Please help me welcome D.N. Simmons to my blog today. D.N. is hosting their blog tour and I thought I'd join in the fun!
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles series.
About the Author:
D.
N. Simmons lives in Chicago IL., with a rambunctious German Shepherd that's too
big for his own good and mischievous kitten that she affectionately calls
"Itty-bitty". Her hobbies include rollerblading, billiards, bowling,
reading, watching television and going to the movies.
She
has been nominated at Love Romances and More, winning honorable mention for
best paranormal book of 2006. She has won "Author of the Month" at
Warrior of Words. She was voted "New Voice of Today" at Romance Reviews
and "Rising Star" at Love Romance and More.
To
learn more, and have the opportunity to speak with the author personally,
please visit the official website and forum at www.dnsimmons.com D.N. is always interesting in meeting new
and wonderful people.
Here's my interview with the Author:
What is your name? Do you use a pen name
(if so, why?)? D.N. Simmons and It’s my “pen name”. Seemed like a lot of fun to
use one.
Tell me a bit about yourself:
What type of genre do you write? Currently,
urban-fantasy, but I look forward to writing for paranormal romance, horror,
thriller and erotica as well.
What genre to you personally read?
Paranormal romance, urban-fantasy, erotica, horror and on occasion, fantasy.
Tell me about your latest? My last completed
book is Unholy Alliance, the final novel of my Knights of the Darkness
Chronicles. I like to call it the ‘calm before the storm’. Just when my
characters think they can relax and enjoy life… all hell and I do mean all hell
breaks loose.
What sparked your passion for books and the
art of a good story? I love being entertained. I love the exhilaration I feel
when a I finish reading a great book or seeing a great movie or TV episode.
Being an avid reader, I had been looking for the perfect UF/PNR series for me
and though I enjoyed many books, I hadn’t come across the one that fulfilled
all of my desires. It was at that point that I decided I should put my love of writing
to good use and create my idea of the perfect vampire/shifter series.
I’ve been very fortunate that many others
enjoy my series as well. :D
Is there a particular book that changed or
affected your life in a big way? Reading the Tattooed Rood when I was a
teenager really opened my eyes to great story-telling. How an adventure can change
a character completely. The way he started out in the beginning of the book was
nowhere near who he was at the end. It was amazing.
Is there a message in your book that you
want readers to grasp? I do. We are all sharing this world. Though we make look
different, have different beliefs and sexual preferences, we are all still
human and should care for one another.
What challenges have you faced in your
writing career? The biggest one is getting the word out about my series. Once
people know about it, they’ve enjoyed the series very much and I know
“word-of-mouth” is one of the best forms
of advertising. :D
What has been your best moment as a writer?
I received one email from a fan who told me my books made her want to be a
better person. She understood the overall message within the story and she
thought it was beautiful. The letter brought tears to my eyes and at the point,
I was extremely proud to be an author.
Who is your author idol? Anne Rice, Kyle
Horner and Lance Onstott and Stephen King.
Do you see yourself in any of your
characters? There’s a little bit of me in all of my characters.
Do you feel like your dream has come true
or is there much more to do? Oh, I have tons and tons of stories I can’t wait
to tell. Being an author is my dream come true.
What does your workspace look like? I work
on my desktop and my laptop. So my desktop area is a bit cluttered with ink
cartridges, paper, the Sims video games and resource books.
Have you ever had a day when you just
wanted to quit? Never.
What do you do when you’re not writing? I
love the arts. So I love watching television, dancing, listening to music,
reading, going to art museums and theatres.
What are the most important attributes to
remaining sane as a writer? Tell the story you want to read. You have to
entertain yourself as an author before you think you can entertain anyone else.
If you find fault with your story, correct it.
Did you have a moment when you realized you
were meant to be a writer? I don’t get writer’s block. The creativity simply
flows from me with ease and I never find myself struggling to tell the story.
Even when I was 11 year old, writing short stories, I never had an issue. I
knew then that this was one of my, I dare say, gifts.
What advice would you give to aspiring
authors? Learn to take criticism and grow from it.
