Welcome to day two of the Horsemen countdown. On Friday April 13, 2012, Mystery Stallion, the seventh book in the Horsemen series is scheduled for release by Ellora’s Cave. To celebrate the new release, there will be a daily contest here at this blog during which you can enter for the chance to win a pdf download of one of the first six Horsemen books. On the last day a bonus winner will be randomly selected from the entire week’s entries and will receive a pdf download of Mystery Stallion. Details on how to enter will be posted daily at
Saturday April 7 2012 – Dream Stallion Contest
Congratulations to Amber winner of the Dream Stallion Contest!
Sunday April 8 2012 – Captive Stallion Contest
Monday April 9 2012 – Highland Stallion Contest
Tuesday April 10 2012 – Winter Stallion Contest
Wednesday April 11 2012 – Victory Stallion Contest
Thursday April 12 2012 – Mountain Stallion Contest
Friday April 13, 2012 – Mystery Stallion Releases!
Thank you and good luck!
Kate
Captive Stallion Contest:
Note: You must be 18 or over to enter the following contest.
To enter for the chance to win a pdf download of Captive Stallion, send an email to katehill@sprintmail.com with Captive Stallion Contest in the subject line and the answer to the following question in the body of the email.
How old is Moor?
The answer can be found in the excerpt below.
Deadline to enter is Midnight April 8, 2012. The winner will be announced (first name only) on April 9, 2012 on this blog and the prize will be emailed.
Bonus Contest: On Thursday April 12, 2012, an additional winner will be selected at random from the entries from this week’s contests. That winner will receive a pdf download of Mystery Stallion. The bonus winner will be announced on Friday April 13.
Captive Stallion
From Ellora’s Cave
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-5457-captive-stallion.aspx
For years Susana and Moor have buried their attraction to one another. Susana, a human healer, is much younger than the shapeshifting Horseman who is also her best friend’s foster father. In their minds, anything more than friendship is unacceptable, until they experience the legendary dream sharing that binds a Horseman to his destined mate. With Moor’s help, Susana overcomes her fear of flying to ride her lover in the most famous endurance race in the world. Their happiness seems as fated as their love. Then Moor is enslaved in the Vertue Mountains, and Susana must risk everything to save him.
The following excerpt from CAPTIVE STALLION is for readers 18 and over.
By the time he arrived, he’d cooled down from his flight and actually felt a bit cold in the frosty air.
When he knocked on the door, Terra answered, hitching up his trousers, his long, black hair in disarray.
Moor shifted uncomfortably on his front hooves. “Sorry. This is a bad time, isn’t it?”
“A few minutes more and it would have been worse.” Inez grinned as she approached, belting her robe around her waist. She leaned against Terra who placed an affectionate arm around her. “I’m only joking, Moor. It’s nice to see you. Are you home for good?”
Moor shook his head. “I just stopped by to say hello since I was back in the area. I’m staying with Pete for a while longer.” Moor was about to continue when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Susana emerging from the side of the house.
He turned, his heart pounding as their gazes met. For a moment both seemed frozen then Susana’s lips flicked upward in a smile and she said, “Moor. I thought you were at your brother’s?”
“I just came by to tell Inez and Terra I’ve entered The King Montague’s Flame.”
“What?” Inez demanded.
“Have you really?” Terra’s ears pricked forward and his eyes held a look of keen interest. “That’s quite an endurance race.”
“I know. I won it in my youth.”
Terra looked impressed. “What made you decide to enter again? Inez never told me you raced.”
“That’s because I didn’t know.” Inez reached for Moor’s hand and squeezed it. “That’s an awfully dangerous race, Moor.”
“Yes, it is.” Susana approached, standing so close to Moor that their bodies almost touched. “I know why you’re doing this.”
His pulse raced. She must know how much she affected him. How degrading.
“It’s because of the injury from your last Gathering, isn’t it?” Susana continued. “You feel you have to prove yourself.”
