Bound by Sunlight is up for this week’s LASR Book of the Week contest. The contest is based on the reviews, not on actually reading the books. My review from Mistletoe said “KB Alan pulls the reader into a world filled with magic and keeps you entertained until the end.” How cool is that?
Those lovely folks over at Excerpt Monday are promoting Bound by Sunlight and some other great looking May and June releases. For them, I’m posting the excerpt from Bound by Sunlight, for my regular readers, I say go check out the other new releases, I will be! 
“You’ve never been bound?” he asked, picking up the straps of her tank top.
“No.” It was more of a breath than a whisper, but he seemed satisfied with her answer. She felt a soft spark against her shoulders and looked down. He’d severed the straps of her top, which were left to dangle above her breasts. Magic. He’d used magic. A tiny niggle of fear tried to work its way through her. He seemed to know and brought his warm hands back to her face, tilting her head up enough that she knew she was supposed to meet his eyes. Why did she find that so difficult? She forced herself to follow his unspoken demand.
“I will not harm you tonight. Not with magic. Not with anything else. I will bring you pain, but only as much as will pleasure you. Do you understand?”
She saw patience and assurance in his eyes, wondered what he saw in hers. Shame washed through her now—that she had come to him so unprepared, unworthy. He shouldn’t have to deal with a novice when he was used to those at the club. His fingers on her chin tightened.
“Do you understand?” he asked again.
“Yes.”
He knew there was more, she could see it in his face, see him trying to figure it out. As long as he didn’t ask, she wouldn’t have to admit to her insecurities. He cocked his head as he studied her.
“What distressed you now?”
She wanted to look away. The feeling of easy surrender had vanished. But she had to answer him. Had to keep meeting his eyes. Not just because of the compulsion, but because she had asked for this. Asked him to help her. He deserved to have as much of her courage as she could muster.
“I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this. I don’t know what to do.”
“You don’t have to know what to do. That’s what I’m here for. You’ll do what I tell you, when I tell you. Won’t you?” His voice was hard, uncompromising.
“Yes.”
“Then there’s nothing for you to fail at. It’s my responsibility to make sure this goes right, not yours. Your only responsibility is to tell me if I go too far.” He stepped closer, allowing his heat to envelope her. She felt moisture gather in her pussy and it got a little bit harder to draw breath.
“Let’s start over.” He pulled her chin up higher now that he was closer to her. Her neck ached a little at the strain. It felt…good.
“Do you believe that I won’t harm you, even though I have every intention of bringing you pain?”
“Yes.” She didn’t know why, and it might be foolish, but she believed him. It was the reason she was here.
He rewarded her with a small kiss to her lips. She opened for him but he drew away. She sighed.
“Do you believe that I will bring you pleasure?”
“Yesss.”
This time he smiled as he kissed her. She tried to chase his lips, but his hands kept her in position.
“Do you understand what you’re supposed to do?”
Uh oh. What was she supposed to do? Hadn’t he just told her—oh.
“Yes.” Another kiss, she wanted another kiss. A real one this time, damn it.
“Tell me.”
“Whatever you tell me to do.” She parted her lips in preparation. She would have to be fast this time.
“And?”
No kiss? What was he doing to her?
“And…umm. Oh, and use my safe word if you go too far.”
“Good girl.” He met her lips with his, but it wasn’t gentle this time. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, taking what she had tried to take, giving what she needed. She whimpered when he pulled back.
“Tell me your safe word again.”
She didn’t want to, didn’t want to ever say that word again. He seemed to understand.
“Choose another word. It doesn’t need to be that one. Shouldn’t be something you don’t want to say.”
“No, it’s all right—”
His fingers tightened against her skin again, reminding her who was in charge. He wasn’t asking. He was telling.
“I, maybe…Snowball!” God, all she could come up with was her childhood cat’s name. Was he smirking at her? She narrowed her eyes at him but his face had gone expressionless again. He leaned down and gave her another quick kiss. Then he let her go, stepped back, taking his heat with him.
“If you use your safe word, I’ll stop what I’m doing so we can talk about it. Don’t be afraid to use it, it doesn’t mean I’m going to send you away.”
She managed to nod her understanding.
“You have a lovely body.”
She didn’t. Her size eight curves weren’t quite proportioned the way she’d like and—
He smacked her ass and she jumped as much as the chains would allow, which wasn’t much at all. Why she should be shocked she had no idea, but she looked at him for an explanation.
“You.” He put his hands on top of her head then ran them over her face, rubbing her eyebrows, exploring her cheekbones, tickling her ears and caressing her chin.
“Have.” Her skin tingled as his hands moved down her neck to her now heaving chest.
“A lovely.” His fingers molded to her breasts, giving a sharp, barely painful squeeze before continuing their journey.
“Body.” He reversed his hands so that his fingers led the way over the curve of her stomach to the juncture of her thighs. He folded his hands along the curve, careful not to touch the part of her that needed touching the most.
