you wishing for another helping of her multidimensional, likeable characters!” --Michelle, FAR Sample Chapter For TORRID TEASERS Volume 16 by Susan M. Sailors “I’m heading back now, Carolyn,” Melissa called up the stairs. “Okay. See you in the morning,” Carolyn replied. Melissa sighed. “I don’t feel like screaming up three stories. I’m coming up.” She ran up the steps, and then stopped to catch her breath. “You’re sure you want to stay?” she asked. “Yes,” Carolyn said without looking up. “I have to get to know this place.” “But you could do that during the day.” “I’ll learn so much more staying here. I’ll really get a feel for the house, and its owner.” “Its owner? Are you going weird on me? You insist it’s safe to stay here because the legends aren’t true.” Carolyn shook her head and stood up, then tightened the rubber band holding her long, blonde hair out of her face. “I mean that, if I stay here for the whole trip, live here as if it’s my house, I’ll be able to write about it on a completely different level. My whole thesis is based on the idea that these houses reflect the men who built them, so I have to get to know the house as intimately as possible.” Melissa crossed her arms defiantly. “The guy at the inn is going to be pacing the floor all night because you didn’t come back with me. And I’m not crazy about leaving you up here alone either.” Carolyn ignored this comment. She didn’t care about what the townspeople thought. She cared about finding what she needed in the Blackwood mansion. She wasn’t afraid of being in the house alone because she didn’t put much faith in the stories, but she liked the paranormal aspect. American academics loved a good old English ghost story, whether it literally had a ghost in it or not. It would certainly draw attention to her research. Melissa continued. “Do you believe the legends? Do you think the original owner is still in this house, lying in a coffin somewhere waiting for a beautiful damsel to be stupid enough to open his coffin and faint from fear?” “No, I don’t,” Carolyn finally said. “So I don’t know what it is you’re so afraid of.” “These small towns can be dangerous in and of themselves. You know how locals can get about outsiders poking around. Some guys hanging out at the local pub might come up here and try to scare you.” “It would be nice if there were some guys around here. I’ve seen nothing but old men.” Carolyn laughed Melissa laughed. “I’ll agree with you there. It does seem like a desolate place.” She shrugged and turned to go. “Is your cell phone fully charged?” “Of course.” “I’ll be back at nine in the morning with breakfast.” “You can sleep in if you want to.” Melissa shook her head. “I doubt that will be possible. The whole town will be in that little Catholic church next to the inn praying for your soul.” “Tell them to pray for my thesis instead. It needs more help than my soul does.” Melissa dropped a little curtsey at the top of the stairs. “Good night, my Lady.” Carolyn rolled her eyes and laughed. “Good night. Be safe.” After she heard the bolt on the front door sliding into place, Carolyn sat back down and continued with her work, reattaching the rubbing paper she had been using to the wall with fresh tape. She was making a rubbing of a very unusual wall panel, and the tape kept giving every two minutes. The panel was covered in flowers, but as she’d been admiring the intricate design, she’d noticed something that gave her chills. Interlaced with the flowers, very subtly, were bones. She’d decided against showing them to Melissa. It had been hard enough getting her to come to the small town of Blackstone in the first place, even though they’d both dreamed of a trip to England together for years, because Melissa was convinced the townspeople were going to run them off and put them on the next boat back to America. But Carolyn knew this house was just what she had been looking for. It proved her thesis all by itself. The original owner, Marius Blackwood, had been a recluse who only left the house at night and had a reputation for practicing magic and seducing women. His house was covered in ancient symbols. Pentagrams were on all the doors, hung right side up for his protection. A Thor’s Hammer hung over each of the outside doors, again as a symbol of protection for the house. Most of the fireplaces had runes carved around the mantles. All the windows were covered in heavy velvet draperies that allowed no light in. And the bedrooms were all enormous. The black marble, the carvings, the tapestries, and the paintings all reflected the legend this man had been. Carolyn’s goal, however, was to delve even deeper. She wanted to know what Marius had been so afraid of. Maybe he really was a seducer and a rake, but he obviously felt he had enemies. Supernatural enemies. Carolyn didn’t believe in the supernatural, but the important thing was that Marius Blackwood had. The tape on one side of the paper she was working with fell down and she reinforced it yet again. She leaned one hand against the edge to try to hold it in place as she rubbed across the last corner. Her crayon broke suddenly, as though she’d rubbed it across something sharp. But the paper wasn’t punctured. She moved the paper aside to look at the wall. Down in the very corner was a small skull. She touched it with her finger and felt it move. She pushed harder and the panel moved slightly. Carolyn backed away, letting the paper fall to the ground. The caretaker wouldn’t be very happy with her if he knew she was destroying property. She looked at the wall more closely and sighed with relief. It was obviously a hidden passage, so she wasn’t tearing the panel from the wall or anything like that. She pushed the button again, but it didn’t give at all. She backed away and looked over the panel, then went back to it and pushed right in the center. It wouldn’t budge an inch. She picked up her rubbing paper and began removing the tape so she could fold it up, and that’s when she noticed the hallway was filling up with smoke. She almost panicked, but then she realized the smell wasn’t right. The hallway was filling with mist or fog, not smoke. She looked to the windows, but they were shut tight and locked. The mist felt warm, so it had to be coming from inside the house. Carolyn felt the wall again. It wasn’t warm or damp, but the mist did seem to be coming from behind it. “Damn and blast,” she said to herself. “What am I supposed to do now?” “I have a few ideas,” said a husky male voice behind her. She didn’t even get a chance to turn around. The man’s arms were around her waist, and she was pressed tightly against his body. “Who the hell are you?” she yelled. He pressed his lips to her ear. “I’m the answer to your prayers, my dear. You said you wanted to get to know me more intimately.” Carolyn stopped struggling for a minute and rolled her eyes. “Very funny. I’m so scared. Now get the hell off me and maybe I won’t call the authorities.” “I don’t think the constable could help you. No one can now.” “This isn’t funny!” She tried to kick him, but he was holding her between his legs and she couldn’t get a good position. “I thought you wanted to meet me. I’m very glad to meet you. It’s been a long time since I had such a pretty blonde.” “If you’re really Marius Blackwood, then you wouldn’t need to restrain me. You could hypnotize me.” “That’s not a bad idea. Why would I do that?” “Because Marius Blackwood was a vampire. All he’d have to do is look into my eyes and tell me to come to him, and I’d fall right into his arms.” “Interesting. Let’s give it a try.” He turned her around and pushed her away from him. He held out his hand. “Come to me.” Carolyn just stared. He looked exactly like the man in the portrait. He had black hair that fell in waves to just past his collar. He had sharp green eyes and strong masculine features. He was very tall and muscular. He was even wearing the same cloak. And he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. “Who are you really?” she
asked quietly. She tried to keep her expression neutral, not wanting
to give him the satisfaction of seeing anything like desire in her eyes.
She felt like they were blazing, screaming out, I want you! as her gaze
traveled over his amazing body. “Who are you?” she repeated calmly. He bowed to her. “Marius Blackwood, at your service.” He let his gaze rove lazily over her body. She felt her entire body grow hot under his scrutiny. “I doubt that.” “My identity, or my willingness to give you anything you desire?” “Both.” “You question my honor as a gentleman?” “You aren’t acting like a gentleman.” He raised his dark brows and smiled. “You’re correct, but that is only because I desire you so.” She swallowed, trying to calm her fluttering stomach. |