Oh, I’m so glad you could make it!

My book, Shifting Tides: Beneath A Midnight Sea, is now available from Amber Heat!
ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-032-9 (Electronic)

Terri Fletcher knows how to flirt, how to meet men…just not how to keep one. She gets talked into attending a workshop on how to find Mr. Right. But when she comes home that evening, the last thing she expects is to find him wet and naked, passed out behind her house.

Destin MacCodrum, a shapeshifter, survives a strange storm at sea, and a shark attack, only to wash ashore far from his intended destination. Much has changed since his last visit to the world of the land-dwellers. Including his resistance to the lusty charms of their women, namely his beautiful rescuer.

Unable to change back into his aquatic form without his seal skin cap, Destin suspects Terri may have hidden it to keep him with her, just as all the legends say. Together they must learn trust, while another plots in secret to destroy Destin’s world beneath the midnight sea.

If you’d like to win a copy of Shifting Tides: Beneath A Midnight Sea, you have two chances to win. But you have to get in the pool! Post a comment here and at the Midnight Moon Cafe blog to register for the drawing. Two names will be picked. One from comments left here and one from comments left there. ;)

I’ll be drawing door prizes all during the day, and posting the names of the winners here on my website (Click on Enter The Fantasy to view contest and winner information) and what they won, so check back to see if your name is added to my list as a winner! Separate door prizes will also be drawn at the Cafe’s blog so remember to enter there, too (directions on how to enter the Cafe’s contests will be posted on that blog).
How to win a door prize:

To enter for the Shifting Tides launch party door prizes, all you have to do is send an email with your name and snail mail address to: cass@cassandracurtis.com, with the subject line: Shifting Tides Door Prizes. Winners will be picked at random and notified.

Some of the prizes are: Treasures From The Sea: authentic natural pearl and rare pink coral bracelets, mother of pearl teardrop earrings, Mermaids In Atlantis faux black pearl choaker and jewelry set, genuine Artisan Amethyst and moonstone bracelet, Seascapes: Sounds of the Sea CD, and Sea Magick blended perfume oil.

Okay, now check out a excerpt from my book!

Shifting Tides: Beneath A Midnight Sea!
©2007, Cassandra Curtis

Terri forced herself to stop ogling the sexy stranger. He worked out–a lot. But those rippled abs and long, sleek muscles didn’t come from a gym. At first, she’d been too worried about him to notice what an incredible specimen of man she’d found.

Oh my…those dark, almost black eyes, and the inky hair. She just knew when it was dry, clean of sea water and sand, brushed straight, it would feather through her fingers in a silky, dark wave. She tried to peer closer at the strange tattoo on his inner bicep. It was a circle of black. Inside, lines formed an interwoven petal-like design. She’d seen this same tattoo somewhere else, long ago, but couldn’t remember where.

The approaching siren interrupted her thoughts. She should be ashamed. The man was hurt. He could be married with kids at home, his family worried about him. And she hadn’t thought to ask if he needed her to call someone for him. All he seemed concerned about was his baseball cap. She vowed to look for it in the morning.

She excused herself and went to meet the medics. The two men followed her to the deck. While one of them asked Destin questions, the other opened a case and began treating the wound–which was a heck of a lot smaller than she remembered! It looked like nothing more than a nasty scratch and a couple of small puncture wounds.

What the–?

“What type of animal did you say attacked him?”

“Umm, shark. It looked like a shark bite to me. And there was lots of blood. He passed out.”

“Could be, judging by the teeth marks, but if it was, your man got lucky. It was probably a baby.”

Destin shot her a warning glance. But why? She knew the gouge she’d seen wasn’t from a baby shark.

“How many fingers am I holding up?” One of the medics asked, while the other expertly debrided and bandaged Destin’s thigh.

“Three.”

“Who is president?”

“Of what?”

A look passed between the paramedics. “The United States.”

“He’s not from here. He’s visiting from Scotland,” she interjected, worried now that Destin would wind up in the hospital’s “special wing.”