“Oh,” she managed to whisper. Her whole body shuddered at his intense look and careful caress. The desire in his words and his eyes did more to relax her than anything else he could have done. She didn’t realize how worried she’d been about the fact that by presenting herself to him, rather than having him choose her, she would have a hard time believing he wanted this, even a little bit.
She looked down at her top. He was running a finger down its center, from neck to hem. As his finger slid past, the fabric parted, splitting down the middle. It was almost like a breath of heat, but maybe she was imagining that. It didn’t take long for the whole top to fall away.
Her naked breasts were damp with sweat, her nipples somewhat swollen. He ignored them and brought his finger to her pants, performing a similar magic to remove them in less than a minute. He took a step back, observing her dressed only in plain cotton panties. It looked as if he was fighting a smile. She tried not to blush and failed. Why hadn’t she dressed up for him? She had the clothes, had been provided with the types of outfits that were supposed to entice him. Black leather, lace garters and more. Much more. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them, but she would have felt like a spy wearing them, like a fraud. So she’d come in the most Kyriana-like clothes she had.
He walked behind her, hooked a finger in the waistband and snapped the elastic against her skin. It didn’t hurt, but it startled her. She hung her head as she tried to fight off the shame and misery working their way through her.
“Just checking to see if your name was embroidered in the back.” His teasing words were spoken against her neck. She choked on her laugh as his lips moved down her neck to the top of her spine, where he bit, hard.
I’m very excited to announce that Keeping Claire has been accepted at Ellora’s Cave. You guys have already seen excerpts for this book, so there’s not much to say, other than I can’t wait to tackle the edits on it and get back to visiting with Ryan and Claire. Here’s the description I gave my editor:
When the owners of the company Claire works for march her into their office, she knows that trouble has found her. Again. Having Ryan’s hands on her, after dreaming about him for months, isn’t quite as satisfying as she’d imagined when it comes in the form of a pat-down and a lot of suspicion. Not that they don’t have a right to be suspicious – the only thing she answered truthfully on her job application was gender. But she’s not there to steal or spy on the company, and if she doesn’t get away quickly, the crap that’s following her is going to unload on all of them.
Like squeezing blood from a turnip, Ryan and Jacob finally manage to pull some details out of Claire. She’s on the run from her lunatic family, and after five years, is nearing the end of her rope. Good thing she’s stumbled across two Fae warriors who are experts in security. Except, even once they convince her that they’re magical beings, she remains unimpressed and wants to run, to once again become a new person living a half-life, in a desperate attempt to keep those around her safe. Ryan knows she’s scared, but now that he’s gotten a taste for her, he’s not willing to let her race out of his life. Fighting demons is easier than keeping hold of Claire – but not nearly as satisfying.
I’ll keep you updated as I get the cover, official blurb, and release date! Woot!!
I’ll be joining a bunch of other Ellora’s Cave authors at the June Coffee Time Romance Readers Retreat. We’ll be chatting and posting excerpts and contests all month. I’ll mostly be there in the evenings, come by and say hi!
The last book in the Wasteland series is out. I am so loving this series.
Wasteland: The Priestess
RG Alexander
Damn the rules, damn the gods…even if he has to share her, she belongs to him.
High Priestess Xian has followed the Path of the Peaceful Sun since she was chosen at birth. Yet the joy she receives from helping others is overshadowed by her growing belief that the world they live in is…wrong.
At a crossroads, unsure of her ability to do her job—unsure of anything—she journeys to the ruins of the old city, hoping to uncover secrets that will give her clarity. Instead she finds the path to her goal clouded by an unexpected desire for her handsome guard, Hel, and for the battered stranger they find along the way.
Hel can’t prevent Xian from reaching out to the mysterious Siraj, but there is danger in allowing him to stay. Siraj belongs to no caste, follows no rules but his own. And Xian’s fascination with him makes Hel’s blood boil. No one can know that Hel has always loved her, or the secret he’s kept hidden for years. But Siraj’s advances and Xian’s curiosity force Hel to cross lines he never before dared…
Fellow EC writer Nicole Austin’s Kenna’s Cowboy is out. Doesn’t it look yummy?
Kenna’s Cowboy
Nicole Austin
Hearts of Fire, Book Four
Cursed with unusual abilities, orphan McKenna Fulton has always been different, an outcast. But she’s been Chosen. More accurately, she is one of the Chosen. Eight individuals—four women and four men—selected at birth to guard slices of crystal. The Heart of Fire.
The whole thing is more than a little farfetched. Kenna can handle the part of getting down and dirty with the bad dude. She’s even okay with guarding a crystal. But losing her free will and being stuck with some guy, her destined mate, uh-uh. Not happening.
Local mechanic Ryker Thomas is more than he appears and has his own set of abilities. Kenna wants nothing to do with the Southern charmer. So what if he has a matching crystal and the damn thing hums and vibrates whenever they’re close together. That doesn’t mean she’ll toe the line.
He can’t be the one she’s supposed to be with. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to send her a cowboy when what she wants is a bad boy.
