WICKED BEAST first chapter

I posted the first chapter of WICKED BEAST on my website. Just press were it says Excerpt and you can read it. It hasn't been edited yet, read at your own risk.

http://www.gailfaulkner.com

I'd love to hear what ya think of the dragon and his ladies.

Wicked Beast is done

This thrills me more than I can say. Getting the story out and finished is huge.

The dragon is a beast. He really is. Last night I was ready to leave his butt. humph. Well, he got past it but his arrogant growls are far to self satisfied at the moment. Tickin me off. I'm tired.

I guess my biggest concern is how lusty he is. His animal side considers sex part of every day life, if not more often. Did I mention I'm tired? He wore me out. He thinks the book could go on for at least another chapter or two. Ya know why? SEX I don't think so. He's laughin at me coz I refuse to write it. He has his Kelly Witch and now he's to freaking proud of himself.

Going off to rest.

If you think this post is a lil crazy, join the club.

When is my next book?

Yep, I've been asked that several times and I wish I had a good answer. I can tell you what I hope will happen, but I have no control of a lot of the process.

Currently I have a manuscript being considered by a print publisher. No idea when I'll hear back on it and if they will accept it for publication. If they do, the actual book could take over a year to get on book store shelves.

The excerpt below is from WICKED BEAST, which I hope will be released by EC this summer. Thing is, I haven't submitted it yet so no idea if they will accept it. I need about five thousand more words to to tie up the plot. Humph, maybe more. I think there will be one more love scene. Those dragons are insatiable.

I am working on BLIND FIRE, the next Ghost Unit book and I'd like it see EC release it this fall. Again, who knows.

I'd also like to get the second dragon book in this year but have to finish the Unit book before I can do that one.

Um, is that clear? LOL

from WICKED BEAST:

“Don’t do it,” he cautioned. “Don’t bring the hunter. Let me be gentle.”

His sentences were sharp, powerfully minimal. He was asking for surrender, cautioning her not to run. Kelly had to breathe through her mouth to get enough air as his threat burned down her body.

“You told me there would be no gentle,” she reminded him in cautious tones as she consciously relaxed, slowly lowering her body to the bed. She couldn’t remove the watchful looked from her eyes. Fear, excitement, whatever, he brought them all to the room. This was what she’d wanted but the tension was difficult to work through.

“Gentle as relative. I want you to be sure. For about two more seconds I can turn around and leave this room. After that asking is over. Say yes.”

“Yes to what,” Kelly wanted to know. She was lying naked on a bed and the man wanted her to say yes. What did he need, sign language? How much more yes could be required?

“Say it Kelly,” he rumbled.

His insistence on hearing the simple word raised big, loud, screaming warnings. His reluctance to explain what the yes was about dotted those warnings with flashing red lights. This naked woman was going to ignore all the flashing, screaming, blinking warnings because the dragon at the door had just removed clothing with a thought and she was all out of time to think.

“Yes.”

Wicked Beast

I am enjoying the dragon very much. The following is unedited. Sorry.

From Wicked Beast

Still scowling he studied her as her point sank into his brain. “Are you saying you think dragons are emotional?”

“Nope. Never said that. I suspect if someone called you emotional you’d be handing them their ass.”

“Well, if you put it that way, call me emotional all you want. Handing you your ass is the most amazing thing I’ve ever done.” A wolf’s smile spread across his face.

Pink flushed Kelly’s cheeks and her eyes dropped to examine his Adam’s apple. “It was amazing, wasn’t it?”

The smile left Cord’s face as he gazed down at her. “More than amazing, much more,” he agreed with her

“I liked it,” Kelly whispered.

“I know,” he growled softly.

Heed the warning

If a dragon bothers to give you a warning, pay attention. He only does it once.
Unedited, from WICKED BEAST. Read at your own risk.

“Stop,” he breathed.

“I didn’t do anything. You’re the one with dangerous eyes,” she whispered back.

