Available Now ~ My Personal Demon

Helena never considered the consequences of striking a bargain with her personal demon, Cyn. The entire Pearsall line was cursed, so what did she have to lose? She would have done damn near anything to stave off bill collectors and ensure her aunt received the best medical treatment possible. When her luck turned around and it was time to make good on that bargain, Helena discovers she's giving up more than her soul. Is it possible to fall in love with a demon? 

After sealing the deal with Helena's blood, Cyn is determined to keep the mocha skinned beauty by his side. The curse has claimed the majority of her family, and now he must work extra hard to ensure her safety. However, there's a little more to Helena than meets the eye. He soon discovers she is the key to ending the Pearsall curse, but she is also the instrument for unleashing Hell on earth.

Excerpt

The severance package had run out, and she couldn’t afford to let their bills lay by the wayside. The wolves were upon her and between threatening calls from collection agencies and nastygrams, she thought she’d lose her mind. She had been forced to take other measures back then. She’d called upon Cyn for monetary reasons.

“Like…now!”

The demon’s baritone voice ended on a demanding hiss, snapping her back into reality. A shiver ran up her spine as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Okay, maybe she could make it happen. Cyn certainly wasn’t taking no for an answer and she was determined to look after her aunt, at all costs. Soon she’d be at his disposal.

“Once again, when can you move in?”

“Move in?” Live under a demon’s roof? What the hell had she been thinking when she signed her soul away last year?

He impatiently strummed his long fingers against the lacquer desk. “Well…yes. I mentioned that the day you summoned me, or have you forgotten my terms of the bargain?” He winked at her, causing a bolt of desire to ripple through her tummy and straight to her clit. The man had skills. She could tell. One round in the sack with him and something told her she’d never want to leave.

When her brain finally overpowered her body, Helena’s heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. This wasn’t going to be on her terms she knew. How could she think to outsmart a demon? She had hoped she would be able to avoid all of this. After all, living under the same roof with a sexy demon of lust that possessed the god-given talent to set one’s panties on fire surely would pose a problem in the future. She wasn’t sure she’d leave the bargain unscathed. Those in her family who sought monetary assistance from their personal demons never did. They always lost in one way or another.

“Well.” She chose her words wisely. “I was thinking of reporting to you for eight hours a day. You know, like a regular job.” Her palms grew sweaty, and she wiped them on her black wool dress. Hopefully he’d agree to this, but deep down she knew he wouldn’t. If looks could kill, she’d be dead by now. Cyn’s hardened gaze seemed to snatch the breath from her, and not in a good way.

“Do you think you can just slip in and out of my realm? What do you take me for?”

Damn it! He was bound and determined to be as stubborn as she was! “Well, I was just thinking…”

Cyn growled. “I’m not paying you to think! Eight hours a day will never be enough to sate my appetite for you.” His eyes grew dark as an impending storm as he sniffed the air. “You…smell so good. I’ve never known the essence of a human to be so pure…yet so.” He inhaled deeply as his claws lengthened from his fingertips. “So dark…enticing…sexy. I could devour you right now.”

She shivered as Cyn’s demonic form wavered before her eyes. A fascinating pull and a strong aura of electricity sizzled and snapped in the atmosphere. Something stirred deep within her mind and body.

“Dark and enticing?” She laughed. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Do not make light of our situation!” He slammed his fist down on the desk. “Helena, I’ve waited for you for well over a year.” His voice was a low snarl. “I need to have you by my side. I don’t like delays. When I’m in need of…certain services, I’d prefer you not keep me waiting.” He studied her intensely before cocking a brow. “Do you wish to back out? Remember the consequences of not fulfilling your end of the bargain. I can take everything away from you and your aunt will be put away in that home. Perhaps you’ll be forced to move out of the home you’ve come to love.”

Helena squeezed her eyes shut at the thought of putting her aunt into a nursing home. That was just unacceptable. It was even more heart wrenching to lose her three-bedroom, single-family home. She’d put her blood, sweat, and tears into everything she owned. Well, with the demon’s assistance, of course.

“Um. Yes, I’ll do whatever is necessary.” Her mind raced as she concocted a plan to rearrange her schedule. Aunt Mimi would be okay; she promised herself she’d check in on the woman twice a day when she wasn’t servicing Cyn. She wrung her hands nervously in her lap, not wanting to show him that she was afraid, but it was too late. By the look in his eyes, he’d already scented her fears.

