Blurb:
All these years, Amber thought her beloved adopted brother, Allen, was dead. When she discovers he’s not only alive, but living in the same city, she runs to him for help. Fortunately, Allen and his lovers have a plan to keep Amber safe. Allen brings his little sister to stay with Maddox Henley, a Dom with a dark past, and Riley Jones, an ex-soldier with a dark secret. Together, these two strapping construction workers have the balls and ability to keep a young woman safe from all outside threats.
But can they keep her safe from the threat they pose to her heart?
Excerpt:
“Maddox?”
He ran his palm down her hair, cupping the back of her head as he looked down into those impossibly blue eyes. “Angel?”
“Are you…upset with me?”
“Upset? Of course not! Why on earth would you think that?”
She bit her lip, looking away. “You’re shaking. And you haven’t spoken since…since I said…”
“Oh, angel,” Maddox said with a tired sigh. He cupped her face, kissed her gently. “I’m not upset with you. I promise. I’m just overwhelmed, okay? I’m honored that you’ve chosen to trust me with your secrets tonight. I’m humbled that you would want to get to know me, despite being afraid of me. And I’m nervous, because I don’t want to fuck this up. I don’t want to betray your trust or cause you one millisecond of pain. And I’m terrified that I’ll do or say something wrong, and I’ll lose my chance to be with the most mesmerizing, awe-inspiring, breathtaking woman I’ve ever met in my life.”
Her jaw dropped. “You…you think all that? Ab–b–bout me?”
Maddox nodded, expression solemn. “Yes, I do. You don’t even know how strong you are, do you? You amaze me, Amber. You’ve been through so much. Other people would have been broken by what you’ve gone through. But you’re still this wonderful, sweet, loving young woman who makes me want to shield you from the rest of the world for the rest of my life. I can’t even begin to express how much tonight means to me.”
Two tears spilled over her cheeks. Maddox leaned down, kissed both of them away tenderly. “I don’t want to mess this up. I don’t ever want you to think I’m just in this for a wild night between the sheets. Nothing could be further from the truth. I will still teach you about the D/s lifestyle if that is your wish, but I won’t do it as your Dom.” He paused significantly.
“I want to do it as your boyfriend. If you’ll have me. If you’ll let me court you, let me show you what a true D/s relationship looks like, inside and outside the bedroom. I want you, Amber. You. Not just the submissive. All of you.”
Amber’s mouth worked, but no sound came out at first. After a few tries, she managed to gasp out, “I…I don’t know what to say.”
He gave her a soft smile, caressed her cheek. “You don’t have to say anything, angel. Not one thing. I’m here for you, now and forever, for as long as you want me to be a part of your life. Your decision. Your choice. Just know I’ll be here for you, no matter what.”
Amber sat staring at him in utter silence for a long, tense moment. Then she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Maddox wrapped her up as tightly as he dared, noting how she still tensed whenever she felt his strength surrounding her. Christ, she was going to kill him with her fear. He wanted her to feel sheltered by his strength, not frightened by it. He had to convince her that he would never use his size against her, never overpower her in the name of getting what he wanted. She needed to know, to understand down to the marrow of her bones, that everything he did, everything he was, was meant to keep her safe.
But the only sure way to do that was to let her see how he used his strength on another sub, so she could witness for herself the way Maddox handled one. And that meant he needed Riley, ready, willing, and eager to join both of them in bed.
Maddox suppressed a shiver and glanced out the patio doors—and there, on the far side of the yard, watching them with so much hunger in his eyes Maddox could feel it like a gnawing in his own gut, stood Riley.
Perfect timing.
Smiling, Maddox leaned down and whispered next to her ear. “Don’t look, don’t be alarmed. We have an audience. Riley is watching us.”
She tensed, but otherwise made no move. “Is he…is he mad?”
Maddox laughed. “Mad? Why on earth would he be mad?”
Amber looked up at him through her lashes, concern evident in her small frown. “Won’t he be jealous? I mean, if he wants you for himself…”
“Envious, angel. Not jealous. I have no doubt he wants you, too. Seeing both of us together…well, let’s just say that’s a fantasy come to life for guys like me and him. Right now, he’s thinking about the possibilities, trust me. Wondering if he can bring himself to be with a man as well as a woman.
“That is, if he truly does want me.” Maddox tried to look pensive, his intent to make her jump to his defense. “I don’t really know how he feels. I certainly want him. But he’s straight, Amber. Straight men do not, as a rule, want other men. I could be projecting my desire onto him, seeing something I want to see instead of what is truly there.”
“That’s not what you said earlier,” she accused, eyes sparkling. “Why don’t you go after him? What are you waiting for?”
He caressed her jaw, letting just a little of the lust he was feeling overwhelm his expression. “You think I should? Is that what you want? To see me and Riley together?”
Amber let out a sexy little groan, her pupils dilating as she licked her lips. “Oh, fuck, yes. Are you kidding me? I’m getting hot just thinking about it.”
He chuckled. “Are you, now? Hmm, I’ll have to think about this for a moment.” Inwardly, he was doing a victory dance, hearing the way her self-consciousness melted the moment she realized Maddox’s focus was on Riley instead of her. In that instant, she became a passionate, eager young woman, determined to help him fulfill his fantasy.
Christ God in heaven, he wanted to see her react that way when it came to her own sexual gratification. All in good time—if he could pull this first step off, that is.
Buy Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/angel-without
Interview:
Me: Give us some insight into your main character. What makes him/her special?
Rhiannon: Angel Without is an MMF menage story. Amber, Maddox, and Riley are my MC’s, and each one is very dear to my heart.
