BOOK EXCERPT: First Caress by Bonnie Rose Leigh and Tianna Xander

As two shifters embark on a mission to save their people, they meet the one woman they would willingly forgo their mission for to protect--their mate.

First Caress
Kinross Triad Series, Book 1
By Tianna Xander & Bonnie Rose Leigh
Copyright 2009, eXtasy Books
Genre: Shapeshifter/Menage/Series
Available February 1, 2009

Blurb:
Rory Gordon, Alpha of Clan Gordon and his beta Gavin McGregor are on a mission: Bring back a root from the the Tree of Life entrusted to a lost clan of their people. The first of six teams, they'll search America for their missing clansman in order to ensure their species survival. Little did they know that their search would lead them to the one woman who they could successfully mate with.

Jenny Owens cannot abide treasure hunters tearing up the forest. So when she spots a pair of men with a map heading into an unmarked cave, she follows. Little did she know that her actions would set up a chain of events too fantastic to believe. From discovering men could shift into tigers to learning that a tree of life was necessary for them to breed, that's just the beginning of the surprises in store for Jenny.

When danger threatens their new mate, Rory and Gavin will do whatever it takes to protect her, even at the cost of their mission, but they haven't taken in account that Jenny isn't about to let her men fail their people and she'll do whatever it takes to make sure they complete their mission successfully.

Excerpt:

Rory didn't waste any time. He changed back into his human form, the magick of the change wrapping around him as his bones popped and cracked and his muscles contorted as they changed back into those of a man. First, his body was bare, then his clothing reappeared just before he stepped within the glow of the newly fed fire. He strode to Jenny, bent and picked her up, then carried her over to the flat rock Gavin and he had used as a table the day before.
Jenny squealed and kicked. "Put me down."

"Oh, nye, ye little minx. I have a lesson tae to teach ye and teach ye I will." He held tightly as she squirmed in his arms and tried to wiggle free.
"Lemme go!"
Sitting down, he laid her over his lap, ass up, and swatted her rear three times in quick succession.

"Arrgh!" Jenny reared up and whacked the back of her head on his chin.
"Stop, it ye wench! Are ye trying tae kill me?" Grabbing her hands whose fingers resembled claws, he held them away from his face as she fought to gouge his eyes out. Or so he thought.
"Leave me alone!" She squealed when he tried to subdue her and twisted out of his arms. Standing, she glared at him, her chest heaving with the effort to draw breath after their tussle. "Don't you dare touch me again, you son of a bitch."

Rory grinned. "I think ye have my parentage a bit mixed up, lass. My mother was a she cat, not a bitch. Though I'm sure a hound dog or two has been scratched by her claws."
"Oh!" Jenny stomped her foot. The expression on her face left little doubt as to the extent of her ire. "You're a jerk."
Rory glanced at Gavin. Seems I managed to get her mind off her fear, old friend.
Gavin just grinned. Better that ye incur her ire than me, Laird.

His friend was right. She needed to learn early which one of them was in charge and that he wouldn't take any of her nonsense. Gods he hated having to spank her even though a part of him was turned on by it. If her hard nipples were any indication, she didn't find it all bad either.
He reached out and grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down next to him. "You had to learn there will be consequences for putting yourself in danger, Jenny. I can't allow you to keep running off in the darkness where you could get injured."

"No one tells me what to do." She pulled and twisted her wrist, trying to work herself free of his grip. "I haven't answered to anyone since I was seventeen and my parents sent me to college. I'm not about to start now. Especially not with you."

Rory could almost hear the word freak as she stared him down. Even so, he held her gaze. It was something he had lots of practice at. He also had a shitload of patience. Sometimes his beast would stalk prey for hours before making a strike. If she thought he would tire of this new game she played, she would be sadly mistaken.

Phoenix Forrester
Phoenix Rising Promotions
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