As if reading her mind, the demon spoke. “I will allow your aunt to move in too. She’ll be placed in the west wing and will be looked after very well, I assure you.” He leaned back into the black leather chair and folded his arms against his massive chest. “Surely you don’t think me to be so cruel and leave her behind with no one to depend on? You can see her whenever you’re not servicing me, of course.”

A brief moment of relief swept through her. Her aunt needed her and she had no intention of deserting the woman. They’d come too far.

“Thank you.” The breath was pushed from her lungs as the man’s gaze hardened again. She’d caught him looking at her cleavage. He smiled, baring razor-sharp teeth. Did he lick his lips? Suddenly she felt like she’d become a mouthwatering buffet, the way he was eyeing her up.

“Very good. I’ll make the necessary arrangements to bring her here. In the meantime, I’ll give you a tour of the mansion and show you where you’ll be sleeping.”

“Oh! My things. I’ll need my clothes and…”

He cut her off abruptly. “You’ll have everything you need here with me. Clothes, toiletries, anything you want. Now…to complete this bargain.” Cyn opened one of the drawers and pulled out an old scroll. With a dark smile, he unrolled it and glanced at her. “I suggest you reread the terms of our bargain. I advise you to read over everything carefully, just as you did a year ago.” He motioned for her to take the fragile-looking material. When she did, her hand shook. 

Available at Sugar and Spice Press

My Fitness Journey

Happy Saturday everyone! Just wanted to write a quick post while things are still fresh in my mind. I'll be posting my fitness journey here once a week, probably on Saturdays because this is when I push my limits by working out 90 minutes or 2 hours. During the week I usually work out 40 - 45 minutes per day, sometimes 60, depending on my energy level and projects I need to do.

I'm no stranger to exercise, I've worked out all my life (started in my teens) but I just have a problem with consistency. I wish I could say I've been working out consistently since my teenaged years, but I'd be a liar! You know how it is, sometimes life ( or laziness ) gets in the way, and I swear I'm striving to change this! Oh yeah, especially because I'm 42 now and the old metabolism is slowing down. (You think it slows down in the 30's?)  I love to eat, but I don't starve myself. In my twenties I was so determined to have a sculpted body by the time my forties came a knocking and I plan to keep that promise to myself.

In February 2013 I started working out again several times per week. Before that, I started an exercise regimen in August 2012 which lasted for only two months.   : )  Before that I may have exercised every two or three months, stop, start, and so on and so on. My most memorable and longest workout routine started in 2002 and ended in 2008. My youngest daughter was born in 2000 and I gained a lot of weight. It melted off through a combo of cardio kickboxing and resistance training with bands you attach to doors and weight lifting. In three months time I saw a big difference and I worked out five to six times a week. It was like an addiction. In 2008 I started school and unfortunately became a slacker. In between working 40 hours per week, family, my daughters' activities, and maintaining my grades, I pushed exercising aside. I managed to get a way with murder for a year and a half, but then the weight started creeping in on me. Oh yes, and I was eating any and everything in sight. Every so often I'd start a workout regimen, but it would last a week or two, and I lost my focus.

This time I'm determined to keep things going because to be honest with you it becomes difficult the older you get. Currently I'm obsessing again with the exercising. It has become an addiction for me. For the past few months I've been alternating TaeBo workouts.

Tuesday I started my 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels. There are no days off when you're doing The Shred! Throughout the week I've been doing the Brazilian Butt Lift and TaeBo. Must keep the cardio going!

My goal is to start the Insanity program once my 30 days with Jillian Michaels is up. I've had Insanity since February, and never opened it. I know. That's horrible, right??  LOL     http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do

I used to post every day on Facebook about my regimen and I had some people email me to say I inspire them and why did I stop? So I'll be posting here on my blog once a week. If you're up for it, why don't you join me?

Five Black Roses

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

Blurb:

Exactly at midnight on May 5th, 2006 Mahogany Messeroux cast a spell to obtain the perfect man. She never dreamed the spell would deliver Acacius Montoya, a warrior straight from the Battle of Puebla, Mexico in 1862. For Mahogany, it was love at first sight. But--there is just one problem. The handsome Latino must return to his own time after every Cinco de Mayo and can only be summoned once a year. Five years later she discovers she has the opportunity of saving the man she loves and keeping him in her world on a regular basis, or so she thought.


Acacius Montoya is doomed to repeat the same day at the Battle of Puebla for all eternity thanks to an evil warlock, Maximilian. The ebony bruja intervened just in time to save his soul from The Harvester. But who will save Mahogany from making a mistake that may cause her to miss the spiritual evolvement necessary in shaping her future as a person and a witch? 