The third book in the Wasteland series is out:
Wasteland: The Breeder
Eden Bradley
Destined to serve the desires of an entire city, all she wants is one man. Or maybe two…
Born to the Temple, Nitara knows the Great Goddess’s plan for her: to bring life into what is left of an arid and wasted Earth. Since puberty she has been trained to arouse and titillate, to ensure the continuation of the human race.
As is the custom, the man captured for her is strong of blood, though considered little more than a wild animal. Yet when she looks into his eyes, she sees no primitive creature, but the man whose face and hands haunt her sensual dreams.
For Akaash, a hunter and warrior, it’s his shame that he will be sacrificed to a goddess he doesn’t believe in, for a people who are not his own, leaving behind his Wanderer clan—and his bonded lover, Dhatri. Locked in the bowels of the Temple, he has a month to ponder his fate, all while falling helplessly under the spell of the virgin temptress who will soon take his life.
With each tortuously erotic encounter, however, Akaash realizes that Nitara is as much a prisoner as he. If he can just get a message out to Dhatri, there may be a slim chance both of them can escape…
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The second book in the Wasteland series is ready. I loved the first, can’t wait to read this one!
Wasteland: The Whore
Lilli Feisty
Bryn is a “Rose”, but her life is no garden. A stolen child, prostitution is the only life she’s ever known—except on the nights she sneaks out in stolen men’s clothing to explore the city. A tiny taste of freedom that makes her long for a life outside sexual servitude, at the mercy of any man who can pay.
Xander remembers no other home except his pirate ship, smuggling weapons or anything else for a fee. He’s been happy with his life and his lover, Hawke…until he rescues who he thinks is a young man from robbers.
Figuring she can blend in with the crew, Bryn jumps at the chance to escape the Brothel. Then she discovers Xander and Hawke have a taste for pretty boys—and that she has a taste for them. In their arms, she embraces their incredible gift: control of her own sexuality.
Though women are considered bad luck at sea, Xander isn’t of a mind to give her up. Yet the time is drawing near when the ship must return to Wasteland to resupply. And what awaits them there is a danger that could tear them apart.
Today’s the day! I’m so excited (can you tell? lol). I loved writing this book. It came to me and wouldn’t let go, which was exactly what I needed at the time. I’d been working on Keeping Claire but had trouble with the direction I wanted to go in. Or rather, Claire wanted to go in. I stopped and started and restarted just short of a million times. Also, I was driving myself crazy with trying to do things the way I thought they should be done. Not that anyone was telling me that, just that I was trying to be more organized and do everything the smart way. I finally told myself to shut it, but it took a while for me to listen. See, Mom, I don’t listen to myself any better than I listen to you! Actually, at this age, I probably listen better to you than to myself.
Wait, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, poor Claire. Anyway, I got the idea for a woman who sneaks into a Dom’s room, wearing her pajamas. Don’t ask me why, this is how my brain works. I had to figure out why. Turns out, she had a pretty good reason. So Kyriana came into being, but she needed just the right guy. Luckily for me, er, I mean her, Connul is the kind of Dom who knows exactly how to take care of a woman, and once she becomes his woman, stand back!
The book is set in a world exactly like ours, except that magic exists. Mages are not terribly common, but neither are they a secret. Like anyone else, they come in all shapes and sizes, and fill the spectrum between good and evil. I tried to come up with some names that would show the slight otherness of the world, without being too wacky. Kyriana’s name actually came from a character in my very brief college foray into roll-playing games. I think the original Kyr was an elf, but this one is just a human caught up in a situation that she has no weapons to fight against. Until she finds Connul. Connul’s brother Dain, and sister Sasha, make an appearance, and I might as well tell you now that I liked them a lot so I wouldn’t be too surprised if they start clamoring for their own stories soon. We’ll see how that goes!
So, I’m going to shut up now, and go buy a copy of Bound by Sunlight, because I’m just dorky enough to do that. I can’t help myself, I’ve loved buying books at Ellora’s Cave for a long time now, and this one has my name on the cover! That just never gets old.
Don’t forget that I’m giving away a copy at both Christine D’Abo’s blog and The Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe!
So close! Bound by Sunlight will be out tomorrow, and I’m so excited to share it with you. But more on that tomorrow. Today, I have a contest link. Fellow Ellora’s Cave author Christine D’Abo is celebrating her tenth EC release on May 21st, by inviting 10 EC authors (+1 to grow on! ) to share their stories and give away lots of prizes, on her blog. She was kind enough to put me down for tomorrow, so I’ll be giving away a copy of Bound by Sunlight on release day. Be sure to check that out tomorrow, but don’t forget to head over today, and the next ten days for lots more great stories and prizes.
Here’s the schedule:
May 11 – Jennifer Leeland
May 12 – KB Alan
May 13 – Amy Ruttan
May 14 – Aileen Fish
May 15 – JK Coi
May 16 – Rhian Cahill
May 17 – Emma Petersen
May 18 – Nina Pierce
May 19 – Lissa Matthews
May 20 – Tory Richards
May 21 – Christine d’Abo
Good luck!
UPDATED: The Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe has an interview with me up, and they’ll be giving away a copy of Bound by Sunlight.
