For the GRL in San Diego, October 15-18, 2015, today author is Shira Anthony who I'm hosting also for her June blog tour for Running With the Wind.Running With the Wind (Mermen of Ea 3) by Shira Anthony
eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6455
Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6456
Sequel to Into the Wind
With the final confrontation between the island and mainland Ea factions looming, Taren and Ian sail with Odhrán to investigate a lost colony of merfolk in the Eastern Lands. Upon their arrival, the King of Astenya welcomes them as friends. Odhrán, however, isn’t so quick to trust the descendent of the man who held him prisoner for nearly a decade, especially now that he has someone to cherish and protect—the mysterious winged boy he rescued from the depths.
Armed with the knowledge he believes will save the Ea, Taren returns to the mainland. With Ian at his side, Taren convinces Vurin that their people must unite with their island brethren before it’s too late. When Seria and his men attack, Taren must call upon the ancient power of the rune stone to protect his comrades. But using stone’s immeasurable power commands a hefty price—and Ian fears that price is Taren’s life.
Excerpt:
They continued to float, Taren’s face pressed against Ian’s chest. Taren could sense Ian’s physical desire for him, but Ian waited patiently and held him close. The feeling of peaceful repose settled deep within Taren’s heart, and Taren became slowly aware of how much he wanted Ian. Not a new feeling, but this time Taren’s doubt had fled with the onslaught of Ian’s embrace.
Taren reached up and kissed Ian. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected of the kiss. He’d never kissed anyone under the water. Ian’s mouth felt hotter than before. The saltwater caused Taren’s mouth to vibrate with sensation, as if Taren could taste Ian’s desire. Ian’s scent was powerful and primal, more like those of the other creatures Taren had smelled beneath the waves. No longer human. Taren’s body responded to the scent even more strongly than to Ian’s touch. The stirring inside his body felt both strange and wonderful. They swam side by side a few feet above the sand.
Taren’s heart beat a steady tattoo, and his body heated under Ian’s intensely possessive gaze. Taren’s need to submit was primal and demanding. Ian flicked his tail and moved to nuzzle Taren, brushing against Taren’s skin in a sensual and dizzying dance. Around and around they swam, spiraling, their bodies always in contact. Without thinking, Taren nipped at Ian’s neck. Ian swam on his back, exposing his neck to Taren’s mouth and teeth. Taren continued to bite and lick until Ian hissed in reply. The sound was like a soft whistle, audible through the water.
“Goddess!” Ian’s voice in Taren’s mind was a husky growl. “Where did you learn to do that?”
Taren had no answer except that his body knew this. He floated just above Ian, their bellies now pressed together, tails propelling them in unison. They moved in a slow, languid line above the sand. Taren nearly laughed to feel Ian’s cock hard against his own, where before they’d been hidden inside their bodies. He stopped moving and reached down to clasp it, surprised at how human it felt, hard and veined. He wanted to taste it, to learn its secrets with his lips.
Ian gazed down at Taren and stilled so Taren might better explore his body. Taren wrapped his arms around Ian’s tail and hooked his own tail around Ian’s body so they floated as one, their bodies rocked on the gentle current. With a quick glance upward at Ian—Ian’s expression was serene, even vulnerable—Taren took Ian in his mouth.
Ian’s cock was long and thick. Taren licked around the tip, flicking his tongue in tiny circles until he felt Ian’s body shudder with pleasure, then swallowed Ian’s erection until it tickled the back of his throat.
Ian moved his tail just a bit, sending them spinning again as Taren continued to explore with his tongue, reveling in Ian’s sweetness. How strange it felt to hear the surf as he coaxed Ian’s body to the brink. Stranger still, Taren’s mind filled with images from Ian’s thoughts, as if by giving his body over to Taren’s attentions, Ian had given all of himself to Taren.