Amber is a tiny thing, all blonde hair and big blue eyes. She’s always seen herself as this meek little mouse, hating herself for always giving in to the men in her life. She’s never realized exactly how strong she really is, despite having survived constant emotional abuse from her father and her ex boyfriends. By the time she meets Maddox and Riley, she’s on the cusp of coming into her own. She’s also a sexual submissive, but after being abused by her first Dom, she’s convinced herself she’ll never be happy in a D/s relationship.
Maddox is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, with gray eyes that turn silver when he’s aroused and a Dominant nature. He has always been bisexual, but a terrible mistake with a female sub led him to swear off all women. He has a major crush on Riley, but up until Amber comes into their lives, he’s never had the courage to act on it. When his instincts scream for him to claim Amber, he realizes it’s also time to claim Riley as his sub, too.
Smart-ass Riley Jones is probably one of my very favorite characters I’ve ever written. He’s built like a football player with a clear Alpha set to his shoulders, but inside he’s so much dandelion fluff. Riley is just twenty-three, having moved to Houston from his home town in central Texas because there were no jobs for veterans there. That’s the excuse he gave Maddox when Maddox hired him as his foreman, anyway. The truth is something far, far different. After getting kicked out of the Army, Riley is truly convinced no one is safe around him. So, you can imagine his angst when he’s tasked with helping Maddox keep Amber safe.
Me: Is there a message in your novel you hope to convey to your readers?
Rhiannon: D/s isn’t always about pain. There are many, many different kinds of dynamics. Some people just like dressing up in fetish clothing. Others like the full hardcore masochistic side. My books cover the psychologically based D/s, where the predominant motivation is the power exchange between individuals. You’ll never see whips, chains, or dungeons in any of my books.
Me: I love a good conflict. What draws your main characters to each other and keeps them apart?
Rhiannon: Maddox and Riley are charged with protecting Amber from an abusive ex. Maddox and Riley have known each other for a year, but misconceptions about the other’s sexuality has kept them from expressing their attraction for one another. When Amber falls into their lives, they both suddenly realize that there’s room for a woman in their relationship—when and if they can get up the courage to accept their attraction for one another. Unfortunately, Amber is convinced all Dominant men are going to be out to hurt her, and Riley has some serious self-esteem issues stemming from family tragedies. Maddox is the only Dominant, and he himself has a dark past. The three of them must overcome their personal demons in order to be together and accept their triad relationship.
Me: How did you come up with the title?
Rhiannon: In the first book of the series, the main character, Allen, says the phrase “Angel Without. Demons Within.” Since Amber was an angel who had suffered without hope, love, acceptance, or friendship her entire life, Angel Without just felt appropriate.
Me: What’s your favorite sub-genre (contemporary, sci-fi, etc.) to write? To read?
Rhiannon: Contemporary MMF, which is weird, considering I’m a fantasy junkie. But somehow it is easier to accept a love story that takes place in the modern world. I love all the trappings of sci fi and fantasy, but find romantic stories that are set in the present are more relatable. That goes for both reading and writing, though I am working on a new series that is paranormal. Still MMF, though. Menage is the ultimate love for me. No barriers, no self-denial, just real love and sexual indulgence. Mmmmm…lol
Me: I usually get plot ideas in the shower and while driving. When/where does inspiration strike you?
Rhiannon: When I’m walking my dog, believe it or not. My dog, Max, is known as Intrepid Explorer Max Puppy, and he has made it his mission to track down every single frog living on the property of my apartment complex. So, every time we go for a walk, it turns into a long, winding affair where he has to sniff every crack and crevice in search of frogs. This, obviously, leaves me with a lot of time to think. I usually come back from walking him and have to make notes of all the scenes that popped into my head while he was hunting frogs. Kind of ironic, really. His never-ending search for frogs lets me talk to my characters, figure out what they need, and envision the next scenes that I need to write. Win-win, even though it is exhausting to have to make ten circuits of the complex in 104 degree heat! lol
Me: What new stories are you working on?
Rhiannon: I’m currently working on book 3 of the For Love of Authority series, which is titled Saints United. It follows some old college friends of the characters in my first book, and details their journey toward forming a lasting triad. This book is taking it out of me, though. There are some extremely emotional and tragic events that occur, which are personally heartbreaking for me. This one might take me a bit longer to write than my readers would prefer, but in the end I hope they will forgive me for the delay!
I’m also working on that paranormal series I mentioned. But, don’t expect werewolves and vampires from me. For more information, you’ll just have to wait for the book to come out!
Author Bio:
Rhiannon Ayers has lived in many cities over the years, having grown up the daughter of parents who suffered from wanderlust. Currently, she and her husband reside near the Gulf of Mexico with their children, both the two- and four-legged variety. An artist to the bone, Rhiannon spends her days dreaming up snappy headlines and creating eye-catching artwork for clients all over the world, though telling stories has always been her first love. After writing her first epic adventure series at the tender age of eight, she went on to garner several creative writing awards, including the prestigious Vanderbilt Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. Becoming a published author is her single greatest achievement to date.
Rhiannon loves getting feedback from readers. Please email her at rhiannon.ayers@yahoo.com.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.rhiannonayers.com
Blog: www.rhiannonayers.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005716777543
Twitter: @RAyersAuthor
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00LH6CAP4
Be sure to comment by midnight EDT on Wednesday, August 20, for a chance to win a copy of Angel Without!
Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!
Good luck with your new release, Rhiannon. It looks like a good one! - Skye Michaels
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