Cardeno C. has released second editions of her Mates novels, and today is going to share an excerpt and provide a giveaway!

A sensitive wolf shifter and a vicious vampire challenge history, greed, and the very fabric of their beings in order to stay together until forever comes.

Until Forever Comes by Cardeno C. –Excerpt

“You’re hungry,” I said to my mate.

“I’m fine,” he whispered against my skin, kissing me again, still petting gently.

“I know, but you want to feed. I can feel it.” I tilted my neck and stretched toward his mouth, giving him complete access to my exposed skin.

“No, Ethan. I already drained you more than I should have. Losing too much blood can be dangerous, even for someone with your condition.”

“My condition?” I furrowed my brow in confusion.

“Yes. Your body produces too much blood, right? That’s what you said. Like I mentioned, I know a healer who’ll be able to take a look at you and let us know what’s going on and what we can do to help fix it.”

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t need to see a healer because there’s nothing that needs fixin’. I don’t produce too much blood.”

“But—” He started arguing, but I wasn’t having none of it.

“Before I met you, before I realized I had a true mate, it felt like too much, sure enough. But now”—I grinned at him—“the way I see it, I’m making enough blood to nourish my mate. That there’s just the right amount.” I beamed at him. “So you see, everything happens for a reason, just like my sister always says.”

The way Miguel smiled at me would have melted me into a puddle if I wasn’t already there. Vampires were supposed to be cold, heartless, but his twinkling eyes and gentle smile were anything but.

“Damn, are you ever sweet, wolf,” Miguel said, his voice full of longing. “Sweet and tempting. But draining you again right now would be dangerous.” He sighed regretfully. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m used to being a little hungry, that’s just how it is for me. Especially lately.” He lowered his mouth and kissed the pulsing vein in my neck. Almost immediately, he gasped and pulled back, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at me. “Can you hear that?” he asked breathlessly.

“Hear what?”

“Your blood.” He licked his lips. “It’s so loud, rushing through your veins, flowing strong and full. Feels like it’s calling to me again.” He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand it.”

“That’s because you’re not listening to me.” I smiled wryly at Miguel as I spoke. He really was as stubborn as a mule. “We’re true mates. Two halves of a whole. You say it feels like my blood is calling to you? Well, I say your need called to me and my body is doing what comes natural and responding.” I paused and watched his face, making sure he was absorbing my words. “Go on,” I said, tilting my neck again. “Take what you need.”

“Are you sure?” His voice was rough, his breathing faster, louder. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby. Never want to hurt you.”

My chest tightened and I blinked my eyes rapidly. “You won’t hurt me. I trust you, mate.”

Desire burned in his eyes and his nostrils flared, so I figured I’d said something right.

Miguel kissed my neck again, but this time, he opened his mouth and sucked on my tender skin, then licked at it. “You taste so good,” he said. “Never tasted anyone like you.”

A growl escaped without my permission, the knowledge that my mate had fed from another not sitting right, despite the fact that he’d been walking the earth for several lifetimes.

He pulled back and rubbed his thumb across my lower lip, the grin on his face equal parts amusement and regret. “You are a jealous little thing, aren’t you?” he said.

I waited to bristle at being called small, my size having been one of my lifelong sources of shame. But the way he said it sounded fond, not belittling. Besides, I liked how my smaller body seemed to fit so perfectly with Miguel’s bulkier frame, like two pieces of a puzzle that clicked just right.

“You weren’t complaining about my size last night,” I said cheekily. “Or, uh, this morning, I guess,” I added, my confusion over night and day ruining the intended haughty effect.

Miguel reached between my legs without a second of hesitation, like he knew he had the right to touch there. He curled his fingers around my testicles and stroked upward, pulling my prick through a tight vise before going back down and starting the process again.

“Ungh!” I moaned and raised my hips, trying to get closer to his touch.

Every inch of my genitals was touched, manipulated, heated.

“You know,” Miguel whispered into my ear, his breath ghosting over my neck and causing a full-body shiver. “Blood flows all over. And I can be very creative.” He gave my pecker a squeeze before continuing his ministrations. “Do you still want me to feed from you?”

“Only me,” I panted, intense desire for the man next to me causing my air to come out in short, fast bursts.

He cupped my cheek with one hand and traced my eyebrows with the fingers of another. “After four hundred years, I didn’t think anything could surprise me, but I didn’t see you coming, wolf.”

Wake Me Up Inside

A powerful Alpha wolf shifter and a strong-willed human overcome traditions ingrained over generations and uncover long-buried secrets to fulfill their destiny as true mates.

In Your Eyes

Two very different men with a tumultuous history must overcome challenges from all sides and see past their society’s rules to realize they are destined for one another.

Giveaway: Cardeno C. will give away one ebook – winner’s choice of  the three above. To enter, just leave a comment stating which book you want to read the most! I’ll pick a winner Saturday.

Author Links

email: cardenoc@gmail.com

Website: www.cardenoc.com

Blog: (Shared Blog) http://caferisque.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @CardenoC

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Short Bio: Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Heartwarming Stories. Strong Relationships. Forever Love.