Monday, 3 September 2012

Writers Guest Room: It Begins With A Rogue's Bite (Haven for the Lustfully Damned 1) by Jessica Frost

Hey Readers & Authors!

Today we welcome our dear pal Jessica Frost back to the Writers Guest Room. She's sharing another tasty excerpt from her Siren Publishing release, It Begins With A Rogue's Bite. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and join us for another peek at sexy werewolves.


Authors, would you like to be a guest in the Writers Guest Room? Send us an email at: anitalawless@gmail.com In return, we only ask you promo one of our titles on your blog. We look forward to hosting you soon! Writers Guest Room will be an informal feature on the blog which will run at random times, but authors may request specific dates as well.


It Begins With A Rogue's Bite
Haven For The Lustfully Damned # 1
Jessica Frost

About: All Cheryl Brete wanted was to forget about her cheating ex-boyfriend and enjoy a night with friends. When her car breaks down on an isolated road and a beast chases her into the woods, her worst fears come to life.

Shane and Thomas Bicks had a vision of a gorgeous woman being attacked by a Rogue werewolf. They set out to find and save her by bringing her to the Haven after she’s bitten. Just when they’re about to leave, the doctor tells them they must stay and help her through the werewolf transition both physically and sexually. They agree whole-heartedly, but after they see how emotionally vulnerable she is because of an abusive ex-boyfriend, they question their decision and the deep-set feelings they’re beginning to have for her.

Soon emotions for these three become a whirlwind of lust and love. What they don’t know is the Rogue who bit Cheryl is coming back to finish the job he started, which was to kill her.

Excerpt: Now, just an hour later, here they stood before the Council members who stared at them, some with curiosity and others with annoyance. Thomas leaned on one foot and then the other. His nerves rattled. He wished he could get the hell out of there quickly.

