August 27th, 2009 | by Shelli Stevens |
So Sexy Beast VII is almost out in stores and is already shipping from Amazon and Barnes and Noble (who knows, it may be in some stores already!) I’m so thrilled to be a part of this book with Kate Douglas and Anitra Lynn McLeod!
Big and bold, primal and powerful, these men have a seductive sensuality that no woman can resist. Come enter their world of carnal desires and wanton sexuality…if you dare…
“Chanku Challenge” by Kate Douglas
When Beth and Nick first discovered the amazingly sensual power of their Chanku birthright, the desire to mate was fierce and uncontrollable. But Beth remains haunted by an event from her past, and she must confront it in order to accept her new life and find the happiness she so desperately seeks…
“Eye of the Beholder” by Anitra Lynn McLeod
Terrified at the rumors of her new husband’s hideous disfigurement, Larra of Rellmon fears the night and his approach. But as the hooded Dauer caresses her body Larra’s shivers of terror become quivers of ecstasy, and under cover of darkness she willingly submits to complete sexual surrender…
“His To Reclaim” by Shelli Stevens
Five years ago Gemma gave her heart and soul to a fellow werejaguar only to have him disappear. Now Hunter has come back and kidnapped her on her wedding day in order to make her his again, and he will tempt, tease and taunt her body to the heights of hedonistic pleasure to get exactly what he wants…
So in my story, His to Reclaim, you see that Gemma (the heroine) is confronted with a man from her past. The one that got away so to speak.
For some of us, maybe we have a feeling that there might be that guy that got away (or girl!) and I loved writing this story because it gave me a chance to play with the what if factor. Leave a comment and tell me if you’ve ever had any thoughts or regrets about a special someone from your past. I admit I have! And probably with more than one. 
I’ll draw a name from those who leave a comment and send out a signed copy (just by me because I don’t live near the other gals!) of Sexy Beast VII to one randomly drawn winner!
In the mean time, enjoy an excerpt from my story in Sexy Beast VII!
Excerpt from His to Reclaim
“Gemma!” The shrill scream pierced through the woods, filtering past the aged walls of the log cabin. “Oh my God! I can’t believe this. Gemma!”
The sound of feet pounding down the path mingled with the alarmed whimpers and short breaths of the approaching woman.
Gemma’s fingers clenched around the brush in her hand, her pulse quickening as she turned to face the door. Was it too much to hope that it was nothing more than the caterer having encountered a problem?
The door flung open, smashing into the wall. Her younger cousin Megan stepped into the room, eyes wild with panic.
“He’s really coming.”
They were just three words, but they were enough. The brush dropped from Gemma’s hand, and her body went numb with shock.
This was really happening…. No! The room spun and she gripped the vanity table to keep from falling to her knees. No. Was he insane?
“There’s no time.” Megan closed the door, hands shaking. “Shift and then run. Run fast. It’s the only way you can possibly escape him.”
“How far away is he?” Gemma’s voice came out remarkably calm as she fumbled to undo the buttons on her wedding dress.
The cold fear began to subside, and a hot burn of rage blazed through her. How dare he? After five years, how dare he?
Megan grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the door. “A mile. Maybe. And he’s not alone, Gemma. He’s brought friends. You must hurry! There’s no time to change out of your dress. Run, and I’ll find Jeffrey and tell him what’s happened.”
“My dress will be ruined during transition—”
Crash!
The door broke in half, and splinters of wood shot into the interior of the cabin like tiny missiles.
Heart in her throat, Gemma retreated, her body trembling as she stared at the man who now filled the doorway.
The man who’d just made good on the appallingly dark promise he’d made just days ago in an e-mail. She’d been half convinced it was a joke—someone toying with her heart—and had told Megan as much.
But it wasn’t a joke. The proof was standing in front of her eyes. Maybe a couple of years ago she would have wished for this, but not now. Dammit, not now!
