Loving Characters by Susan Hanniford Crowley

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         "I'm David Hilliard."
         This time she gently touched his face. "I'm Laura Cordelais."
         He held her hand to his cheek and closed his eyes.
         Laura gasped as she realized her surroundings. "Do you live here?"
         "No." He chuckled. "I just needed to get you out of the sun. I have an apartment."
         "Well, that's a relief. I thought I'd have to live in a cemetery."
         They both laughed.
         Laura looked around at the grim tomb. A spider crawled up the stone wall nearest her, and she trembled. "I'm afraid of small, closed spaces. And bugs."
         He enclosed her in his arms. "Don't be afraid.  As soon as it's dark, we'll leave."  Her mouth was so close to his, she could almost taste him. Then he pressed his firm lips against hers. 

         Hmm. He tastes of honey. I love honey.

         Their fangs knocked together. Laura giggled nervously. 

         "Shall we try that again?" he suggested.

         She nodded.
         David gently took her chin and tilted her head slightly. Then his lips possessed hers again. Laura
tingled from head to toe and wondered if a vampire was capable of love. She hoped David was.

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         I  thought I'd start with a kiss.  David is a vampire and the only way to save Laura's life was to make her a vampire too.  This moment in their lives reveals the passion that exists between them.  Laura is unique as a human.  She's descended from a race of people called Telkhines who used to live on the island of Rhodes.  They were able to control the weather and create art and weapons from metal.  Zeus was angered by their skill and arrogance, so in disguise, he went to Rhodes with Apollo.  At the home of Dexithea, the two strangers were treated to the hospitality of the family.  When Zeus doomed the Telkhines to become dog-faced monsters of the sea, he spared Dexithea and her family.  He was particularly fond of Dexithea and gave her the gift of lightning.  Laura is a direct descendant of Dexithea.  Now a secret that is not in the book:  Cordelais is French and means to twist.   It's an appropriate name for a human who can unwind a storm.
         For information on The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais and the other books in the Vampires in Manhattan series, visit my website at http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

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When the morning light broke through the lace curtains, Travers lay in bed beside her watching her sleep.  Why was he so irrevocably attracted to her?  He'd been with beautiful women before, but Euthalia had captured his heart.  Everything about her excited him.  He loved her sweet, delicate features, especially those luscious kissable lips.  Just the thought of her returning to Mrs. Bright's or to any brothel made him crazy.  He didn't want anyone else to touch his Eulie.  He could kill anyone who tried. 

In one night, he had broken all his rules regarding women.  Never call them darling or dearest.  To call a girl 'love' was to be expected. 'My love' was going past an unspoken boundary.  He could not possess Euthalia.  For a man in his position to possess any woman was an impossibility.  Working in her majesty's secret service made love a luxury, a hopeless dream, and until that moment with Euthalia in his arms, he had never wanted that dream so much.  Travers gazed at her peaceful expression as she slept and envisioned children with her features, her bright eyes.  Never once since he became a spy for Her Majesty did he think he would see old age.  Now he wanted to grow old by her side.
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         Captain Travers was a blast to write.  He's so charming and courageous.  The most courageous thing a man can do is admit he loves a woman.  Euthalia was a shopkeeper's daughter.  When her father loses everything in a bad investment, she will do everything she can to raise the money to get him out of debtor's prison, even sell her services at Mrs. Bright's Tea Room, the notorious brothel that floats above London in a lavender dirigible.  Mix this couple with an alternate history Victorian age, and it's nothing but romantic fun.  Probably the most endearing trait of Travers is that he never treats anyone as if they're beneath him. A secret about Travers?  He loves strawberries and clotted cream.
         For all my books, please visit my website at http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com   I specialize in the supernatural and the unusual.  Rare and sexy, that's me.
         To celebrate a week of loving.  lol  Didn't you know someone has made a Valentine's Week!  Well, to celebrate, I will give one lucky commenter a signed copy of The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais.  All you have to do is go to the News page of my website and write in the comment box, "I love romance."   This contest is for the citizens of the US and Canada only, and is void where prohibited by law.  It ends on February 18, 2011 at midnight.  Good luck, everyone.  Love burns eternal and whispers in the dark.
--Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley