Name: Sarah Mäkelä
Age: 28
Where are you from: North Carolina
A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc: I live in North Carolina with my husband and cats, and I have an English degree in Creative Writing. I love reading, video games and traveling all over the world.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
Sarah: I have a lot of news at the moment! I am in the Wicked Hot Reads: 10 Paranormal Romances box set, I am re-releasing a novella on Sept 17th called Jungle Heat, I will be in another box set that’ll release soon called Highland Shifters (my contribution is Highland Moon Rising), and I have bundled my first three books in my Cry Wolf series into a box set. Whew!
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
Sarah: I began writing when I was young. There were a few different moments in my life that built upon one another to make me realize that writing was what I wanted to do. But it all started when I found poetry my mom had written when I was really little. I fell in love with it and decided to write too. At first I wrote poetry, then flash fiction, short stories, novellas, and finally worked my way up to novels.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Sarah: I considered myself a writer when I started taking writing more seriously.
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
Sarah: The first thing I wrote is actually Jungle Heat. Granted it had been edited many times before I finally landed a publisher. I loved reading paranormal books and role playing with friends, but I wanted a little more freedom, so I dove into writing original fiction. At the time I was still in high school, and I had to do a paper for my Ecology class on the Amazon Rainforest. I learned so much that I knew I wanted to write a story based there about Amazons and because of my love of the paranormal and cats, I added a weretiger hero.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
Sarah: I basically go with flow. I’ve learned that it’s important to the story how it wants to be told.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
Sarah: I came up with the Cry Wolf title after naming the first book in the series The Witch Who Cried Wolf. I usually don’t consider myself very clever with titles, but that one came together surprisingly well.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Sarah: I’m not exactly one for themes and messages. There are some issues my heroines go through in the Cry Wolf series that I think are important to twenty-somethings, but I mostly write for the fun of going on adventures with my characters.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?
Sarah: Since it’s paranormal romance with witches and werewolves, I’d say that it’s mostly not realistic. However, my goal was to bring realism to the books so that readers could immerse themselves and believe what’s happening on the page.
Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Sarah: Nope, it’s completely fiction.
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?
Sarah: I’d say Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series because it inspired me to become the writer I am today, not someone who just dabbles in poetry or flash fiction.
Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Sarah: I don’t know if I’d say I have a mentor. I have authors I look up to, but no one in that particular who mentors me.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Sarah: I’m currently reading Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson as well as a few non-fiction books.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Sarah: I read all sorts of authors both new and established. I really like Pepper Winters’s books.
Fiona: What are your current projects?
Sarah: I’m currently working with a few other authors on a how-to book for writers, and I’m also working on the next book in the Cry Wolf series.
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Sarah: Other writers have been supportive of me.
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Sarah: Yes, it’s my full-time job.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Sarah: I don’t think so. I think the series is taking shape in ways I’d never imagined. So I’ve been very pleasantly surprised.
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Sarah: I mentioned it above. 🙂 My mother’s book of poetry originated my interest in writing.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Sarah: Here’s an excerpt from the very beginning of Highland Moon Rising:
Hinges squeaked on a door that hadn’t seen use in several months. Months I’d spent struggling to rescue my younger brother. My attempts had been in vain. Not only had the scientists who’d captured him discovered my existence and fervently chased me, but no matter what I’d tried, their research facility had been nearly impenetrable for a lone wereleopard. The tall fences and heavy-duty searchlights would have been challenge enough, but the plentiful armed guards that crisscrossed the compound had made it impossible to proceed.
Fortunately, the werewolf Pack he’d transferred to had broken him—and the other shifters—free with their numbers and brute strength. However, I could only wonder how Colin had fared after all he’d been through. From the brief phone call we’d shared yesterday, I barely recognized him. He didn’t sound at all like the easygoing guy I’d known. He was weary and solemn.
But that was understandable. Whatever had been done had changed him and his beast.