After this book, what is next? I’m working
on a new horror novel now. I’ll keep you updated. :D
Website: http://www.dnsimmons.com
Trailer 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov9Cg0EajpY
Trailer 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3yBn5HoNM
Where can your book be found? The Guilty
Innocent can be found at:
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Innocent-Knights-Darkness-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B004EPYUTY/ref=pd_sim_b_1
B&N Link:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guilty-innocent-dn-simmons/1112046040?ean=2940012243102
All Romance Ebook Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theguiltyinnocent-728019-139.html
The Guilty Innocent
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book Two
D.N. Simmons
Genre:
Urban-fantasy
subgenres:
Horror, Paranormal Romance, GLBT, Multicultural, Mystery/Thriller.
Publisher:
Rushmore Publishing
ISBN:
978-0615688381
ASIN:
B004EPYUTY
Number
of pages: 271
Word
Count: 106415
Book Description:
The
Guilty Innocent is the second novel in the edgy, action-packed,
sexually-charged, Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.
In
this installment, Darian, the gorgeous, charismatic and charming master vampire
of Chicago is framed for a crime he didn't commit, but why? His lover, Xavier,
Natasha and a few others must travel halfway across the world to find out who
and why before time runs out and all hell breaks loose!
Original,
sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and
take you for a ride you won't forget!
Excerpts The Guilty Innocent:
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles (Book Two)
Excerpt 1:
--------------------------------
Darian released the little green
button and settled comfortably into his
chair. When he heard the door
open then close, he knew it was Annette. He
could smell the blood underneath
her skin and feel her pulse beating fast
making her body heat rise. Ah
yes, Darian loved the heat. Slowly, he
turned his chair around to face
her. He thought she was beautiful indeed.
He could not understand why he
had not met her personally before. He would
have to have a small talk with
Xavier.
He entrusted all of the hiring of
the staff to Xavier. He knew Xavier
would have the right eye for such
beauty. He was sure that Xavier had
already bedded Miss Balfour. If
he had not, then it was his loss and
Darian’s gain. It was one of the
aspects of their relationship Darian
enjoyed most of all. They had to
have an open sexual relationship. He
would not have it any other way.
Sex was one of Darian’s favorite
pastimes. He enjoyed the feeling
of hot, sweaty bodies beneath him or
behind him. Enjoyed the sensation
of heat and ecstasy as it increased
until it spilled over their
bodies in that one final moment when time
would freeze.
He gazed at her caramel colored
skin, admiring the smoothness of it. He
wanted to feel that smoothness
with his fingertips. He liked her permed,
straight hair, how it framed her
slender oval shaped face. Her lips
attracted him as well; he loved
how full and luscious they were.
He was a lover of both men and
women and cherished all of the individual
qualities each offered. His mind
raced to what he wanted to do with her
before the night was out. A
wicked smile spread across his lips, exposing
his dimples, making him look both
innocent and guilty.
He looked at her entire
appearance, mentally calculating the quickest way
to remove her clothing based on
hooks, zippers, snaps, etc. She was
dressed in a leopard print bra
top and a black satin skirt with a leopard
print hem and was wearing a pair
of black heels. Darian admired the way
the outfit enveloped her. It was
no doubt an outfit designed for the game
of seduction. And his club was
the perfect place to wear such an ensemble.
Desires Unleashed was exactly
what the name stated, and that was what
Darian wanted. Whether you had a
lust for sex or blood, you could sate
your hunger there.
“Miss Balfour, I’ve called you
into my office tonight because I have some
good news. You see, I’ve been
going through my employee records and
reviewing some of my best staff.”
He looked in her direction and
smiled. He rose from his chair and glided
around the desk. All of his
movements were as smooth as satin. His body
never looked clumsy, never once.
He leaned against the corner of his desk
in front of Annette. He held her
open file in his hand as he looked down
at her over the edge of the file
and smiled. His eyes sparkled as his
smile warmed her. He slid halfway
onto the corner of his desk and
pretended to look over her
information. He had already memorized her file
before she came into his office,
but now, he was keeping up appearances.
“It says here that you’ve never
been late and only absent one time since
you started working here.”
He paused and leaned in closer to
her.
“Most impressive,” he whispered
seductively.
His forest-green eyes peered into
the chocolate brown of hers. She felt
his aura pelting her, making a
heat rise from between her legs. She fought
the urge to squirm in her seat.
