Welcome to Feature Friday with fellow Lyrical Author Stacy McKitrick and her Paranormal Romance – Bite Me I’m Yours
Sarah’s known monsters…and John isn’t one.
Sarah’s life isn’t going well. She’s divorced from an abusive jerk, been drugged, stuffed in her trunk and nearly kidnapped. Between that and a harsh winter, it’s almost more than a girl can take. She’s rightly distrusting of any man’s affection, so an ice-skating date with John – who doesn’t seem to feel the cold – isn’t exactly on her bucket list. Yet something about him captures her attention.
John is determined to live as an ordinary mortal. He’s moved into the city, bought a sports bar and works there as the bartender. As a new vampire, he’s never considered dating, until he meets Sarah. Prudence dictates he stay away from her, but everything about her calls to him…right down to her cute animal socks.
Sure, finding out John is a vampire is scary, but Sarah’s learned not all monsters have fangs. Besides, someone else isn’t too happy about their budding relationship. Sarah will have to survive before getting her chance at love.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
If Sarah Daugherty were smart, she’d live somewhere it never got cold. If she were smart, she’d have never let her mother get the best of her. If she were smart, she’d have never married Steven.
Yeah, if she were smart.
She stared at her reflection in the mirrored elevator doors. Somewhere beneath the white down-filled coat and pink scarf, a pathetic, twenty-four-year-old divorcee waited for doors to open and blast her with air that belonged in a freezer. They didn’t disappoint.
Her friend, Lori, laughed. “What a wimp. We’re not even outside and you act like it’s below zero.”
“It’s below zero in Celsius.” Ever since the events that unfolded prior to her divorce, Sarah had been cold. No matter what she did, she couldn’t get warm enough. Winter wasn’t helping any, either.
“Yeah, but last I saw, Dayton still measured temps in Fahrenheit.” Lori stepped out and looked up. “Gee, what happened to the lights? It looks like a freakin’ tomb in here. You’re the workaholic. Do they normally go off after seven?”
“They never did before.” Sarah examined the ceiling while the elevator still provided some light. Bulbs nearby were broken, meaning the ones leading to her car were probably the same way. The doors shut behind her. If it weren’t for the oil and gasoline odors, she could be in a dungeon.
Lori unlocked her car. “Told my sister I would babysit tonight and I’m already late. Do you want to come?”
Babysit? Lori’s niece was only six months old. Sarah’s heart hadn’t mended enough for that kind of torture. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”
Lori frowned as she opened the driver’s door. “Shit. Wasn’t thinking. Sorry.”
Sarah smiled her no-worries smile. She’d gotten pretty good at it the past few months. “It’s okay. Now get out of here.”
After a brief hug, Lori slid behind the wheel. “I’ll see you tomorrow, kiddo.”
Sarah headed for her little Civic, looking for her landmark. If the owner of the bright yellow Nissan Xterra ever quit his or her job, or decided to drive it to lunch, she’d be heartbroken. Ever since she started using this garage, she’d parked beside The Bumblebee—the name she’d come to call it—where it remained by quitting time. Seeing the tall vehicle brought a smile to her face. What did it mean when a yellow SUV was a bright spot in her life? Maybe that she needed a better life.
The roar of an engine echoed. Lights from behind cast long shadows ahead. Sarah waved as her friend drove by. Darkness surrounded her Civic and the SUV, and as she walked between them she stepped in something crunchy. Bits of white glass dotted the floor, glinting faintly from what little light remained. Another broken bulb.
Crunch, crunch.
She jerked upright. Was someone else here? She walked to the rear of the vehicles, making more crunchy sounds of her own. No one approached from the elevators or stairs, not that she could see much. Her heart crept up her throat and she swallowed.
The only sounds came from the pounding in her chest.
“You’re hearing things, you idiot,” she mumbled. Still, pinpricks of fear raced over her skin and she itched to go home. On legs that were no longer steady, she turned back to her car. She opened her purse with shaky hands.
Crunch, crunch.
She hadn’t imagined that. Something scratchy and wet with a sweet smell cupped her nose and mouth.
What the— Holding her breath, she grabbed at the mask. Her purse fell and landed with a thud. The assailant wrapped his free arm around her waist and yanked her against his hard body.
“Time to sleep,” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
Nooo! She hadn’t escaped Steven’s abuse only to have some stranger take his place. She clawed at his hand, but her gloves prevented her from scratching him. Taking hold of his fingers, she pulled. Bones cracked, but he held on. She yanked harder. His shriek pierced her ear, and he pulled away, scratching her face with the stiff material. Mouth free, she took a clean breath and screamed. Someone had to hear. The place echoed like a canyon. He clamped his hand across her mouth, cutting off her cry for help. Damn it. What would it take to stop him? She kicked him in the legs.
“God damn it,” he muttered.
The attacker lost his balance and loosened his hold. Freedom seemed in reach. She leaned forward, using whatever leverage she could. He righted himself and pulled her back with arms that doubled for a vise. No amount of twisting and turning got her free. She reached behind, hoping to gouge his eyes, but he bent her head back against his shoulder. The mask scraped her face and her neck screamed in pain.
“Keep it up and I’ll snap your neck,” he growled.
Her heart raced. He might not kill her now, but there was no way this would end well. Wasn’t there anyone around to help? Tears welled in her eyes and her chest burned for oxygen. With no choice left, she breathed in the sweet scent. Her world went dark.
Buy links:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bite-me-im-yours-stacy-mckitrick/1119877400?ean=9781616505813
Bio:
Stacy McKitrick fell in love with paranormal romance, decided to write her own and found her passion in life. She used to work in accounting, now she spends her time with vampires, ghosts, and aliens. Born in California, she currently resides in Ohio with her husband. They have two grown children. You can find her at website www.stacymckitrick.com or her blog www.stacysrantings.blogspot.com.