Thorak, the eldest of the Council members, placed his papers back on the table, took his spectacles off, and stared keenly at them.
“Why have you come? I hope all is well with your family?” He glanced first at Thomas, then at Shane.
Shane stepped forward, bowing in respect. “Yes, they’re all fine. We’re sorry for interrupting the Council’s meeting, but what my brother and I have to say is important, and it can’t wait.”
Thorak glanced at his peers, then placed his glasses back on the tip of his nose, looking up at them. “There’s no doubt in my mind you feel it is. Well, go on, tell us.”
Shane looked at Thomas as he continued. “My brother and I had a vision just an hour ago. It wasn’t completely clear, but we believe it was a Rogue’s attack on a human.”
Thorak’s eyes darkened, and he stood to pace the circumference of the table in silence, his deep, panting breath a telltale sign his ancient age finally crept up on him.
Sinor followed his progress with her gaze. Visibly fidgeting, she commented, “It is just as we feared. The Rogues will claim another human victim. Their rivalry against the humans is rising.”
“The boy didn’t say he saw the Rogue killing the human. Isn’t that right, Shane?” Thorak came to stand still behind Sinor’s chair, gazing forward.
“No, sire, we only envisioned the beginning of the attack.” Shane shook his head.
“Then it is not too late to stop the attack before it even happens?”
“No, sire, it isn’t. That’s why we came here the moment the vision ended, to warn you, so you can send scouts out to save her,” Shane replied
Thorak rubbed his chin in apparent thought for a few moments. “Hmm, a female, you say? In your vision, did you see the place where it will take place?”
“Yes, sire. We envisioned a barren road and a dark forest with evergreens growing in a circular pattern. Unfortunately, we don’t know where it is exactly.” Shane shook his head.
He exhaled loudly “If you were to come upon the exact area, you would recognize it, though?”
“Yes, sire, we would,” Thomas replied.
Thorak returned to his seat, slowly leaning back and finally flopping onto his chair when his knees obviously couldn’t bend any farther, a clear sign arthritis ailed the ancient Voyeur, as well.
“Then it’s settled. You and Shane will leave immediately in search of the female whose life is in danger.”
“But, sire, we’ve never hunted a Rogue before.” Thomas frowned, taken aback at the ancient Voyeur’s order.
Sinor interrupted, lifting her hand in the air, pointing to the east. “Thorak, they are just boys. They have never gone on a deadly mission alone before. Make one of the more experienced Voyeur scouts join them in their quest.” Thorak firmly shook his head. “You very well know we can’t spare the manpower. All our scouts are out now trying to find the Rogues’ hideout.” He gazed at them while continuing, “Besides, Sinor, the boys, as you call them, are twenty-nine years old. Hardly boys in the real world, but men.”
“Men in the eyes of humans, yes, but in the eyes of werewolves, they are still boys,” Sinor countered.
“Just the same. They will be fine alone. And hopefully, they’ll be able to save the girl in time.” Thorak stared at them, then waved his hand. “Go now. Time is of the essence.”
As usual, Shane was the first to react. He bowed, replying, “Of course, sire. We’ll do our best.” Then he retreated in a sure gait.
Thomas followed, but hardly feeling as self-assured as Shane always acted.
When the doors closed behind them on their exit, Thomas nudged Shane’s arm. “Why the hell did you say we’d do it?”
Shane frowned. “In case you didn’t realize it, it wasn’t a request but an order from Thorak.”
“Yeah, but you could have argued.”
“Argued with the closest thing the Voyeurs have to royalty? Do you know how old Thorak is? At least five hundred years old.”
“I know. But it doesn’t mean you couldn’t try.”
“It’s no use. You heard him. All the scouts are out hunting for the Rogues.” He started for the front exit. “So, brother, let’s go and try to save this damsel in distress.”
Thomas hated it when his twin was right, which happened often, but he had to admit he had a point. Thorak, the oldest and wisest Voyeur, ordered them to go find her. What he said was law.
As he picked up his pace and followed his fleeing brother, he thought of the human female of his vision. She was gorgeous, drop-dead gorgeous. Her long blonde, flowing hair dancing in the wind as she ran bewitched him, so much so that he longed to plunge into the vision once more to follow her lead and touch her heavenly hair.
The darkness had acted as camouflage in his clairvoyance, so he couldn’t make out many details, but had made out her voluptuous silhouette and her enticing cleavage. With every hurried step she took, her delightful bosom bobbed up and down, teasing him continually with the question of what it would feel like to touch and lick her breasts.
His manhood hardened with the memory of her wayward movements and spurred him to quicken his steps more. Soon, saving the damsel in distress became all that more urgent as did seeing her in person. Could she be as beautiful and enchanting as he envisioned? God, he certainly hoped so.

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Troll Takedown: Waking Up Werewolf Part 3

Troll Takedown
Waking Up Werewolf Part 3
C.J. Sneere

About: Warren had a perfect life, until he became a werewolf, witnessed the murder of a supernatural, & fell in with a brawny troll & sexy vampire. Now he's discovered an otherworldly underground threatened by a mad organization that wants to rid the world of monsters. He's also torn between a vampire and a troll who have a lovelorn past. Can they keep their hands off each other long enough to save the underground from extinction? Find out in the explosive, action packed third part of C.J. Sneere's new urban fantasy erotica series, Waking Up Werewolf.

Excerpt: Drake puffed on a homemade clove cigarette, inhaled the tangy scent of its spices, and stared at his werewolf lover. "The implant took?"

Ethan nodded. "I'm sure of it. Can't you hear it humming?" He cocked his head and tapped his temple.

The rainforest troll closed his eyes and listened. Ah, yes, he heard the hum, emitted by a tiny piece of Ethan's etheric body implanted in Avery's brain. Ethan blew it out his mouth during a kiss, as instructed by Drake, and the imperceptible wisp wormed its way into the mountain troll's pineal gland.

"Come here," Drake said, smiling in satisfaction. "You've earned it." He unzipped his cargo pants and let them fall to the floor of his murky, small home. His stiffening cock now exposed, he began to stroke himself as he waited for the submissive werewolf to approach.

"Thank you," Ethan whispered, dropping to his knees to service his lover. "It's been so long."

Drake had denied him for weeks now. He felt remorse for neglecting his sweet submissive, but Ethan needed motivation. Denying him passion and nourishment were great motivators.