She could smell his cologne, as if he
needed any. She was willing to
bet he was just as good in bed as he looked
and that was saying a lot. She
found herself imagining what his strong
hands would feel like caressing
her skin. She wanted to feel the heat of
his mouth on her, and the weight
of his body against hers. She had the
desire to press her hand to her
chest, and, in an exaggerated southern
belle accent, say ‘Why sir, I’m
just a southern belle and we southern gals
don’t do things like- ooooohh, Oh
My!’ She mentally shook her head. She
wanted to focus on what he was
saying to her, even though it was proving
to be more difficult with each
passing second.
“Did you hear what I said?”
Darian asked, humor hidden in his smile.
He knew damn well she had not
heard a word he’d said; it was just how he
planned it. She didn’t need to
hear what he was saying. She only needed to
know that he was paying her
attention, that she had his favor for the
evening. She should be so
blessed.
“Oh, yeah ... Um ...,”
She took a deep breath and let it
out. This was bad.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch
the ... Um … last thing you said.”
She was hoping he would not think
badly of her. Nothing was worse than
being condemned as an airhead.
Well, there were worse things, but at this
point airhead was the one she was
worried about. He had obviously called
her into his luxurious office for
a reason. From the rumors she heard
circulating around the club, no
one got to see the owner’s office unless
they were getting fired or a
special promotion. She was hoping it was the
latter.
Darian’s chuckle vibrated deep in
his throat. He decided to cut to the chase.
-------------------------------------------
Excerpt 2:
-----------------------------------------
Warren could smell the blood in
the air; it made his stomach growl and
churn with hunger. He immediately
regretted not taking his partner’s
advice and grabbing a whole lot
of something to eat along the way. The
scent of the blood was so
enticing, he felt his mouth water. Swallowing
hard, he reached into his pocket,
pulling out his badge and ID, and handed
them to the uniformed officer
protecting the crime scene from intruders
and the media. Warren surveyed
the crime scene as the officer verified his
identification before handing it
back. The body had been dumped on the
shoulder of 95th Street. There
was a small patch of wild grass that had
grown four feet high and beyond
that, huge patches of gravel and dirt.
He stepped under the yellow and
black police tape that blocked off the
crime scene. He could see the
M.E. forensics expert taking pictures of the
body from all angles. As he walked
closer, he realized right away why
forensic specialists were walking
around the area and taking so many
pictures. The crime scene was a
horrific sight. The body had been
dismembered; mutilated chunks of
bloody flesh had been carelessly strewn
about the area. A uniformed
officer rushed past him to puke on the curb
next to a squad car, using the
car’s hood for balance as his stomach
heaved its contents onto the
pavement.
Warren looked closely at the
gruesome display of mutilated flesh. His
senses picked up a slight scent
of a shifter from the scattered body parts
but it was highly overshadowed by
the smell of blood. He hoped whomever
the pieces of flesh had belonged
to was murdered somewhere around the
location and not somewhere else
like the last victim. The sooner he could
catch this bastard, the better.
At least, now he knew for certain that a
shifter was involved. He just
wished he had a more defined scent to work
with.
Well, at least one thing could be
ruled out. Xander’s theory of foul play
from the human race was out of
the question from this standpoint. This was
the work of a supernatural and it
was the last thing the supernatural race
needed. More drama. More
ammunition for the humans to throw at them about
how they should all be rounded up
and destroyed.
He watched as blood dried to a
dark red tint on the exposed ligaments and
muscles. Ragged pieces of skin
clung to the chunks of flesh. He counted
five pieces of the body, ranging
from small to medium. The largest chunk
of flesh was what remained of the
torso. He stepped closer to examine the
bite marks where the wolf had
torn through the skin, bone and muscle.
Looking inside the cavity, he
could see that the ribs had been splintered.
Little particles of white bone
sprinkled the remaining intestines still
attached to the shredded abdomen.
There was no blood splattered around the
area, just small puddles that had
drained from the pieces of the corpse.
He fought the urge to kneel on
all fours and plunge his face deep into the
feast at hand. He licked his lips
and swallowed the saliva that had
gathered in his mouth as his
stomach growled loudly, anticipating its next
meal. He heard footsteps coming
closer and looked up to see his partner
approaching.