Sweat clung to the hard muscles of Hunter’s nude body—it was clear he’d just shifted back to human form. A familiar heat crept through her body, and she hardened her jaw, refusing to acknowledge it. The same way she’d refused to acknowledge it for the last five years.
It was hard not to, though, with his dark hair and tan body. He was tall and broad, a mass of muscles and ridges.
Her gaze dropped, and her cheeks burned hot. She swallowed hard, unable to tear her gaze from his hard thighs and the thick cock that rested between them.
The blood raged through her veins, and she closed her eyes to count to ten. When she opened them again, her gaze was firmly back to his face, unwilling to let her eyes shift any lower than his shoulders this time, for that would be a guaranteed diversion from finding a way out of this situation.
Unfortunately, five years had done nothing but enhance Hunter’s raw sex appeal.
His eyes, burning like dark blue crystals, met hers. And like the devil come to collect his due, he advanced into the room, his face a mask of fierce determination.
Oh, God. She needed to act. Now. Swallowing against the thickness in her throat, Gemma glanced around the room, looking for anything that might be used as a weapon. She grabbed the chair from her vanity table and lifted it above her head with a grunt.
Hunter lunged forward and knocked it from her grasp, sending it crashing to the ground behind her. Before she could draw in a startled breath, he’d circled her wrists with one of his massive hands and pulled her body firmly against the rock hard wall of his chest.
“No!” She growled and lifted her knee to tag him in the groin, but he blocked the shot.
Instead, he pulled her tighter against him and forced his thigh between hers. His thick cock brushed her hip and she stilled, barely able to breathe as her heart slammed against her ribcage.
His soft laugh feathered warmth against her cheek. “You should have listened to your cousin, angel.” He leaned forward and said softly against her ear, “You should have run.”
Hi Shelli,
To regret is to live in the past. I have learned not to regret a special relationship whether it lasts or not. It is an experience, a sharing of yourself with that person. If it ends and then returns to us, it was never really over.
by Jeanette Hornby · August 27th, 2009 at 10:36 amVery good point, Jeanette!
by Shelli Stevens · August 27th, 2009 at 11:17 amHi Shelli,
great excerpt. Yeah I regret that I have never told my best friend that I fell in love with him.
by Danny · August 27th, 2009 at 11:19 amI have to agree with your first comment from Jeanette.
I used to regret letting a certain person go. It took me a long time to realize I was living in the past and missing so much of the present.
The relationship was something I experienced and learned things about myself. I think I turned out pretty good!
Congrats on your book!
by Casey · August 27th, 2009 at 11:25 amDanny, that’s so sweet. Perhaps it’s not too late?
by Shelli Stevens · August 27th, 2009 at 11:25 amI agree with Jeanette, that to regret is to live in the past.
Shared experiences are what helps mold the person you are right now.
Shelli, congrats on your release and nice excerpt.
by Armenia · August 27th, 2009 at 11:54 amSexy Beast VII sounds good. Hot cover. I regret dating a loser the whole time I was in college. I was so blind.
by CrystalGB · August 27th, 2009 at 11:56 amIts hard to regreta something that contributes to who you are as a person. It may have ended too soon or badly but I learned from it and thats all that really matters.
Sexy Beast VII sounds great.
by BreiaB · August 27th, 2009 at 12:19 pmLife is too short for regrets or lousy beer.
When I read our book I was struck by how each story had something to do with weddings:
Kate’s story was about an already bonded for life couple, mine was about a woman forced to marry a man, and yours starts on the woman’s wedding day!
I thought it was interesting we had a theme without actually coordinating with each other.
by Anitra Lynn McLeod · August 27th, 2009 at 12:43 pmI don’t have any of those regrets. I can only be grateful for the events that led me to my one and only love. I can’t bear to think what my life would be without him.
by Maija P. · August 27th, 2009 at 1:40 pmI have regrets…for a very short period of time before I met my husband, I started dating a guy that I had dated in high school. He did not have a lot going for him when we were 16, and even less when we were 20. But, what do you know when you are so young? My life is wonderful now, and it is not like I ever think about him.