“You liked it. Don’t invite the beast, baby. He doesn’t play nice,” Cord warned.

“Nice is over rated,” Kelly stated.

Cord remained carefully still as he regarded the enticing wind witch. “You’re pushing. Last night was only a taste. Understand what I’m saying?”

Kelly’s bottom lip disappeared under her teeth. Her big eyes remained gazing into the heat pouring form the male holding her. She nodded and little lines appeared under her eyes, her lip reappeared and she pressed into him with her body. A small movement only he could be aware of.

“Is that a promise?” she wanted to know. Her laughing eyes twinkled as she added. “You know how I like promises. They make me feel good.”

Cord’s entire body flashed to rock hard as she pressed into him and demanded he promise her the dominate lover she’d met last night.

“Count on it,” he answered, his arm tightening behind her for a moment. “Feeling very brave, aren’t you baby girl?”

“Should I be afraid?” she asked.

“Depends,” he conceded. “Nothing compares to that path, it changes you. Teaches you needs that can't be unlearned, obsessions that will not let you rest. But if you go there darlin, it’ll be with me. I’ll never let you crave what you can’t have,” he promised her.

Wicked Beast....what do ya think of that name?

WICKED BEAST: book one of the Dragon Craft series.

Possible hook:
Created to kill, he has no choices.
Programmed to need, she is his to defend.
He will write the future in blood to protect her from his past.
Call the dragon and reap the wind.


Second book will be SINFUL BEAST.
Third book is ALL BEAST

These are working titles. What do you think of them?

Ha! I talked this text!!

Caution, unedited- as always, read at your own risk.

BTW, I'm searching for a title for this one. In case you think of one.



He heard Kelly move out of Minuet’s room, tiptoeing down the hall. She paused at the top of the stairs, it was only for a second but he felt it. That moment of hesitation told him she was feeling that day’s effects too. It spoke of her fear, her courage and made him want to rip something to shreds. She was afraid, but she had no choice.

She would walk in here and seduce him if she had to. Kelly was that strong and just that vulnerable. He couldn’t afford to refuse her courage. She had no time for a courtship, no time to pretend that was something a creature like him could give her. The end of time was the legacy they’d been given.

She appeared in the doorway, outlined by the dark entry behind her. Coming out of the shadows to him, the wind witch smiled with her lips, but her eyes could not.

Cord stood slowly as she stopped three feet away from him. Her gaze didn’t waver as she raised her chin to look him in the eye.

“You’re afraid,” he observed softly.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,”

“Will you hurt me?” Kelly asked.

“Probably, but never by choice,” he answered as honestly as he could.

“Are you afraid?” she wanted to know.

“Not of this, a little of you,” he admitted.

“I scare you?” She did smile this time.

“More than you can know. But the problem isn’t yours.”

“No, it’s not my problem. It makes me feel better though.”

Cord took a small step and reached for her, he had to. Standing so close and discussing the distance fear was putting between them was a fine new form of torture. His palm ran down her arm from shoulder to elbow in a soft caress. He didn’t close his fingers around silky flesh, didn’t draw her to him. There was nothing he wanted more than to help her cross the cold space between them but he refused to take that choice from her too.

All she had to do was ask and he’d gladly cross it for her. He suspected she knew that. She was looking at him from the safety of her old life. Coming to him now would shed that illusion forever.

A little dragon fire...

Unedited. Read at your own risk.



“Kelly, enough crawling the big fungus. We don’t know where it’s been.” Molly interrupted. “I was willing to pretend I couldn’t hear every word of the argument from the kitchen door but I draw the line at copulation.”

Kelly reluctantly turned her head to face her friend. He had one arm snaking up her back, his hand cupping the back of her head. They both knew he’d allowed her to turn her head. She wasn’t pulling away from him as she did it. Cord didn’t feel that was reason to stop tasting so continued down her cheek and around her ear.

“Not to worry. Copulation will not… um, oh,” Kelly seemed to lose her train of thought as his tongue dragged slowly down the side of her neck. “Relax Molly, you’re turn is coming,” she managed to crook.

