New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author

Blackthorne's Light

Blackthorne's Light by Marie Harte

When Dara sets out to do research for a new article, she gets much more than she bargained for. 

Vampland is a hedonist’s playground. It’s the hottest new dance club in town and Dara Ellis’s inspiration for showing women how to embrace the bad girl within. But it’s the club’s owner who really gets her pulse racing, first in lust and then in fear when she learns who–and what–he really is. Trey is far more than a creature of the night. He’s a flesh and blood man with gifts given from a higher power. Only the love of the right woman can save his soul from the darkness growing closer. But will Dara take a chance on a creature as much myth as man? Or will fear deny the love burning brightly between them?

They passed through into a room so dark, Dara had to stop to allow her eyes to adjust to the lack of lighting. Then the flick of a desk lamp illuminated an immaculately organized desk.

“Oh, right. Hold on.” John moved away from them and raised a dimmer switch, so that the overhead lighting made everyone visible. Sue gasped and Dara caught her breath at the sight of the man behind the desk.

Holy mother, but if a man could be more beautiful, she’d never seen him.

“Sue, Dara, I’d like you to meet the man behind the mystery, Trey Blackthorne.”

Blackthorne rose to his feet and moved around the desk to greet them. His eyes, dark and piercing, seemed to absorb their every detail, as if he stared at them from Lucifer’s vantage.

He towered over Sue, and Dara put him at roughly six-four or five.

“Pleased to meet you,” he said in low, courtly tone as he kissed the back of Sue’s limp hand. Sue finally snapped her mouth closed, gave him a smile, and stepped back, as if intimidated by the man’s larger-than-life presence.

Not that Dara could blame her. He had looks, a body that appeared as if it never left the gym, and a charisma about him that screamed power. His essence of spirit exuded a deep warmth that both comforted and alarmed. Fanciful words from a writer who wanted nothing more than to put this guy front and center in her fantasies.

Oh man. Get it together, girl.

He turned to Dara and stiffened for no more than a split second. No one seemed to notice, but Dara felt his surprise. And how she sensed that, she had no idea.

Trey kissed her hand as well, and a burning heat traveled throughout her body from where his firm lips caressed her skin.

“Dara, a lovely name.” His low voice caressed her while his gaze blazed with need before he banked the emotion behind a polite façade.

Had she imagined that, or had the hottest man she’d ever met just given her a solid once-over?

John mentioned Dara’s purpose for being in the club, and Trey nodded. Yet his stare never left her face.

“I’m intrigued.” Trey spared a warm smile for Sue. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself? John hasn’t been too chatty?”

“Oh no. He’s been a perfect host.” Sue rubbed John’s shoulder with an intimate touch that told Dara she’d need another ride home tonight.

Trey smiled, and Dara’s heart stopped. Man, what must it be like to go through life that beautiful? Would anyone ever see through that polish to the real him?

He blinked at her in surprise before refocusing on John again. “John, why don’t you entertain Sue while I answer Dara’s questions. I’m sure she has many.”

“You can say that again.” She smiled at him, wanting nothing more than to never stop staring. And then a frisson of that psychic sense that had been her burden for years swelled, and her fascination with Trey’s looks faded. She blinked several times and took a calming breath. “Yeah, I’d love to talk to you.”

Trey nodded. “Sounds good. John, feel free to give Sue the VIP treatment. Everything’s on the house.”

“Awesome. Talk to you later, Dara.” Sue waved and left with John without a backwards glance.

Dara watched her and John go with a bit of unease, now completely alone with a stranger that made her insides burn at his touch.

 

Copyright © 2012 Marie Harte

All rights reserved — MH Publishing

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