Publication date: October 31st, 2021
Synopsis:
From Lambda Literary Award winning author Felice Stevens comes a sexy paranormal stand-alone romance.
A vampire who's lost everything meets a man who has nothing to lose.
For centuries, Massimo D'Alba, banished prince of the Fold, has wandered through life frozen in darkness and pain. Betrayed by his younger, power-hungry brother, he's existed for centuries but not lived. A rain-soaked night brings smart-mouthed New Yorker, Damion Avery, to his doorstep and suddenly he's riding spin bikes, shopping for yoga pants, eating ice cream... and falling in love.
Damion Avery can't figure out why Prince Tall, Dark, and Incredibly Sexy wants him as his personal assistant, but he's not going to second-guess his good luck. Even though he has to work all night and sleep during the day, the job is too good to be true. But where does Massimo sneak off to in the dead of night? Is he a spy, an assassin, or something else? And what's with those glowing purple eyes? Damion knows he shouldn't fall for his boss. But Damion was never one to follow the rules.
When duty calls him home, Massimo must return to save his kingdom, forcing a life-changing decision: leave Damion behind forever or reveal his deepest, darkest secret to the man who has become his everything, who owns a part of Massimo he'd thought gone forever... his heart.
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Excerpt
Massimo glanced up from reading the newspaper as Damion bounded down the stairs.
"Where are you off to? You look like you're on a mission."
"I'm going across town to Macy's. They're open late tonight--until nine-thirty, and I need some new clothes." He pointed at his ripped jeans. "I only have one other pair, and I need some shirts and stuff, especially now that you want me to sit on your video conferences with you and not remain in the background. It's my dinner hour, so I won't be taking time from work."
Massimo set the paper down, frowning. "First of all, you should not worry about doing personal things during your free time. I do not own you, Damion. You work for me. Second of all, I think that is a good idea. Are you sure they will have what you need?"
Damion snorted. "They're only the biggest store in the world. I think I'll find something." His blue eyes twinkled, and Massimo fought that internal war that made him want to grab Damion and kiss him, while knowing it was wrong. It was exhausting to fight this attraction, and instead of it waning as he'd hoped, it was gaining strength.
Damion snapped his fingers. "Hey. I have an idea. Why don't you come with me? You can help me pick out stuff and tell me what looks good. I'm hopeless like that, and you have a great sense of style."
Massimo was hesitant. "You want me to go clothes shopping? I've never done that before. I wouldn't know what to do."
Damion's eyes bugged out, and he stood mute for a moment. "You're kidding. You've never been in a department store?"
Massimo shrugged. "Why would I? I have a tailor come and make my suits and shirts. Anything else I need, Claudio orders for me. Stores are crowded with people." He made a face. "Why would I want to go?"
"Because you can try stuff on you might not know you even want. I love impulse-buying. Please? Come with me?"
It was pointless to try and resist those big blue eyes. And that was how Massimo D'Alba, prince of the Fold and one of the most powerful vampires in the world, found himself in a dressing room in Macy's, wearing a hot-pink T-shirt that said: Yoga is my superpower, and an indecently tight pair of gray sweat pants.
"I think not." He exited the dressing room to show Damion, who stood in front of the three-way mirror in a tank top the color of his eyes and biker shorts.
When their eyes met, Damion's jaw dropped, and he spun around.
Massimo shifted under his heated stare, and his cock hardened. Mortified, he took a step away, praying Damion hadn't noticed. "I can't believe you made me try this on."
"Oh, loosen up. Lots of guys wear this when they exercise." Damion cocked his head. "You look good. Really good."
"I look as ridiculous as I feel. I'll stick to what I have, thank you. And we came here for you, not me."
Damion turned to his own mirror, and Massimo's gaze fixed on his perfect ass, hugged by the second-skin material of the biker shorts. Massimo had enough trouble with the damn spin bike; did he need to be tortured by Damion wearing next to nothing while they exercised? Having a hard-on while spinning was a singularly painful experience he tried to avoid.
Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, because just like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.
Felice is the 2020 Lambda Literary Award winning author in best Gay Romance. She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her watching reality TV or procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice's Breakfast Club.