The werewolf's eager, pink tongue swept over the purple head of his cock. The troll stroked his lover's short, blond hair and cooed words of encouragement. "That's it. Eat and be full. Feed on the pleasure you give. I'll give you dessert after I cum."

Available On Kindle US
Available On Kindle UK
Available On Kobo
Available On Nook
Available on Smashwords

Monday, 27 August 2012

Wild & Lawless Hangouts / Troll Takedown Cover

Hey readers and writers!

Want to hang out with the Wild & Lawless Writers across the 'net? Check us out at some of the places listed below. Over the next few weeks, I'll be installing some handy social icon buttons to make it easier for you all to visit our cyber lounges.

Wild and Lawless on: Tumblr | Google Plus | Twitter | Pinterest | StumbleUpon | Delicious


And a peeky at the new cover for Troll Takedown!Part 3 of the Waking Up Werewolf series from our C.J. should be done tonight and up on Smashwords. Watch our twitter for details. It should be up on our other outlets within the next couple days, also. (I had Mr. Wild flog C.J. to hurry him up. I ate strawberries while I watched said spectacle. Sadly, dear folks, C.J. refused to let me post the video.)
Grab Part 1 of Waking Up Werewolf and Part 2 by clicking the links!


Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Wild & Lawless Bookstore & More

Hey readers!

Now you can grab all your favorite Wild & Lawless titles in the new Wild & Lawless astore . Our friends Jessica Frost, Eden Myles, and Jay Ellison are in there with us too. Clicky the link above to visit or click the new bookstore tab in the site navigation tabs.


C.J. In The Hot Seat 

 And don't forget to surf over to Courtesan Press and check out our very own C.J. in the Hot Seat. Eden and our pals at Courtesan were kind enough to profile Waking Up Werewolf Part 1. Click the link above or book cover below to check it out.


Monday, 20 August 2012

Vicious Vampire Love: Waking Up Werewolf Part 2

Vicious Vampire Love
Waking Up Werewolf Part 2
C.J. Sneere

About: Warren Lindstrom has it all--a lovely girlfriend, a great job, a loyal dog--but it all comes crashing down around him after a werewolf attack lands him with lycanthropy and he's introduced to an underground world full of monsters. Now Warren must help a sexy vampire clear his ex-lover, a brawny troll, of a murder rap, plus bring down an organization called Purity, who wish to wipe monsters off the face of the earth.

A new urban fantasy erotica series from C.J. Sneere. Welcome to the underground, where monsters rule and sex becomes an adventure.

Excerpt: "Why do Purity want to wipe out monsters?" Warren frowned curiously at Sid as he pulled his clothes back on.

Avery was the one to answer, as he pulled some cushions closer to the bed and sprawled out on the floor. "It's a misguided attempt to protect the human race. The agency thinks our existence is a threat to homo sapiens."

"Yet they seem to forget we supernaturals swore off killing humans years ago," Sid spat. "We're no threat. They're just a bunch of xenophobes and murderers."

"So, you don't kill humans?" Warren looked between the pair. "I thought vamps drank blood, and that werewolf in the park sure seemed ready to kill me."

"We feed off each other these days," Sid told him. "Remember what I told you about sex? We can't breed, but sex is a multi-purpose tool for us. We use it to exchange information, bond, and we feed off the energy of the orgasm. It staves off our other hungers."

"Pleasure, too," Avery said, giving Warren a blatant up and down perusal. "We have sex for pleasure."

Sid nodded and arched his eyebrow at Avery. "It's a part of the feeding and bonding process."

Warren sat silent, taking all this information in. Only 32 days had gone by since his werewolf attack in the park. Since that time he'd lost his girlfriend, Tamara, the day he'd planned to propose to her, witnessed a werewolf's murder in an alley, and been dragged underground to a city of monsters by a vampire. Oh, and he'd met a towering troll named Avery. At the tail end of all these thoughts, little Tulle popped into his mind.

"Look, I know we've got important things to do here," he said. "But is there any way we could get to my dog? She's probably scared shitless." Literally, he thought. He was sure he'd find a mess under his bed when he got home.

