When Kylie Mannings answers the door on Halloween evening, expecting a couple of toddlers in pumpkin costumes, she quickly learns that candy bars don't make the most effective weapon against kidnappers. In quick order, two thugs have her overpowered and unconscious. To her chagrin, she wakes up nude, tied to a bed, and the prisoner of a strange man. A powerful, very sexy man who insists she's his wife and some kind of goddess. Uh…hello? She's pretty sure she'd remember a little thing like being married. And a goddess…puhleez. If only she could convince her whip-wielding captor of his minor confusion.
Xur Phoenix has gotten his wife, the Goddess of Celestine, back at last. But much to his surprise, she claims she doesn't know him. Whether her supposed memory loss is genuine or a part of another sexy role-playing game doesn't matter. With her bound and helpless, a victim of her own darkest desires, he'll refresh her memory in no time. For her own safety, and his sanity, she needs to remember who her Master is—and fast!
Unfortunately, with a killer on the loose, there's bound to be a few more surprises for them both.
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An Excerpt From: STOLEN GODDESS
Copyright © TAWNY TAYLOR, 2006
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
“You’ll have to be punished,” someone said. Someone male. Someone close. Someone with an extremely deep voice. She liked deep voices. And punishment didn’t always have to be a bad thing.
Anxious to see who was promising discipline with the deep bass voice, despite the pounding in her head, Kylie dragged her eyelids up, uncovering eyes that felt like they’d been rolled in sand. Everything was still very hazy. Dark. Strange. She felt groggy, sick, like she’d overdosed on Nyquil. She tried to sit up but realized she couldn’t. Her hands were tied up over her head. While wriggling her arms, she tested her feet. They too were tied.
What the fuck?
She could see there were only two people in the tiny room—her and the man who had spoken. He was completely nude. Nude and sporting a hard-on that suggested he was quite happy to see her, yet he glared at her, rage pulling his features into a tense mask. Oh boy. This was not good. Was he going to rape her?
A girl who’d lived in some rough neighborhoods growing up, she went into survival mode, decided pretty quickly she’d better go easy with this guy, try to gain his trust. She’d soothe his ruffled feathers. Pretend to go along with whatever he wanted until she found the opportunity to escape. He looked furious. And he looked strong. At the moment, she was not in the ideal position to defend herself. Yes, playing the waiting game was definitely in order.
However, her carefully laid plans changed when a quick glance down verified what she’d suspected almost immediately after waking—she was naked.
Embarrassment and shame swept through her body, churning in her belly with a good amount of anger. What right did this guy have? Taking her from her home, stripping her, holding her hostage! It was downright…medieval! No, it was caveman-ish. She should be the one glowering. Despite her fear about the consequences, she gave the Neanderthal a glare right back.
“I can see your attitude hasn’t improved yet,” he said sharply.
“Huh? Yet? How would you know about my attitude? You’ve never seen it before.” She had to get out of there. Now. She gritted her teeth and yanked at the rope holding her wrists.
“Of course I’ve seen this attitude before.” Something flashed through his eyes. “How dare you lie to me!”
“Lie?” Was this guy nuts? Or was this some kind of sick game? “You couldn’t have seen my attitude before because we’ve never met. I have no idea who you are or what I’m doing strapped to this fucking bed, naked. How dare you!”
Whatever he was going to say—and she knew he was about to speak because he’d opened his mouth—got caught somewhere between his chest and tongue. He snapped his jaw shut and turning, threw open a door.
The two thugs who’d masqueraded as trick-or-treaters stepped inside. The three of them—the Thug Brothers and the Neanderthal—huddled together, whispering, pointing, nodding collective heads. Then they stalked toward her.
She had to say, she quickly gained a new appreciation for how turkeys felt on Thanksgiving Day.
Despite the fact that the bindings holding her wrists and ankles were tighter than bear traps, she fought them fiercely. As a result of her frenzied yanking and thrashing, the rope burned her skin, cutting deeply until she had to stop. She was worn out and a victim of agonizing pain, after only a few minutes of struggling and a couple shallow burns. Sad. She was a wimp! How would she ever get out of this alive? She vowed to get back to the gym if she lived through this ordeal.
Her bare breasts rose and fell with each racing gasp. Her wrists were killing her. Her heart was heavy with the knowledge that she was entirely at the men’s mercies. Yet she refused to acknowledge defeat. Still breathless and totally embarrassed by her nudity, she scraped up what was left of her pride, lifted her chin and stared the tallest one—the Neanderthal—right in the eyes.