“I can hear your hungry ass from
over there. Didn’t I tell you to eat
something before you brought your
ass out here?” Matthew stated forcefully
as he approached Warren.
Kneeling beside him, he inspected
a bloody chunk of the corpse by lifting
a piece of the torn muscle with
his examining pen.
Warren gave him a rueful smile.
He looked at Matthew’s attire, a black
sweatshirt with the faded letters
of Rosenthall-Krest University on the
front and a pair of faded and
obviously worn blue jeans. His boots were
the newest thing he had on. They
still had that new store-bought shine to
them.
“You did, but I didn’t think I’d
have enough time to stop,” Warren lied.
“You had time. At least enough
time to pull into a Burger Town or
something and grab a dozen
breakfast sandwiches. Anything would have been
better than having you drooling
over the body.” He took another look at
the scene. “Or what’s left of a
body. We can’t even tell if this was a man
or woman, young or old. I guess
it matters little. As it stands now, this
is a John or Jane doe. Shit, I’m
not even sure if it’s human!”
“It’s human, Matt. Has Galen
found anything more about the body from
yesterday? Has it been
identified?” Warren asked.
Desires Unleashed
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book One
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book One
D.N. Simmons
Publisher: Rushmore Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-0615678641
ASIN: B004DCB6P4
pages: 294
Wordcount: 121436
Genre: Urban-Fantasy/Dark Urban Fantasy w/Paranormal Romance elements.
Content warning: Multicultural and mixed genre such as
gay/bisexual/straight pairings/sex scenes.Graphic language and violence. Strong sexual
themes.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Mu3yBn5HoNM
Amazon
Book Description:
Desires Unleashed is the first novel in the riveting, highly-addictive and sexually charged Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago.
When a grisly decapitated corpse pops up on a Chicago Street, drained of blood, the highly-trained, government-funded special police force assigned two of their best detectives to the case. S.U.I.T. Detectives Warren Davis and Matthew Eric delve deep into their investigation to discover just who or what is leaving mutilated bodies in public places. They soon realize that the killer or killers is one step ahead of them and if they are going to stop the menace before another innocent human is viciously attack, they are going to need help.
Natasha Hemingway liked her life just the way it was... normal and supernatural free. The vampires and shape-shifters were just where she wanted them to be--far away from her. All was going well until an unfortunate accident landed her in the hospital. It was then that she discovered she had an ability that could help her save countless lives.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Mu3yBn5HoNM
Amazon
Book Description:
Desires Unleashed is the first novel in the riveting, highly-addictive and sexually charged Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago.
When a grisly decapitated corpse pops up on a Chicago Street, drained of blood, the highly-trained, government-funded special police force assigned two of their best detectives to the case. S.U.I.T. Detectives Warren Davis and Matthew Eric delve deep into their investigation to discover just who or what is leaving mutilated bodies in public places. They soon realize that the killer or killers is one step ahead of them and if they are going to stop the menace before another innocent human is viciously attack, they are going to need help.
Natasha Hemingway liked her life just the way it was... normal and supernatural free. The vampires and shape-shifters were just where she wanted them to be--far away from her. All was going well until an unfortunate accident landed her in the hospital. It was then that she discovered she had an ability that could help her save countless lives.
All of a sudden, she
finds herself thrust into the dangerous and alluring world of the supernatural and into the arms of two
very sexy and deadly vampires.
Original, gritty and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor and wit, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget. You don't want to miss out on this amazing series!
Original, gritty and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor and wit, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget. You don't want to miss out on this amazing series!
Desires Unleashed Excerpts
Excerpt 1:
--------------------------------
Darian released the little green button and settled comfortably into his
chair. When he heard the door open then close, he knew it was Annette. He
could smell the blood underneath her skin and feel her pulse beating fast
making her body heat rise. Ah yes, Darian loved the heat. Slowly, he
turned his chair around to face her. He thought she was beautiful indeed.
He could not understand why he had not met her personally before. He would
have to have a small talk with Xavier.
