Title: Sealed in Blood
Author: Margaret L. Carter
Genre: Paranormal romance (vampire)
Book Blurb:
Science fiction conventions attract some strange people, but Sherri Hudson never expected to spend a con weekend helping a sexy man in a cape steal photos of a winged alien. When the photographer is murdered and Nigel Jamison reveals to Sherri that the “alien” is actually his sister, the situation gets intriguingly complicated. Unwillingly swept up in Nigel’s quest to rescue his sister, Sherri can’t help being fascinated with him. By the time she finds out he’s a vampire, the fascination has become mutual–and too strong to resist.
Excerpt:
Setting of scene –
Nigel is spending a night at Sherri’s house after getting injured while rescuing her from an attacker who thought she had the incriminating photos of Nigel’s sister. Sherri donated a little of her blood to help him heal. The mention of his “colleagues” refers to Nigel’s position as a psychology professor at a university.
She surrendered to her curiosity. Feeling like Bluebeard's last wife, she turned on the hall light and inched open the door to the spare room. Light spilling onto the twin bed revealed Nigel asleep on his back. He didn't stir as she peered at him. He had folded the covers back, except for the sheet, which was pulled up to his waist. As far as she could tell, he was naked. Watching for a couple of minutes, she couldn't discern any rise and fall of his chest. She eased the door shut.
Confirming that she could indeed get to him if she needed help calmed her nerves. In the living room she ate a bowl of ice cream, then coaxed the cat out of his refuge with the melted dregs. Cradling him to her breast, she turned off the stereo and crawled into bed with the cat and her unfinished novel. She expected to lie awake, straining her ears for intruders. Instead, drowsiness overwhelmed her within minutes. She switched off the lamp and slept.
She woke with a start and sat up, dumping the cat off the bed. Her breath caught at the sight of the man in the open doorway.
Recognizing him, she went limp. "Oh, Nigel, it's only you."
He strode over to the bed and sat down. He wore only the terry cloth wraparound. "You find that reassuring? Perhaps you need the services of one of my colleagues."
"Stuff it, Nigel," she said amiably. His teasing smile, faintly visible now that her pupils were adapted to the dark, defused her annoyance. "What's wrong? Did you hear something outside?" Her heartbeat quickened.
Nigel clasped her hand. "Take it easy, everything's quiet."
By now she'd awakened enough to be puzzled at a late-night visit for no apparent reason. She checked the digital clock. Ten twenty-one. "Couldn't you sleep?"
"You're forgetting I'm a nocturnal creature. I can't remember the last time I slept this long past sunset. Couldn't have done it if I hadn't been exhausted." His fingers absently fondled hers as he spoke.
"Well, I'm not nocturnal. Why--" She stopped short, as a likely motive occurred to her. "You're hungry again?"
His eyes flashed red before he deliberately shifted them away from hers. "Not again--still. I held back, not wanting to frighten you."
"So you decided creeping in here in the dark would be less frightening?" She wasn't afraid, in fact; she was intrigued. "What changed your mind?"
"For one thing, I couldn't let the honor of my species go undefended," he said lightly. "I wouldn't want you to think that's typical of our feeding behavior. I sensed you were almost disappointed when I didn't...demand...more from you." A slight tremor had crept into his voice, and he paused as if to bring it under control. "Well, I'm not demanding. I'm asking."
"And you're avoiding my eyes again."
"Same reason," he said. "Influencing you would be all too easy. What I want is your free consent." His actions contradicted his words; by now he had her hand cupped between both of his. "The truth is, I woke hungry and lay there listening to your breathing through the wall. I stood it as long as I could, but resisting temptation isn't one of my strong points."
She leaned closer to him, reaching up to run her fingers along his jawline, coaxing him to face her. "Look at me, Nigel. I'm not afraid of that hypnotic stare anymore. You have my consent."
He inhaled sharply. He turned his head to kiss the hand that grazed his cheek. "One thing I must tell you, in all fairness. This can't lead to any long-term relationship. I have---no, damn it, I had---a commitment. Ultimately, it wasn't good for the woman involved. I won't risk that again."
She strove to keep hurt out of her voice, a futile attempt with someone who could apparently sense emotions. "A one-night stand? I can live with that." At least he offered more honesty than a lot of "normal" would-be lovers.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon trade paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Sealed-Blood-Margaret-L-Carter/dp/B0986DC8CD/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
What’s your favorite part about being a romance author?
Exploring love between human protagonists and partners of different species, especially “monsters.”
Here’s my tip to add romance to your love life:
Make a point of sharing little gestures of affection every day, especially including a goodnight kiss. And always hug and kiss goodbye when parting; you never know what the next hour will bring.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs February 1 – 28, 2025
Drawing will be held on March 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Reading Dracula at the age of twelve ignited Margaret L. Carter’s interest in a wide range of speculative fiction and inspired her to become a writer. Vampires, however, have always remained close to her heart. Her first published book was an anthology of vampire stories she edited, Curse of the Undead. Her work on vampirism in literature includes Dracula: The Vampire and the Critics, The Vampire in Literature: A Critical Bibliography, and Different Blood: The Vampire as Alien. She holds a PhD in English, and her dissertation contained a chapter on Dracula. In fiction, she has written horror, fantasy, and paranormal romance on vampires, werewolves, Lovecraftian entities, and other “monsters.” Her stories have appeared in various webzines and anthologies, including several of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover and Sword and Sorceress volumes. Her vampire novels include Dark Changeling and its sequel, Child of Twilight, now available in an omnibus edition, Twilight’s Changelings, as well as several vampire romances. With her husband, Leslie Roy Carter, a retired naval officer, she co-authored a fantasy series beginning with Wild Sorceress. Her recent novellas include a Christmas paranormal romance, Chocolate Chip Charm; a spring-themed contemporary fantasy, Bunny Hunt; and a Christmas historical romance novella, A Ghost in the Green Bestiary. Her most recent novel, Against the Dark Devourer, is a dark paranormal romance with Lovecraftian elements. She and Les, who live in Maryland, have four children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Please explore love among the monsters at Carter’s Crypt: http://www.margaretlcarter.com
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