With each minute, hour, day, I neared the brink of complete exhaustion. Sooner than later, I needed to rest up. The scientists had stayed so close on my tail for so long that I remained vigilant at all times. It was so hard to let my guard down.
While I was in Scotland to support Colin, I craved the comfort of home and the ability to run in my feline form without having to keep constant watch over my shoulder. Och, to feel the lush grass and dried leaves beneath my padded feet and to smell the forest air mixing and lingering with the soft undertones of early morning rain. My beast stretched lazily inside my chest, eager to unsheathe her claws and return to nature. But there was no time for that luxury yet.
Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Sarah: Sitting down and actually putting words on the page. Sometimes it’s so easy to get distracted by all the promotion, emails, cover art, editing and so on that writing starts to take a backseat when it should remain the priority.
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Sarah: I have so many authors I enjoy. But I love unique books and tend to read dark contemporary romance these days.
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
Sarah: I do travel to different conferences. This year I went to two of them.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
Sarah: Kim Killion designs most of my covers. Clarissa from Yocla Designs created the Jungle Heat cover.
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Sarah: I’d say the hardest part especially as my career takes off more is focusing on writing the book and not getting distracted by everything else.
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Sarah: I learned how much I truly love writing and the value of self-publishing because I can take my books in directions I probably wouldn’t be able to get away if I had to submit them to a publisher.
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Sarah: Make time for your writing. Don’t let others (or yourself) sidetrack you. It’s important to remain consistent and do it regularly.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Sarah: I love hearing from my readers. Feel free to contact me through Facebook, Twitter or email. You guys truly make writing the best job ever.
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
Sarah: I don’t know my first book ever, but I do know my first romance book. It was Chateau of Flowers by Margaret Rome.
Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?
Sarah: I love reading, video games and traveling.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Sarah: I am currently watching Outlander, Penny Dreadful, and Legends.
Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
Sarah: Foods would be potatoes, steak and salmon. Color would be purple and black. Music would be dubstep.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
Sarah: I would’ve been in IT. I love computers.
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
Website: http://www.sarahmakela.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ed_Dz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorsarahmakela
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sarahmakela
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/sarahmakela
Thank you for interviewing me, Fiona!
Jungle Heat (Amazon Chronicles, Book 1)
Sarah Mäkelä
Genre: Shifter Romance
Publisher: Kissa Press LLC
Date of Publication: September 17, 2014
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Heat-Paranormal-Shifter-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00NA2P8PC/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jungle-Heat-Paranormal-Shifter-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00NA2P8PC/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940046260106
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id915948423
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=sa5sBAAAQBAJ
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/jungle-heat-4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-jungleheat-1612811-344.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23158564-jungle-heat
Book Description:
An Amazon Princess and a weretiger must find love enough to heal their peoples’ painful history.
The Amazon Rainforest still contains a few secrets. One of these secrets is a hidden village of women whose history is filled with the horror of conquering men.
Adara Rukan, princess of the Amazons, ventures away from her village to find something waiting for her. Andrei “Rei” Makarov is a weretiger and a biologist on assignment. Can Rei and Adara find love enough to bridge their two separate worlds?
Excerpt:
Adara raced over the dense forest floor, trying to escape the shadow closing on her heels. Fear pumped adrenaline through her body as she ran toward her village through the darkness. Panic tangled with the sheer need to survive. If only I’d listened. What was I thinking, coming out alone?
She shot a glance over her shoulder. Her foot smacked against a tree root in the moment of distraction, pitching her body forward. The fall came in slow motion.
Cursing under her breath, she rolled onto her back. Dry leaves clung to her blonde hair. The subtle, musty scent of slow rot rose from the rich soil, mixed with something coming from behind her. The dark shadow loomed. Her gaze rose to take in her pursuer, wondering if the beast would be her doom.
The tall, broad-shouldered creature towered over her. Watching. It wasn’t human or animal. The village wise woman had warned her of beings like this, but they’d seemed like fables. How could something so fantastical be real?
Even as she trembled with fear, this creature captivated her. The black and orange stripes covering his shoulders and arms evoked a distant memory, yet the design was uncommon in the Amazon.