Excerpt:

Anticipation filled Mahogany Messeroux as she lit the last of the five 

candles in preparation for summoning Acacius’ soul. Briefly she looked around her bedroom before casting her glance to the magic circle. The circle was perfect and had been cast with care. 

At the stroke of midnight on May 5th, 2011 she'd bring forth her lover, Acacius, from his time of May 5th, 1862. Exactly five seconds before midnight, five drops of her blood would be all she needed to manifest his spirit. 

For the past five years, the lovers only had the pleasure of each other’s company one night per year thanks to the cruelty of Maximilian, an evil Austrian warlock. Acacius' spirit had first presented itself exactly five years earlier, the night before Cinco de Mayo. Having become fully acclimated to her new powers as a witch, she'd cast a spell to bring forth the perfect man. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined she'd meet one. 

Sweat beaded her ebony skin as she closed her eyes to meditate briefly. Tonight would officially be her last chance to save Acacius' soul. If she failed, he'd return to 1862 and would be forever lost to her. She’d known she loved him since the first night she summoned him, and she knew he felt the same. 

Over the passing years dreams had presented themselves to her, and then she’d captured visions of her lover's life, saw him forced to repeat the battle every day for all eternity. With the passing of each year, bits and pieces of Acacius' dilemma fit together like pieces to a puzzle that only she could unravel. 

* * * 

Acacius' chest burned and bile formed in his throat as the harsh blow knocked him from his horse to the ground. Agonizing pain shot through his body as he shifted and rolled away from the hooves of his horse. Death and destruction lay all around him from a fight he'd never win, thanks to the curse of the warlock. The Mexicans should have been victorious over the French; he knew this to be true in his heart. Yet a Mexican victory was not part of the warlock's intentions. He, along with his comrades was being harvested for something—but what? 

His spirit, although strong, fought to hold on to the last shreds of sanity and the final moment when he'd find solace in Mahogany's arms. From the first moment he’d laid eyes on the ebony angel, he’d known he loved her. When his comrade was shot dead and fell from his horse, Acacius knew his moment had arrived once again. This was always the scene he was forced to repeat. However, something wasn't right. The events before him seemed to slow before his eyes and Maximilian appeared in front of him, musket in hand. 

His eyes never leaving Maximilian's, Acacius rose to his feet as pain racked his body. Ignoring the ache, he tightened his jaw and lifted his head in 

defiance. Pure evil emanated from the warlock's eyes, making it seem as though a thousand prickly needles penetrated his skin. His fists tightened when the man spoke. 

"Your witch can't save you on this day Acacius," Maximilian said with a snarl, bringing the musket up to fire. "You will be trapped here with me for all of eternity. I promise you this." 

"Why not end this tragic suffering? Why torture us? You know the outcome of this battle, why have you changed it?" Rage coursed through his body. Acacius sought vengeance—If only Maximilian were man enough to face him in hand-to-hand combat instead of hiding behind a musket and magic, he knew he'd be the victor. "What can you ever hope to achieve from this act?" 

Maximilian had never presented himself to him before this day. Mahogany had warned him last year that the wizard would finally reveal his plan. 

Maximilian laughed. "I shall reap many more benefits of delivering all the souls here on this day to the Master. I am and forever shall be the only one to harvest souls.” A cruel smile formed on the madman’s lips. 

Before Acacius could speak, Maximilian fired the musket and the bullet emerged in what seemed like slow motion. Suddenly, Acacius felt a strong otherworldly pull at his being, and he could smell Mahogany's perfume. Her voice was like the sweetest music he ever heard. Ah, it had been entirely too long since he’d last heard his angel's voice. "Summonus Halbitris, Sulterne, Bahizm! Summonus Halbitris, Sulterne, Bahizm!" 

He'd almost forgotten what she sounded like, with the exception of her voice in his dreams.... 

Maximilian's face turned into a grotesque mask of hatred when he realized what was happening. Acacius felt himself rising as the warlock continued to fire the musket in vain. The bullets dissipated before Acacius' very eyes. Sending up a prayer of relief, he realized Mahogany must have cast a protection spell; he was sure of it. Tossing the musket aside, the warlock shouted venomous curses while waving his hands, apparently trying to stop what was happening. 

"You cannot escape me, Acacius! I will follow and kill you and your witch!" 

Feeling slight pressure from Maximilian's spell, Acacius told himself his precious witch had everything covered. Soon after, however, trepidation set in. Something in his gut told Acacius there was no escape. 

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