“This time, I wanted to enjoy the passion that burned between us until we were both about to combust.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Issa knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Until the end of time, I will love you. You are the moon in my endless night. I have never abandoned this world, even when I desperately wanted to, and I will never leave you, either.”
— Lisa Kessler
“You made it clear you did not want to discuss the past with him. I followed through on your request.”“By beating him senseless?”Calisto looked at Tom, then back to her. “Perhaps he never had any sense to begin with.”
— Lisa Kessler
“He’d watched the world change around him, civilizations rise and fall, and although he could have anything, anyone, he wanted her.”
— Lisa Kessler
“I should’ve let her walk right out the door, but something about Nadya made it tough for me to be the asshole I wanted to be.”
— Lisa Kessler
“No room in my world for drama, and the last thing I needed was more death. This beautiful woman would bring me both.”
— Lisa Kessler
“A single doctor, with the body of a Greek god, sat across from me at a candlelit table, and all I could think about was a greasy-fingered motorcycle mechanic.I refrained from smacking my own forehead.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Muriah approached him with a new pair of khakis and a couple of T-shirts. “I guessed at the size so you might want to go try these on first.”He took the clothes and slid his arm around her waist, maneuvering her toward the fitting room.“Hey, I didn’t sign on to be your dresser.” She grumbled, but didn’t struggle.He pulled the door closed and turned to meet her eyes. “It’s light in here and full of people. Apep will not be able to surprise us, and his serpents cannot spy. We need to talk.”***He stripped off the wet shirt, exposing his chiseled torso. She did her best not to choke on her tongue. His tanned skin and taut muscles tempted her, luring her to touch him. Turning around to give him privacy seemed like the right thing to do, but there wasn’t a hint of modesty in this Mayan god, and if he could handle getting this personal, then she could, too.When he unzipped the wet pants, she held her breath. Would an ancient guy wear underwear? She was about to find out. He bent over to lower the wet slacks. When he straightened up, she realized he’d been talking, but she didn’t have a clue what he had said. Instead, all her attention was focused on a fine trail of dark hair leading from just below his navel and disappearing under the low-slung elastic band of his boxer briefs.“Muriah?”Her gaze snapped up to meet his. Thank the universe he couldn’t read her thoughts. “Yeah?”“Did you hear my question?”He stood two feet from her in only his underwear, and he thought she was listening? He was either completely unaware of his sex appeal, or he was way too accustomed to being obeyed.Probably both.She cleared her throat. “I must’ve missed it.”A spark lit his eyes that told her he might have more than a clue to his sex appeal.He picked up the T-shirt and pulled it on. “I asked if you knew of another hotel closer to the airport so we can get out of New York as soon as the sun sets tomorrow.”“I’m sure I can find one.” She pulled out her phone, grateful to have something to pretend to focus on besides him tucking his package into the new khakis she pulled off the rack for him.“I probably should’ve grabbed some dry underwear, too.”“They are nearly dry now. I will be fine.” He popped the tags off, and she glanced up from her hotel search. “They’re not going to like you taking the tags off before you pay.”The corner of his mouth curved up. “They will be honored to take my money.”She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Do you ever not get your way?”He stepped closer to her, his chest an inch from hers until her back pressed against the modular wall of the fitting room. “Rarely.” His dark gaze held hers, and the deep rumble of his voice sent heat through her body. “But some things are worth the extra effort.”
— Lisa Kessler
“He stared down at her for a moment, wanting to heal everycut on her soft skin. But he couldn’t, not yet. He needed to get her,and her car, far from this place so neither he nor Kate would beimplicated in any way with the gruesome murder site.It also meant he would have to drive.In all his years, he had never driven an automobile. The closest hehad come was watching various assistants through the years as theychauffeured him. He wasn’t sure he could even remember how tostart the car, but right now he had no choice.Grudgingly, he got into the driver’s seat, and finding the leverunderneath, he pushed it back so he sat comfortably behind thewheel. After trying three different keys, he found one that slipped intothe ignition.From what he had seen over the past hundred years, driving wasnot a complex operation, and he was an immortal with reflexes farmore keen than a human man.How difficult could it be?He turned the key and nearly jerked the wheel off the steeringcolumn when the car surprised him by lurching forward. The car wentsilent. The engine wasn’t running. What was he doing wrong?He stared at the gearshift, wondering if he should move it. Hisfrustration reared up, but his agitation would not make the car driveitself. He had to keep a cool head.Not knowing what else to try, he pushed one of the pedals at hisfeet to the floor and turned the key again. This time the car didn’tmove, and it roared to life. Grasping the gearshift, he jammed it intothe first position and glanced over at Kate.Why couldn’t she have owned a car with an automatictransmission?Shaking his head, he put some pressure on the gas pedal andslowly released the clutch. Thankfully the car rolled a few feet, butwithout warning it jumped forward. He pressed the clutch back to thefloor before the engine lost power again.Calisto slammed his hand against the wheel, muttering under hisbreath in Spanish. At this rate it would take him all night to drive herhome.The faded yellow convertible pitched forward again, threateningto stall as he continued out of the parking lot, thankful it was late. Thestreets were fairly empty. At least he wouldn’t get into an accidentwith another car. Her car staggered ahead, lurching each time hetried to release the clutch, bouncing and jostling them both until Katefinally stirred and woke up.§“Are we out of gas or something?”Calisto watched her with a tight smile. “Not exactly.”Kate winced in pain when she laughed. “You can’t drive a stickshift,can you?”“Does it show?” Calisto pulled over, finally allowing the engine tostall.She nodded her head slowly to avoid more pain. “Just a little.What happened?”“You don’t remember?”“I remember being mugged. And I remember seeing you, buteverything after that is blank.” She watched his eyes as Calistoreached over to brush her hair back from her face, and his touch sentshivers through her body. This wasn’t how she had hoped she wouldrun into him, but she learned a long time ago fate didn’t always workout the way you expected.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Foreboding, and an all too familiar lack of control, roiled in my gut. My opponent might be hungry for a win, but I was famished. Something in my life would be a victory. Sorry Shark, I wasn’t going down tonight. No chance. – Jason Ayers”
— Lisa Kessler
“He ran his fingers along the edge of my jaw. “You’re my north star, Kilani. Being near you makes my heart, my soul, and my wolf whole for the first time in my life.”