He entrusted all of the hiring of the staff to Xavier. He knew Xavier
would have the right eye for such beauty. He was sure that Xavier had
already bedded Miss Balfour. If he had not, then it was his loss and
Darian’s gain. It was one of the aspects of their relationship Darian
enjoyed most of all. They had to have an open sexual relationship. He
would not have it any other way. Sex was one of Darian’s favorite
pastimes. He enjoyed the feeling of hot, sweaty bodies beneath him or
behind him. Enjoyed the sensation of heat and ecstasy as it increased
until it spilled over their bodies in that one final moment when time
would freeze.
He gazed at her caramel colored skin, admiring the smoothness of it. He
wanted to feel that smoothness with his fingertips. He liked her permed,
straight hair, how it framed her slender oval shaped face. Her lips
attracted him as well; he loved how full and luscious they were.
He was a lover of both men and women and cherished all of the individual
qualities each offered. His mind raced to what he wanted to do with her
before the night was out. A wicked smile spread across his lips, exposing
his dimples, making him look both innocent and guilty.
He looked at her entire appearance, mentally calculating the quickest way
to remove her clothing based on hooks, zippers, snaps, etc. She was
dressed in a leopard print bra top and a black satin skirt with a leopard
print hem and was wearing a pair of black heels. Darian admired the way
the outfit enveloped her. It was no doubt an outfit designed for the game
of seduction. And his club was the perfect place to wear such an ensemble.
Desires Unleashed was exactly what the name stated, and that was what
Darian wanted. Whether you had a lust for sex or blood, you could sate
your hunger there.
“Miss Balfour, I’ve called you into my office tonight because I have some
good news. You see, I’ve been going through my employee records and
reviewing some of my best staff.”
He looked in her direction and smiled. He rose from his chair and glided
around the desk. All of his movements were as smooth as satin. His body
never looked clumsy, never once. He leaned against the corner of his desk
in front of Annette. He held her open file in his hand as he looked down
at her over the edge of the file and smiled. His eyes sparkled as his
smile warmed her. He slid halfway onto the corner of his desk and
pretended to look over her information. He had already memorized her file
before she came into his office, but now, he was keeping up appearances.
“It says here that you’ve never been late and only absent one time since
you started working here.”
He paused and leaned in closer to her.
“Most impressive,” he whispered seductively.
His forest-green eyes peered into the chocolate brown of hers. She felt
his aura pelting her, making a heat rise from between her legs. She fought
the urge to squirm in her seat. She could smell his cologne, as if he
needed any. She was willing to bet he was just as good in bed as he looked
and that was saying a lot. She found herself imagining what his strong
hands would feel like caressing her skin. She wanted to feel the heat of
his mouth on her, and the weight of his body against hers. She had the
desire to press her hand to her chest, and, in an exaggerated southern
belle accent, say ‘Why sir, I’m just a southern belle and we southern gals
don’t do things like- ooooohh, Oh My!’ She mentally shook her head. She
wanted to focus on what he was saying to her, even though it was proving
to be more difficult with each passing second.
“Did you hear what I said?” Darian asked, humor hidden in his smile.
He knew damn well she had not heard a word he’d said; it was just how he
planned it. She didn’t need to hear what he was saying. She only needed to
know that he was paying her attention, that she had his favor for the
evening. She should be so blessed.
“Oh, yeah ... Um ...,”
She took a deep breath and let it out. This was bad.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch the ... Um … last thing you said.”
She was hoping he would not think badly of her. Nothing was worse than
being condemned as an airhead. Well, there were worse things, but at this
point airhead was the one she was worried about. He had obviously called
her into his luxurious office for a reason. From the rumors she heard
circulating around the club, no one got to see the owner’s office unless
they were getting fired or a special promotion. She was hoping it was the
latter.
Darian’s chuckle vibrated deep in his throat. He decided to cut to the chase.
-------------------------------------------
Excerpt 2:
-----------------------------------------
Warren could smell the blood in the air; it made his stomach growl and
churn with hunger. He immediately regretted not taking his partner’s
advice and grabbing a whole lot of something to eat along the way. The
scent of the blood was so enticing, he felt his mouth water. Swallowing
hard, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his badge and ID, and handed
them to the uniformed officer protecting the crime scene from intruders
and the media. Warren surveyed the crime scene as the officer verified his
identification before handing it back. The body had been dumped on the
shoulder of 95th Street. There was a small patch of wild grass that had
grown four feet high and beyond that, huge patches of gravel and dirt.