Moor sighed with relief. “That’s not it at all. I just need something to keep me occupied this winter. Besides, the race isn’t even as dangerous as the Gatherings.”
“Just be careful,” Inez said.
“Yes, I don’t want to be patching you up again any time soon,” Susana told him.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Terra nodded. “You’re in excellent condition and with training I’m sure you’ll be one of the best Horsemen there, if not the best.”
“Thank you. At least someone doesn’t think thirty-six is old enough to be put to pasture.”
“Hardly.” Terra snorted. “In a few years, I’ll be there myself.”
“Inez, I was just out for a walk and thought I’d stop by for a rest before heading home, but I see it’s a bad time,” Susana said, her gaze sweeping Terra’s bare chest and Inez’s robe-covered body.
“No,” Terra said. “Would you both like to come in?”
“No, thanks,” Moor and Susana spoke together. Their eyes met and they grinned.
His pulse beating in his throat and his belly taut from nerves, Moor managed to ask calmly, “Would you like a ride back to the village?”
Susana’s mouth opened then closed before she finally said, “I’m not keen on flying.”
“I’ll be glad to walk.”
“Well–”
“Don’t worry, Susana.” Inez winked. “He’s really gentle. Unless you think Linn might be upset.”
“Why would Linn be upset? He and I are good friends, that’s all.”
“Uh-huh.” Inez flashed a knowing look which Susana ignored.
“Yes, I’d like a ride,” Susana told Moor.
He walked to a short stone wall that Susana stood on to mount him. They waved goodbye to Inez and Terra as Moor headed for the village square.
The barrage of emotions was almost too much to process. Susana’s legs, satiny smooth beneath her dress, hugged his equine sides. Her small hands rested lightly on his shoulders, yet they seemed to sear him with passion.
“How have you been?” Susana asked.
“Well. And you?”
“Well.”
For the next few moments, they traveled in silence. Moor suddenly became aware of damp heat seeping through her panties. Gods, she was as aroused as he was. He felt the mad urge to gallop across the fields and leap into a flight that would bring her pleasure only felt between a Horseman and his mate.
“Moor, I …” Her hands slid down his arms. Her touch sent a shiver down his spine that rippled right through his equine back to his tailbone.
“What?” he asked gently, glancing at her over his shoulder. Their gazes locked and he stopped walking. Moor’s desire had reached a fever pitch and he broke into a light sweat, his body heating as if he’d just come from a tropical flight.
“I…” She shook her head then slipped from his back. “I can walk from here.”
“Then I’ll walk with you.”
“No.” She placed a hand on his chest. The motion was meant to rebuff him, but her touch lingered, her fingers gripping the muscle and stroking the damp mat of hair.
He covered her hand with his, pressing it so close he knew she must have felt his slamming heartbeat. He bent and she took a step closer, standing on tiptoe. Their lips met and he held her close, lifting her off the ground. Susana clung to his neck, her tongue meeting his. Their mouths parted but they continued covering each other’s faces with kisses. Her skin felt so soft, her scent so arousing.
“Oh, Gods.” Susana suddenly turned her face away.
Moor stopped kissing her, though he didn’t release her. They stared, eye-to-eye, their noses nearly brushing.
“What are we doing?” Susana murmured.
Social
Happy Easter Kate!
Thank you for the Horsemen contest. Good luck to all who enter!
I love your books and am working my way through the Ancient Blood series right now, and then on to the Alien Affairs series after that. Looking forward to that series. Are there going to be any more Knights of the Ruby Order books? Blaze was my favorite of that series. One of these days I will be able to say I’ve read all your books….only to have you publish another one the day after! lol
Jo
Hi, Jo! Happy Easter! Thank you very much for reading my books. I’m really glad to hear you’re enjoying them. Right now I don’t have any more Knights books firmly planned, but I do have ideas for that series I hope to work on in the future.