His hair hung in straight, black strands like a human’s, but his face had the nose, mouth, and eyes of a feline. His muscular, naked body reflected a splendid combination of both species. Sweat-shiny skin glistened through the inch-long fur that covered him. His white chest intrigued her, all the way to the patch of fur barely covering his groin. Leaves and branches framed his face with a lush green background. He crouched over her. His piercing golden eyes focused solely on her. His stare reminded her of a cat from her village staring at a small rodent before pouncing.
As he leaned down, she grabbed her kris from the garter on her thigh and pushed it against his stomach. She didn’t want today to be the day she died. Her people needed her. She wouldn’t let this beast deny them their princess.
The animal cocked his head at her. He brushed his lips over her throat, whiskers tickling her chin.
Her body stiffened. What is he doing? Bewilderment spread through her as his feline lips touched her neck. Instead of biting her, his canines grazed lightly, gently, from just below her ear down to her shoulder, almost as if exploring her flesh, instead of seeking to rip open her throat.
She tensed. Even with her weapon pressed against the beast’s stomach, she still feared for her life. As an Amazon princess, she wasn’t easily scared. But this feline made her heart pound. If only she had brought Rubia with her. She wouldn’t be in this situation and could’ve stood a better chance against this feline.
Why does he persist in toying with me? Adara swallowed as a low burn started in the pit of her stomach. These feelings confused her.
A soft sniffing sounded in her ear right before his tongue scraped rough caresses on her skin. Other jungle cats marked their territory. Did this animal believe she was his? She didn’t want to find out.
Without waiting for the feline’s next move, Adara drove the kris deep into his stomach, meeting resistance as it plunged through flesh and muscle. She forced it further as his blood flowed onto her hands, making the hilt of the kris slick, weakening her grip.
He roared and leapt back with her kris still embedded in his abdomen.
She scrambled to her feet. His scream so near the side of her face made her ear ring. Bringing up a hand to her ear, Adara felt a trail of his wet blood drip along her cheek.
He straightened his spine and strode back to her, her kris still buried in him. It seemed as if it were nothing more than a minor annoyance to him. She clenched her hands into fists and dropped them to her sides.
The reality of what she saw struck her. She froze. How could he act so unaffected? He shouldn’t have been able to move around so casually. It wasn’t possible. How can I outrun something like that? This can’t be happening. Her mother had always warned her to be careful when traveling through the forest. Why hadn’t she listened? And how could she feel so drawn to this animal when he intimidated her?
“Who are you?” Gritting her teeth, she forced her voice to resonate with the commanding tones of an Amazon huntress, and fervently hoped it didn’t betray the panic racing through her veins. Her people’s beliefs restricted them from showing fear in front of strangers. Not that they saw many. But her tribeswomen were survivors in dangerous times. Their history brimmed with reminders.
The feline bared pointed white teeth. “Call me Rei.” His husky voice reverberated like a deep growl.
He launched into the air and, before she could react, flattened her to the ground. Air whooshed out of her lungs. Her eyes widened and locked onto his.
He pinned her arms next to her head and pressed his feline lips to hers. His tongue scraped across her lower lip, causing nips of pain to cut through the alluring sensation.
She shook her head hard, breaking the kiss. Her breath rushed out short and quick. Never before had she kissed anyone. His mouth on hers created fiery stirrings within her body that felt almost too good. Her racing pulse only spread the warmth throughout her body that much faster.
Twice a year, her tribeswomen associated with Indian men. The younger girls were forced to stay in a hut during those visits, although Adara had snuck out once with Rubia in a fit of rebellion. She’d spotted one of her kin pressing her mouth against an Indian male’s. Could this be what happens?
But men weren’t to be trusted. Her kin had learned that the hard way many, many years ago.
Her mind flashed to the tales she’d heard from the wise woman. Horrible reminders assaulted her, memories of the men from long ago, enslaving her kind, killing them ruthlessly with diseases and swords.