To hell with placating him! She felt as raw as her wrists. Her emotions were taking over, clouding her thoughts. Anger. Fear. Confusion.
That had never happened to her before. That confused her more.
“I am certain this is my wife. But she insists—”
“Of course it’s her,” Thug Brother One said, pointing at the tattoo she had on her hipbone. The design was one-of-a-kind, an intricate series of swirls and curlicues she’d dreamed about once a long time ago and had sketched a bazillion times after. In notebooks, on scrap paper, in her address book. “She has the mark.”
“Mark? That’s just a doodle,” she said. “My doodle. No one else has ever seen it before.” Just her luck, they thought it was some kind of brand or something.
“We checked before bringing her,” Thug Brother Two said, nodding.
The asshole holding her hostage nodded and let the men out, then turned, his jaw set.
She’d seen many a man with that expression before. Men who were determined to sink a putt, or close a deal, no matter what. As much as she hated to admit it, it was an expression that had turned her on in the past, especially when she’d seen it on Adam’s mug. A shameful thing, but here too it had an effect on her. The firm set of the Neanderthal’s jaw had her squirming, even though she had no idea who he was or what he wanted with her.
It was time to be honest with herself, she decided, since she could very well be facing some life-altering events, if not life-ending. Despite her shock, anger and fear, she hadn’t been able to ignore the Neanderthal’s shocking good looks. This guy was straight out of her fantasies, right down to the dark curly hair that was a little too long to be fashionable. Physically, he was a combination of all her favorite movie stars. Vin Diesel’s body. Antonio Banderas’ coloring and hair. A touch of Orlando Bloom. She’d never in a million years dreamed of getting busy with a guy who looked as good as that, like he’d walked off a movie set. This guy made Andy—er, Adam!—look like dog meat.
“You say you don’t remember me. So, I guess I have no other choice.” He stood next to her, too close. His gaze smoothed up and down her body like a sensual caress.
“I didn’t say I don’t remember you. I said I’ve never met…you…” She felt herself melting. Her body’s instantaneous reaction pissed her off and she was forced to explain it away in a rush of empty excuses to maintain her self-respect. Kylie Mannings was a strong woman. A woman with a backbone. A mind. She did not appreciate being treated like a brainless hunk of prime rib laid out on a hibachi. He stared at her breasts and her nipples tingled, sending little zaps of wanting down her spine. “Urgh!”
Yes, she had a mind. Even if her tongue was tied in knots at the moment and she was talking like a Neanderthal.
“I’ll simply have to reacquaint us,” he said, sounding—and looking—downright pleased. He licked his lips.
What reviewers are saying...
A great novella, with a surprise or two, to read anytime of the year.
Great job Ms. Taylor, I think Stolen Goddess a winner!
I loved Stolen Goddess! I thought Tawny Taylor’s storyline quite inventive and unique. What woman wouldn’t want their very own Xur? He can kidnap me any day and doesn’t even have to marry me! Kylie is a trouper and pretty easy going for a Goddess that has forgotten everything about her life. I enjoyed watching her feelings and memories evolve to include the love she and Xur had for each other.
Stolen Goddess by Tawny Taylor is just an entertaining read that thoroughly satisfied my romantic heart. I came away satisfied with a smile on my face!
The sex scenes are hotter than an active volcano and left me wanting more.
Ms. Taylor gives us a fabulous story that many readers are sure to enjoy just as much as I do. If you enjoy paranormal tales that include elements of BDSM, then this is the book for you!
Susan, Coffee Time Romance
This story is complete eroticism, mind blowing sex, and some “what the hell” type of weirdness.
...a delightfully charming, erotic and entertaining romantic tale.
The steamy sex scenes and tastefully done BDSM were so stimulating that toys and a partner are a must! I found Xur quite an alluring character. He is mostly a pussy cat when he’s around Kylie, but in the bedroom, Xur is quite dominating and primarily focused on pleasuring his Goddess. (Oh yeah baby!) The city of Celestine is a fascinating place to be and being their Goddess definitely has potential. I quite enjoyed the Wise One character, which provided an interesting and unexpected concept to the story. The mystery surrounding this character and other plot twist caught this reader by surprise. This quirky tale is a definite keeper and look forward to reading more from Ms. Taylor.
Just Erotic Romance Reviews
Enjoy this free excerpt of Tawny's erotic novella,
Stolen Goddess
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