A Note of Thanks!
Back in the Spring when I first approached Joey with the idea for this piece and said something like "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if...." I never in a million years thought this interview would turn out to be this spectacular! It is always an absolute honor and extreme pleasure to work on a project with the amazingly talented and delightful Joey W. Hill. As many times as I have asked her to help me with something she has never, ever said no despite the demands of her schedule. She is truly one of the rare gems in this industry who always tries to put her fans first and makes every effort to be as accessible to them as possible. Thank you Joey for your dedication to your fans and for the support you have always given to myself and Riverina Romantics!
A special thank you goes out to Mistress Kat of Joey's Fan Forum for spicing things up with this special banner that accompanies this piece which is just downright fantabulous! Thanks girl you rock!
Please join myself and the K&A men and women each day starting today through Saturday, October 12th, for the "Howl"oween Limo Ride of your life! And while you are here you can enter daily for the special giveaway which is a chance at a Virtual Signing copy of Joey W. Hill's upcoming release Unrestrained!
I hope you enjoy this ride as much as I have! Delilah xoxo
“Absolutely not. The way NOLA traffic is at night, it’s not sensible for you to be driving. We’ll swing by and pick you up. That will give you time to focus on those last minute costume details you ladies always have.”
Savannah glanced over her shoulder as Matt paused. A smile crossed his handsome features, caused by whatever response was coming from the other end of the hands-free he had in his ear. His gaze lifted to her, and the smile became deeper, his dark eyes caressing her in that way that never failed to make her knees weaken. As she straightened from the crib where she’d been tucking in their daughter, his attention shifted there. The tenderness that entered his expression made her heart lift. It was ridiculous, how much she loved him. Loved them both.
Then his gaze came back to her, and the knee weakening thing returned. Even as he was listening to Delilah on the phone, he was studying her costume with an increasing heat in those eyes that never missed a detail…or the nuances beneath them. It seemed simple, a flowing white dress, the off-the-shoulder ruffled neckline punctuated by a scarlet red ribbon, but because of the way he took his time following it, she could feel every inch of the soft fabric against her skin. Her hair was loose, but she’d pulled it over one shoulder when leaning over Angelica. Now his gaze moved to her bared throat, such that she could actually feel the nerve endings from beneath her ear to her collarbone tingle. It was as if she wanted to feel the pressure of his teeth there. The irony wasn’t lost on her, even as the strength of her own desire for him to actually do it bemused her.
She was supposed to look like an innocent Victorian heroine, about to go to bed. If she hadn’t been wearing a slip and strapless bra beneath the translucent fabric, the nursery lamp would have been giving him a clear outline of her body, her nipples pressed against the thin cotton. He’d already told her in great detail his plans to see the nightrail without those impediments later. However, given he was about to take her into the cream of NOLA society for the Halloween charity ball, he fully approved of the modesty. Her possessive husband.
“Yes, I realize you’re an adult woman, fully capable of taking care of yourself. We’ll still be there in an hour. We’ll look forward to it.” His lips twitched. “No, I will not say ‘I vwant to drink your blood’”. He made the statement in an exaggerated Transylvania accent, earning his wife’s amusement.
As he cut the connection, Savannah arched a brow. “Given that she doesn’t know what you’re wearing, that was pretty ironic.”
“Well, it’s New Orleans. Everyone thinks about vampires here. I told her we’re giving her a ride.”
“I heard. You know there’s a very fine line between chivalry and sexism. Or a knight in shining armor and a caveman with club.”
He shrugged. “Potato, potahto.”
“You’re getting more tyrannical as you get older. And you were already pretty overbearing.”
“You weren’t complaining last night.”
“I was gagged.”
“And screaming through a couple of orgasms.” He drew closer, evading her elbow to his hard stomach. He closed his strong fingers over the potential weapon, but only to employ one from his own arsenal. His mouth, against her throat. She could swear the man could read her mind sometimes. Or maybe they were just fueling each other’s desires, given the complimentary costumes they were wearing.
As a matter of personal pride, she managed an indifferent look as he lifted his head, though her blood was rushing beneath the skin where his mouth had teased her. She gave him a critical once-over, sliding a finger beneath the cravat he wore with the starched white shirt. “You know, I thought this might end up looking kind of cheesy, but you pull off Christopher Lee’s Dracula exceedingly well. With a Texas GQ flare.”