She could imagine the cruelty of the conquering, pillaging men as vividly as if she had been there herself, so strongly had the wise woman spoken. It had taken weeks for her to sleep soundly after listening to that story.
Sudden panic swept away the lust that burned inside her. This creature could do the same. He’s chased me, after all.
“What do you want from me?” Adara asked, trying to sound forceful, but instead her voice came out husky. She cleared her throat and returned his gaze.
Talking with an animal! Rubia would be jealous. Her tribeswomen would never believe this story… if she survived the encounter.
Rei smiled, warmth emanating from him. “You.” His chest rumbled, and he rolled the word off his tongue like an exotic purr.
Cry Wolf Series: Shifter Romance Box Set
Sarah Mäkelä
Genre: New Adult Shifter Romance
Publisher: Kissa Press LLC
Date of Publication: November 4, 2014
Amazon:
Amazon UK:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940046280579
iBooks:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sarah_Makela_Cry_Wolf_Series_Shifter_Romance_Box_S?id=u8FpBAAAQBAJ
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cry-wolf-series-paranormal-romance-box-set
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crywolfseriesparanormalromanceboxset-1612863-166.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23158602-cry-wolf-series
Book Description:
The Cry Wolf Series is a New Adult Paranormal Romance box set by NYT & USA Today bestselling author Sarah Mäkelä. Only 99 cents for a limited time!
The Witch Who Cried Wolf – Book 1:
Be careful what you wish for…
A potion gone wrong…
Mia Brooks is a reluctant witch, with powers that she tries to hold in check. But when her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves—that she didn’t even realize existed…
Hidden emotions…
Ethan Parker, Mia’s brother’s best friend, is home from deployment for the holidays. Mia’s not only hiding from werewolves, she’s trying to keep her feelings for Ethan secret; it would be a disaster if he knew she’s been nursing a long-time crush…
The power of love…
Things take a terrifying turn when Mia and Ethan are attacked by a werewolf. Ethan is amazed when Mia reveals her paranormal prowess as she tries to shield them from danger. But can she really protect them from the darkness that lurks? And how can he tell her that, for ages, he’s been denying what he really wants? Mia…
Cold Moon Rising – Book 2:
Passions flare when the cold moon rises…
Kelly: a normal college girl, who knows what she wants—to survive her final exams, and find someone to share her life with. Studying with Jacob is becoming too hot to handle; she’s falling for him, but he’s going too fast…
Jacob: a not-so-typical frat guy, who hides a secret—he’s a werewolf. Whenever the moon is high, he’s driven to shed his human form and satisfy his powerful desires. He craves Kelly, but she’s pushing him away…
Fallout: Jacob can smell Kelly’s arousal, but she insists she doesn’t want sex. A wolf can only take so much before his natural instincts win out. When the tension between them explodes, Jacob has no choice but to walk…
Kidnapped! Kelly is abducted by evil scientists who’ve mistaken her for a female werecat and, despite their differences, Jacob has to try and find her. But it’s a race against time and the lunar tides. The scientists have taken Kelly to their lab and turned her into a shapeshifter for real. The full moon is rising, and soon neither Kelly nor Jacob will be able to control their inner beasts. Who knows what the consequences will be when they are consumed by unquenchable animal lust…
The Wolf Who Played With Fire – Book 3:
Some magic can’t be unspun…
Meddling in magic…
If Mia Brooks could turn back time, it would be to when she used her fledgling magic to craft a potion for an injured werewolf. It nearly killed the Pack Alpha, and now the lives of her witch mentor, Jessa, and her soldier boyfriend, Ethan Parker, have been changed forever. Jessa is in hospital after a vicious werewolf attack. And, Ethan, having being bitten, is becoming a werewolf himself.
A wolf at the door…
Mia can’t turn back time, but she can try to make things right with the two people she cares about most. She’s keeping Jessa’s shop, Eternally Magick, open, and she’s there for Ethan as his inner wolf grows. But, by the next full moon, his transformation will be complete. Can she really be the mate of a half-man-half-wolf, living within the law of the Pack?
