Satin Sheets Romance: Beltane Blitz

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Author Natalie Gibson hijacks Satin Sheets

Beltane Blitz

Another exerpt from Gwyneth's Anchor, my Sinnis Short, that just happens to be set on Beltane!

Leave your email in the comments below to enter into the big contest and for a chance to win a
$10 Starbucks giftcard from me,
Author Natalie Gibson.

"Gwyneth was glad Nurzhan and Lillian were talking to each other and hadn't noticed

her spacing out. Nurzhan was like Lillian's brother but without all that sibling rivalry crap.

They didn't even compete with each other for her affections. Lillian would always be her

sister, irreplaceable. Nurzhan would always be her...well, hers. They laughed and talked.

Nurzhan teased Lillian about boys. That gave Gwyneth an idea.

“We need to set Lilly up with a Nephilim.” They both gawked at her. “What? We

should. All the boys we know are so immature. She needs a date for Beltaine. There are

plenty who haven't found their Sinnis.”

“Any number would be honored to share the heat of Beltaine's fire with so beautiful a

young woman, although...” Nurzhan's voice was mesmerizing. His constant contact with

his Sinnis, claimed or not, had nearly silenced his hunger beast. He almost sounded

human.

“What?” Gwyneth questioned. “Mom said we're both old enough to celebrate this year

and she deserves someone really special for the first time.”

Nurzhan knew she didn't mean the first time, just the first Beltaine she'd dance as an

adult. Lillian was not secretive about not being a virgin. “She does...” He would like to be

nearby if Lillian was going to couple with a Nephilim but he had plans of his own for

Beltaine. He planned to be very preoccupied.

“No, I don't think so, Gwyn. Look, regular guys are disappointing enough without

having to measure up to a Nephilim. I don't need a date. I'm doing it the old fashion

Beltaine way.”

“You're building a hut though, right?”

“Yes, of course. I already said I would. Right next to yours. If sparks fly, I'll choose

someone there to play house with me.”

They reached the Economics building but Nurzhan held Gwyneth back. “Save me a

seat, Lilly. I'll be right there.” When she had gone, he pulled Gwyneth around the corner of

the building. There was an alcove there, surrounded by trees. She expected him to say

something but he just stood there. She turned to stand in front of him, her hand on her hip,

ready to fight.

His eyes bored into hers. They flashed red in a way she'd never seen before. She

backed away from him but he matched every step of her retreat with one of his own. She

found herself trapped between the brick wall and Nurzhan's chest. The two weren't that

di!erent.

She lifted her face in defiance. “I am going to dance at Beltaine. I will have a hut and

either you can join me or I will choose another.”

He pressed his face against hers. His eyes were all she could see, when he spoke his

lips brushed hers with a feather soft touch. One hand at her waist, burning a hole in her

blouse, the other on her shoulder, its thumb on her pulse. “No other will ever lay with

you.” The hand on her shoulder moved almost imperceptibly in towards her throat. “You

are mine, Gwyneth Lovejoy, and mine alone.”

His voice sounded raw, his hunger beast closer to the surface than she'd ever heard it.

Its second voice was coming through and it sounded like his words were backed by the

rumble of a lion's roar. Red flames burned in his gaze. “Stop it, Nurzhan. You're scaring

me.” She pushed against his chest and it had about the same effect that her shoving on

the brick wall behind her would.

“Perhaps you should be frightened. You bait the bear, thinking it's chained.”

Gwyneth kissed him then. It was such a short distance, such a small movement, to be

so electrifying. Her tongue brushed his. He tasted like honey and pepper. She explored

his mouth and was surprised to find his incisors were lengthened. A sharp sudden pain in

her lip told her they were lethally sharp.

She tried to pull back but was still sandwiched. Nurzhan growled and angled his head

to deepen the kiss. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and she melted into him. He

shook with the effort it took to step back. “You should get to class.”

Not ready to leave when she thought she was winning, “You better be at the Beltaine

bonfire if you don't want someone else to help me celebrate.”