One of the men stood to shine a light in his eyes. Then he made a notation on a clipboard. “You know what day it is?”

She tried to “mouth” the word Friday, but quit when she noticed the medic glance from Destin to her.

“Ah, Friday.”

The medic shot her a disgusted glare. “Can you tell me what year it is?” He asked Destin.

“I will answer no more of your foolish questions.”

“I can’t help you if you won’t answer the questions.”

“I need no more help.”

“Fine, the docs in ER can deal with you, buddy.”

“Nay. I’ll not go to your hospital.”

“Look, if you don’t go, then your insurance won’t pay for our trip.”

She had no idea if that was true or if the medic had said it to cajole him. But Destin wasn’t easily cajoled…or anything else it seemed. He folded his arms in front of his broad chest and shook his head.

“I stay right here.”

“I…umm, I don’t think he has insurance anyway.”

“No insurance?”

She glanced at Destin, and he shook his head. “I guess not.”

“Well, then if you are refusing to go to the hospital, there’s nothing more for us here. Keep off the leg for a while if you can. And you might want to see if your girlfriend has antibiotic ointment and fresh bandages for tomorrow.” He repacked his case, while the other man handed a clipboard and pen to Destin.

“It’s a release I need you to sign, saying that you are refusing transport.”

He scrawled something on it, then handed it back the man.

“He should follow up–make him go to a doctor Monday.”

“I will.” She ignored Destin’s fierce scowl.

The medics nodded to her as they left.

She scooted her chair closer to his, and sat down beside him. “Destin, you really should have gone with them. You could have hit your head when you passed out and be suffering from a concussion.”

“You truly worry for me? A stranger?”

“Of course I do. Anyone would.”

“Nay. Few would. And surely not a land-dweller.” He reached out to touch her hair, then leaned closer, whispering, “Fair beauty…”

“Now, I’m really worried,” she quipped. “Definitely a concussion.”

His lips were mere inches from hers. He leaned in. She tilted her head and met him halfway. The ocean’s roar echoed in her mind. Her senses were overwhelmed as she sank beneath his kiss.

He tasted of salt air and the sea. His hands cupped the back of her head and his fingers wove through her hair. He gave a gentle tug, and she opened her mouth.

Now she was the one who felt light-headed. His tongue dove and fluttered, teasing her, tempting her. She placed her hands on his smooth chest and glided her fingers over the rock-solid pecs. Like warm satin over steel. Liquid heat flooded her, sensitizing her skin to his touch. She squeezed her thighs tight.

He pulled back, eyes glittering with some distant emotion. If she didn’t know better, she’d think it was wonder. He caressed her face with a butterfly’s touch, as she took huge gulping breaths and tried to gather her scattered wits. Despite what her mother thought, she’d been kissed plenty of times–but none like that!

“I, uh…maybe we should go inside. You’re probably hungry–for food! I’ll fix us something.” She led the way, feeling like an idiot. Wanting him, yet shy and a little nervous about the whole idea.

She’d known him less than three hours. Was that too soon to boink his brains out? The poor guy had survived a shark attack. The last thing he needed was to get his bones jumped by a sex-starved lunatic. Of course, her friend Jill would probably have him in bed by now. Or on the floor if she couldn’t wait that long.

A pent-up sigh escaped her lips. She opened the refrigerator, then remembered the sack of groceries still on the coffee table. As she turned to go get them, she bumped into her guest. The blanket had slipped farther, exposing more of his taut, satin flesh. Mercy!

“I was just going to–”

His mouth descended on hers. His hands were light on her shoulders, almost a caress. She shivered, deepened the kiss. Screw the groceries, they can wait. His tongue stroked in and out, mimicking the slow motion of his hips. Those seductive hands of his moved lower, cupped her ass, and lifted her onto the kitchen’s butcher block island. He eased back, slid his lips across her jaw, down to the pulse in her throat, and laved it with his tongue.

* * *

Don’t forget to leave a comment here if you want to be entered in the drawing for a copy of my ebook! Good Luck!

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.