Before I could blink, he flipped me over on my back and pinned me, wrists over my head. He was grinning, his eyes a kaleidoscope of emotion. “The very moment I saw you, I fell in love. It was instantaneous. Like nothing I’d ever experienced before.” He leaned over and nuzzled my neck. I shrieked as he deliberately grazed his stubble over my chest. He met my gaze with a wicked look. “Now, there’s a possibility I fought some of those feelings for a brief second or two but—”
“Brief!” I hooted. “You were so not into me. We traveled for two days before—”
“Wrong,” he interrupted, silencing me with a kiss. His lips lifted off mine as slowly and seductively as he could manage. “From the very moment I took you out of that bar, I was trying to seduce you.”
“You were not!”
“I was too. Remember our time in the swimming hole?”
“Of course I remember, how could I forget? We had to douse ourselves in sulfur water to mask our smell before we could climb up to your cabin.”
“Wrong.” His face broke out into a huge grin. “That sulfur was just a tactic because I wanted to see you dripping wet in that little white cami. And it was well worth it.” I kicked my legs out, laughing. “It clung to your delicious curves like a glove. I’ve never been so turned on in my life.”
Before I could protest, he kissed me soundly.
I lost myself in his lips, and I couldn’t really argue, because I’d wanted to see him without his clothes on just as badly. I finally broke the kiss, giggling. “You’re such a bad boy,” I scolded.
“Yes, yes, I am. And I’m planning on proving that to you again right now.” He ran his chin down the middle of my chest, abrading me all the way to my belly button.
I laughed, my hands twining in his hair. “You have until four-thirty a.m., tiger.”
“And I plan to use every single minute of it.” He winked.
I licked my lips. “I can’t wait.”
Acknowledgments
As always, I want to thank my readers, supporters, and fans. Without you, this entire ride wouldn’t be nearly as sweet. Bill, I love you. There isn’t a more supportive spouse on the planet. You roll up your shirtsleeves and do whatever needs doing. I appreciate that more than you can ever know. To Paige, my college-bound daughter, I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. May the road ahead be paved with opportunity and unforgettable experiences. To my son, Nat, you are amazing and insightful. I enjoy watching you grow every day. To my daughter Jane, you make us all laugh, and I thank the stars above for it. Sweat is not the only thing you got from me. To my parents, Daryl and Koppy, I love you so much. Thanks for continuing to support me in everything I do. Kristen Painter, you are a rock star, and I’m so happy to call you a friend. Amanda Bonilla, you are my shot of caffeine. Without you, my day wouldn’t be complete.
And to Orbit and all the great people at Hachette who make this book a reality, I thank you.
extras
meet the author
Photo credit: Paige Carlson
A Minnesota girl born and bred, Amanda began writing in earnest after her second child was born. She’s addicted to Scrabble, tropical beaches, and IKEA. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three kids.
Find out more about Amanda at www.amandacarlson.com
or on twitter @AmandaCCarlson.
introducing
If you enjoyed
PURE BLOODED
look out for
SOULLESS
Parasol Protectorate: Book the First
by Gail Carriger
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire—and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
SOULLESS is the first book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.
CHAPTER ONE
In Which Parasols Prove Useful
Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her evening. Private balls were never more than middling amusements for spinsters, and Miss Tarabotti was not the kind of spinster who could garner even that much pleasure from the event. To put the pudding in the puff: she had retreated to the library, her favorite sanctuary in any house, only to happen upon an unexpected vampire.
She glared at the vampire.
For his part, the vampire seemed to feel that their encounter had improved his ball experience immeasurably. For there she sat, without escort, in a low-necked ball gown.