Can Death by Volcano Be Romantic? #Romance #Paranormal

Out of the Ashes
by Lori Dillon


Pompeii AD 79

They crawled out an open window and emerged into a changed world. The ground now rose to meet second story windows and rooftops. It was impossible to tell what time of day it was. The sky was black with smoke, the sun gone from view as if the gods had plucked it from the sky.

Dacian and Sabina looked toward the mountain, unable to see its majestic peak in the distance. Floating soot burned their eyes, and they had to cover their mouths to breathe. They turned and followed the merchant’s family, stumbling over the debris filling the streets as they tried to make their way to the city gates.

They had taken no more than a few steps when an enormous blast rent the air, nearly knocking them off their feet. The sound of a thousand chariots roared closer and closer.

Panic seized them all.

“Run!” Dacian shouted.

The heat wave hit them first, the blast of hot air slamming them all to the ground. Dacian covered Sabina’s body with his own in a desperate effort to shield her. His large warrior’s hand cupped her head, pressing her face into his chest. A rush of searing wind surrounded them, the hot gases sucking the air from his lungs.

Dacian’s eyes stung, and Sabina’s image blurred before him. He could feel her thrashing beneath him, struggling for a precious breath of air. But there was none.

All too soon, Sabina went still in his arms, her eyes closing as if in peaceful slumber. Dacian took one last look at her beloved face, then laid his head down next to hers.

As they held each other in an eternal embrace, the ashes continued to fall, covering them like a gentle blanket of snow.

Sporting a fancy red, ruby ring comes along with a high price #Paranormal #Romance

Eternal Destiny - Book 2 (Second book in The Ruby Ring Series)

by Chrissy Peebles


Sarah stared up at millions of tiny, twinkling stars. “I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”

“I could lose myself here in this place,” Victor said, gripping her hand tightly.

“Me too. It smells like the air after a heavy rainstorm, fresh and crisp.”

A great waterfall tumbled down towering, steep canyon walls. Everything gleamed under the silver moonlight. In the soft, swirling mist, a geometrical formation in the air caught her eye. A giant, stunning arc of opalescent light and bands of pastel hues appeared in the droplets of moisture, spreading across the falls like some kind of giant banner. She couldn’t stop staring; there was something magical and mystical and addictive about nature’s perfection, her fragile beauty. “A glowing rainbow…at night?”

Victor wrapped his arm around her. “It’s called a moonbow. It has to be a clear night with dark skies, lots of waterfall mist, and a full moon that rises over the granite walls.”

She smiled and snuggled against his chest. “It’s breathtaking.”

“It’s very rare,” he said. “It happens only a few days a year.”

“Wow. I can’t believe we’re actually witnessing it.”
Victor leaned in against her. “Maybe it’s a glorious sign that we’re meant to be together for all eternity.”

She grinned as he placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s go in for a dip.”

His mouth opened to speak, but before he could refuse, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him into the cool pool of water.

“Sarah…” he said.

“What? Are there hungry fish with big, sharp teeth that’ll eat us?”

“No, it’s completely safe, but this isn’t something royalty does.”

“Are you forbidden from spontaneity, Highness? From having a little fun?”

Sporting a fancy red, ruby ring comes along with a high price... #Paranormal #Romance

Eternal Destiny - Book 2 (Second book in The Ruby Ring Series)

by Chrissy Peebles


Sarah stared up at millions of tiny, twinkling stars. “I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”

“I could lose myself here in this place,” Victor said, gripping her hand tightly.

“Me too. It smells like the air after a heavy rainstorm, fresh and crisp.”

A great waterfall tumbled down towering, steep canyon walls. Everything gleamed under the silver moonlight. In the soft, swirling mist, a geometrical formation in the air caught her eye. A giant, stunning arc of opalescent light and bands of pastel hues appeared in the droplets of moisture, spreading across the falls like some kind of giant banner. She couldn’t stop staring; there was something magical and mystical and addictive about nature’s perfection, her fragile beauty. “A glowing rainbow…at night?”

Victor wrapped his arm around her. “It’s called a moonbow. It has to be a clear night with dark skies, lots of waterfall mist, and a full moon that rises over the granite walls.”

She smiled and snuggled against his chest. “It’s breathtaking.”