Thanks for the chance to win this awesome looking book!
by Amy M · August 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pmAmy M
I’m loving the variety of responses! Many are look forward, not back. Very good points!
Anitra, now that IS a trip! We’re pretty cool that way
Great minds…
by Shelli Stevens · August 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pmI have to admit I have one regret, my first love. I chose college over him when he begged me to stay. Thing is I never finished college and I will always wonder what if… i still think about him
by Book Junkie · August 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pmCongrats on the release. I absolutly adore the cover of this book. He is HOT!!!. I have no regrets or what ifs of any first loves. I have my DH and he is who I am suppose to be with.
by sara hurt · August 27th, 2009 at 4:22 pmHi Shelli, I am so looking forward to your story in this anthology! And yes, I even found his profile on facebook, and wonder… once in a while. Sometimes it seems like 20 years was only yesterday.
by Allison · August 27th, 2009 at 4:43 pmGreat excerpt Shelli. Can’t wait for this book to come out.
I have a few regrets one being I lost contact with a good friend and I also regret some of the decisions I made about 15 years ago, not all of them were good. I have to say though that I would not go back and do it over. I tried to learn from the mistakes I made and I believe that the things I’ve experienced in the past (good or bad decisions) have made me the person I am today.
by Heather Brewer · August 27th, 2009 at 5:44 pmHi Shelli, loved the excerpt, I can never get enough shifter stories on my tbr list. As for what if’s? Not about the man in my life, how could I ever regret the two amazing kids we raised together. Do wish that I had stayed in contact with the girlfriends I had in college. We had so many great memories together, but time and distance worked against us, and we all lost touch.
by Cathy M · August 27th, 2009 at 6:51 pmCongrats on the release!
by Estella · August 27th, 2009 at 8:40 pmI regret marrying too young.
ahhh I love the what if’s….not really as a regret but sometimes is nice to explore the possibilites. I love the Sexy Beast anthologies, and this one looks to be another fantastic group of authors. Definitely a great excerpt. Congrats on another great release!!!
by Booklover1335 · August 27th, 2009 at 10:03 pmOh yes, there are deffinitely a few guys that I look back on and think ‘What if?’ But I don’t dwell on it much. I like to think everything happens for a reason
by Chelsea B. · August 27th, 2009 at 11:16 pmHi, Shelli! Congrats on this latest! It sounds like another fantastic read! As for regrets? Not really, but I am a little curious what they’re up to these days
Who did they end up with and all…
by Fedora · August 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pmCongratulations on Sexy Beast VII. I’ll be looking for it in my local stores this weekend!
by Elizabeth Amber · August 28th, 2009 at 12:48 amShelli,
unfortunately it is too late, because someone destroyed our friendship, but I can’t forget him.
by Danny · August 28th, 2009 at 11:10 amI’m sorry, Danny, I can understand though.
by Shelli Stevens · August 28th, 2009 at 11:19 amThanks to everyone who commented! The winner is Maija P.
Maija please email me at shelli @shellistevens.com with your address and I’ll send you a copy!
Shelli
by Shelli Stevens · August 28th, 2009 at 11:20 amShelli, it’s already in the stores. I’m hearing from readers who are finding it in various spots. Loved your story and Anitra’s, too. I think this is one of the best of the anthologies so far.
As far as regrets–absolutely none. I love where my life is now and figure I’m the sum total of my parts. All those loves and losses led me to the guy I’ve been with for over thirty-eight years now, so there’s not a thing I’d want to change. Not that I haven’t made mistakes–I certainly have. What would life be without them?
by Kate Douglas · August 28th, 2009 at 11:28 amYay, thank you so much! I just sent you an e-mail…
by Maija P. · August 28th, 2009 at 2:08 pmBig congrats Maija!
by Danny · August 30th, 2009 at 1:15 am