He stepped under the yellow and black police tape that blocked off the
crime scene. He could see the M.E. forensics expert taking pictures of the
body from all angles. As he walked closer, he realized right away why
forensic specialists were walking around the area and taking so many
pictures. The crime scene was a horrific sight. The body had been
dismembered; mutilated chunks of bloody flesh had been carelessly strewn
about the area. A uniformed officer rushed past him to puke on the curb
next to a squad car, using the car’s hood for balance as his stomach
heaved its contents onto the pavement.
Warren looked closely at the gruesome display of mutilated flesh. His
senses picked up a slight scent of a shifter from the scattered body parts
but it was highly overshadowed by the smell of blood. He hoped whomever
the pieces of flesh had belonged to was murdered somewhere around the
location and not somewhere else like the last victim. The sooner he could
catch this bastard, the better. At least, now he knew for certain that a
shifter was involved. He just wished he had a more defined scent to work
with.
Well, at least one thing could be ruled out. Xander’s theory of foul play
from the human race was out of the question from this standpoint. This was
the work of a supernatural and it was the last thing the supernatural race
needed. More drama. More ammunition for the humans to throw at them about
how they should all be rounded up and destroyed.
He watched as blood dried to a dark red tint on the exposed ligaments and
muscles. Ragged pieces of skin clung to the chunks of flesh. He counted
five pieces of the body, ranging from small to medium. The largest chunk
of flesh was what remained of the torso. He stepped closer to examine the
bite marks where the wolf had torn through the skin, bone and muscle.
Looking inside the cavity, he could see that the ribs had been splintered.
Little particles of white bone sprinkled the remaining intestines still
attached to the shredded abdomen. There was no blood splattered around the
area, just small puddles that had drained from the pieces of the corpse.
He fought the urge to kneel on all fours and plunge his face deep into the
feast at hand. He licked his lips and swallowed the saliva that had
gathered in his mouth as his stomach growled loudly, anticipating its next
meal. He heard footsteps coming closer and looked up to see his partner
approaching.
“I can hear your hungry ass from over there. Didn’t I tell you to eat
something before you brought your ass out here?” Matthew stated forcefully
as he approached Warren.
Kneeling beside him, he inspected a bloody chunk of the corpse by lifting
a piece of the torn muscle with his examining pen.
Warren gave him a rueful smile. He looked at Matthew’s attire, a black
sweatshirt with the faded letters of Rosenthall-Krest University on the
front and a pair of faded and obviously worn blue jeans. His boots were
the newest thing he had on. They still had that new store-bought shine to
them.
“You did, but I didn’t think I’d have enough time to stop,” Warren lied.
“You had time. At least enough time to pull into a Burger Town or
something and grab a dozen breakfast sandwiches. Anything would have been
better than having you drooling over the body.” He took another look at
the scene. “Or what’s left of a body. We can’t even tell if this was a man
or woman, young or old. I guess it matters little. As it stands now, this
is a John or Jane doe. Shit, I’m not even sure if it’s human!”
“It’s human, Matt. Has Galen found anything more about the body from
yesterday? Has it been identified?” Warren asked.
Excerpt 1:
--------------------------------
Darian released the little green button and settled comfortably into his
chair. When he heard the door open then close, he knew it was Annette. He
could smell the blood underneath her skin and feel her pulse beating fast
making her body heat rise. Ah yes, Darian loved the heat. Slowly, he
turned his chair around to face her. He thought she was beautiful indeed.
He could not understand why he had not met her personally before. He would
have to have a small talk with Xavier.
He entrusted all of the hiring of the staff to Xavier. He knew Xavier
would have the right eye for such beauty. He was sure that Xavier had
already bedded Miss Balfour. If he had not, then it was his loss and
Darian’s gain. It was one of the aspects of their relationship Darian
enjoyed most of all. They had to have an open sexual relationship. He
would not have it any other way. Sex was one of Darian’s favorite
pastimes. He enjoyed the feeling of hot, sweaty bodies beneath him or
behind him. Enjoyed the sensation of heat and ecstasy as it increased
until it spilled over their bodies in that one final moment when time
would freeze.