“It’s very rare,” he said. “It happens only a few days a year.”

“Wow. I can’t believe we’re actually witnessing it.”
Victor leaned in against her. “Maybe it’s a glorious sign that we’re meant to be together for all eternity.”

She grinned as he placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s go in for a dip.”

His mouth opened to speak, but before he could refuse, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him into the cool pool of water.

“Sarah…” he said.

“What? Are there hungry fish with big, sharp teeth that’ll eat us?”

“No, it’s completely safe, but this isn’t something royalty does.”

“Are you forbidden from spontaneity, Highness? From having a little fun?”

From "Soul Protector" by Amanda Leigh Cowley

I opened my eyes and the restaurant came back into view, but something was different. Something was very wrong. I’d been facing the main door before, I was sure of it, but now I was turned towards the kitchen. Even that seemed insignificant. It was a far more disturbing situation causing my heart to thump. In the blink of an eye Lydia had gone. In her place, the face staring back at me was my own.

From "Love Hurts" by Catherine Green

“She is connected to the job in Scotland; they both are.” he said, “I’m sorry Jessica; it looks like we have inadvertently drawn you into our mess.  I need to find Jack and go sort this out.  Please promise me you will stay home, don’t answer the door unless you know who it is, and phone Jack or me if you get worried about anything, no matter how small or trivial.  Will you do that?”

He grabbed my shoulders, staring directly into my eyes, and I gasped, shocked at his forcefulness.  I nodded, feeling sick with nerves.

“Yes of course.” I said, “Am I in danger?  What about Liz?”

He relaxed slightly and eased his grip on me.

“Liz will be fine,” he said, “she is of no concern to them.  But they seem to have found out about you and your relationship with Jack and me.  You don’t need to be overly concerned just yet; hopefully we can settle this tonight.  Please just stay home and keep all your doors locked and your mobile phone handy, ok?”

I nodded and Danny left, saying he would call Jack on the way.

From "Anonymous Realm" by Linda Picinich

I smirked, feeling fairly confident that I was going to get the better of this prank.  “Oh, okay.  So what happened to you then?  You know, since you’re not really dead?  Have you been reincarnated?”

“Kind of.  Maybe.  I’m not entirely sure.  That’s why I need your help. To find out what happened to me.  To my body, I mean.”  This man truly believed he was who he said.

“You died.  You suffered a sudden, fatal heart attack, and you DIED.” He looked genuinely stunned and confused.  “Oh, and you donated your organs too.  Your two minutes is almost up, Pal…”  I got up again to leave.

“Wait!”  He said.  “Meet me here again tomorrow.  Please.”

“Yeah, okay.  I’ll jot it in my calendar…lunch date with the dead guy with no organs at the park.  Right.  Look, Pal, I may look lonely, but I’m not so desperate that I’ll start dating zombies.  Rest in peace, Fella’.” I turned to walk away, but he stood up and blocked my path.

From "Shades of Night" by R.G. Porter

He could see the fear pool in her eyes. She excused herself and got up,
moving quickly for the exit. He had to get to her and fast. Somehow, she’d
seen him and he needed to know how. Not caring for propriety, he pushed
through the crowd and out into the night, gaining on the woman with every
stride. When he was a few steps behind her, he reached out. His hand mere
inches from her shoulder; he wanted nothing more than to find out who she
was. As he attempted to turn her around, he felt a quick swoosh of air
from below. Looking down he was surprised to find a wooden staff hovering
just below his privates. His eyes returning back to the woman he next
found a long dagger edged up to his neck.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.”

“What’s with the weapon?” He held his breath. He knew he could move quick
enough if need be.

“You’re one of them. Why are you here?”

Her voice wavered. The sound broke his heart. “One of what?” He asked.

From "Concentric Circles" by Aithne Jarretta

Watching the romantic sunset from St. Michael's Tower a top the Glastonbury Tor...

Shayla leaned into him, increasing the feeling of belonging.

“Can you hear it?” Meekal asked while rubbing his chin in her hair.

“What?”

“The sunset.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Shh,” he murmured. “There’s still time. Focus on the sun’s orb, and then close your eyes. Let the earth’s song guide your inner vision to see the sunset. You’ve been attuned, so now you’ll hear it. The ancient Celts referred to the earth’s beautiful music as Òran Mór. No human has ever created anything to compare to it because it’s the combined synergy of every living creature, earth breath and ocean wave.”

