Once the government is back in business then the short story will no longer be available on line, at least not until my publisher and I figure out what we might want to do with it. But for right now, while we’re all wondering how it got to this point, here’s a brand new Anita Blake short story, featuring our favorite bad boy werewolf, yep, I mean Richard Zeeman. Hey, I’ve been telling you, he’s been working his therapy: read on to see the results that hard work and being brave enough to own your whole self can get you.

    Once I do, it's over."  As daughter of the ruling Pack family, Layla Warden is under pressure to settle down. Find a nice wolf mate from a nice wolf family and have nice wolf babies. Layla has other plans, but when you're a werewolf, biology trumps plans. And when Layla meets Sid, the sex is so intense, so hot, so consuming, it's more than just a connection. It's a mating bond. Sid Rosario wasn't expecting to find his mate so soon—some wolves never find theirs. Now that he's found Layla, he's never letting her go. But lust and desire alone aren't enough to secure their bond. If they want this incredible happiness to last, there's one more thing they'll have to do…

    Whether you like them large and in charge or sleek and sexy, you'll find the right story to spice up your night in these pages. Featuring:A.J. Bennett — MasqueradeBecca Vincenza — ContractedBlaire Edens — FrenziedCarolyn Spear — Taming the PumaDara Fraser — Lion's Pretend GirlfriendDesiree Holt — Shadow of the WolfDominique Eastwick — Bearing the HungerErin Hayes — I Found My RhinoEver Coming — The MismatchmakerH.D. Gordon — Blood SportHazel Boyer — Accidentally MatedKate Richards — An Evening in the SuperstitionsLila Felix — Wolf ProtectorLisbeth Frost — Encounter on a MountainLouisa Bacio — The Luna TwinsMargo Bond Collins — Laugh Out LoveMarissa Farrar — Wolf TornMerryn Dexter — Bear Faced LiesM.J. Haag — Escaping the LuthaRachael Slate — Untamed Lord of Thessaly

    She has spent half of her young life avoiding matters of the heart. And she’s spent ninety-five percent of that time avoiding the one male that always sets her heart racing and her blood pumping: Lukas Montague, the Commander of the Locke Brotherhood. Being the only female Scout for The Society and having a peculiar relationship with the ruler of the Vampire Nation has set Star apart from “normal” vamps. Of course Lukas Montague is anything but normal. He’s also not patient. After 200 years of Star avoiding him, he’s decided that it’s time that she realise that she belongs to him. Lukas’ patience is put to the test by events that come dangerously close to spiralling out of control. What happens the end … well read on and you will find out!

    She is the one mer in her clan who is considered the ugliest and least intelligent. Growing up with the constant bullying and abuse wasn’t the worst of what her kind had in store for her. At seventeen years old, she must now endure “The Reckoning.”The scales will measure her worth to her clan. Will she endure thirty days as a land-walker to gather information and knowledge to appease her clan and return a valued member? Will she wait three years, until she is twenty, and find a mer of her kind to accept her and marry her? Or will she suffer exile for the rest of her life?

    An old enemy enraged. Will his love for her be enough to save her?Shapeshifters, demons, vampires, and sorcerers are all just part of the show at the Myths and Legends Casino Resort.Or are they?Serafina Leroux has always dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. When she responds to a mysterious invitation to the dance auditions at Myths and Legends she not only gets a shot at her dream job, she also meets a tall, dark, devastatingly handsome stranger whose every touch consumes her with desire.Donovan Drake is the charismatic owner of Myths and Legends known around the world as Dragon. His roguish good looks make him one of the most sought after bachelors alive, but only one woman can satisfy his carnal needs and the beast that shares his soul.When Dragon and Serafina come together their passion ignites and she is drawn into his world where myths and legends are very real and danger lurks around every corner.Words: 98,424

    As a social worker, Nicole Callahan fights for the right of every child placed in her care. Damon has been ordered to train Nicole and her colleagues against the dangers they now face. Even as sparks fly, Nicole and Damon depend on each other to protect the children of both races.