“Oh really?” Molly faced them from the stove, one hand on hip the other brandishing a wooden spoon. “Fungus thinks he’s getting some witch sandwich action? Kelly, you might think he’s all portabella in garlic butter but he just became poop fur to me.”

The rumble of laughter in his chest was a welcome interruption. Cord’s head lifted from Kelly’s body as he chuckled and slowly let Kelly go. “That’s a good one, Mol. Sure you don’t want to save poop fur for Range? It’s particularly disgusting.”

Kelly had a hold of Cord’s hand and was edging him to the table. “This one is mine, Molly,” she stated firmly but laughter laced each word. “You’ll have to settle for your own dragon. I don’t share.”

Molly was still frowning at them. The house coat was now swallowed under a long apron that was obviously Kelly’s. Molly would be giving in to wishful thinking to call herself five foot three inches. Kelly was easily six foot.

“He’s grown! Molly exclaimed as they stepped into the kitchen. “Kelly, look at him. He’s gotten all big.” The spoon wavered at she pointed it a Cord.

“Is something burning? Cord asked leaving Kelly’s side to stride towards Molly and the stove.

“Oh my God. The muffins. Pot holders. I need potholders,” Molly exclaimed as she turned to pull out draws and snapped the shut in frustration.

Cord opened the oven and pulled out a tray of golden muffins, placing them carefully on cooling rack by the stove. Both Kelly and Molly froze.

“Your hand?” Kelly breathed in concern.

“Dragons have a thing for fire,” Cord commented. “It doesn’t exactly burn us.” He held up his hand so both women could see his unscathed palm.

“Oh,” Molly gulped and backed up a step.

“But we don’t know shit about cooking. Should I stir this gravy while you get over it?” Cord asked Molly conversationally. “Smells too good to let it burn over a little shock.”

Molly nodded and Cord plucked the wooden spoon out of her hand.

“Thanks,” she responded automatically. “I cook when I’m nervous, or…” her words dropped off as she stared at Cord stirring her gravy and backed closer to Kelly.

“I think we’re in trouble,” Molly said after a brief silence.

“Yeah,” Kelly agreed with her.

“This is really happening,” Molly continued.

Cord took the pan of gravy off the stove, placing it beside the muffins. “Mind if I eat while we discus what’s happening?”

Dragons beyond this point...

Unedited excerpt. Sorry, read at your own risk.

“You should have slapped my face and told me to keep my animal paws off you.”

Her brows went up. “How could I do that? Reading you in the kitchen was informative. You think my daughter is a miracle. You would give your life to protect her. But that’s not the reason I wanted that kiss, Cord. When you think of me you are loyalty, protection, defense and you think I’m hot. I’m willing to be an idiot long enough for the big, handsome man to lick every inch of my body, several times. I’m finding it difficult to be opposed to that plan.”

Cord crossed the space between them and cupped her face with both hands. “No, baby, you don’t read me like you think. You read what you want to see. Those intentions are true, but not the only truth, Kelly girl.” His nose was almost touching hers as he held her gently. “Look again. Tell me what you see.”

Her eyes on his, her spirit spread through his consciousness. She became an inquisitive spring breeze that touched him from the inside out. His response was powerful, surging to meet her, surrounding her, blending with her. He didn’t shield its depth from the beautiful wind witch who stroked him with her attention.

“Possession,” she gasped.

“Yes,” he gritted. Complete, irrevocable possession. I mentioned I was the product of brilliant minds. Notice I didn’t say the child of, I used the words product of. In the making of me, DNA was gathered from many sources. All predators, some you know, some no longer exist, but the significance of those species was not just skill as deadly aggressors. I didn’t realize the importance of their mating habits before. Every one of those predators mates for life."

He was leaning over her again. He took his hands off her, flattening them on the wall. If she’d looked down she’d see deep palm prints in the drywall where his hands had been while kissing her. He wasn’t harmless and gentle. He wasn’t some casual thrill because it had been so long. She needed to understand that he was her last thrill.

