Claimed & Seduced Read online

  “Bryna, cease your torment of the boy. He is doing what he believes is right,” his father snapped. “I don’t want to hear another word.”

  Jarlath acknowledged his father with a nod, took a deep breath and waved at the people in the square.

  “Thank you for taking the time to listen to me today. The House of the Cat has come through a period of turmoil, and I want to salute you, the people, who stood strong and helped us to repel the enemy. We have already set plans in action to help rebuild the city and intend to introduce many such improvements to make all our lives easier and to encourage visitors and investors to the planet of Viros.

  “As your lives have gone through upheaval, so has mine. My father has decided to resign his position of king and has passed the pendant of power to me. The constitution of the House of the Cat states the king must be betrothed or married to a woman of suitable birth. Unfortunately, I am unable to discharge this part of my responsibility because I am not willing to undertake my duties without the help of the woman I love.

  “Therefore, it is with regret that I must pass the pendant of power to my brother, Prince Lynx. My parents and the members of the council have agreed I may continue as interim ruler until Prince Lynx returns to Viros.

  “I intend to carry out my interim duties to the best of my abilities until Prince Lynx is able to accept his role as king. My brother is eminently suited to this role, and he will have my full support during the transition and once he wears pendant of power.

  “I wish him and you, the people of Viros, a prosperous and happy existence. May the House of the Cat flourish with success.”

  Jarlath bowed and retreated, leaving his parents on the balcony to receive the cheers of the people.

  “Good speech,” Ellard said.

  Jarlath walked straight to Keira, only relaxing when he touched his mate. He tugged her against his side, tossing a wicked grin at his friend. “Thanks. You know, I can’t wait to see Lynx’s face when he learns he’ll be king.”

  Ellard guffawed. “It’ll be a moment of history.”

  “He won’t want to be king?” Keira asked.

  “Once Lynx gets over the shock he’ll make an excellent ruler,” Jarlath said. “We won’t worry about my brother. He’ll come home soon. Meantime, we have work to do and a mating to celebrate.”

  He grinned at the woman who’d grabbed his attention and pulled him from his narrow world, the woman who pushed him to be the best he could, the woman he loved with all his heart. Sometimes taking a different path yielded the greatest riches. He gave her a quick squeeze and stole a kiss.

  Ellard rolled his eyes. “Take the rest of the day off. Go home and do whatever new mates do.”

  “I like the way he thinks,” Keira said.

  Jarlath felt his grin widen. “Me too. You’re in charge, Ellard.” He tugged Keira down the corridor. “We’ll start the celebration in my suite.”

  Keira’s joyous laugh echoed with happiness. “An excellent plan. See you later, Ellard.”

  Left alone, Ellard snorted softly and shook his head as he ambled in the opposite direction. Interesting times ahead. Of that, he was certain, and in truth, he was looking forward to the challenge.

  Long live the king.

  They just had to find Prince—ah—King Lynx first.

  The End

  Would you like to read more books set in the House of the Cat world? Sign up for my newsletter to learn about the upcoming additions to this series.

  Also, I want to ask a favor. Word-of-mouth is crucial for an author to succeed. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. Even if it’s only a few lines, it would be a big help.

  While you’re waiting for the next book maybe you’d like to check out Fringe Benefits, one of my erotic contemporary titles. I’m also including the blurb from Merry & Seduced, which should hit the virtual stores in early December 2014. Turn the page for a glimpse!

  Thank you,

  Shelley

  Merry & Seduced

  House of the Cat 2.5

  Copyright Shelley Munro 2014

  All roads lead home at Christmas…

  Cyborg Amme Vanak is wired to care for children and since her current charge is grown, she’s feeling edgy. She’s hoping a Christmas visit to Earth with her friends will offer distraction and maybe even a fling with a sexy Earthman before she flies on to Viros for a new adventure.

  Wealthy entrepreneur Marcus Polo is single with a rockin’ social life until an unexpected Christmas gift throws his existence into chaos. A chance meeting with exotic Amme deepens his turmoil. She might be the solution to his problem, but she’s different from his exes, and she pushes every one of his sexual buttons.

  Amme is torn. Marcus Polo is handsome and kind and so, so attractive. Even better, it seems the fascination is mutual. Amme is having a ball on Earth, but as departure day creeps closer, she becomes increasingly conflicted about leaving. Then there’s the whole alien thing. Somehow, she doesn’t think Earth and Marcus are ready to accept aliens are fact and not science fiction.

  Warning: Contains a bunch of aliens intent on relaxing and enjoying a New Zealand Christmas, some canoodling under the mistletoe and addictions to chocolate.

  Coming December 2014.

