Title: Escaping Solitude
Series: The Escape Trilogy, Book Two
Author: Sara Dobie Bauer
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: October 29, 2018
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 29400
Genre: Paranormal, bisexual, gay, vampires, polyamorous, sailors
Add to Goodreads
Synopsis
Ancient vampire Andrew escaped his
tropical island exile with his beloved human sailor, Edmund. They’ve now
returned to Andrew’s home in nineteenth-century New Orleans and must navigate
not only their developing relationship—and equally haunted pasts—but also a
hungry coven of vampires Andrew used to call friends.
Desperate to stay by Andrew’s side
forever, Edmund examines the impressive coven library in search of an Elder,
the only creature capable of turning Edmund. Although missing for centuries,
Andrew believes an Elder must still survive somewhere; they just have to find
him.
The search is put on hold when Edmund
receives word that his mother is ill in London, and the lovers set off on an
oceanic journey surrounded by new friends and old enemies. When things go
terribly wrong, Edmund’s fragile human life hangs in the balance, and an Elder
must be found or Andrew will be alone forever.
Excerpt
Escaping Solitude
Sara Dobie Bauer © 2018
All Rights Reserved
Chapter One
My sailor is getting very good at
nightmares. In the bed of our rented hotel room in the New Orleans French
Quarter, he thrashes against me in the dark and whimpers. When Edmund is lost
in the thralls of passion, I adore that noise—but not when he’s afraid like
this. I pull his naked body hard against mine and press kisses to his clammy
forehead. He claws at me for but a moment before allowing himself to be
enveloped in my embrace. He murmurs my name and falls back asleep.
We’ve only been on dry land for a day
after an oceanic journey that felt interminable. Perhaps it’s my having been
alone for so long on my island of exile, but I now abhor the presence of so
many other people. Edmund said I acted like a she-wolf with her pup, my hands
on him whenever anyone drew near. Yes, I’m territorial of my dearest, but he
doesn’t yet know how other vampires can be.
He’ll find out soon. Michelle demanded
we appear at my old vampire coven. I’m to present Edmund to my old friends, but
I plan to make it clear that no other immortal will even breathe on my sailor
without getting a fist to the throat. Monsters are not to be trusted with
something so beautiful, and God, is Edmund ever beautiful.
He danced on the harbor as soon as he
set foot on American soil. I didn’t miss the way Michelle’s eyes glittered as
she watched. Although he requested to immediately explore, I refused to let him
walk New Orleans barefoot in my hand-me-down, bloodstained clothes. I carried
him, laughing, away from the harbor before remembering myself. The way I love
my sailor isn’t appropriate to many small-minded Southerners. After so much
time spent alone, we have to alter our behavior. I can’t very well grab him and
kiss him in the middle of a Bourbon Street afternoon, can I?
At our hotel, Edmund marveled at the
crystal chandeliers, and although we received several strange looks, my coven’s
money guaranteed us a room on the top floor. First thing we did was bathe
together in a tub practically the size of our island lagoon. I requested a
barber and watched as the white-haired gent shaved Edmund and trimmed his hair.
Skin once again soft, Edmund hurried the barber away so we could make love. He
has done nothing but sleep and eat since, but in the morning, we will visit a
tailor.
It’s been four years since I left. Will
old man Peters still be alive?
Edmund shifts beside me. His fingertips
press against my chest, and he hums. “You’re awake.”
I run my fingers through his hair. “How
did you know?”
“Your breath changes.” He kisses the
edge of my jaw. “I know you don’t need to breathe, but you do it anyway, as
though your body won’t give up the habit.” He must notice how tightly I hold
him. “Did I have another nightmare?”
“Mm. Do you ever remember what they’re
about?”
“Water. I think. Lots of water.” He
yawns and rubs his legs against mine.
“Don’t tell me you’re now going to be
scared of the sea.”
I feel him smile against my skin.
“Never. I’d just rather not be dragged under it in a sinking ship.” He sits up
and stretches his arms over his head. His back makes a slight popping sound
when he twists his ribs and stands, walking naked to the pitcher of water in
our gilded basin. Most of the high-ceilinged room is painted gold. A huge
bouquet of white magnolias sits on the table by my side, although the sweet,
floral scent doesn’t cover the New Orleans odor of sweat, salt, and sewer.
Of course, if I focus, I smell only
Edmund. It’s hard to not focus on his bare skin as he drinks straight from the
water jug before wiping his face with the back of his hand. The long, angry
scar on his back shivers in the moonlight, and the bandage on his arm glows
white. I suppose it’s my fault he earned a new scar during our time on the
island. His blood was a gift to me that managed to save his life.
He rubs at his shoulder as though sore.
“My body is confused,” he says.
I lean up on my elbows. “How so?”
“It’s accustomed to hard work.”
“I’ll work you hard.”
He laughs, and the sight of his lean
stomach contracting has me half hard already. He flops into bed on his belly.
“Do you even listen when I talk?”
I run my fingers through his dark hair.
It’s shorter now than when we first met. “I love listening to you talk.”
“I’ve spent years living at sea. When I
wasn’t busy playing sailor on deck, I walked through wild forests and fought
cannibals and pirates. Now, I’m here in this bloody posh hotel, eating pastries
all day—”
I steal a kiss. “They’re called
beignets.”
“And, if we’re not careful, I’m going to
end up fat and lazy like all the other British dukes.” His eyes go wide in the
darkness. “Jesus, Andrew, I have to write my mother! She might think me mad,
but she doesn’t want me dead. And the trading company. Their ship is at the
bottom of the sea!”
I tackle him and put my hand over his
mouth. “Quiet. Are you trying to wake the entire hotel? It’s nowhere close to
morning yet. Your letter writing will have to wait.”
He mumbles against my skin.
“What was that?” I pull my hand away.
“Are we going to see the city in the
morning?”
“Yes. I have plans.” I think of my
tailor, Peters…and a possible nocturnal enticement.
Edmund’s callused palms run up the sides
of my biceps. “I’ll have to pretend I don’t adore you, won’t I? Out in the
city. Two men together is frowned upon. I won’t be able to do this…” He cups my
head in his hands and pulls me closer until his open mouth finds mine. He sucks
on my tongue, and I grind against his hip.
I pull away and press my forehead to
his. “Will I ever stop wanting you?”
“No.” He smiles. “Men rarely do.”
“Cocky.”
He grabs my hand and presses it to the
hardness between his legs. “Very.”
Purchase
NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Meet the Author
Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, she lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody series, among other sexy things.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No comments:
Post a Comment