Under his spell…
Struggling to contain his new lupine senses, Ethan goes missing on active duty. When Mia realizes her werewolf lover has been abducted, she knows must harness every magic power she possesses to get him safely back…
Excerpt from The Witch Who Cried Wolf:
Jessa’s New Age shop—Eternally Magick—was empty. Usually, Jessa was around. But, right now, she wasn’t. I leaned against the front counter, resting my forehead against the cool glass. Athames, crystals, jewelry and really cute dragon statues were locked in the case beneath my fingertips. While I enjoyed hanging out at the shop and seeing what new potions were available, I wished Jessa had given me some kind of clue as to why she wanted me here. But she was my best friend and mentor; the reason had to be important, if for nothing else to spend much needed time together.
I glanced over my shoulder at the wall of ingredients lining the shelves, ripe for the picking. It had been a while since I’d made a new potion. Maybe if I could stock up on a few things…
“Not what you’re here for,” I whispered to myself. The urge to see what she had nearly drove me away from the counter, but I held myself in check.
Making potions was one of my hobbies. I loved the creativity and excitement that went into building something from nothing, and the brief connection with my power.
Tapping my fingers on the counter, I stared at the curtained-off backroom. Worry crept into my chest. Why wasn’t Jessa here? She never stood me up. This wasn’t like her.
“Jessa?” Usually she came right out when the bells on the door chimed. Biting my lower lip, I considered going into the back. Someone could steal things without her keeping an eye on the store.
“Coming,” Jessa called. The black-haired and blue-eyed beauty swept into the front of the store like a hurricane of flowing skirts. She always looked like she’d just come from a Renaissance faire.
I loved the way she dressed, but I knew that style would never be my thing. My parents would think I’d flipped my lid, and my older brother…. Shudder. Nolan would laugh at me, probably joking with his best friend—and my crush since forever—Ethan Parker.
“Where have you been? I was getting concerned.” Stepping around the counter, I wrapped my arms around her and she embraced me in a hug smelling of lavender and honey.
“Just in the back. I had to wrap up a call and I guess I didn’t hear you come in.” Jessa smiled, but something was up. She appeared a bit too eager to pretend everything was fine.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” I placed my hand on her shoulder, trying to be comforting.
The door chimed, and we turned in unison toward the shop’s new arrival.
I blinked in surprise.
The man towered in the doorway, over six feet of pure muscle. If his shirt were a little tighter, I probably would’ve been able to see six-pack abs through it. What was he doing here?
He strode in as if he owned the place. There could be no doubt: ladies would drop their panties at his command. If I didn’t have a boyfriend…. Stop it, Mia!
“I’m looking for the owner,” the man said, his deep voice as smooth and sinful as his looks. Yet beneath his delicious exterior, something about him put me on edge. The hint of arrogance in his eyes and the sharp flare of power as he walked in the room were instant triggers. This guy wasn’t a mere mortal. He was something else, but I couldn’t put my finger on what. Aside from Jessa, I’d never met anyone else with this level of power.
Maybe I needed to get out more.
Jessa cleared her throat, as captivated by him as I was by the sound of it. “I’m the owner.” Her voice hit all the sultry tones and she swayed her shoulders. “Can I help you?” I wished I could pull her aside and tell her my feelings, but that would look way too awkward.
“We spoke over the phone. I’m interested in the potion.” He leaned his hip against the counter, standing only a couple feet away. Too close for comfort.
Since Jessa had business to take care of, I sidestepped toward the wall of ingredients, but Jessa grabbed my wrist, keeping me beside her. I cast her a dirty look, but she didn’t pay me any attention, focusing her gaze instead on Mr. Way-Too-Sexy.
“Right, I don’t have any of that in right now, but this woman makes some of the best healing salves I’ve seen.” Jessa nudged me forward, nearly throwing me into Mr. Sexy’s arms.