Her brows drew together as she regarded him. “It’s not like…”

“It’s not your fault. I’m not a man. Understand?” Even though she was a wind witch she was still thinking in terms of him being a man or something with human reactions.

“I’m not anything you could have dreamed up. I’m not even an animal. I’m the product of desperate times. A creature made to endure the end of the world when dragons ruled. I exist to support the fragile hope that humans could survive if they were given another chance.” Cord stopped. This wasn’t making sense to her. He could see it on her face. Of course it wasn’t.




Well, telling you more would give a way to much.

working title HUSH BABY SLEEP

Read at you own risk, unedited. I enjoyed this and wanted to share.

“Do you know what I see when I look at you?” she started.

Cord resisted the urge to run a hand through his hair. “No.”

“Give me your hands,” she requested softly.

He held them up and Kelly grasped them letting him take her weight as she slid both knees onto the couch, straddling his hips. She sat back on his thighs and laced their fingers together. Holding his hands her eyes studied his face.

Cord didn’t move. She was touching him. His body tightened as he savored the feel of her weight on him.

“I see midnight in your hair. So dark the black becomes purple when I glance away and I have to look again. My fingers want to touch it to feel the night. Your eyes are the steel gray of winter morning. Lush lashes can’t soften the coldness there, but when you look at me they become the color of steam rising from the fire within.”

Her voice moved through him, a melody of sounds that almost drowned her words. It was intimate, softly open.

Letting go of his hand, the back of her knuckle feathered down his cheek. “High cheek bones, a straight, arrogant nose and those amazing lips. The close cut beard brings night’s shadows to your face without disguising its strength. A male face that is so perfect it’s a mask, except when you look at me.” Her eyes lingered on his lips a moment then met his gaze as she continued.

“I refuse to believe the honor that holds you still under my hands is some programmed thing. I feel your body shudder and I’m not so ignorant as to think it’s some sweet emotion moving you. The choice to give me this freedom is one you are making every second, isn’t it? Comparing your self with a drug addict is unacceptable. Please, do not do that.”

“What would you like me to do then?” Cord asked tightly.

Kelly let go of his other hand. As her hands settled on his shoulders in light exploration, she smiled into his eyes. “Like yourself a little,” she murmured.

Cord leaned his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. His hands started at her knees and slowly glided up silky flesh, curving around the back of her thighs to pull her up and into his body. She rose and flowed over him just like he’d asked her to with the gentle pull. Keeping his eyes closed to give her a little more gentleness, he grimaced sadly.

“Kelly, we both know what you’re doing. If even half of what I’ve said is true, you need me to protect Minuet. Knowing your response is what feeds me, strengthens the beast, you are willing to try. If you want to ascribe some sort of honor to me because it helps you deal with this, I’m all for it.”

Her hands framed his face as she demanded. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”

His lids lifted in lazy senuality. Her face hovered over his and there had never been a sexier sight than Kelly panting slightly and little bit mad.

His caress was bolder as knowing fingers played over soft inner thighs and then trailed down her legs to casually caress the backs of her knees and upper calves. He could feel her pulse quicken, the sweet fire of desire was well kindled low in her belly. But he would keep building it. Carefully, slowly, knowingly drawing her deeper and deeper into the sexual abandon.

His body drank her pleasure and he’d take that substance from her until she was helpless in a sexual frenzy. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to get more of her and when he was done, there would be nothing she wouldn’t do for him.

He knew exactly how to get what he needed from a woman. But she had no idea what he’d take from her. She was already feeding the beast, giving him her soul. What she asked of him was impossible. She’d understand that eventually. He was a user and she was the drug.

Alphas are sooo sweet, and then they are not.

Okay, post is back, but still unedited. Read at your own risk.
Working title: HUSH BABY SLEEP

Kelly smiled, it was a bit sad but there was humor as well. “Dragons don’t know everything?” she teased gently.

