Illicit Desire
(Outlawed Realm, #2)
by Tina Donahue
September 25th 2012 by Samhain Publishing
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Pleasure that destroys all thought. Love that shatters all barriers. Once a sex slave marked for termination, Lukan was miraculously liberated from E4’s Pleasure Palace, where E2’s fine, upstanding rulers secretly indulge their cravings for every imaginable vice. But freedom is not enough. He left his heart behind with Arez. Within her fragrant, heated caress, he knew everything denied him. Rapture, contentment, tenderness…and love. Desperate to have her back in his arms, he embarks on a dangerous mission to deliver his untamed temptress from the certain death she does not know awaits her. Within her velvet cage Arez knew only carnal submission and loneliness—until Lukan. But he has disappeared, and she senses something different in the way the supreme ruler is using her. Then, as if Lukan felt her longing for his strong arms and fevered kisses, he is there to sweep her from this twilight dimension to another. But true freedom lies just out of his grasp. To reach the last portal—and their destiny—Lukan and Arez must first outwit an army of predators that hunt them. Human, subhuman…and monsters. Product Warnings
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In the darkened room, he circled her likeness, nearly life-size. She turned, seeming to follow his movements…seeming to want him, her violet eyes hooded, the ends of her silky black hair swaying above her waist, her naked flesh flushed with arousal.
Lukan reached out, aching to touch her tawny skin, grasping air instead. Reality precluded contact, as did the distance separating them. Unable to stop his grinding need, he whispered, “Arez.”
It was the name he’d given her, as she had none on E4. There, she was no more than a pleasure slave, created to offer her body and obedience to the men in power, no different from him. Lukan had promised never to abandon her or to leave her lonely again and wanting, but he had, and soon she’d die unless he intervened.
His body went hot, then cold. He wanted to run back to her, or at the very least move closer to her image, but he couldn’t manage a step. Her expression tempted, holding him in place. Each breath became a struggle. Powerful memories returned of her skin’s scent, perfumed with female musk and a sweet fragrance used to excite males. Lukan hadn’t needed any enticement. From the start, her caress had undone him, given not only in pleasure but with tenderness.
Their masters never knew about their bond. Lukan witnessed it now as his image came into the hologram.
The heightened color in Arez’s cheeks and throat acknowledged his presence, for she could do little more to prove her true passion for him. Slaves weren’t allowed to speak to each other. Their gazes were never to meet for more than a second. Cruel manacles held her arms above her head, precluding any embrace or resistance, the heavy chains secured to a bolt in the ceiling.
Surrounding the candlelit stage were E2’s rulers who hailed from the second dimension on Earth, a place so unlike its fourth realm E4. On E2, emotions and desire weren’t allowed. All men resembled each other in coloring and facial features, their varying ages the only thing that differentiated them. The same held true for E2’s women, no female being distinct from another. Such a sterile existence hadn’t been enough for the ruling males. They created E4’s Palace and its slaves for their pleasure.
A few of the leaders smiled lewdly in anticipation of the coming performance. Others conversed in tones too low to overhear or understand. When he’d been on the stage, Lukan had no idea if they discussed trivial matters or ones that would mean his death. Nor had he cared.
Being close to Arez was all that had mattered. For her, he would die. For her, Lukan wanted to live. He watched his image doing what he could not. Naked, he stood before her, cupping her full breasts with a right the rulers had given him. If he performed well, it would mean more food. Although he was always hungry, giving Arez pleasure soon became Lukan’s most pressing task. The moments they had together belonged to her and him, no one else.
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Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic,
paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work.
INT – Ends Sept 28th
One randomly Reading Romances commenter will win one ebook of their choice from Tina’s backlist (excluding Illicit Desire) in whatever e-format the winner wants.
25 comments
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Tina Donahue
September 17, 2012 at 9:00 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks for hosting me today!
Monica
September 17, 2012 at 11:05 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
I’m just getting into Sci-Fi romance and your book sounds like a fun read.
Tina Donahue
September 17, 2012 at 11:51 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks, Monica! I’ve had a great deal of fun writing it.
Victoria Zumbrum
September 17, 2012 at 9:34 PM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
I would love to read a good sci-fi romance and this one sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway. Tore923@aol.com
bn100
September 17, 2012 at 11:02 PM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Very nice excerpt.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tina Donahue
September 18, 2012 at 9:28 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Hey, Tore – thanks for dropping by – I really enjoyed writing Book Two of the Outlawed Realm series.
Susan
September 17, 2012 at 11:15 PM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Tina,
Your latest book Illicit Desire looks really good and I gather it promises to singe the pages of my reader. Congratulations on another winner!
Vanessa N.
September 18, 2012 at 7:37 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Great excerpt. Got me hooked and can’t wait to find out what happens next. Thanks for the chance.
mythic021@gmail.com
Tina Donahue
September 18, 2012 at 9:25 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Hey, Tore – thanks for dropping by. I really enjoyed writing this book. It’s even hotter than Unending Desire.
Tina Donahue
September 18, 2012 at 9:32 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Hi, bn100 – glad you enjoyed the excerpt!!
Tina Donahue
September 18, 2012 at 9:33 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Susan – hi!! Yeah, Illicit Desire is one HAWT read.
Tina Donahue
September 18, 2012 at 9:34 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks for stopping by, Vanessa and leaving a comment!
Wendy Lohr
September 19, 2012 at 9:04 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
I’ve really been enjoying the sci-fi/romance novels that have been released in the last year or so. This series definitely sounds like my kind of read! Thanks for the excerpt and hosting this awesome giveaway!
Tina Donahue
September 20, 2012 at 9:30 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Hi, Wendy! Outlawed Realm is my first series for Samhain and my first try at this genre. I’ve totally enjoyed writing it.
anna
September 21, 2012 at 5:52 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Hm. I haven’t read too many set in alternate universes but it sounds interesting.
“Features a lusty guy who makes Greek gods look wimpy.” Love that.
Thanks
acade29@gmail.com
Tina Donahue
September 21, 2012 at 8:21 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
LOL – I love the warnings on Samhain books too. Thanks for coming by, Anna!
Trudy
September 22, 2012 at 3:59 PM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
This sounds interesting. Would love to read
NatashaMay
September 23, 2012 at 6:35 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Sounds like an awesome read.
Tina Donahue
September 23, 2012 at 9:16 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks for stopping by, Trudy!! Good luck in the drawing.
Tina Donahue
September 23, 2012 at 9:17 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Natasha – hi!! It is a very hot and moving love story, that’s for sure.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Yvette
September 24, 2012 at 6:30 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Looking forward to reading this one and I love the cover.
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Tina Donahue
September 24, 2012 at 8:22 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks, Yvette! I love the cover too. Romantic Times just gave Illicit Desire 4 stars and called it “a rare treat.” WHOOT!!
Andie Wardlow
September 26, 2012 at 9:51 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Illicit Desires sounds like scorching hot read…can’t wait to get my copy!
andieleah78@gmail.com
Tina Donahue
September 27, 2012 at 8:20 AM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks, Andie! It also has a very moving love story – hope you enjoy it – thanks for stopping by!
Nat
October 1, 2012 at 6:33 PM (UTC -3) Link to this comment
Thanks for being such a great guest, Tina! Hope to have you here again in the future =)