Glancing up his body to his eyes from so close strained my neck. My five-foot-six frame probably looked tiny beside him. An overwhelming sense of lust and intimidation washed over me.
“Hi.” I fought against a shiver.
Excerpt from The Wolf Who Played With Fire:
Water slid over my body, and I lifted my face to the warm spray. Delicious soreness ached in my muscles as I reached for the shampoo. Crashing at Ethan’s house was dangerous, but the romantic rendezvous we’d shared had taken me to new heights of pleasure.
However, not all good things last forever.
My brother, Nolan, lived with Ethan, keeping an eye on the place while Ethan was deployed with the Army. Neither of us knew exactly when Nolan would arrive home from spending the weekend with his girlfriend, but he had work in a few hours. The chances of him swinging by were high. That meant I needed to leave as soon as possible.
Part of me hoped I could slink away before Ethan woke up, but it was only a matter of time before he stirred. The fact he hadn’t yet indicated to me just how ‘active’ we’d been last night, since not only was Ethan a trained soldier, but now he was becoming more and more of a werewolf. That last part scared me.
I leaned my forehead against the white tiled wall. Regret squeezed my heart like a vise. It would be so easy to blame Jessa, my friend and mentor, for pushing me into the werewolf debacle, and even easier to torment myself for having used wolf’s bane. If I’d gone with the common method of crafting the salve instead of making my own potent blend, then this would not have happened.
Those thoughts led to madness. I balled my hands into fists. Neither Jessa nor I could’ve known what was going on.
The supernatural world was one of magic and potions. Witches were real since I was one. Werewolves, on the other hand, were beasts of legend, not fact. That shocking revelation brought fear and pain crashing through my door and harmed those I cared about.
Both Ethan’s and Jessa’s lives were changed forever, because I couldn’t protect either of them from the werewolf’s attacks. The ramifications of my failure were incomprehensible, especially for Ethan.
Releasing a sigh, I focused on the bar of soap and reached within myself for my magic. Jessa made telekinesis appear so effortless. If I’d learned one thing recently, it was that I kept myself locked away, hoping others wouldn’t burn me at the stake. Being powerless wouldn’t help those I cared about, or me, when the time came to protect them.
Fear and atrophy shriveled my magical muscles. While I still wasn’t convinced about using my power, especially not as openly as Jessa did, I refused to wait for the next disaster to hit before I acted. Something deep inside me knew we weren’t out of the woods yet.
No matter how hard I concentrated, the soap remained rooted in place. Ugh.
How could I measure up as a witch if I couldn’t even accomplish the basics? If my grandmother were here, life would be much easier. Instead, she rested in her grave.
The bathroom door creaked open and my heart leapt into my throat. Panic pushed me to remain small and silent, even though the spraying warm water gave away my presence. If Nolan was home before work, I would be screwed.
My brain scrambled for excuses about why I was here, much less why I was taking a shower.
The mugging wouldn’t work anymore. Things had mostly gone back to normal. I spent more time at home whipping up potions for Jessa’s new age shop, Eternally Magick.
With Jessa in the hospital, she couldn’t run the shop, and I needed to help. What family she had was several states away, and they couldn’t or wouldn’t take time from their lives to assist her.
Besides, Ethan and I didn’t need to be as careful about Nolan coming around to my place. He rarely swung by these days, and when he did, he usually called first.
“Mia? Everything okay in there?” Ethan nudged back the shower curtain, tension tight in his naked shoulders.
Air whooshed from my lungs in a rush and my shoulders slumped forward in relief. “You scared me.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. I felt a lot of energy buzzing in here. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.” He let go of the curtain, and it fell back into place. The slightest twinge of sadness nibbled at me, but this was for the best. If he got in the shower with me, I might never leave.
Excerpt 2 from The Wolf Who Played With Fire:
Strength drained from my body. I had no idea they would’ve killed him. “God, Ethan.” I braced myself against the tiled wall, uncertain if my legs would hold under the weight of that revelation. “You should’ve talked to me. H-how could I have helped to stop them if they’d tried to… kill you?” Nausea bubbled within my stomach and I wrapped an arm under my breasts, cradling my belly. An urge to puke lingered at the back of my throat.