He gazed at her caramel colored skin, admiring the smoothness of it. He
wanted to feel that smoothness with his fingertips. He liked her permed,
straight hair, how it framed her slender oval shaped face. Her lips
attracted him as well; he loved how full and luscious they were.
He was a lover of both men and women and cherished all of the individual
qualities each offered. His mind raced to what he wanted to do with her
before the night was out. A wicked smile spread across his lips, exposing
his dimples, making him look both innocent and guilty.
He looked at her entire appearance, mentally calculating the quickest way
to remove her clothing based on hooks, zippers, snaps, etc. She was
dressed in a leopard print bra top and a black satin skirt with a leopard
print hem and was wearing a pair of black heels. Darian admired the way
the outfit enveloped her. It was no doubt an outfit designed for the game
of seduction. And his club was the perfect place to wear such an ensemble.
Desires Unleashed was exactly what the name stated, and that was what
Darian wanted. Whether you had a lust for sex or blood, you could sate
your hunger there.
“Miss Balfour, I’ve called you into my office tonight because I have some
good news. You see, I’ve been going through my employee records and
reviewing some of my best staff.”
He looked in her direction and smiled. He rose from his chair and glided
around the desk. All of his movements were as smooth as satin. His body
never looked clumsy, never once. He leaned against the corner of his desk
in front of Annette. He held her open file in his hand as he looked down
at her over the edge of the file and smiled. His eyes sparkled as his
smile warmed her. He slid halfway onto the corner of his desk and
pretended to look over her information. He had already memorized her file
before she came into his office, but now, he was keeping up appearances.
“It says here that you’ve never been late and only absent one time since
you started working here.”
He paused and leaned in closer to her.
“Most impressive,” he whispered seductively.
His forest-green eyes peered into the chocolate brown of hers. She felt
his aura pelting her, making a heat rise from between her legs. She fought
the urge to squirm in her seat. She could smell his cologne, as if he
needed any. She was willing to bet he was just as good in bed as he looked
and that was saying a lot. She found herself imagining what his strong
hands would feel like caressing her skin. She wanted to feel the heat of
his mouth on her, and the weight of his body against hers. She had the
desire to press her hand to her chest, and, in an exaggerated southern
belle accent, say ‘Why sir, I’m just a southern belle and we southern gals
don’t do things like- ooooohh, Oh My!’ She mentally shook her head. She
wanted to focus on what he was saying to her, even though it was proving
to be more difficult with each passing second.
“Did you hear what I said?” Darian asked, humor hidden in his smile.
He knew damn well she had not heard a word he’d said; it was just how he
planned it. She didn’t need to hear what he was saying. She only needed to
know that he was paying her attention, that she had his favor for the
evening. She should be so blessed.
“Oh, yeah ... Um ...,”
She took a deep breath and let it out. This was bad.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch the ... Um … last thing you said.”
She was hoping he would not think badly of her. Nothing was worse than
being condemned as an airhead. Well, there were worse things, but at this
point airhead was the one she was worried about. He had obviously called
her into his luxurious office for a reason. From the rumors she heard
circulating around the club, no one got to see the owner’s office unless
they were getting fired or a special promotion. She was hoping it was the
latter.
Darian’s chuckle vibrated deep in his throat. He decided to cut to the chase.
-------------------------------------------
Excerpt 2:
-----------------------------------------
Warren could smell the blood in the air; it made his stomach growl and
churn with hunger. He immediately regretted not taking his partner’s
advice and grabbing a whole lot of something to eat along the way. The
scent of the blood was so enticing, he felt his mouth water. Swallowing
hard, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his badge and ID, and handed
them to the uniformed officer protecting the crime scene from intruders
and the media. Warren surveyed the crime scene as the officer verified his
identification before handing it back. The body had been dumped on the
shoulder of 95th Street. There was a small patch of wild grass that had
grown four feet high and beyond that, huge patches of gravel and dirt.
He stepped under the yellow and black police tape that blocked off the
crime scene. He could see the M.E. forensics expert taking pictures of the
body from all angles. As he walked closer, he realized right away why
forensic specialists were walking around the area and taking so many
pictures. The crime scene was a horrific sight. The body had been
dismembered; mutilated chunks of bloody flesh had been carelessly strewn
about the area. A uniformed officer rushed past him to puke on the curb
next to a squad car, using the car’s hood for balance as his stomach
heaved its contents onto the pavement.