She stilled, lashes resting against windswept cheeks. A slow lift at the corners of her mouth was the only indication she heard. Meekal allowed his heart to soar, meeting hers above the earth, joining in the song.

A gentle breath escaped her as the last curvature of the golden orb slipped past the horizon.

From "Love Potions" by Michelle McCleod

“My name is Raven and this…” She thrust her companion in front of her, “Is Marion.”

“We’ve met,” Aidan said with a nod to Marion.

“Actually, we’re done meeting.” Marion finally twisted free of her friend’s grasp and glared at them both as she rubbed her arm.

“You were the one watching Marion on the dance floor, weren’t you?” Raven asked.

Aidan nodded. “There’s something unique about the way your friend dances.”

Raven laughed. “Yeah, it’s called sexual frustration.”

Marion gasped and hissed, “Raven.”

Raven ignored her. “You see, Marion’s my roommate and she never goes out. She sits at home and blows up love potions in ratty old sweat pants. I can’t take it anymore. She’s ruining my love life. Since you seem interested, I thought I’d facilitate a conversation.”

“I’m going to hex you the second we get home,” Marion said.

“I’ll double-hex you back,” Raven said with a sigh of exasperation.

“Are you looking for love?” Aidan asked, interrupting the two before their spat escalated.

“No.” But Marion wouldn’t meet his eyes when she said it. There was a troubled expression on her face that made him wonder what her previous romantic experiences had been like.

From "The Man of my Dreams" by Gladys Quintal

The man on the floor screamed out in agony and Cassie could hear the creature slurping and sucking.

“Oh God,” she thought “it is drinking his blood!”

She heard a blood curdling scream and then realised it was coming from her. The creature jerked It’s head up and looked towards her. It had long straggly hair and ice blue eyes, very pale skin and fangs. Blood was dripping from them and running down It's chin.

The features looked familiar and she realised it was him. The man who had made love to her in her dreams, the man who was the father of her baby. Only he wasn’t a man. He was some sort of animal sucking blood out of the body lying on the floor.

She screamed again and frantically tried to struggle herself free knowing that it was hopeless. The creature tilted his head sideways and looked at her as if with recognition. He forgot his meal and stood up and started to walk towards her. Cassie screamed and tried again to struggle free but she couldn’t get out of her shackles.

“No please don’t kill me she screamed, you said you loved me remember?”
It stopped and looked at her as if unsure of what she was saying. It tilted It’s head back opened It’s mouth and let out a piercing shriek.
Cassie fainted.

From "Gleaming White" by Terra Harmony

The vampires reacted with a loud, synchronized hissing but did not move towards her.  Their gazes slid over her shoulder.  She didn’t have to look to know something was there; in fact, she dare not look.  Her blood forgot all other vampires, and began to ebb and flow like the tide, beating itself against her veins.

“What do you want, brethren?”  A vampire finally spoke, but he had a tremble to his voice.

“I’ve been summoned.”  His voice was like warm liquid, washing through her and back out again, taking pieces of her with it, beckoning the rest to follow.
           
 “No one here is in need of your assistance.”

The powerful being spoke again, “Your thoughts are not yours alone.  I heard the call for protection through your own thoughts.  I have to assume it came from the only human among us.”

From "The R-Slips" by Rose Carter

Spider sprang up, grabbed the front seat's headrest and hung from there. Slowly he climbed up and fell on the other side. He turned and lunged at the driver.

The driver screamed and his chubby face contorted in horror. He lost control of the car. The thick rays of the car's head lights veered off from the road, made a huge arc over the dense woods, danced over the big trees and slit the forest's dark interior. The car went straight to an oak tree and crashed. The tree shook and the windshield broke into pieces.
         
A large glass piece struck the driver's fat neck and blood leaked out. Eyes closed, the driver laid his head on the steering wheel.

Spider pulled the thick glass piece and blood spurted out.

Spider licked. How tasty!  

He was very hungry today.

Suddenly he heard a scream.

He looked up. In the car head lights, he saw a young woman standing behind the oak tree in her long white nightgown like a ghost. The lover! Her eyes bulged, and she stumbled and fell on the tree trunk.