Sid looked to his troll ex-lover. "Avery can go grab her for you. You and I should really get to Council Headquarters."

Warren grabbed the vampire's wrist as he went to stand. "Wait a minute. He can't go out there anymore than I can. The killers will be looking for him, too, I'm sure."

"And the Council Hunters," Avery said as he rose up from his pile of pillows. "But I'm safer above than below, until the sun goes down at least."

Warren tilted his head at the troll. "Why's that?"

Avery gave a wide, toothy smile. "Contrary to myth, trolls don't turn to stone with the sun. We go invisible when daylight touches us."

Available On Kindle US
Available On Kindle UK
Available On Kobo
Available On Nook
Available on Smashwords


Friday, 17 August 2012

Writers Guest Room: It Begins With A Rogue's Bite (Haven for the Lustfully Damned 1) by Jessica Frost

Hey Readers & Authors!

Today a sweet and lovely lady drops by to share a steamy excerpt with us. We welcome Ms. Jessica Frost to the Writers Guest Room. Jessica is an author with Siren Publishing, and she's also a dear friend to the Wild & Lawless Writers. We're pleased to welcome her to our garden of earthly delights, where we sip tea and hear tales of a rogue's bite.


Authors, would you like to be a guest in the Writer's Guest Room? Send us an email at: anitalawless@gmail.com In return, we only ask you promo one of our titles on your blog. We look forward to hosting you soon! Writer's Guest Room will be an informal feature on the blog which will run at random times, but authors may request specific dates as well.

It Begins With A Rogue's Bite
Haven For The Lustfully Damned # 1
Jessica Frost

About: All Cheryl Brete wanted was to forget about her cheating ex-boyfriend and enjoy a night with friends. When her car breaks down on an isolated road and a beast chases her into the woods, her worst fears come to life.

Shane and Thomas Bicks had a vision of a gorgeous woman being attacked by a Rogue werewolf. They set out to find and save her by bringing her to the Haven after she’s bitten. Just when they’re about to leave, the doctor tells them they must stay and help her through the werewolf transition both physically and sexually. They agree whole-heartedly, but after they see how emotionally vulnerable she is because of an abusive ex-boyfriend, they question their decision and the deep-set feelings they’re beginning to have for her.

Soon emotions for these three become a whirlwind of lust and love. What they don’t know is the Rogue who bit Cheryl is coming back to finish the job he started, which was to kill her.

Professional Reviews 

"Shane and Thomas Bicks are twins, and werewolves with the power of visions. They both had a vision that was as strong as it was scary. They saw a woman being bitten by a rogue and she may be dying. Alarmed, they rush off to tell the council only to be told to find and save her. Cheryl Brete is heading to a party so she can get on with her life after finding her boyfriend cheating on her, but on the way her car breaks down and Cheryl literally ends up running for her life. Hurt and unable to run anymore, she expects to die as the beast bites into her. Cheryl loses consciousness just as it appears that two more beasts have arrived on the scene. Shane and Thomas find Cheryl but they are too late to save her from the bite that will make her one of them. Determined to save her life, they rush her to their hospital to learn that their adventure has only just begun. Female werewolves need extreme amounts of sex when they turn and Shane and Thomas are elected to help Cheryl though it. What began as a mercy mission from a vision develops into a passion unlike any they have experienced. The twins want to have Cheryl as their mate, but will she be able to accept her new life and mates so soon? Oh, and what about that rouge who was after her? A nightmare becomes a passion play to be enjoyed by this threesome. It Begins with a Rouge’s Bite gives Cheryl, Shane, and Thomas all a glimpse into what the future can be if they fight hard enough. Watching Shane and Thomas struggle to keep Cheryl alive showed me just how much they would fight to keep her. I knew that Cheryl would be all for them as a threesome after her last adventure in the hospital, but loved how their story ended. It Begins with a Rouge’s Bite takes suspense and spices it up with erotic sessions that will leave you looking for a fan." Jo, Joyfully Reviewed

 Excerpt: And when he took off his pants and briefs, mercy. He was the epitome of a sex machine and then some. His ten-inch cock had her gasping for air. Perfect, exactly what she needed to curb her crazed, out-of-control libido.