    Lillie is in Sin City looking for a fling, and grizzly shifter Jim Halcyon is pleased to oblige. Only when Lady Luck gets involved, lust and ambition clash. (Takhini Shifters #1) USA Today bestselling author Deanna Chase brings you MARKED BY TEMPTATION, a novella set in the Bourbon Street world. Mati Ballintine is a sex witch looking for a hot one-night stand to bolster her power, and sexy Vaughn Paxton is cocky enough to make her work for it. But when their one night turns into more than they bargained for, one life is changed, another threatened, and suddenly there’s a whole lot more than lust at stake. (Coven Pointe #1) Dive into a world of adult fairy tales with USA Today Bestselling author Marie Halls's Rumpel's Prize . The dark prince Rumpelstiltskin is in need of a woman to break a curse, and nothing will sway him from his end game. Not even lust-at-first sight, or a fiery mane of red hair and the most vivid blue eyes he’s ever seen. Shayera Caron has other plans as she aims to bring the sexy-as-sin devil to his knees, but in the end only one can win. (Kingdom Series #8) Award-Winning Author Crista McHugh brings you Shattered Web , another seductive tale from the Deizian Empire. Marcus is ordered to a trading post along the barrier to solve the mysterious disappearance of all its occupants. Only the clues point to Sexta, the woman he loved and lost, and despite his better judgement, he can’t keep his hands off her. Arrested and charged with a crime she didn’t commit, Sexta not only has to deny her feelings for him after every tantalizing kiss, she needs to prove her innocence before the true enemy brings the empire to its knees. USA TODAY Bestselling Author M. Malone invites you to meet TANK Marshall. He has thirty days to meet his deadbeat dad or forfeit his inheritance. His mom needs surgery and he’d do anything for her, even dance with the devil. Emma Shaw just got the job of a lifetime, coaxing a rich client’s estranged son back into the fold. One meeting for $1 million. Easy money. Until she’s lying to the only man who makes her feel safe. (Blue-Collar Billionaires #1) USA Today bestselling author SM Reine brings you Caged Wolf , a novella set in the same world as The Ascension Series. Ofelia Hawke is stripping for bikers in Lobo Norte and trying to scrape together enough money to escape. When the Fang Brothers werewolf gang appears, Ofelia finds herself irresistibly drawn to a wolf named Trouble. If they don’t end up dying for each other, Trouble might be Ofelia’s only chance to break free. (Tarot Witches #1) National Bestselling author Roxie Rivera brings you COLLATERAL, a spinoff from her scorching hot Her Russian Protector series. Mob enforcer Ben Beciraj will do anything to protect sweet, beguiling heiress Aston McNeil from the seedy underworld he inhabits–even if it means crossing the only family he’s ever known. (Debt Collection #1) Venture into the dark corners of Sector Four in Beyond Solitude , a novella by Kit Rocha. When a motorcycle accident leaves Derek Ford riding a desk at the O’Kane compound, the last thing he needs is a sexy new assistant upending his office and his life. But Mia isn’t scared of her domineering boss. The friction between them generates an undeniable heat–but Mia will not be kept, and Ford will do anything to protect what’s his. (BEYOND #4.

    Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch.The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice.39,500 words

    Her abusive ex, a human, is closing in on her again, and to make matters worse, a new enemy, a djinn, is stalking her. This supernatural being takes great pleasure in human pain, something Bailey has in excess thanks to her ex. If she’s caught by either, she’s as good as dead!Backed into a corner and desperate to escape, she does something she swore wouldn’t ever be possible again - trusting a man. And he’s a vampire!Protection via the sexy vampire Erick Thorson may prove to be a little more than she bargained for. Sparks fly between them and she finds herself agreeing to more than just protection. Though he has promised not to let anyone harm her, the small west Texas town is more than it seems and he may not be able to make good on his vow no matter how hard he tries! Will Sanctuary be the home Bailey longs for or will she have to die to find out?

    She'll do whatever it takes to get his help, including a bit of rule-breaking and blackmail. As for the addictive attraction between them? She's ignoring it completely.Quinn is a little too busy and a lot too antisocial to help an interfering witch find her sister. But when he realizes the distractingly sexy siren might be the key to everything he wants, he's all in.Grace and Quinn are determined to stay single, but a centuries-old, match-making curse has other plans for the pair. Can an immortal warrior burned by love win the heart of the sexy witch meant to save his ever-lovin' soul?