Through Ian’s eyes, Taren saw the waves buffet the Phantom and felt joy stir in his heart as the mighty ship rode the crest of a wave and fell, the spray cool on his face. He saw himself asleep on Ian’s bed, his head in Ian’s lap as Ian stroked his hair and spoke softly to him. He felt Ian’s concern for his welfare, Ian’s need to reassure himself of Taren’s well-being. He felt the freedom of Ian’s transformation, the power of Ian’s body as it cut through the water and chased dolphins in the surf. He felt his own lips on Ian’s member, his mouth hot and hungry, and Ian’s climax as it exploded through Ian’s body. When Ian finally spent himself in Taren’s hungry mouth, Taren experienced Ian’s climax as if it were his own. Taren’s orgasm sent him over a cascade of emotion and physical sensation.
About the author: In her last incarnation, Shira was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as “Tosca,” “i Pagliacci,” and “La Traviata,” among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 36’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
Thanks for hosting me today! Running with the Wind, as you mentioned, is the final novel in the Mermen of Ea trilogy. The first two books are Stealing the Wind, and Into the Wind. The series is high fantasy and romance. The main characters are merfolk shifters who can take both human and mer forms. The series is one long story arc, and it’s set in the age of sail in an earthlike place. There’s magic, reincarnation, and lots of action in the books. Oh, and a HEA, of course, since I won’t write a story without one.
Tell us something about your character’s friends.
The focus of the novels is on Taren Laxley, an indentured servant who dreams of sailing on one of the great ships. He’s kidnapped by pirates and his dream finally comes true. He makes many friends aboard the pirate ship, but my favorite is Bastian, who once was a slave like Taren, but who now is the ship’s quartermaster (sort of like a first officer). Bastian is open and loving, and he and the ship’s captain are lovers. They welcome Taren into their bed, and although the relationship for Taren isn’t a true romantic one, the two men initiate Taren into the “pleasures of the flesh.” Later, of course, Taren meets his mate in Ian Dunaidh, captain of another ship, but you’ll have to read the story to find out how that happens!
What is your character’s favorite meal? Favorite dessert? Favorite snack food?
Taren isn’t a picky eater. When he was a slave, he barely ate enough to keep him alive, so he’s just as happy with dried fish and hard tack, the staples of a sea-faring diet, as he is with the exotic yara meat he eats in later books when he sails to the exotic Eastern Lands.
What activity does your character absolutely hate?
Hate might be too strong a word, but Taren fears taking charge. He grew up as a slave, and it’s very difficult for him to imagine himself as anything but. As the series progresses, he is forced to become a leader. But he doesn’t want this for himself. As he grows and changes, he will step up to the plate and lead his people, but it’s a difficult transition for him.
What other author’s book do you think your character would be good in?
I could see the Ea (merfolk) in the Lord of the Rings universe. Like the creatures of Middle Earth, the Ea must also combat the forces of evil and find their way forward in a difficult world. They must forge alliances and make hard choices to survive. Besides, I love the LOTR books, so why not?
What’s your favorite decade and why?
That’s a tough question. I love 60s music and pop culture, but those were tumultuous times as well. It’s difficult to look back at history and only look at the good parts of it. I don’t think there was ever a perfect decade overall, but that one certainly appeals to me from the standpoint of cultural change.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthony
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shira-Anthony/177484618974406
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterShira
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/anthony0564/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641776.Shira_Anthony
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ShiraAnthony/posts
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24027250-running-with-the-wind
Tour Dates & Stops:
1-Jun Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings
2-Jun Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
3-Jun My Fiction Nook
4-Jun Amanda C. Stone
5-Jun Carly’s Book Reviews
8-Jun Bayou Book Junkie
9-Jun Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews
10-Jun Decadent Delights
11-Jun MM Good Book Reviews
12-Jun Inked Rainbow Reads
15-Jun Divine Magazine
16-Jun Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
17-Jun BFD Book Blog
18-Jun The Novel Approach
19-Jun Because Two Men Are Better Than One
22-Jun Kimi-Chan, Happily Ever Chapter
23-Jun Prism Book Alliance
24-Jun Cate Ashwood
25-Jun Love Bytes
26-Jun Molly Lolly
Rafflecopter Prize: December Diamonds Wedding Mermen Ornament (or a free download of the audiobook version of Stealing the Wind)
for non U.S. Residents Geneva Nautical Wrap Watch Anchor Cord Bracelet
Rafflecopter Code: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cf0ba94912/?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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