Nurzhan stood stoic, his face down turned. He was breathing quite hard. “I will be

there. My beast won't let me stay away as I should.” His words were ground out from

behind clenched teeth. “This is my own fault.”"

If you enjoyed this, you can read the whole thing for FREE on my website. Pick up a wallpaper for your desktop or phone if one tickles your fancy.

While you're there, enter my cool, ultra unique contest for Hateful Burden.

The Carrier Trilogy is a gaslight-era paranormal horror series. In these psychological thrillers, friend and foe are not always what they seem. They are told through the eyes and words of Lady Ramillia Winmoore, daughter of the late Earl of Brooksberry. She finds herself immersed in a society of cruel immortals that will stop at nothing to claim her and to use her for their own personal gain. In this dark urban fantasy, paranormal powers are bred and collected, but she is determined to protect herself and her children—no matter what the consequences may be. These books are dark and gritty in a way only the late 1800s London can be.

AND NOW - Book 1 of the Carrier Trilogy, Hateful Burden, has been edited and designed by Blue Harvest Creative. It is available in its new and (vastly) improved version in both ebook and print!

On Amazon only currently, but coming to Barnes & Noble soon.

You won't want to miss the second book in this series, Wretched Blood.

Have a wonderful Beltane and thank you for stopping by!

LEAVE YOUR EMAIL IN THE COMMENTS

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

A $10 STARBUCKS GIFTCARD.

from me,

Author Natalie Gibson

www.authornataliegibson.com

Hateful Burden Re-Release Party

Facebook friend page

Facebook fan page

Twitter

The Romance Troupe's Blog (where the Beltane Blitz is happening)

Author Natalie Gibson takes over Satin Sheets Romance for Beltane Blitz

Beltane Blitz

The old religions, the ones based on nature and the progression of the year, have always fascinated me. Midsummer (Summer Solstice), Midwinter (Winter Solstice), Beltane and Samhain are my favorites. The Daughters of Women in my Books of Sinnis are witches of sorts, and through them I pay tribute to the old ways. I enjoy combinding the old with the new and adding a dash of fantasy and imagination to invent their own celebrations and holidays.

In Ishtar Bound, the Daughters celebrate Mother's Midwinter. It was a lot of fun inventing that section. Doing so gave me a real insight into how the Daughters believed.

I wrote a short story of Sinnis called Gwyneth's Anchor as free content for my website. It follows Gwyneth through her first Beltane and her mating with Nurzhan Turel, her Nephilim Guardian.

I chose this excerpt because it explains the what, why and how of the Daughters' Beltane celebration, plus there is a little teaser of the romance between Gwyneth and Nurzhan.

"Beltaine used to be a celebration of the beginning of summer, a prayer for a good growing season, and a celebration of the Great Marriage. Like with all holidays, the Daughters had put their own spin, their own traditions over those of old. For them Beltaine was a celebration of the joining of Ki, mother earth, and Yahwe, the Shinar who fell in love with the blue planet and its life. They became Kiyahwe. Beltaine was to thank Yahwe for choosing Ki and to thank Ki for accepting Yahwe.

The strength of the shield, or veil, that protected the life on earth from being harvested by the Shinar was cyclical. Twice a year it was at its weakest. It was not coincidence that these fell on Samhain and Beltaine when ancient religions believed the barrier between the world of the living and that of the dead was thinnest. Many superstitions are based in truth that could not be understood at the time the traditions were set in place. Such was the case with the Beltaine fires and White Dancers.

They hoped to trick the Shinar, if they were able to vaguely see through the veil, into thinking that they didn't need to come through because other Shinar were already here. The bonfire simulated their bright glowing power and the dancing people dressed all in white were costumed to reflect that light, mirroring the Shinar themselves.

Most of all, the holiday was just an excuse for a party. All cultures needed traditions and celebrations. They built a sense of community and common purpose. The first part of the celebration was for everyone, every age. Family appropriate activities included maypoles, feasting and flower wreath making. After dark the activities became more rigorous and sensual. There was dancing around the fire, judging of the huts, selection of partners, couples dancing and then retiring to the huts.