He wore a floor length velvet-lined cape and well-cut black trousers, his dark hair brushed back so the widow’s peak showed. He’d eschewed any pale makeup of course, but the raptor gaze more than made up for it. He reminded her of her personal favorite vampire, Chris Sarandon’s Jerry Danbridge from Fright Night. She vividly remembered his hypnotic dance with Charlie’s girlfriend in the club, taking command of her senses with those piercing eyes.
Then Savannah’s gaze dropped to the floor. Her lips curved. The polished black cowboy boots he wore beneath the dress slacks more than qualified her Texas GQ comment.
For his part, as Matt watched her appraise his costume, he was considering her reaction to his mouth on her neck. Though it was always a highly erogenous zone for her, ever since he’d donned his costume for the night, he’d noticed that response seemed to have intensified. He could say the same for himself. He’d never thought of himself as the role playing type, especially when it came to costumes, but it was interesting where it took the mind. Savannah’s pale throat, the generous cleavage the bra beneath offered up for his inspection, absorbed him. He imagined slipping into her bedroom, intending to dine on the rich blood of an innocent virgin. At the touch of his fangs on her throat, demanding she give up her body and her blood to him, she’d yield with a soft sigh.
When she turned to adjust the blanket over their daughter, he pressed himself up against her backside. He dropped his hand from her hip to caress her upper thigh, close to the part of her he knew would be dampening for him. His formidable wife. His beautiful submissive.
She let out a soft sigh just like his imaginings, her body melting back into him. “This is why the costume suits you,” she murmured, a shiver running through her as he brushed his lips along her carotid again. “The dark, dominant vampire, taking over his victim with just a touch.”
“And the beautiful, innocent heroine, wearing her white nightclothes, except one scarlet ribbon, the color of sexual maturity and blood.” He wrapped a finger in it, teasing her nipple beneath the bra with the side of his hand. Testing, he set his fangs to her throat. He heard the catch in her breath, saw the tightening of her fingers on the edge of the crib. Felt her nipple harden under his hand. Christ, he was going to fuck her right here, before the night had even begun.
Of course, no way he’d be doing that in front of Angelica, no matter how young and oblivious she was. He did have some restraint. Restraints… He slid his grip to her arm, manacled her slim wrist. He thought about how she might look later with that scarlet ribbon holding her wrists to their headboard.
“Oh…” Her voice had that lovely breathy sound. “Those fangs feel very…lifelike.”
They should, since they were the best that money could buy, and adhered so they could be used exactly as the lore intended.
“I want you to bite me, to draw blood. Is that odd?” Her near whisper made him bite back a growl. He wanted to do it as well. Instead, he stroked her neck with his fingers and suckled on her flesh, a hard kiss that left a red mark as he drew back.
“The best I’ll do. For now.” He gave her a critical look. “I’m rethinking the hair. You always wear it up. It’s too much of a temptation to these other men, seeing it down like this.”
“We are dressed as Victorian characters. We are not actually living in Victorian times,” she reproved him, but her blue eyes flickered with that glowing pleasure his proprietary nature evoked in her. Sometimes. “Plus, we’re running late. Especially if we’re picking up Delilah.”
“She stayed late at the Barksylvania adoption carnival at the shelter, helping out. Least I could do was offer her a ride. Her friend Lisa went on ahead to the plantation to make sure things were running smoothly. This way, Delilah will get a chance to put together that interview she wants to do for the magazine article she is writing along the way.”
“And you all can fluster her with your usual overwhelming sexual vibes.” Savannah gave him an amused look.
“Well, I am vwearing zee costume and everything.” He dropped the accent to curl his finger in the ribbon once more. “Your shawl’s not going to be warm enough if you want to walk in Athena’s gardens.”
“Am I going to want to walk in Athena’s gardens?” That slim brow arched again, lips quivering against a smile. “They’re quite extensive. A lot of things can hide in those dark shadows.”
He smiled and brought her close to him again. “I’ll go along and protect you.”
“And you’ll wrap your cloak around me to keep me warm.” She pressed up against him, brought his own blood to boil by putting her lips against his throat for a teasing nip. “But I don’t think I’ll need it.”
**********
Stop back in for tomorrow's installment as I join the K&A men and women in the Limo and get the surprise of a lifetime! 
I have a very unique prize to give away to one lucky Riverina Romantics follower! I have reserved one Virtual Signing copy of Joey W. Hill's highly anticipated upcoming release Unrestrained! That's right! Here's your chance to win your very own personalized signed copy of Dale and Athena's story which will be released on December 3, 2013! To be eligible for this amazing INTERNATIONAL giveaway all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck everyone!
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