  Excerpt – Fringe Benefits

  A BBW Erotic Romance

  copyright Shelley Munro 2014

  Heat shimmered in the air, making patterns swirl above the sealed driveway. A New Zealand summer at full blast—hot, humid and sweltering with dazzling blue skies and a capricious breeze. Marie Wright stretched out on a towel under the shade of an old oak tree, droplets of water glistening on her partially naked body. The house she shared with Kelvin Green and Shane Coulter lay on the outskirts of small-town Tuakau. They had no close neighbors, a fact she appreciated on this sticky January day since there was no one to witness her swimming topless in the river.

  A sigh escaped as she thought of her two flatmates. Falling for both men at the same time was a disaster waiting to happen. Plain weird and kinky even, but oh, she wished she were brave enough to act on the desire. Two men and one woman. No matter how hard she tried, the thought refused to go away. It was making her crazy, but she didn’t want to lose their friendship or upset her current housing situation so she remained silent.

  “Hey, Marie. Gonna turn over and let me see those luscious breasts of yours?”

  Marie let out a shriek and bolted upright, grasping her orange beach towel to her breasts and knocking her sunglasses askew. She only relaxed when she saw it was Kelvin and that he was alone. Her breath eased out but her heart continued to race. “Don’t frighten me like that.” She rearranged her towel and tried to relax again, or as much as she could in her semi-naked state. “Where’s Saffron?”

  Kelvin dropped a towel beside her and stripped off his faded T-shirt and black shorts. “We broke up.”

  His flat tone told Marie he didn’t want to discuss it. She watched him stride to the riverbank naked, his lean and athletic form tanned to golden brown from their frequent swimming during the past month. Her mouth dried as she sneaked a look at his butt, her eyes screened by the sunglasses. Beautiful. Muscles flexed with natural grace, reminding her of the statue David come to life. A jolt of desire shot straight to her pussy. Although she hadn’t liked Saffron, she hated to see Kelvin hurting. But this did mean he was back on the market and until he found someone else to date, potential friends-with-benefits material again. Sexual hunger rolled through her like a rogue wave and her breathing hitched. Although she wanted both men at the same time, one would work. Of course, he probably wouldn’t be interested in some lazy afternoon loving…

  Marie considered the thought and slowly turned over onto her back, baring her breasts and the rest of her ample curves. She’d shared a house with Kelvin and Shane for two years, and for the first time in her life felt happy and secure. When it was just the three of them, it was better. Common interests in rugby and cooking and music had cemented their fr
iendship. Time and close proximity turned them in to best friends.

  She closed her eyes, wincing at the rapid tattoo of her heart. Kelvin splashed in the river and a thrush perched in the oak tree sang its little heart out. In a nearby paddock, a sheep let out a plaintive baa that sounded faintly complaining. Marie couldn’t blame the creature. This heat wave was making everyone moody and miserable.

  A whisper of sensation across one breast stirred her. Suspecting a fly, she swished a lazy hand. Then warm, wet suction closed around her nipple and her eyes flew open.

  Fringe Benefits is now available for purchase

  About Shelley Munro

  Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.

  Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her own hero and a rambunctious puppy in New Zealand. She writes erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres and has several self-published titles.

  Visit Shelley at her website.

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  Other Works by Shelley Munro

  Contemporary

  Wanderlust

  Playing to Win

  Spies, Lies and Sapphires

  Summer in the City of Sails

  Stranger Things Happen

  Wild Child

  Tea for Two

  Cat Burglar in Training

  One Night of Misbehavior

  Blindside

  Fringe Benefits

  Love and Friendship series

  The Bottom Line

  Past Regrets

  Farmer Wants a Wife

  Clare Chronicles

  Part-Time Lovers

  Enemy Lovers

  Fancy Free series

  Fancy Free

  Christmas is Coming

  Feeling the Buzz

  Paranormal

  Price of Love

  Lynx to the Pharaoh

  Currents Run Deep

  Curse of Brandon of Lupinus

  Sci-fi/Futuristic

  Sex Idol

  Fallen Idol

  Middlemarch Capture

  Snared by Saber

  House of the Cat series

  Captured & Seduced

  Claimed & Seduced

  Merry & Seduced

  Gayrotica

  Fallen Idol

  Eye on the Ball

  Lone Wolf

  Seeking Kokopelli

  Stoned

  No Defense

  Historical

  Mistress of Merrivale

  The Spurned Viscountess

  A Discreet Affair

  Unforgettable

  Copyright Page

  Claimed & Seduced

  Copyright © 2014 Shelley Munro

  ISBN: 978-0-473-30357-0

  Editor: Mary Moran

  Cover Art by Kim Killion of Killion Group Inc.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  ShelleyMunro.com