Thomas rushed over to her right when Shane had removed the clit caresser and was about to fuck her. He held an anal probe in his hands.

From the size of the red thing, it was almost as long as Shane’s erect cock. Oh, yes. Her mind cheered.

Was there a sexual devil in her head, spurring her lewd thoughts and desires on? Probably. A sexual werewolf devil, that is.

Once Shane had sheathed a condom on, he lifted her in his arms and slid under her, bringing his lips to hers. The pressure of having his warm lips on her swollen, scorching ones made her quiver.

“Oh, honey, you feel so good in my arms.” A moan escaped his slightly open lips when his hard chest made contact with her engorged breasts, which still had the clover clamps on her nipples.

She liked his nickname for her. How sweet. Bringing her hands up to his head, she combed her fingers through his thick black hair. She broke the kiss and whispered in his ear, “Make love to me, Shane.”

He nodded, looking deep into her eyes. He lifted her pelvis, bringing it over his thick head. She slid down on him and let out a sigh. Mmm, her insides widened to make room for him, and a shiver of ecstasy traveled through her womb and to her breasts.

He closed his eyes, groaning. He obviously felt as much pleasure as she did right at that moment. Opening his eyes again, he lifted her pelvis and brought her back down on his long, stiff cock. She threw her head back, taking a deep breath as she absorbed the friction of his ridged cock rubbing on the insides of her wall.

She didn’t wait for him to lift her pelvis again. She did it on her own, putting the weight of her lower body on her good foot to lift herself and she slid back down on him. She repeated this over and over again while he stared at her with his deep green eyes. She licked her lips and melted under his stare.

He brought his fingers to the clover clamps and gently pulled down on them, stretching her nipples. Shivers of arousal shot through her entire body, and she quickened her pace while he thrust deeper and faster in her with each second that passed.


She felt the climax coming. She quivered as it passed through her, and her clit throbbed in reflex. A sigh escaped her lips. The euphoric moment lasted only a few seconds and then disappeared much to her dislike, leaving her frozen in limbo. No, she needed it to continue. She needed to mount to the highest peak of arousal and stimulation. With that goal in mind, she quickened her movements as did he.

“Pull more, please,” she uttered, hoping it would stimulate another climax, but it didn’t.

Soon pain began to surge through her veins, and she cried to Thomas, “Please use the probe!”

Why the hell did she demand that? Thomas didn’t waste any time inserting it in her ass, though. He slid it in slowly at first. It didn’t hurt in the least or feel uncomfortable. If anything it felt good. Real good. Maybe it was another effect of her transition.

She pushed her ass back a bit, signaling him to go deeper. And deeper, he did. He slid it to the turned base. With the anal probe and Shane completely in her, she felt full.

Shane asked, “Do you want me to move?”

She nodded, unable to speak as she panted.

He slid out and back in. He did it about ten times until she was able to reciprocate his movements, following each of his thrusts with one of her own.

Soon their thrusts turned to rapid and wild motions. Shane moaned while he closed his eyes. She knew he was coming, and just as he pushed himself in deeply one final time, groaning, she felt his head hit her G-spot. That’s when she climaxed. It seemed like a tidal wave rushing over her. She shook and screamed at the top of her lungs while she pushed onto his cock one last time.

She fell onto him after the last of the chaotic wave disappeared, trying to catch her breath.

Shane bent and kissed the top of her head while he caressed her hair. His strong heart beating against her ear made her feel safe and secure.

Finally, with no earthshaking tremors sluicing through her, her body felt at peace. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as Shane slid his cock out of her and Thomas removed the anal probe.

The second she was empty inside, that cursed sexual hunger once again began to build in the pit of her stomach. What the hell! Would this ever end?

* * * *

That was the most mind-blowing sex Shane ever experienced. He had never mated with a werewolf-to-be in heat before, and the fact that he started to have deep-rooted feelings for her just added to their magnetic attraction for each other.

And now as she lay on him, her gorgeous, voluptuous breasts crushed on his chest, he felt content. Having her in his arms like this was right. She belonged here with him and Thomas.