This would be the only year that Gwyneth and Lillian could do both the maypole dance and the fire dance. They danced the maypole as 'virgins', though Gwyneth was the only true virgin of the group, and then they would try to attract a partner with their dance around the fire. Gwyneth was glad that she didn't have a choice then. Nurzhan would choose her and she didn't have to worry about a thing. Lillian wasn't so lucky. There was the possibility that no one would be drawn by her dance or choose her hut. It didn't happen but the threat of embarrassment was there to make the dancers take this seriously.

The fire was lit and the children tucked into bed. Gwyneth and Lillian held hands, their hearts aflutter. There were a lot more people here than either of them expected. Other branches of the Daughters had sent representatives and many of them were men. The Nephilim were in abundance and, as soon as the dancing started many of them displayed their true forms. Giant and winged they glowed in earnest, not reflected light. Nurzhan didn't seem to be among them.

Gwyn and Lilly lost themselves in the dance. They spun, circling the fire, alternating their sides so that one wasn't always too hot from the flames and the other chilled by the night air. They threw their arms and legs up with abandon. The music wove a spell with its techno lulls and crescendos overlaid with tribal beats and deep bass.

They collapsed laughing on the cool grass and lay watching as the sparks rose up reaching for the moon. A guy about their age, maybe a little older, approached them, somewhat timidly. He had two cups filled with mead, which he offered them. “May I sit with you at bit?”

They sat up and took the drinks. Lillian must have answered him. Gwyneth didn't care. The honey sweet liquid was cold and it soothed her throat and quenched a thirst she hadn't known was there. As she lowered her now empty cup, Nurzhan came into view. He was dancing around the fire.

His skin glistened with the sweat of his exertion. He wasn't holding anything back but his glance Gwyneth's way said he wasn't losing himself. He was dancing for her. She had never seen so much of his flesh. He was wearing a pair of pants that were white leather. Their edges didn't meet on the sides and were held together by a single lace that criss-crossed itself from ankle to hip, leaving a wide four inch strip of skin visible. A strip of fur hung in front of his important bits, a loincloth tied around his waist. There were feathers tied in his hair that fluttered with his movements. His wings were tucked tightly behind him, blacking out most of the fire when he turned towards her. His birthstone, the blood red teardrop, hung on his neck.

Gwyneth wanted more than anything to have tonight go well. She wanted this to be easy on Nurzhan, the beautiful creature who danced for her. She wanted this to all be over so they could be together like they were supposed to be.

With a single down-sweep of wings, Nurzhan shot into the air. He circled a minute before landing at her feet. He held his hand out and she took it. He pulled her up. “You look beautiful, Gwyneth. This is the perfect night to make you my Sinnis.”

Standing so suddenly had made Gwyneth a little woozy. The mead on an empty stomach didn't help either. Maybe it was the nearness of Nurzhan or the anxiety for the events of the night, but she was uneasy. “Dance with me first?” She wrapped her arms around Nurzhan's neck and closed her eyes. He pulled her tight against him. The music was softer now but the rhythm just as driving. The dancing was more like having sex with clothes on.

Nurzhan whispered in her ears, his breath taunting the skin it grazed. “I have always been yours. Tonight I make you mine.” She threw her head back and he kissed the column of her neck. He spoke against the hollow there between the clavicles, “Here you will wear my birthright, marking your body's acceptance of mine.” Time slowed down for her while she was overrun with sensations. The world narrowed to include only Nurzhan."

If you enjoyed that bit (by far the most boring and educational of the story), you can read the whole story for FREE. Visit my website and download it. Gwyneth's Anchor was written to be read after Veil of Ishtar (book 5 of Sinnis). Sign up for my monthly newsletter if you would like notifications about new Sinnis Shorts or the sixth and final book of Sinnis coming out at the beginning of 2014. I have a great contest going on for the re-release of my gaslight-era horror book, Hateful Burden, right now too.