Warren looked closely at the gruesome display of mutilated flesh. His
senses picked up a slight scent of a shifter from the scattered body parts
but it was highly overshadowed by the smell of blood. He hoped whomever
the pieces of flesh had belonged to was murdered somewhere around the
location and not somewhere else like the last victim. The sooner he could
catch this bastard, the better. At least, now he knew for certain that a
shifter was involved. He just wished he had a more defined scent to work
with.
Well, at least one thing could be ruled out. Xander’s theory of foul play
from the human race was out of the question from this standpoint. This was
the work of a supernatural and it was the last thing the supernatural race
needed. More drama. More ammunition for the humans to throw at them about
how they should all be rounded up and destroyed.
He watched as blood dried to a dark red tint on the exposed ligaments and
muscles. Ragged pieces of skin clung to the chunks of flesh. He counted
five pieces of the body, ranging from small to medium. The largest chunk
of flesh was what remained of the torso. He stepped closer to examine the
bite marks where the wolf had torn through the skin, bone and muscle.
Looking inside the cavity, he could see that the ribs had been splintered.
Little particles of white bone sprinkled the remaining intestines still
attached to the shredded abdomen. There was no blood splattered around the
area, just small puddles that had drained from the pieces of the corpse.
He fought the urge to kneel on all fours and plunge his face deep into the
feast at hand. He licked his lips and swallowed the saliva that had
gathered in his mouth as his stomach growled loudly, anticipating its next
meal. He heard footsteps coming closer and looked up to see his partner
approaching.
“I can hear your hungry ass from over there. Didn’t I tell you to eat
something before you brought your ass out here?” Matthew stated forcefully
as he approached Warren.
Kneeling beside him, he inspected a bloody chunk of the corpse by lifting
a piece of the torn muscle with his examining pen.
Warren gave him a rueful smile. He looked at Matthew’s attire, a black
sweatshirt with the faded letters of Rosenthall-Krest University on the
front and a pair of faded and obviously worn blue jeans. His boots were
the newest thing he had on. They still had that new store-bought shine to
them.
“You did, but I didn’t think I’d have enough time to stop,” Warren lied.
“You had time. At least enough time to pull into a Burger Town or
something and grab a dozen breakfast sandwiches. Anything would have been
better than having you drooling over the body.” He took another look at
the scene. “Or what’s left of a body. We can’t even tell if this was a man
or woman, young or old. I guess it matters little. As it stands now, this
is a John or Jane doe. Shit, I’m not even sure if it’s human!”
“It’s human, Matt. Has Galen found anything more about the body from
yesterday? Has it been identified?” Warren asked.
Desires Unleashed Reviews:
"In a time
when vampire books have become commonplace, DN Simmons has
given her readers a
unique voice among the genre. She mixes high drama
with sexually
charged sparks, sure to please new and old fans alike. I
highly recommend
her Knights of Darkness Chronicles as this author's style
will draw you into
her wonderful fantasy world." - #1
Best Selling Author
GA Hauser
"For those of
you who love moresomes, this book will hit the spot, with
supernatural
hotness thrown in. Weres and vampires are treated with such
casualness that
they seem all the more real! Lots of strong males and
fiesty
females!" - J.C. Owens, author of "Gaven"
"Desires
Unleashed: Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book One is a
bloody good
read!" - Raven Hart, author of the Savannah Vampire Chronicles
"This author's
work is award-winning material, and D. N. Simmons has
stepped into the
paranormal arena with such greats as, Christine Feehan
and Sherrilyn
Kenyon" --ParaNormal Romance Review
"Simmons has
written the vampire hit novel of the year! With so many
middle of the road
paranormal books being published, Simmons took up the
torch and blazed a
whole new avenue for the readers to delve into." -
Janalee Ruschhaupt
- Warrior of Words.
"You will be
surprised, haunted and mesmerized by Desires Unleashed" -
Night Owl Romance --Night Owl Romance
There is a giveaway today from the author. It's going to be a cool bookmark. Please comment and leave your email so I can contact you if you win.
Let's all thank D.N. for joining us today and giving us some much great information on the books! Check out the websites and books!
Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce
