by: Abigail Owen
Series: Brimstone, Inc.
Genre: Holiday Paranormal Romance
Release Date: February 1, 2022
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All’s fair in love and…whatever this is.
This Valentine’s Day, when a cupid accidentally shoots himself with his own arrow, he falls for a siren whose only job is to lure men to their deaths.
Charismatic and irresistibly fun, Chance Eroson is a cupid who gets a kick from pairing odd couples and being right about them. Used to getting his way, the only person who shuts him down is the siren who has ruined more than one of his pairings before they started. But his bigger problem is he wants her. He’s always wanted her.
Elodie Sirenian uses her power for good, only hunting evil men. But after so long, and so many horrible people, her cynicism has settled deep inside. She can turn on the charm when she doesn’t mean it, and they fall for it. Every single one. Every single time.
Except Chance. He’s the only person—man or god—who has ever challenged her.
But a cupid’s magic is temporary. There’s no way a true love match is possible. Not this time.
Excellent question.
Given how hard he’d already been before the damn arrow struck, thanks to just whispering in her ear—a stupid move even at that moment—he was in trouble now. Except…except she was clearly struggling with the same reaction. And that was only possible if…
He trailed a finger down the side of her cheek, skin petal soft against his touch. She closed her eyes, leaning into him.
“You want me,” he murmured, while trying not to show the awe that realization shot through him.
He’d thought he was alone in the wanting.
A small, angry spark lit her dark eyes, turning the flecks golden, and she straightened away from his touch, only to lean forward again. “Of course I do,” she muttered haughtily, “you struck me with one of your arrows.”
Did he tell her now that the level of desire, or connection—everything the arrow did—only built on what was naturally there?
He didn’t make his couples feel things that didn’t already exist. People who didn’t know each other or didn’t have a spark of chemistry wouldn’t react to each other at all. Definitely not like this. But the ones where desire had been simmering under the surface for a while went up in flames. The ones with true liking fell in love in a blink.
He smiled softly. “What happens now is up to you.”
She frowned a little. “I don’t—”
“We have some…time…before the effects wear off.”
Her frown deepened. “It wears off?”
Chance nodded. “My job is just to get a couple…started. A basic catalyst. It’s up to them after that.”
“How long do we have?”
He shrugged. “Depends on the couple, so it’s difficult to tell.” If she took him up on what he was about to suggest, he was damn well hoping for days.
She crossed her legs. Rubbing them together in an unconscious gesture and he knew exactly why. Because her body needed the same thing his did. Release. Immediate release. And only release delivered at his hands.
“So, what is up to me exactly?” she demanded.
His siren was getting antsy.
“You have two choices. Go home and lock yourself away until this wears off. A few days at most. It will be uncomfortable, but you can do it.”
“Uncomfortable how?”
He narrowed his eyes. She knew. She just didn’t want to admit it. Chance leaned in, hands on the bar on either side of her, forming a cage of sorts. Lips to her ear. “Option 2,” he said, letting the heaviness of need sink into his voice so that she couldn’t mistake it. “We fuck. A lot.”
She was already tense against him and yet trembling. Resisting so hard.
But he wasn’t going to talk her into this. It had to be her decision.
Only…gods he wanted her. He’d always wanted her. But no way he was pressuring her. He wanted the woman in his bed willing, eager even.
“Okay.” Her answer came in a whisper.
Not good enough. He shook his head. “No. You’re going to have to tell me what you want. I need to be clear.”
Given how hard he’d already been before the damn arrow struck, thanks to just whispering in her ear—a stupid move even at that moment—he was in trouble now. Except…except she was clearly struggling with the same reaction. And that was only possible if…
He trailed a finger down the side of her cheek, skin petal soft against his touch. She closed her eyes, leaning into him.
“You want me,” he murmured, while trying not to show the awe that realization shot through him.
He’d thought he was alone in the wanting.
A small, angry spark lit her dark eyes, turning the flecks golden, and she straightened away from his touch, only to lean forward again. “Of course I do,” she muttered haughtily, “you struck me with one of your arrows.”
Did he tell her now that the level of desire, or connection—everything the arrow did—only built on what was naturally there?
He didn’t make his couples feel things that didn’t already exist. People who didn’t know each other or didn’t have a spark of chemistry wouldn’t react to each other at all. Definitely not like this. But the ones where desire had been simmering under the surface for a while went up in flames. The ones with true liking fell in love in a blink.
He smiled softly. “What happens now is up to you.”
She frowned a little. “I don’t—”
“We have some…time…before the effects wear off.”
Her frown deepened. “It wears off?”
Chance nodded. “My job is just to get a couple…started. A basic catalyst. It’s up to them after that.”
“How long do we have?”
He shrugged. “Depends on the couple, so it’s difficult to tell.” If she took him up on what he was about to suggest, he was damn well hoping for days.
She crossed her legs. Rubbing them together in an unconscious gesture and he knew exactly why. Because her body needed the same thing his did. Release. Immediate release. And only release delivered at his hands.
“So, what is up to me exactly?” she demanded.
His siren was getting antsy.
“You have two choices. Go home and lock yourself away until this wears off. A few days at most. It will be uncomfortable, but you can do it.”
“Uncomfortable how?”
He narrowed his eyes. She knew. She just didn’t want to admit it. Chance leaned in, hands on the bar on either side of her, forming a cage of sorts. Lips to her ear. “Option 2,” he said, letting the heaviness of need sink into his voice so that she couldn’t mistake it. “We fuck. A lot.”
She was already tense against him and yet trembling. Resisting so hard.
But he wasn’t going to talk her into this. It had to be her decision.
Only…gods he wanted her. He’d always wanted her. But no way he was pressuring her. He wanted the woman in his bed willing, eager even.
“Okay.” Her answer came in a whisper.
Not good enough. He shook his head. “No. You’re going to have to tell me what you want. I need to be clear.”
Purchase Hit by the Cupid Stick from:
The Brimstone Inc. Series:
Multi-award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, loves plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, alpha heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of sexy shifters! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, Dr. Seuss quoter, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic.
Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero (who she totally married!) and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.
Places to find Abigail Owen:
I haven't read many Valentine's Day books this year. I added this one to my "want to read" list.
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