He kissed the top of her head, showing his affection for her. When she looked up at him with anxious eyes a minute later, and her breathing became shallow again, he realized her sexual urge had returned.

He cupped her face, gently bringing her in for a kiss, then said, “It’s come back, hasn’t it?”

“Yes,” she replied between breaths.

“Maybe this time it should be the both of us.”

She nodded and slid off of him. Shane got up while Thomas quickly undressed. If Cheryl’s situation wasn’t dire, Shane would have laughed at his brother’s clumsy attempt at undressing quickly. He practically tripped over his feet twice.

Once he was buck naked and sheathed, Thomas asked, “How do you want to do this, Cheryl?”

“I want you to be inside me and Shane behind me.” She panted.

Thomas nodded and lay on the wide bed, sliding under her. He pulled her hair away from her face and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Don’t worry. The moon is nearly at its peak now, so the sexual urges should hopefully stop soon.”

She forced a smile.

Shane hoped Thomas’s theory was right, but the nurse had said the urges could last long, sometimes even more than a day. He couldn’t imagine the stress her body went through, and it hurt him. He wished he were experiencing it instead of her.

Unfortunately, that couldn’t be, so all he could do was please her as best he could.

Once Thomas had slid his cock deep into her, Shane rubbed her ass cheeks up and down and then pushed them open and closed. She quivered with his movements obviously enjoying them. He stuck his finger into her asshole and slipped it out. He played with her like this for a few minutes, first sinking one finger in, then two. When her anal muscles could spread to fit the size of his cock, he slid his cock in an inch at a time.

God, she was tight. He almost came with the heavenly sensation as he snaked it in. The ridges of his circumcised cock rubbed against the walls of her anal passage. He closed his eyes and moaned low in satisfaction. Cheryl had the perfect body and could please him a million times over. The fact she had a vulnerable heart and was in dire need of the love of a worthy man, or in their case, two worthy men, only added to her allure.

When she pushed her ass back, sliding his cock in more, he realized she needed him to move faster and deeper. Enough with savoring every delectable sensation his cock sent to his brain and rest of his body. She needed him to sate her uncontrollable yearning now. Taking the whip on the side table, he struck her ass cheek as he thrust hard into her while Thomas slid out.

She moaned loudly in apparent delight and murmured, “Again.”

Further details and where to buy:

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/it-begins-with-a-rogues-bite

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Begins-Lustfully-Publishing-Everlasting-ebook/dp/B004AE2ZAU/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344879330&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/it-begins-with-a-rogues-bite-haven-for-the-lustfully-damned-jessica-frost/1029119298?ean=9781606019931

Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/It-Begins-With-Rogues-Bite/book-_HWAMwnpN0aD0sGOd4RoSg/page1.html?s=hFaSDmWFCkqKSjv-8FvU8g&r=1

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Writers Guest Room: Lady Luck (The Dollhouse Society Origins) by Eden Myles

Hey Readers & Authors!

Wild & Lawless Writers are pleased to welcome our elegant and esteemed friend Ms. Eden Myles to the Writer's Guest Room. Eden is the brains and beauty behind Courtesan Press. She writes spicy, sweet erotica with romance and smut entwined. I highly recommend you check her out. Today, we're lounging in the salon with Eden, sipping coffee and listening to birds sing while she tells us about Lady Luck. A taste of her story is offered below.



Authors, would you like to be a guest in the Writer's Guest Room? Send us an email at: anitalawless@gmail.com We look forward to hosting you soon! Writer's Guest Room will be an informal feature on the blog which will run at random times, but authors may request specific dates as well.

Lady Luck
(The Dollhouse Society Origins)
Eden Myles

About: Discover the origins behind The Dollhouse Society, a collection of powerful men and the courtesans who service them…

Lucille “Lucky” Van der Meer is in dire straights. Her father has gambled away the family fortune and she must turn to his ex-partner, Tiberius Sloan, for a loan in order to start up her father’s failing textile business and save herself from an unscrupulous moneylender. But Mr. Sloan, also known as the Ogre, drives a hard bargain and he’ll take his payment in full…from Lucky herself!