— Lisa Kessler
“The corner of his mouth pulled up into a crooked, boyish grin that melted the heart I was so desperate to protect. “You don’t have a monopoly on fear. Until we kick Nero’s asses out of Reno—and trust me, I have every intention of doing that—you’re a target. If anything happened to you…” He shook his head, breaking eye contact. “Can’t even think about it.”
— Lisa Kessler
“She came closer, reaching up to inspect the cut on my brow, her breasts so close to my chest, the heat of her body warmed me right through our clothes. “Jason, we need to get you to a hospital. Your brain could be swelling.”Oh, something was swelling for sure, but it was nowhere near my brain.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Her dark eyes sparkled in the sunlight as she stared up at me. “You are a moon child. She calls to you.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Jason lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His forehead rested against mine. “I’ve never liked dancing.” He started to sway with the music and the tide, turning us slowly. “But maybe I just never had the right partner.”
— Lisa Kessler
“I buried my fingers in her thick, silky hair. Her teeth brushed my neck, her scent filling my lungs, and I tightened my grip, growling against her ear. “Dream come true.”
— Lisa Kessler
“You’re playing dirty,” she whispered. “Did you want me any other way?”
— Lisa Kessler
“Against my mouth she groaned. “I hate being quiet.” A breathless chuckled escaped me. “Me too. Once we’re home…” “Lots of noise.”
— Lisa Kessler
“She stepped back, staring up into my eyes. “You’ve given me hope.” She ran her hand up my chest. “I don’t know how to thank you for that.”I grinned. “You can start by taking my calls.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Once we were on the road, I glanced at my passenger. “If you’ve got any ideas about how I can get this shit storm cleared up, I’m all ears.”Tank snorted, sneezed, and lay down on the bench seat, plopping his head on my leg. I rested my hand on his back, eyes glued to the winding two-lane highway. “Yeah, I don’t have a goddamn clue either.”
— Lisa Kessler
“A shard of glass cut my belly as I slid into the battered SUV, but I managed to keep the family jewels intact. I’d be counting every small victory tonight.”
— Lisa Kessler
“My pulse pounded in my ears, heat smoldering deep in my belly. I’d never been so tempted. “This is a dangerous game.”
— Lisa Kessler
“His barely there smile warmed me. “You try really hard to hide behind that Ice Queen disguise, but that’s not who I see. I see a girl who had to grow up fast, and a mom who would sacrifice everything for her son. You’re beautiful, Taryn, inside and out, and I want to get to know the woman you keep hidden away.” He lowered his hand and my body ached at the loss. “If you’re willing, I’ll walk through the fire with you.”
— Lisa Kessler
“I’d kiss you if I could,” I whispered. Jared’s breath caressed my skin. “I have other shirts.” I smiled and kissed him.”
— Lisa Kessler
“It’s about your mom.” “She’s not mad at your again, is she?” “No.” I set the drill aside. “”In fact, I wanted to ask you for your permission to court your mom.” “You’re taking her to court?”
— Lisa Kessler
“I’m a pretty patient guy when it’s something worth waiting for.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Taryn? Are you all right?” I nodded, pushing away the doubt. My fingers laced with his. “I’ve never been swept off my feet before. Sounds a little… terrifying.” He laughed, and I drank in the sound. “Terrifying is not what I’m shooting for.” He kissed me, his lips caressing mine over and over until my pulse was thrumming, warming my whole body. He stared into my eyes. “Breathless maybe…”
— Lisa Kessler
“— “That first day when we met, when I gave you my estimate for the deck project and you wouldn’t shake my hand…” I laced my fingers with hers. “There was something sad and lonely in your eyes. I knew all about your reputation, your nickname the Ice Queen, but that wasn’t what I saw that day. When I looked into your blue eyes, I saw a princess locked away in a tower, a prisoner. I wanted to set you free.”
— Lisa Kessler
“I’m not hurting you?” He shook his head with a crooked, very sexy smile. “Not yet.”
— Lisa Kessler
“Jared led me to the floor where I suddenly remembered an important detail. “I don’t know how to dance.” He didn’t laugh at me. Taking my hand in his, he moved his other arm around my waist and leaned in close by my ear. “Then you better let me lead.”
— Lisa Kessler