December 16, 2014

Spotlight on "No Angel", by Pippa Jay

How far would you fall for love?

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=13&products_id=701

Centuries ago, guardian angel Lucien committed a terrible sin. He gave into his own desires and revealed himself to the mortal woman he'd been charged to protect. By kissing her, he condemned himself. Torn of his wings and his angelic powers, thrown down into the City Below, Lucien now serves Satan as an incubus who claims souls for his master from the City Above, and who feeds on the energy stolen from his mortal lovers. Dark, sexy and charming, he's been top of his league for decades uncounted.

Until His Infernal Highness decides to send Lucien looking for a lost angel. Lucien has no idea what he did to deserve such a punishment, and the touch of an angel could destroy him. Yet the challenge and the potential kudos of seducing one of his former heavenly kin leads him on.

But when he finds the angel, he learns he still has more to lose than his already forsaken soul.

Excerpt:
"Lucien!"
Her voice stopped him dead. His back burned.
"Lucien." She spoke more softly as if she'd come closer. Or perhaps it was because the world around him had slowed and blurred away. All he could focus on was her gentle voice and the sense of her, of golden light and floral scent. For a moment, he immersed himself in only that. Then, he blanked it out, closed her out, and turned around.
She moved toward him, one hand outstretched as if to placate an injured wild creature. Lucien froze, every muscle in his body knotted so tight he thought he might shatter. As she closed the distance, the heat of her hand scorched his cheek and he flinched away.
"No."
She stopped, hazel eyes wide in distress. "I'm sorry."
Sorry? Anger flooded his veins with sudden heat. No, but she would be. He flashed a smile and forced his body to relax. She shivered as he turned on his full charm and captured her gaze. Her pupils dilated as he leaned into her.
"Miranda," he murmured. "You must hold back your powers, or you'll destroy me. You don't want to do that, do you?"
She shook her head. "No. No, that's not what I want. I came to find you. To save you..."

Save me? Lucien shook the thought off. No, he was beyond redemption. But if that was truly what she sought, then it gave him even greater power over her.
"Then give me your hand and come with me." He reached for her, quelling the shake in his fingers. Either she'd obey and he'd be safe, or her touch would turn him to smoke and ashes in an instant, at which point he'd no longer care. In a way, he almost hoped for the latter.
Her white fingers slipped into his palm, and for an instant the cool softness of her skin threw his thoughts into turmoil. So smooth and delicate. So fragile. He stared at her hand within his, and slowly closed his fingers, fearful of crushing hers. His resolve faltered. With that gesture she'd put her trust and her very existence in his hands. Just so he could betray her.
He looked into her face, into the wide-eyed innocence. And something more. Compassion? Faith? Again, the stone shell around his heart cracked, and he grunted in pain, clutching at his chest with his free hand.
"Lucien?" She put her other hand to his chest too, and healing warmth spread from her touch, but as it reached his dead heart, the pain only intensified.
"No." He captured her other hand and squeezed them both in reassurance, to her or to himself he couldn't be sure. "It's fine."
Liar. Even with her powers held at bay and under his thrall, she could still harm him. Had still hurt him when her touch set his heart to beat. What did it mean? At this point he was in more danger from her than she was from him.
She smiled, and he almost fell to his knees to beg for her forgiveness. So beautiful. So pure. The light of her soul dazzled him, and he wanted to throw himself into her arms, lose himself in a kiss, and say to Hell with Satan and everything else in the universe. He shook himself. Who was bewitching who here? Could an angel beguile a demon so easily? He was meant to be the one charming her.
He reached one hand to stroke her cheek, and she leaned into his palm as if she'd been waiting for that one thing for all eternity. Smooth, cool skin. Lucien groaned. Dare he? Would he throw his existence away for a second kiss, just as he had damned himself for the first?
"Miranda." He bent his head, hesitating just half an inch from her mouth. As if she knew his uncertainty, she closed the gap between them, her lips brushing his.
Blood rushed through his head, singing in his veins. Euphoria like nothing he'd ever known. Bliss he could never have imagined. Her kiss woke a fire so fierce inside him he thought it might melt the stone of his heart and scatter his ashes to the winds. His arms slipped around her waist, pulling her closer, the press of her body against his like a draft of sweet, chilled wine, full of golden promise.
His knees buckled. Damn it, no demon should fall to an angel like this.


Bio:
After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).

You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.

Blogs –
Adventures in Scifi - http://www.pippajay.blogspot.co.uk
Spacefreighters Lounge - http://www.spacefreighters.blogspot.com

Buy Links:

Breathless Press - http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=13&products_id=701

 

 

2 comments:

  1. Ooooooooooh I cannot wait to get my hands on this one.

    ReplyDelete

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