Excerpt: Smithtown, New York, 1805

My horse Pepper and I lanced through the deep woods surrounding my father’s estate. Up ahead, I could hear the huntsmen cornering the fox near the ravine, their trumpets and the baying of the hounds echoing around the valley. I spurred my horse on and the branches of the old maple and pine began to lash at me as we tore through them. The woods let out to the edge of the ravine, a sheer drop to the sandy edges of the Nissequogue River.

As I came upon the other huntsmen, I saw my cousin Rupert at the head, with a musket rifle drawn. He was sighting down the fox that had eaten dozens of our farmers’ chickens in the village. It was an old, ragged fox, and my heart went out to the creature who was no longer capable of trapping its own prey and had to, instead, feed on hapless chickens. But I also knew that for every chicken that was lost, someone would go that much hungrier this winter. The winters in Smithtown were brutal, and despite being the daughter of one of the bigger landowners, I, too, was facing a meatless winter.

Rupert’s arms shook. “I can’t do it,” he said and gave a nervous, whinnying laugh.

Cousin Rupert had always been a bit of a milksop. Then again, Cousin Rupert was only here because of my father’s funeral. He was going back to the city in just a few days. Then the fox would be no concern of his. I clucked Pepper forward and took the rifle from him. “For heaven’s sake, Rupert!”

“Lucky, have a heart. It’s just an old fox.”

“And old fox that’s making this village go hungry!” I said, my anger brimming over, though what I felt was neither for the fox, nor for poor Cousin Rupert. Instead, it was for my father. He had passed on just the month before, leaving the Van der Meer estate in dire financial peril. I used to think that was a phrase to be used in books of romance—dire peril—but now I knew it intimately. My home, my whole world, was in dire peril because my father couldn’t stay away from the casinos on weekends.

I was now the Lady of the Van der Meer estate—but I was as penniless as the villagers under my charge. I wouldn’t let a fox take more meat from their mouths—or mine. With a longsuffering sigh, I sighted down the fox and shot it squarely in the head. Quick and merciful.

I knew my own demise was certainly not going to be that.

***

Mr. Smit, my father’s attorney, was waiting for me at my father’s house when I returned from the hunt. I’d hoped I might be able to avoid him, but as I let myself into my father’s once-lavish study (many of the antiques and fine Oriental carpets had been auctioned off in the past few weeks), striking the dirt from my skirts, I found him sitting at my father’s desk, going over his accounts once more. “Mr. Smit, now what are you after?” I cried.

Mr. Smit looked up out of his half moon glasses and said, “Lucky…what have you done to yourself?” He looked appalled by the state of my dress.

“I gave my lady’s maid the day off,” I joked, and he looked at me sadly, knowing I had no lady’s maid anymore. I had let her go two weeks ago, though my nanny, Nellie, had begged to stay on, even though I had no money to pay her for her services. She had been the only mother I had ever known, my own having died in infancy. She was the only remaining servant at our house now, and poor Nellie had resolved herself to attending to household duties that were utterly beneath her station.

“I thought you might like to have an account of your father’s books.”

“Which is to say, you want more money to pay off his debts.” I dropped onto the divan against one wall of the study and just looked at Mr. Smit. “How much this time, Mr. Smit?”

He hmmed and hawed a bit before blurting out, “It looks as though your father may have had financial relations with Mr. Van Tassel.”

“I don’t believe that,” I said. Mr. Van Tassel was Father’s direct competitor in the textile business. Father would never have taken money from him. More to the point, Mr. Van Tassel was a salary lender. A disreputable one, at that! “Mr. Van Tassel is a criminal and a gangster. My father would never have stooped that low…”

“Nevertheless…it would seem they had…a relationship.” Mr. Smit sat back in his seat and fiddled with his glasses. Like my poor joke about my missing lady’s maid, Mr. Smit always played with his glasses when he knew he was right but trying to be polite instead.

After I was done ranting, I circled the library where my father had done business for decades, wondering what my mother would say, were she alive. Or maybe she was giving him an earful in Heaven even as we spoke. Finally, I just sighed. “How bad is it, Mr. Smit? How much do you need?”

