Excerpt Day: Conflict in Blood by Ariel Tachna

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Partnership in Blood Volume 3: Conflict in Blood by Ariel Tachna
Release Date: May 11, 2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 978-1-935192-29-9
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/currenttitles/bloodseries/conflict/conflictbuynow.htm

Amazon Kindle: Conflict in Blood (Partnership in Blood)

Amazon: Conflict in Blood

Blurb: As the Alliance wizard-vampire partnerships grow stronger, the dark wizards feel the effects and become increasingly desperate to find enough information to counter them, unaware of the growing strain of the blood-magic bonds on the wizards and vampires alike. The conflict is spreading. The strife of uncomfortable relationships, both personal and professional, is threatening to tear up the Alliance from the inside, despite the efforts of Alain Magnier and Orlando St. Clair, Thierry Dumont and Sebastien Noyer, and even Raymond Payet and Jean Bellaiche, leader of the Paris vampires, who is fighting to establish a stable covenant with his own partner so he might lead by example. As the war rages on and heartbreaking casualties mount on both sides, the dark wizards keep searching for clues to understand and counter the strength of the Alliance, while the blood-bound Alliance partners hunt through ancient prejudices and forgotten lore to find an edge that can turn the tide of the war once and for all.

Excerpt:

"God, I thought this day would never end," Thierry groused, collapsing onto the couch. It had been quiet all day, as if the city was holding its breath, waiting for the storm that was sure to come. Thierry knew he shouldn´t complain about a routine shift, but between that and the preparations for the ritual the next day, it had been tedious beyond belief, especially because Raymond had been at his most pedantic, insisting on checking and double-checking every little detail. Thierry understood. He simply resented being the one ordered to do the checking instead of the one insisting on such rigor.

"Here," Sebastien said, sitting down next to Thierry. "Enjoy this and relax a little."

Thierry took the glass from his partner and sniffed it to see what Sebastien had served him. "Did Alain tell you I liked kir?" he asked, curious how the vampire had known exactly what apéritif to fix for him.

"No, but you made yourself one a couple of nights ago, so I figured you might enjoy another one," Sebastien explained.

Thierry did not even try to suppress the thrill that shot through him at the thought that Sebastien was paying such close attention to his preferences. He sipped the drink and sighed in delight. The other man had mixed it just the way he liked it. Leaning his head against the back of the sofa, he let the tension of the day seep out of him slowly, marveling at how easy a routine he and Sebastien had developed over the past week. Finish their shift, come home, relax a little before Thierry ate and Sebastien fed, then sleep, the vampire holding him close, keeping him safe. With another deep sigh, Thierry decided he could get used to this, to having someone to share his life again, someone to take care of him sometimes, someone to care for at other times.

On the heels of that thought, warm hands settled on his shoulders. He cracked his eyes open to see Sebastien looking at him critically. "You´re tense," the vampire told him. "Turn around a little so I can get to your back. Let me help you relax."

Thierry shifted so he was sitting as Sebastien directed, back to his partner, leaning against the couch still as he sipped his drink and let Sebastien´s hands work their magic. He had already learned how talented they were. He started to stifle his groan as they worked the muscles of his back through his shirt, but Sebastien had told him he enjoyed the little sounds the wizard made. The memory sent an erotic thrill down Thierry´s back, a sensation that still surprised him at times. How, in nine days, he could have come to trust Sebastien almost as completely as he trusted Alain was hard enough to understand. How, in those same nine days, he had come to desire the vampire defied all logic. He had stopped trying to explain it since their first kiss. Logic did not seem to apply where his feelings for the dark-haired vampire were concerned. Fortunately, Sebastien seemed as baffled at times by their relationship as he did, making Thierry a little less insecure about his inexperience with men. The fact, too, that Sebastien had not pressured him, had not rushed him in any fashion, also helped. The vampire had fed almost every night, with explosive results, but beyond that, they had done little more than kiss, despite Thierry´s steadily increasing desire for more. Downing the last of his drink, he decided he had waited long enough for Sebastien to take the next step. It was his turn.

"I need a shower," Thierry declared, setting his glass aside and turning to face Sebastien, determination clear on his face.

"Good idea," Sebastien agreed. "It´ll help you relax so you can sleep better tonight. You were restless last night."

Thierry smiled wolfishly. "Why don´t you join me? That way we can both relax a little."

"Thierry," Sebastien began warningly, his words cut off by Thierry´s torrid kiss.

"Don´t argue," Thierry insisted, tugging on the vampire´s hand.

Already painfully aroused, Sebastien let Thierry lead him toward the master suite and into the bathroom. When the wizard reached for his clothes, though, Sebastien shook his head and stepped back. His control would never survive Thierry undressing him, and regardless of what the blond thought, he was not ready to deal with an out-of-control Sebastien. "Get in the shower," he directed. "I´m not going to disappear."

Thierry complied with celerity, stripping off his remaining garments and turning the shower on hard and hot. Independent of everything else, he did need to relax and the pounding of the water would help ease the knots in his back and neck. Sebastien paused in his own disrobing to appreciate the wizard´s nude form. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, long, long legs... he caught the edge of the sink, his knuckles turning white from the strength of his grip as he struggled to master the urge to push Thierry against the wall and ravish him. He had made a promise to make love to Thierry properly the first time, not just fuck him over the nearest surface. He intended to keep that promise, but the sight of Thierry´s bare buttocks as he bent to adjust the water strained his control.

"You can touch me, you know," Thierry said without looking up from what he was doing. "I don´t bite."

"No," Sebastien agreed hoarsely, "but I do."

Green eyes glittering with lust, Thierry looked back over his shoulder. "I know. I reap the advantages of it every time you do."