Amazon Heat
by Valerie Twombly
Series: Demon Heat (#1)
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Release Date: Nov 13 2013
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook
Blurb:
When Katrina faces the death of her father, she is left with only one choice. Hire a local demon to help her retrieve a mythical healing stone from deep in the Amazon. However, when the two finally meet, sparks fly. The man is a walking sex god and when he offers to pleasure her in exchange for his services, she finds it hard to refuse.
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Author Information
As a child, Valerie would often get into trouble for peeking at her mother’s favorite TV show, Dark Shadows. She can still hear her mother saying “It will give you nightmares.” She was right of course, but that did not stop Valerie from watching. As an adult, her love of the fanged creatures never waned. She would watch any vampire movie she could find.
Being a true romantic, Valerie was thrilled when she discovered the genre of paranormal romance. Her first read was one of Lara Adrian’s, Midnight Breed Series and from there she was hooked.
Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and her two German shepherd dogs, in Northern IL.
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Excerpt:
Katrina stepped through the door of The Magic Cove. Music blasted across the room. The scent of alcohol and sweat assaulted her senses. She wrinkled her nose.
With sheer determination, her Aperlai heels carried her to the empty bar stool on the other side of the room. A smile slid across her lips at the whistling catcalls resounding from behind. No doubt, they were admiring her ass in the tight-fitting jeans she’d poured herself into. Her favorite pink top plunged to a deep V between large breasts. Looking one’s best never hurt, especially when negotiating a deal with the opposite sex.
Sources said the demon she hunted owned the club. If that was true, finding him should prove easy enough. She only needed to ask.
She plunked down on a stool and kept her gaze pointed straight ahead, not daring to look at the woman next to her. The overwhelming beauty of the female, along with the intricately designed copper bustier she wore confirmed she was a Valkyrie. Immortals known to be the most brutal of women. One wrong move and they’d shred you to pieces, all while laughing about it. She had to admire them though and wished she could be more brutal.
Kat observed her surroundings, noting pointed ears, clawed nails and drunks in various states of shape-shifting.
She shuddered.
This place scared the hell out of her, but then events from earlier that evening still raced through her mind and reminded her of the mission.
She’d been reading her father’s journal, taken aback by his findings.
Her father, an archaeologists, was one of the best in the world and able to read a variety of languages, including many immortal dialects. He’d been hired by several top leaders from the immortal realm to find artifacts long lost by their ancestors. There were hundreds of discoveries under his belt, except for one: The Orecha Emerald, believed to be a magical stone with healing powers.
With nothing to back up the stories woven through the centuries, the stone was a myth. Her father, however, always believed it to be real and his journal indicated he’d found its location.
When she’d visited, he’d looked worse than he had the last time she’d seen him, the cancer slowly eating away at his body. She’d tried hard to contain her emotions. Instead of letting the tears flow, she’d smiled, moved toward his bed, bent over and kissed him on the cheek.
“You look well today.”
He’d placed a kiss on her hand. “Don’t try and snow me. I know I look like hell.” He gave a weak smile. “But you are as beautiful as ever. You look more like your mother every day.”
She’d sucked in a deep breath and held the tears at bay. The loss of her mother still stung ten years later. She’d only been fifteen at the time, and her poor father had been left alone to deal with a rebellious daughter.
“Father, I read your journal. Do you truly believe the Orecha Emerald exists?”
Brown eyes had misted. “Yes, with all my heart. I only wish I had found it in time to save your mother.”
The breath had escaped her lungs in a loud sigh.
His brows had knitted together. “Kitten, you’re not thinking of seeking it yourself, are you?”
“Yes.” She’d squeezed his hand. “I’ll do anything to save you.” No longer able to hold back, the tears had rolled down her cheeks.
“No, I forbid it.” He’d reached up and wiped away her sorrow. “You are all I have left in this world.”
The concern on his face made her more determined. She would do anything for this man.
“And you are all I have left, which is why I must go. You cannot stop me. I’m firm in my decision.” She’d kissed his rough hand. If there was any chance in hell that stone existed, then she would find it.
“You’ve always been a stubborn girl, and I realize I’m too old and sick to stop you. It will be dangerous. I beg you to reconsider.”
She’d forced a smile. “You know I can’t.”
He’d sighed. “I know, but I had to try. Please promise you’ll be careful. You know what you must do?”
“Yes, I’ll go tonight.”
So, here she sat in a crowded night club, looking for a thousand-year-old Uoinota demon named Damis. She’d been told he knew every detail of the Amazon and would be the best escort to hire.
A red-haired pixie sashayed up, a white towel slung over her shoulder. “What can I get ya, sweetie?”
Kat leaned forward, blonde hair covering her peripheral view. “I’m looking for a demon named Damis.”
The pixie chuckled. “You and every other female in here. Take a number.”
She pushed back in the stool and fidgeted. She’d heard the demons were built like Greek gods and their sexual appetite insatiable. “No, it’s not what you think. I mean…I intend to hire him for a job.”
With elbows perched on the bar, the pixie leaned closer. “What’s your name, sweetheart?” She tucked a strand of red hair behind a pointed ear.
“Katrina, but please, call me Kat.”
“Kat, I’m Lilly. You seem like a nice girl, so I’m gonna do you a favor and tell you to run.”
Her throat went dry. “Why?”
“Damis is a very old and wise demon. He’ll eat you alive.” Lilly placed a glass on the bar and filled it with white wine. “On the house.”
She grabbed the glass and downed half its contents in one swig. “Thanks, but I have a job offer for him and was told he’d be willing to help.”
Lilly gave her the once over. “Oh, he’ll be willing all right. Question is will you? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you must have heard about his sexual exploits.” She shrugged. “Wait here. I’ll see if he’s busy.”
Kat downed the rest of the wine. Sleeping with the demon hadn’t been something she’d even considered, but she did find the idea intriguing. It had been months since her last failed relationship. Too strong willed, David had called her. He’d been a lame fuck anyway. Providing the demon wasn’t hideous, perhaps this could prove advantageous in more ways than one.
Still, this was strictly business. The demon was the best guide money could buy. It also didn’t hurt that he was the oldest and most powerful of his species. No doubt, he could break any enchantments that surrounded the stone. I just hope he’s honest.
Lilly came back to the bar. “He’ll see you.”
“Thank you. Um, where is he?” Her gaze moved around the room, not having a clue what he looked like.
“Over there.”
She turned to where Lilly pointed. At the back of the room stood a man cloaked in dark shadows, arms crossed over a broad chest. Katrina swallowed, wanting to run. Remember, anything for father.
A faint laugh came from behind the bar. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Kat stood and balanced on her four-inch heels, abruptly aware how the denim clung to every curve and the pink tank-top molded to her breasts. Her hands glided down her rounded hips, smoothing her attire. Show time.
S.J. Maylee 