Cord moved closer. He had to. Her teasing, the humor drew him. “Explain it to me. Use small words.”

Her hands rested lightly on his chest, not pushing him away. “Artificial insemination. We were ready to start the next week. But then I couldn’t for a long time. Do I need to explain?”

“No,” his hands were on the wall on either side of her head. He was leaning down, his mouth a few inches from hers. “You waited ‘til you were done mourning? Are you still in love with him?”

“I will always love him,” she confessed softly. “He’s part of my daughter.”

Cord let the hushed purr of her words sink in. He waited for it, any minute that confession should back him up off her. It didn’t. He didn’t care. Not even a little bit. That was then. He was now. Well, he did care. He was glad he didn’t have to take her from a man. It would have been difficult for them both.

Shadows and reality were swirling, merging. Suspicion raked his predatory senses, this story had the smell of an old evil in this age. The rose petals overwhelmed even that stench. Everything was wrong with the way he was reacting. She was taking up to much of the present. He couldn’t back down. Getting what he needed was more than a compulsion.

Cord nudged forward just enough to brush his hard length into the cradle of her hips.

The hall was lit with a single nightlight. There were no windows and even if there were, it was just before dawn. The top of the stair well enclosed them in intimate darkness. He could feel Minuet sleeping undisturbed at the other end of the hall. Molly was doing something down in the kitchen that involved a lot of muttering.

Cord’s hands left the wall to press her palms into his flesh. He dragged her hands up his chest. Wrapping them around his neck as his body slowly crowded her, trapping her against the wall. His hands trailed down the undersides of her arms, coming to rest on the sides of her breasts, thumbs caressing in lazy sweeps.

Kelly didn’t stop him. Her large violet eyes were watching him but there was no fear, no rejection as he wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed his body to her from knees to chest. Nor was there any doubt of his response. His hips rocked into her abdomen and he watched her eyes. It was her mouth he should have been watching. Lush lips opened in a tiny gasp as she felt his full length.

That was his, the air she breathed and he had to have it. His mouth took hers and he couldn’t be slow any more. He’d given her every opportunity to object, to stop him. She’d accepted.

His lips on hers weren’t near enough. Firmly pushing into her mouth he was rewarded with her muscles relaxing as she opened for him. Her taste, her delicious, addictive taste exploded through his senses as he delved into her. She tentatively sucked his tongue and all hell broke loose. She triggered a chain of responses he’d never experienced before. Lust back drafted through him with white hot demand.

He ripped his hands off her, flattening them on the wall beside her body. The rush of sexual aggression left little besides the drive to complete his possession of her. He was dimly aware his reaction could manifest in talons to insure she did not evade him. A low growl rumbled around them as his weight shifted into her, pinning her beneath him. Muscles tensed in his neck as his mouth pressed down, trying to get more, taste more and there was nothing, nothing he wouldn’t do to have this woman.

It was her soft, wheezing moan as she struggled for air that shot through his response. With a stifled roar he wrenched himself off her, flinging his body to the opposite wall as he stared at her blankly.

Kelly was panting softly, her eyes wide as she watched him. Cord had no idea what his expression was but it couldn’t be good. There was a flicker of fear in her face, but then it was gone. Damn it, she should be afraid. He was freaking terrified of what had almost happened. Almost? No, it had happened and there was no going back. Why? Why hadn’t Marelda told him?

“I’m sorry,” he ground out softly.

“For kissing me?” Kelly whispered back.

“No, baby. For much more than that,” he ran a hand down his face and tried to make sense of the changes he’d just forced on both of them. The secret kept from him within his own body. Marelda and her cohorts were indeed brilliant. He’d known they were masters of nuance, their end plan lush with detail. This detail changed everything and he hadn’t known about it. Ignorance was his only excuse and that was a damn useless set of words. He had to explain it to her.

“You didn’t offend me,” she continued softly.

Cord managed a half smile. “I will, give me a minute.”