Travis' First Drink

Today we're celebrating Vampires for Valentine's Giveaway Blog Hop with an excerpt from HALF book 1 of the Torn Soul Trillogy and giving away an e copy of the book to one lucky commenter! 

Setting the scene: Travis Criton, works for Black Knight Securities and has been a little in love with his boss Valeska Gorsteff for years. Over the last week his life has turned upside down. The love of his life is a damphire and falling hard for their client Alex Blazen. To complicate things Travis is now one of the undead. The following excerpt takes place when Travis first wakes in his new form and shares an intimate drink with Valeska. Enjoy! Don't forget to leave a comment with your email for a chance to win HALF.

Excerpt: 

Travis opened his eyes and took a breath.  He lay there still for so long Valeska approached him. “Trav?”

He sat up on his elbows and looked around his eyes glowed in the dark. “V? What is happening?”

“Do you remember what happened?” He nodded slightly so she continued. “You’re still changing. It will be over in a day or two. How do you feel?”

He laughed a nervous laugh, it was still Travis. “I’m dead; I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.”

She sighed with relief. “Look around, sniff the air, feel the blankets, listen. You need to acclimate to your more acute senses.”

Travis sat up on the cot and swung his feet to the floor. The sound was like a loud stomp. He could see perfectly even though there was no light in here except a little window high in the wall.  It was as if he could feel his muscles and veins in his arms.

That brought about a new sensation. An aching need, he looked up questioningly to Valeska. He could hear the beat of her heart; he could see the pulse in her neck.  She reached up and her nail grew sharp as she made a small cut on that pulse. The scent of fresh blood filled his nostrils. He felt the pull of it as his teeth elongated.

“V?”

“Come to me Travis, you need to feed.”

He shook his head. “No I can’t … not to you.”

She smiled and went halfway to him. “Yes you can. Feeding doesn’t have to kill. I feed from Alex.”

He moved a step closer her jumping pulse calling to him. “But I don’t want to hurt you.” 

“We’ll work on it. Right now you need to feed before the bloodlust takes over.”

“Bloodlust, that’s a good name. What do I do?”

She smiled and put his arms around her. “Use your instincts.”

He tried to look at her face but was drawn to the trickle of blood on her neck. He leaned her head over a little and licked at the wound. It wasn’t enough.

Travis moved one arm up her back to support her as he kept the other at her waist. He had dreamed of touching her this way. He kissed her neck and felt the tap, tap, tap, of her pulse.

He wanted to be gentle but the need was building. He placed his teeth over the small wound and started to bite slowly. Valeska flinched in his arms. He pulled back and looked at her face worried.

“I’m okay, bite quickly. Like pulling off a band-aid.”

He nodded then as if being pulled turned back to her sweet throat. “I can feel your heart beating faster.”

“It’s because you will it to. We have that kind of power Trav. When you drink, you’ll understand.”

He pulled her close and sank in his teeth in one stroke. She didn’t make a sound or flinch though he knew it had hurt her. He felt the urge to suck like drinking through a straw. As the first trickle of blood came into his mouth, he felt a strange tingling of power.

Her power was coming to him. His feelings for her came to the forefront as he held her so intimately. He felt his heart begin to beat in time with hers. He felt the blood in his veins hydrate and flow. It flowed low in his body. He held her as he would a tender lover.

He knew she had given him enough blood he stopped feeding but didn’t let go, not yet. She stood in his arms her head resting on his shoulder as he touched her. He knew she was aware of him, his desire.

HALF Blurb
Guarding CEO Alex Blazen during a charity gala was an easy job for Valeska Gorstef...until all hell breaks loose...literally. Forced to face her own darkness, Valeska may lose her only chance to live a human life. Two sides of her soul will be at war. Which HALF will win? 

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