He glanced down at his ledger and said, “With interest, you owe Mr. Van Tassel approximately sixty thousand dollars.”

I felt the room take a half turn around me. I tottered and Mr. Smit almost sprang to his feet. I help up a hand to stop him. “Mr. Smit… the only thing I own which comes even close to that amount is the Van der Meer house.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“I can’t give you my house.”

“I’m aware of that, as well.” He shuffled some papers. “However, I may have a solution.”

“And that is?”

“Have you considered marriage, Miss Van der Meer?”

I guffawed. “Mr. Smit, you know that’s quite beyond me.”

“Miss, we’re in a new century, and there are more and more ladies marrying later in life. Why, I know a lady personally who waited until she was twenty-two before marrying…”

“It’s quite out of the question,” I told him, cutting him off as I stomped in my dirty clothes across the carpetless floor, much to the nose-wrinkling chagrin of Mr. Smit. Only Nellie knew my reasons for avoiding marriage, and I wasn’t about to go into explicit details with Mr. Smit, that was for sure!

“Well, then,” said Mr. Smit, “the only other option I can suggest is that you look toward your father’s partner overseas…Mr. Sloan, I think he’s called? The man from London?”

I shuddered and went to straighten up some books on a shelf. I had sold the crystal that had acted as bookends and now they were in disarray! The last thing I needed was to involve Mr. Tiberius Sloan in anything. He was twice my age, and growing up, he used to frighten me when he visited my father at the house. He was a huge, towering man with a deep, loud voice and a terrible scar he’d received in some rapier duel when he was younger. Ugly and frightening, everyone in the house called him the Ogre when he showed up. I used to have terrible nightmares about him abducting me, and I used to avoid him at all costs when he stayed at the house. Then again, I was living a nightmare now, wasn’t I?

I bit my lip. “Does Mr. Sloan have any controlling interest in my father’s business?”

Mr. Smit looked surprised by my language. He needn’t have been. When it was determined I would become a spinster, naturally my father wanted to know what it was I planned on doing with my life. I had always known in my heart that he’d wanted a son to help him with the family business, because, to put it bluntly, my father was good at making money, but excellent at spending it. Consequently, I had acted as his secretary and conscience for years. Obviously not enough, or I wouldn’t be in this situation now.

When Mr. Smit didn’t immediately answer, I started toward him, but unfortunately, my riding skirts caught on a nail in the shelf, and before I knew it, I’d not only ripped my skirts but shaken the shelf so the books in them started falling down. I held up a hand to forestall Mr. Smit’s aid. Things like this were always happening to me. When I was still a little girl, my father had fired a woman in his employment who was reputed to be a witch. As a result, both he and I had been cursed for life, he with the talent for losing money, I with incessant clumsiness. The only things I could do with any amount of talent were balance my father’s books, ride a horse, and shoot a gun. Unfortunately, none of those skills was likely to take me very far in this world. “I know what controlling interest is, Mr. Smit, so please save your explanations,” I said as I shoveled books back onto the shelf.

Again Mr. Smit consulted his notes. “It doesn’t seem so. I believe your father cut all ties with Mr. Sloan years ago. Still, he may take interest in your plight on a personal, more nostalgic, basis.”

“You’re suggesting I beg to Mr. Sloan based on his previous business relationship with my father.” I played with the locket my father had given me on my sixteenth birthday, a kind of consultation prize when he realized I would never have neither a debutante party, nor a husband. But as I did so, the chain broke and the locket slithered to the floor at my feet.

Mr. Smit nodded as he looked at the locket. “Yes, Miss, perhaps…a personal loan to tide you over?”

I bent to pick up the locket and examine it. Of course, the chain was irrevocably broken.

Mr. Smit cleared his throat. “It is that or you must allow me to prepare the house for auction. Is it your choice, of course. But keep in mind that Mr. Van Tassel won’t wait forever for his money.”

Available from:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Dollhouse-Society-Origins-ebook/dp/B008XDGHF8/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Dollhouse-Society-Origins-ebook/dp/B008XDGHF8/

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-luck-eden-myles/1112486768?ean=2940014875004

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214621

Or visit: http://courtesanpress.wordpress.com/