{"product_id":"2940044682917","title":"Bitten","description":"\u003cp\u003eStory Excerpt\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShadows hid Ebenoral as the Hanswald carriage rolled by. Who was the lovely stranger, and why did she make him feel both threatened and excited? When her coach had entered town, he'd sensed her arrival. The sight of her blond curls had him stirring in his trousers. Then her bright blue eyes met his gaze, and he went instantly hard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe still ached, though he'd regained control. A growl grumbled at the base of his throat. Okay, so he mostly gained control.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe needed a drink, not some ninny girl straight out of deportment school. His body disagreed. It recognized her as all woman, taking umbrage to his thinking of her as a girl by forcing the memory of her lush curves to the fore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe turned on his heel and somehow managed a calm walk to the tree line edging the rear of town. From there, he raced through the woods at a speed still alarming to him. Ebenoral approached the castle-like manor his great grandfather had built. It belonged to him now, but at the price of his father's life. Too high a price. Too high.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe fought a tightness in his chest. Without conscious intent, he brought to mind the sensual features of the newcomer's face. Her full lips. Her large eyes. Her blond curls caressing high cheekbones and alabaster skin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tightness faded, giving way to genuine fear.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFear of what he might do.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFear of waking once again with a sense of, but no memory of, the horrors he committed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFear of the full moon in two days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdult Excerpt\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"What have you done to me?\" he asked, staring into her eyes. His arousal pressed against her belly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStunned, she blinked. \"Me? It's you who've done something to me.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Are you a simpleton?\" He cocked his head like a dog that heard a strange noise.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eImmediately offended, yet strangely titillating, she placed a tentative hand to his chest. Yes, he was real. She wouldn't wake from this with no recollection of the night's events. And she couldn't blame him for wondering. What kind of lady went wandering at night and laughed when a wolf came stalking? \"You don’t know me?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"No.\" He made to move, but she grasped his shoulders.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Think about it a second. You have to know me because I knew you before I arrived in Rift. Maybe not your name or circumstances, but… Haven't you dreamt of me?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHeat radiated from him, settling about her like a blanket. \"I don't dream,\" he simply stated\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"I must sound insane.\" She studied his dark, deep set eyes and strong, square features. He was handsome in a rugged, manly way she found irresistible. She only wanted for better light.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"It's almost a full moon,\" he suggested, his eyebrows lifting. \"Isn't that when the lunatics come out?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDid he bait her on purpose? \"Lunatics, yes. And wolfmen, apparently.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis shapely lips quirked into a half-smile. \"Is that what I am?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe laughed outright. \"Don't tell me you hadn't noticed. I might be the one calling you crazy.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"New Dawning Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47108005036272,"sku":"2940044682917","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940044682917_p0.jpg?v=1763965963","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940044682917","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}