“Destiny’s Favor” by Dariel Raye
His world shifted the moment she was born. Now, nothing can stop him from
making her his.
Imagine meeting a man who looks like an angel, wings and all? What would you
do if this man told you he existed with only one purpose – to claim you and only
you?
Destiny Carter is a feisty, take charge, Rubinesque beauty with a tough façade,
who finds herself in that age old quandary, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” A
string of lackluster relationships leave her hopeless and ready to settle…Until she
meets Japheth, the man her fiancé claims is his best friend! Japheth’s arrival is
heralded by an attack on Destiny’s life, and instinctively, she knows this is just the
beginning.
Born more than 200 years ago, Japheth looks like an angel but he’s far from it. In
his world, the ratio of men to women is 500 to 1, and although he’s a superior
being, he’s willing to break the most sacred law of his brothers, even drink human
blood, to have one meant for him alone.
When he meets Destiny, he knows she’s the one he’s been searching for. To claim
her, he will have to betray a friend, risk his life, and hardest of all, humble himself
enough to win her love.
**Only $0.99 for a limited time**
Amazon
Excerpt
Caught in a Kiss
As soon as they left the room, Destiny removed her hand from his and reached
for her book. She gave him that suspicious look again, pursing her lips before
she spoke. Sitting in a chair directly across from the sofa, she narrowed her eyes
and openly asked, “What is it about you that sets me on edge?”
Japheth lifted one corner of his mouth. Charming. This little female continued to
challenge him. “You tell me. Can you sense that we are connected?”
He crossed his arms, taking special notice of the quickening of her heartbeat and
imagined her luscious chocolate nipples tightening to taut buds just waiting for
his tongue. He braced himself for the lie, her sweet scent of arousal even
stronger now.
“You and me? No. I’ve never met you before.” And there it was, right on cue.
She placed the book on the table beside her and stood, her expression daring him
to come closer. “I don’t think Robert would like…”
The air shifted with her movement, and Japheth closed his eyes briefly, basking
in her scent. Just one taste. He opened them, moving toward her. “Robert.
You’re not going to say anything to Robert. If I decided to take you for myself
right now with Robert in the next room, he would be the least of my problems.
Whether or not we’ve met before has nothing to do with our connection.”
Destiny glared at him and took a step back. “If you decided to take me?” She
pointed her index finger at him as she continued. “You listen to me, you
arrogant bastard, you don’t decide to do anything…”
J narrowed his eyes and took another step toward her, closing the distance she’d
tried to put between them until he was mere inches away. His conscience, long
quieted into silence, balked at the idea of entrancing her and taking her so far
from Robert she would forget he existed. There was something about her that
made her willingness to be with him more important than his desire for her. Her
wants and needs took precedence over his own. He shook his head, silencing his
conscience again.
Destiny stumbled forward, an apparent moment of dizziness, placing the index
finger of her right hand at her forehead and the palm of her left hand on his
shoulder to steady herself. She blinked several times, her dark lashes appearing
to move in slow motion, and looked into his eyes as if seeing him for the first
time.
J wasn’t sure what was happening. He hadn’t done anything to entrance her. He
had wanted to, but he was certain he had restrained himself, yet she tilted her
head up and kissed him. A mere brush of her velvety-soft lips sent a spark of
possession through his entire body. He gripped her upper arms, dragging her
body against him, and deepened the kiss.
Seekers. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were getting closer this time –
that his contact with Destiny would make him and her easier for them to locate.
His feelings were always right.
He loosened his grip, allowing her to step back. The fact that she had already
been attacked at least twice meant his enemies had found her. Although she had
not described her attackers, J knew that the same evil creatures he had decimated
at the bus station had attacked Destiny before his arrival. He had quickly wiped
Destiny’s memory of the attack as well as Robert’s, but to his surprise, guilt
twisted inside him. He did not like wiping her memory or altering her in any
way. Her connection to him placed her in danger, and he wanted her to fully
understand whatever decision she made.
She stared into his eyes. “Oh, I, um, that’s not what I, I mean, I didn’t…”
Destiny’s gaze shifted slightly, and she took in a sharp breath.
J frowned, clenching his jaw before turning to face Robert. Dammit. His heart
plummeted when he saw her reaction. He had sensed the moment Robert awoke,
but Destiny commanded every bit of his consciousness. She was all he could think
about, and he needed her away from Robert. He also didn’t want her hurt in any
way. He felt her pain and confusion, the new sensation throwing him off balance
for a moment. He had always known he had the ability to feel another’s emotions,
but until now, he had never allowed anyone to get close enough.
About the Author
Dariel Raye is an animal lover, musician, and author of powerful IR/MC
(Interracial/Multi-cultural) paranormal romance and dark urban fantasy with
alpha male heroes to die for, and strong heroines with hearts worth winning. She
is a mezzo-soprano who fell in love with books and started reciting stories at the
age of 3. She also plays over 11 musical instruments.
Her stories tell of shifters, vamps, angels, demons, and fey (the Vodouin
variety). Dariel is currently writing three series: “Dark Sentinels” (wolf shifters),
“Orlosian Warriors” (Vampire-like Nephilim), and “Gateway” (a crossover
erotic paranormal suspense with romantic elements).
For more about Dariel, follow her blog or visit her website. She also publishes a
new release newsletter. If you enjoyed this book, please post a review on review
sites and follow her on Amazon. You can also follow her and contact her on
Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
http://www.twitter.com/pendarielraye”>Twitter
http://www.facebook.com/authordarielraye”>Facebook<
http://www.pinterest.com/Pendarielraye”>Pinterest<
Dai’s Dark Valentine
New cover