Sophie Athens: The Vampire Oracle: HUNGER

THE VAMPIRE ORACLE: HUNGER--BLURB:

Olivia Johns, a counselor who specializes in helping vampires blend into the human world and "conquer" their blood thirst, receives in the mail a strange card that says "Hunger"--a card that not only jump-starts a restless, aching need within her, but serves as the catalyst for a chain of events she can't stop.

Spurred by this new sensation building within her, Olivia meets Marcus Willoughby, the sexy, self-assured vampire who owns a night club, and is drawn to him with a hunger that surprises her. Suddenly, Olivia is forced to confront her own fears and prejudices about vampires...when Marcus turns her into one herself.


EXCERPT:

The dance floor split in half as a tall man strode confidently down the middle. He came right toward her. Her breath caught in her throat as she slid her gaze up his strong, firm legs encased in black pants. A blood-red shirt opened at his neck, accentuating his pale skin, and a shock of black hair was cropped short on his head, the front slightly spiked.

But his gray eyes stopped Olivia, froze any thought that came to mind, as they boldly returned her stare. They were the color of a cold winter sky, though the look in them was anything but frosty as he held her gaze.

Her heart raced, beating hard against her chest. As her head swam, she realized she’d been holding her breath. She quickly exhaled then drew in a short burst of air.

The intoxicating man stopped less than a foot from her. His warm, earthy cologne hit her nostrils, and she closed her eyes for a quick second, breathing him in.

He turned to the drunken man then spoke in a low, relaxed tone. “Go.”

The guy didn’t say a word but walked away quietly, which Olivia saw out of the corner of her eye. She still couldn’t take her eyes off the gray-eyed man’s face.

He turned his attention back to her, a smile spreading across his mouth. “I’m Marcus,” he said, extending his hand. “The owner of this club. Sorry if he was bothering you.”
“Olivia.” She took his hand. “Thanks for sending him away.”

He thumbed the crease of her palm, sending spirals of warm, sexual tingles across her skin, down to her lower belly.

“Would you like to dance?” she blurted out. A flush spread across her cheeks at her unusual boldness, but something about Marcus made her want to be as close to him as possible.

He smiled again, tugging her close to him. His mouth hovered no more than a couple of inches from hers, his eyes hooded. “Love to.”

She dumped her bottle in the nearby trash can as he led her out onto the floor, and a grinding song pounded into the room. Alcohol coursed through her body in a warm sprawl, making her movements slower than usual. Marcus moved in close, then closer, his body brushing hers. Her nipples awoke beneath the thin fabric, perking at the sensation of his hard, warm chest against hers.

Sliding her hands along his shoulders, she found herself unable to stop the wanton grind against him. She rubbed the front of her pelvis along his upper thigh, reveling in his sharp intake of breath. She caressed his neck with her fingers, behind his ear, then down the firm muscles of his back.

The music throbbed in her, pulsed like the hunger that flushed her skin and parted her bare thighs in anticipation. Her panties grew wet, warm against her skin.

She wanted this man, wanted him with a need that startled her, even as she grew excited. She pushed her body tighter against him, his lean, muscled thigh wedged firmly between her legs.

He bent over and rubbed his lips along her shoulder, breathing deeply. His tongue lightly touched the dip behind her collarbone. “You taste so good,” he murmured.
A small flutter ran through her stomach, and her head felt light, almost dizzy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so aroused. But she needed some fresh air, needed to strip off her clothes and feel this man on top of her, pushing into her, needed to run her hands across his skin.

She nudged her face beside his ear, letting the words in the back of her mind flow out of her mouth. “Let’s get out of here.”


AUTHOR BIO:

Sophie Athens has always had a love of romance, from the time she was a pre-teen hiding in her room to read her mom's Harlequin novels. However, it wasn't until 2007 that she picked up her laptop and started writing one. Her first novella, HUNGER, is now available with Cobblestone Press here -- http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/line/vampireoracle.htm.

Sophie has a degree in English and happily lives in Ohio with her family. In her free time, she loves to play video games, watch chick flicks, read scads of books, shop for hot shoes, and harass her friends.

Visit her on the web at http://www.sophieathens.com for more details.