The shower curtain jerked open, and Ethan leveled his gaze at me.
My heart skipped a beat and my foot slid on the wet tub. I tumbled forward, the fall happening in eerily slow motion.
Ethan caught me and pulled me against his solid chest. “Careful.” He kept a steady grip on me as I regained my shaky balance. “There are dozens of werewolves in the Pack. How do you expect to cause much damage?”
His words stung. Even though I wanted to be defensive and lash out, he was right.
While I tried to convince myself I was some badass witch capable of raining down chaos on the werewolves, that wasn’t me. They would squish me like a bug under their feet, especially since wolves worked together.
I pushed past Ethan and grabbed a towel. Standing naked before him had lost its appeal. Maybe if I hadn’t tried telekinesis and gotten so emotional, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
“Come on, babe. Don’t pull away.” He grabbed my hips, turning me around to face him. “I don’t want you to get hurt, okay? Not after the close call in the parking garage. Plus, your friend is in the hospital because of a werewolf. I don’t trust the Pack, and they don’t trust you after you nearly killed their Alpha.”
A shiver chased across my spine that was only partly due to the air’s coolness. “I don’t want you hurt either,” I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I’m willing to risk my safety for yours.”
The gentle touch of his warm hands shifted, and his fingers bit into my skin. “Mia, I can take care of myself. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Through the heat of his words, a sting of power and desire set me alight. The sensation dimly reminded me of what I’d felt when Mr. Sexy…er…Jared…had touched me in Jessa’s shop.
Planting my palms on Ethan’s chest, I refused to let those memories take hold of me, except the feel of my palms on his hard chest melted my insides and made me pliant and willing. My body wanted Ethan more than it wanted its next breath.
Ethan stared into my eyes transfixed. He bent for a kiss, and any desire I had to keep my distance evaporated as our lips met. Lust crashed through me, and my only need was to be intimate with him. Within seconds, he propped me on the bathroom counter. His hands slid down to my knees before he made his way back toward my naked thighs.
Passion warmed me, taking away any chill I’d felt, and I parted my legs, anxious to be one with him. “Ethan, I want you inside me.”
Whatever negativity from the argument vanished like waking from a bad dream. The only importance now was getting his boxers down and rolling a condom on him. Did he have any in here? Because I didn’t know if I could wait until we reached his room.
He parted my towel and tugged me closer. My backside dangled rather precariously over the counter’s edge, but he wouldn’t let me fall. Despite, or maybe because of, all we’d been through, I trusted him. He looked out for both our relationship and for me.
Wetness formed between my legs at the fierce hunger in the way he claimed my mouth. His tongue speared me, brushing along mine with a need to possess. He slid his hand between my legs, teasingly trailing it over my lips.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and he gripped my hips, lifting me into his arms. Apparently, we were headed to the bedroom. The press of his hot erection between my thighs as he adjusted my position sent heat through me like a wildfire.
For a moment, I didn’t care we had responsibilities outside of these four walls. If he asked me to spend the day with him in bed, I would do it.
Ethan strode toward the door with the towel forgotten on the bathroom counter. As we approached the exit, he sucked in a breath and froze.
Loud banging on the bathroom door nearly made me scream, but I slapped a hand over my mouth. If it wasn’t for Ethan’s warning, I might have blown it.
About the Author:
NYT & USA Today bestselling author Sarah Mäkelä loves her fiction dark, magical, and passionate. She is a paranormal romance author, but she’s written all over the romance spectrum with cyberpunk, sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy…even a sweet contemporary romance!
A life-long paranormal fan, she still sleeps with a night-light. In her spare time, she reads sexy books, watches scary movies (and Ghost Adventures), and plays computer games with her husband. When she gets the chance, she loves traveling the world too.
http://www.sarahmakela.com
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http://www.goodreads.com/sarahmakela
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