Spider continued drinking.  It was not at all a bad day. He got a fine meal.

From "Atlantis" by Lisa Graves

What would you do if you were convinced your boyfriend was a figment of your imagination?  That is Lilly’s problem...

My eyes looked at the ground. I didn’t want to, but I made myself say it. “You’re not real.”

“What do you mean, I’m not real?” Elliott asked. He gently placed his hand on mine. The usual sensation of electricity flowing through him to me, pricked my mind and made me doubt my hallucination theory. He wasn’t helping.

It was probably a combination of my emotions keeping me an inch from tears, and his penetrating eyes bearing down on my soul, but I had overflowed. I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out.

“YOU ARE NOT REAL!” I yelled, more at myself than at Elliott.

I stood up. His mouth gapped open at me as I paced the cove and continued.

“You are too perfect. And good looking. And sweet...”

He looked as though he was going to argue, but I went on.

“No one has seen you but me.”

He whispered something to himself and shook his head.

“You appear and disappear out of nowhere.”

I turned again at the edge of the cove, racking my brain for more proof of my theory. When I resumed my pacing, he spoke.

“I know,” he said and looked straight at me.

Elliott caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected my hallucination to agree with me. “What do you mean you know?"

From "Beloved LifeMate" by Jodie B. Cooper

Like a mixture of midnight roses and a hot summer breeze, her scent woke a part of him that had long been dormant.

After such a long life, females all looked alike to him; he'd grown bored with their song and dance a thousand years earlier. Their constant attempt to manipulate him rubbed him raw. He refused to put up with it.

This willowy female – he inhaled her mouth-watering scent again – might change all of that.

She turned toward him, slowly, as if fearing what she might discover. Her intense blue eyes, the color of a shallow sea cove, widened in fear and her heart raced. He watched as she argued with herself, trying to decide if she had any hope of out-running him.

His pure-blood elvish core trembled in shock; he was attracted - and completely smitten - with a halfling. Her vampire/elf scent should have warned him, not tempted him beyond rational thought. Her beautiful blue eyes, not elvish in shape, and tiny pointed ears peeking through her thick hair shouted her impure bloodline.

He didn't care, briefly wondering if he could convince her to return to Sídhí with him. She would make a magnificent concubine.

From "A Haunting Affair" by Ursula Bauer

A shadow detached itself from the gloom on the porch and her heart leapt into her throat.

“Spooky, isn’t it?” The shadow had a man’s voice. A nice one at that. Deep and resonant, the kind of voice that could talk a woman into all kinds of crazy things.

She found her own voice and answered the darkness. “It’s the scene of a brutal, unsolved murder. Spooky is part of the package.”

“Some people say it was suicide.” The shadow stepped closer to an anemic swath of light, revealing a long body, wide shoulders, and a strong profile, but not much more in terms of detail. What was there, however, was promising.

“People say a lot of things about Jennifer Vaughn’s death. Murder at the hands of an obsessive stalker. Death at the hands of her jealous husband. Robbery gone wrong. I’ve even heard the Lakeside Ghost is responsible,” she countered.

“Eric said you’re always on top of your facts. Looks like he was correct. As to the theories, knowing the Vaughns and their history, any one is a good possibility.”

“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? To help you figure it out once and for all?”

From "Blood Prophecy Book One: Queen's Destiny" by Barb Jones and Jerry Wright

Four-year old Chloe has just stopped her group at the banks of a river
and predicted the death of a fish nobody can see...

“What whitefish, Sweetie?”

“The one right there.”  She was still pointing at the water.  Her mother followed her finger to the water and squinted but couldn’t make out anything below the ripples of the river.

“How is the whitefish going to die, Chloe?”  It was the wheezer. He’d walked up to where the girl and her mother stood on the bank.  He pointed at the water.  “Will another fish come and get it?”
Chloe reached out and took the man’s hand, still pointing, and lifted it up, pushing it as far as her reach allowed.  “The sky will kill it.”

The man looked up and studied the sky for a while then turned his attention on Chloe’s mother.  “Marlene, I’m just not sure.  She feels intently, I know that.  Still, it’s not just…what?  What is it?”
Marlene’s eyes had grown wide and she stared at the sky.  “Look, Tom.”
He looked up.  It was an eagle, and it circled above the river.
Suddenly, it dove; and Tom gasped at the speed of the thing.  In only a second or so, it was flying back upward, a whitefish in its talons.
He looked at Chloe.  “You were right, she has the Sight.”

From "Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire" by Jodie B. Cooper

“Stop shaking her!”

Katie sensed the vampire stopping a few feet away. Then she heard him.

She jerked her eyes toward the vampire as growls erupted from his chest. It wasn’t like his first short growl. This echoed through the bare room and she heard the deep anger rolling through this rumbling sound. His mouth opened, exposing fully extended fangs. In growing fear, she watched the now furious vampire slowly extend his claws as he moved closer toward them.

“Come on, Sis, let go!” Mitch snapped at her, never shifting his attention as he glared at the growling vampire. He suddenly stopped shaking her, flipping her toward the bed, he snapped his arm around, but she doggedly hung on. His motive was transparent. The minute he got her off his arm, he would attack the vampire and enjoy every darn minute of it. It’d make him happier than a kid with a new puppy.

“Damn it! You’re hurting her!” The vampire snapped, flinging his accusation at Mitch. Deep snarls punctuated his words. “I can smell her blood!”

With each word, the vampire’s fury seemed to be growing. She felt a flush of surprise go through her.

From "A Dragon's Dream of Love" by Jodie B. Cooper

Leah, a seventeen year old half vampire/dragon mix, has arrived at summer camp and desperately needs to feed...

Ooh laa laa! Hunk Alert!

The thought popped into her head as a drop-dead gorgeous guy strutted past her shallow sanctuary trailed by four, no five girls. He was tall and broad shouldered with a literal full mane of hair falling down his shoulders, all golden strands of honey streaked with dark and milk chocolate. Sculpted muscles rippled across his shoulders and… ooh yummy, a light wet sheen highlighted a wonderful pulsing vein.

Thump, thump, thump.

The throbbing of his jugular called to her as it ran down the side of his golden neck, pulsing with neon intensity. Decisions, decisions! Join his growing harem and get a speedy lick and a mouth-watering bite or starve? It almost seemed worth the humiliation. Almost, but not quite.

She groaned, thumping the back of her head against the cool wall. She quit after several brain bashing thumps, but only because her ears began ringing. She seriously needed some shuteye if random thoughts like chasing and biting total strangers started popping into her head.

She’d never bitten anyone. She drank her daily blood allotment in a metal – no-see through – cup. If no one was watching, she pinched her nose shut.

From "Red Mojo Mama" by Kathy Lynn Hall

Lydia "Red" Talbot has just seen her dead husband's ghost for the first time:

“Why now, Mac? Why didn’t you let me see you back then?”

“Honey, I’ve only got so much time and energy I can spend this way. I’ve been waiting for you to be ready.”

“It’s been so damn long.”

“Not to me, Red. We don’t experience time like you do. It’s gone very fast, felt like a few weeks…Anyway, now you’re ready for me to show up once in a while. You’ve moved on.”

“Really, well how come it doesn’t feel like it to me?”

“You have. You just don’t know it yet. But baby, we gotta do something this!”

He waved his arms around to include everything about me, and I knew he was referring to the colorless, shapeless outfit I was wearing, the lack of makeup, and the basic lack of caring about myself. I agreed with his assessment.

“I know, I know.”

“Whatever happened to those 5-inch red heels you use to trot around in? Now, that was mojo baby. Remember?”

From "Kindred Spirits: Book One: An Unexpected Love" by Roger Delray

Her cry of pain, as the back of the attackers hand struck her across the face,  shook him from his thoughts, his conditioning and forethought were all for nothing. Suddenly, the woman on the ground was no longer a stranger as a million memories rushed through his mind, igniting hundreds of years of a simmering, bitter rage.

Moving fast thru the darkness, the man never had a chance to even see the red glow of his eyes, nor the extended fangs before he felt strong hands lift him to his feet.  The cold fear was yet to register on his sweaty face and before he even fully felt the pain, he heard a commanding voice ask,  “Was this what you were trying to present to the lady?"

As he fell to the ground, the man’s eyes reflected his understanding of the fact that the balance of power had rapidly shifted. As the life began to fade from his eyes, he realized he would never rape again as he saw what was held in the bloody palm of his attackers hand.