    She has other things on her mind, like the fact that her family's farm is about to go under if the concert they're hosting doesn't sell out. But when the sweet-talking lead singer of Tennessee Honey comes sauntering into town, Harley's plans go up in a puff of smokin' hot country superstar. Bear shifter Boone Reynolds doesn’t do small towns. Not anymore. So the fact that his band has to play five backwoods towns before they can go back to their real tour has him about ready to blow. First stop? Redding, Georgia. Population: Who gives a damn. Definitely not Boone. That is until he meets spitfire Harley in a rundown bar. And as far as he and his bear are concerned, she already belongs to him. She just doesn’t know it yet. Boone makes Harley tingle in all the right ways, even if she isn’t willing to admit it. But she’s not gonna be another notch in his belt. No way, no how. Now Boone only has a few days to convince Harley he isn’t just after a quick roll in the hay. He wants her forever, and he’s willing to fight off a crazy ex, and even give up his fame and fortune to be with her. Bear Country: Boone is Book 1 in the Bear Country series. It can be enjoyed as a sexy standalone, or read as part of a series. A Note For Readers: This book contains a sexy as sin werebear who's gotten a little too big for his britches and the fiery BBW who helps him get back to his roots. It also contains explicit love scenes (of the panty-melting variety) and naughty language. Adults only paranormal romance!

    She’s a professionally trained chef in her own right, but the years she spent married have left her personal ambitions thrown to the wayside. When an opportunity to cook for an on-location camp of mountain loggers comes up, she can hardly find a reason not to take it. She knows that it may be a little below her skillset, but she also knows that this might just be the fresh start she’s been after. When she meets the owner, Lucas Coleman, Hannah is instantly overcome by her attraction to the brawny lumberjack. His arms bulge from his sleeves, and his generous and charming personality immediately intrigues her. On the day she’s to leave for the camp, she catches a ride with Lucas, using the opportunity to get to know her new boss a little better. He proves to be even more genuine and interesting than Hannah had initially expected. As Hannah’s tenure on the mountain begins and her time spent alongside Lucas grows more frequent, it quickly becomes clear that Hannah’s feelings for Lucas aren’t one-sided. But will Hannah’s past keep her from embracing what’s before her in Lucas? Will mountain life prove to be too much of a challenge for her? And what will happen when an unexpected guest arrives at the campsite demanding answers?

    When she was ten years old her parents died in a car crash. Now nine years later her Aunt Caroline is the only family she has left. And Caroline is dying. So when Death comes knocking (quite literally) in the form of the damaged and dangerous, Brennus, Avery makes a deal with the reaper in order to save Caroline.Brennus is an Ankou.One of the many, once mortal men and women, who were given the choice to become an immortal in exchange for ferrying the dead over into their afterlife. Nine years ago Brennus took Avery’s parents and tried to take Avery, but she fought him and won. Amazed by her strength Brennus followed Avery and has watched over her. Now he knows Avery is the one to offer him freedom from his obligation to the dead. And he’ll stop at nothing to have her.A YA Paranormal Romance for older readers.

     Being different was never easy. After 27 years of living as a social outcast, Selma has become quite accustomed to the isolation and lack of dreams for a happy future. What she's never gotten used to are the demons she sees; the dangerous creatures masquerading as humans, blending into the regular world as if they belong. No one else ever sees what she does—not when she was younger, and not the night she is attacked by horned monsters, losing the precarious grasp on her already damaged mind. Trapped in a mental hospital, Selma's only hope of gaining back her life is a young psychiatrist with smoldering looks and some very disturbing ideas for her treatments. If she is ever to see the outside world again, she must submit to him. But he is one of them—and his intentions are far more devious than they appear. First installment in the 6-part serial Demon’s Mark. Contains darkly erotic scenes and demons who like to play rough. Not for the faint-hearted. Demon's Mark Complete Series: #1 Branded #2 Tricked #3 Hunted #4 Captured #5 Claimed #6 Cherished