Saturday's Excerpt - Karenna Colcroft - Lost Soul

Blurb for Lost Soul, available from MLR Press, http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=KC_LSOUL

Sorcerer Joel Turcotte fuels his magic by stealing pieces of people's souls during sex. Since he caused the death of his lover a decade ago, he's careful to only take small pieces, but he regrets each one. When he meets Lanny Turcotte, he finds the strongest soul he's ever encountered, and one that's almost impossible to resist. Although Joel is reluctant to become involved with anyone, he and Lanny begin a relationship.
But Joel isn't the only sorcerer who wants Lanny. Can Joel protect his lover from other sorcerers---and from himself?

Excerpt:

The relationship was progressing well. Joel had even hinted a couple times that he was thinking about asking Lanny to move in with him. Lanny had decided not to decide until Joel made the invitation official, though he was leaning toward saying no. He loved Joel, and the condo was easily the most beautiful place he’d ever even considered living, but he didn’t want to be obligated to Joel in any way. And he didn’t want to risk becoming homeless if things didn’t work out between them.

Right then, he didn’t need to think about that. Joel had put him in charge of choosing the location for their date that night, and half an hour before the dealership closed for the night, Lanny was sitting at his desk running his mind through all the restaurants and grills he knew of in the area. It wasn’t a very long list.

Then something changed.

The place had been busy all day; Lanny wasn’t the only salesman whose numbers had improved since Joel’s presentation. Although they’d had a lot of customers, the overall energy of the dealership had been calm and stress-free. Even Barry Brigham, who’d shown up for an hour or so to check on how things were going, had seemed considerably more relaxed than usual.

That changed with the suddenness of a thunderstorm blowing in. Lanny couldn’t pinpoint at first where it began, but suddenly his chest tightened and a chill ran through him. The two salesmen who were still with customers went from relaxed chatting to leaning over their desks and speaking in too-forceful tones about the need to buy a car that day.

Aden.

Just as the name crossed Lanny’s mind, the man entered the showroom. He was dressed as he had been on the previous occasions: tailored clothes, leather boots, and exuding a sense of wealth and privilege.

He didn’t even pause to look around, but everyone in the showroom stopped what they were doing to stare at him. Everyone including Lanny, even though he fought to ignore the sorcerer. Whether it was magic or something else that drew people’s attention, it was far stronger than it had been the other times Aden had shown up. That pull Lanny had felt when Aden had tried magic on him before was so strong he couldn’t resist it.

He reached for his cell phone, but Aden was at his desk before he could dial. “I don’t think you need that.” He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Against his will but unable to ignore the command, Lanny lay the cell phone on the palm of her hand. “I’m not yours,” he said, each word an effort.

“I think that’s about to change.” Aden smiled and slipped Lanny’s phone into the pocket of his suit coat. “Come with me, Lanny. We have a lot to talk about, and I don’t think you’ll regret the conversation.”

He would regret it. He knew that too well. If he followed Aden, the man would soul-rip him and wouldn’t be as careful about it as Joel.
But he couldn’t help standing and taking a step toward Aden.



Blurb for Lost Soul, available from MLR Press, http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=KC_LSOUL

Sorcerer Joel Turcotte fuels his magic by stealing pieces of people's souls during sex. Since he caused the death of his lover a decade ago, he's careful to only take small pieces, but he regrets each one. When he meets Lanny Turcotte, he finds the strongest soul he's ever encountered, and one that's almost impossible to resist. Although Joel is reluctant to become involved with anyone, he and Lanny begin a relationship.
But Joel isn't the only sorcerer who wants Lanny. Can Joel protect his lover from other sorcerers---and from himself?

Excerpt:

The relationship was progressing well. Joel had even hinted a couple times that he was thinking about asking Lanny to move in with him. Lanny had decided not to decide until Joel made the invitation official, though he was leaning toward saying no. He loved Joel, and the condo was easily the most beautiful place he’d ever even considered living, but he didn’t want to be obligated to Joel in any way. And he didn’t want to risk becoming homeless if things didn’t work out between them.
Right then, he didn’t need to think about that. Joel had put him in charge of choosing the location for their date that night, and half an hour before the dealership closed for the night, Lanny was sitting at his desk running his mind through all the restaurants and grills he knew of in the area. It wasn’t a very long list.
Then something changed.
The place had been busy all day; Lanny wasn’t the only salesman whose numbers had improved since Joel’s presentation. Although they’d had a lot of customers, the overall energy of the dealership had been calm and stress-free. Even Barry Brigham, who’d shown up for an hour or so to check on how things were going, had seemed considerably more relaxed than usual.
That changed with the suddenness of a thunderstorm blowing in. Lanny couldn’t pinpoint at first where it began, but suddenly his chest tightened and a chill ran through him. The two salesmen who were still with customers went from relaxed chatting to leaning over their desks and speaking in too-forceful tones about the need to buy a car that day.
Aden.
Just as the name crossed Lanny’s mind, the man entered the showroom. He was dressed as he had been on the previous occasions: tailored clothes, leather boots, and exuding a sense of wealth and privilege.
He didn’t even pause to look around, but everyone in the showroom stopped what they were doing to stare at him. Everyone including Lanny, even though he fought to ignore the sorcerer. Whether it was magic or something else that drew people’s attention, it was far stronger than it had been the other times Aden had shown up. That pull Lanny had felt when Aden had tried magic on him before was so strong he couldn’t resist it.
He reached for his cell phone, but Aden was at his desk before he could dial. “I don’t think you need that.” He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
Against his will but unable to ignore the command, Lanny lay the cell phone on the palm of her hand. “I’m not yours,” he said, each word an effort.
“I think that’s about to change.” Aden smiled and slipped Lanny’s phone into the pocket of his suit coat. “Come with me, Lanny. We have a lot to talk about, and I don’t think you’ll regret the conversation.”
He would regret it. He knew that too well. If he followed Aden, the man would soul-rip him and wouldn’t be as careful about it as Joel.
But he couldn’t help standing and taking a step toward Aden.