Teaser Tuesday: The Second Rising

Book Title: The Second Rising
Genre: New Adult Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: TBD

When someone’s elbow crashed down onto my shoulder, the memories of tonight came swarming back. Reaching underneath the shawl, I felt the new scar again. And I also felt that tingling sensation I’d experienced in the alley. Had I done something wrong? Did I bring too much of the kitten’s soul back with it?

“I think you just missed your chance.” A deep, manly voice reverberated in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

I turned slightly to my left only to see the smooth, defined curves of an amazingly perfect bicep. When the bicep moved and revealed the face of the man who’d just spoken to me, I stopped breathing. For a split second, my whole body trembled with anticipation and strength, and some of that same energy I’d experienced earlier. Taller than most, this man could demand attention without even saying a word. Dirty blond hair hung freely, framing his face in a way that looked messy yet styled. Slight stubble caught the bar lights, highlighting his lightly tanned skin and igniting something in me that I hadn’t felt for a long time. While his smile reeked of mischief, I was captivated by his lavender eyes.

“Excuse me?” I asked, voice not as strong as I would have liked.

The man laughed, a sound that drowned all others in the room. The tingling was back and I tried to think about why I was reacting this way, but couldn’t get a grip. “The bartender. He asked for your order, but when you didn’t reply, he moved on.”

“He spoke to me?” What had I been so distracted by? Oh, yeah, my new scar.

“Yes, he did.”

I sighed, leaning against the counter and wondering if I should just go home. The man laughed again and I rolled my head to look at him. “You think this is funny?”

He snapped his lips together, studying my face to see if I was joking. When the corner of my mouth lifted in a teasing, and somewhat flirtatious manner, I was graced with yet another smile from him. I think I saw dimples. “Hilarious,” he said.

“Well, after the night I’ve had, this pretty much tops it off,” I groaned.

“You want to talk about it?”

I snapped my head up and looked at those mesmerizing eyes that contained a hint of amusement sparkling near the surface.

“No,” I shook my head and let out a small laugh. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Another patron suddenly pushed into me, and I was shoved into the side of my new bar companion. The moment our bodies touched, electricity shot through me from head to toe. Not in the cheesy way people describe love at first sight, but in a magical way. Like a very magical way.

This man was not human.