Early Peek at Something About Witches (formerly Arcane Shot)

While I don’t have a release date for this one yet, I wanted you all to get an early peek at Chapter One of Something About Witches. [Update Note 4/11 - this book was formerly called Arcane Shot. Though it now has a new title, it's still the Arcane Shot series. Confusing? Yep! Grimace :>]

Something About Witches is the first of two mass market paranormals I plan to write for Berkley in 2011. Here's the blurb from my website, if you haven't seen it -

Ruby Night Divine is a witch who runs a gun shop. Magic can fail – she knows that first hand, having experienced it with full-blown tragic consequences, far beyond what Dr. Phil can fix. Smith & Wesson is a whole hell of a lot more reliable, and nothing’s as cathartic as the ability to put a few holes in the things that piss you off. Like Derek Stormwind.

A powerful sorcerer, Derek is determined to get to the bottom of why she pushed him away and ran three years before. He also wants her help. A coven needs training to face a demon and his army of minions. Oh sure. It’s amazing what sweet things a guy will offer to get back into a woman’s heart, and into her bed.

Only in this case, she knows he never left her heart, and in her bed is exactly where she wants him to be. Unfortunately, her bed’s already made, and she’s close to losing her soul. And not even Smith & Wesson or Derek Stormwind can fix that.


And so, without further delay, here it is. Hope you enjoy it! Let me know if you love it, hate it, are indifferent, etc (grin).


Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. The Macbeth quote fit to a fucking T as Ruby stared through the four-power scope of the 50-caliber military grade sniper rifle and saw 100% trouble coming her way, complete with battered cowboy hat, his own Chris Cagle Chicks Dig It theme song and honest-to-Goddess dragonskin boots. How the hell had Derek Stormwind found her?

Okay, scratch that. She’d always known he’d find her. She’d just nurtured an unrealistic hope that he would be like most men and, once he realized she didn’t want to be found, and that she’d made following her trail a real pain in the ass, he’d sniff out easier prey. But Derek Stormwind was definitely not like most men. Which was why she’d rather be stuck up the backside of one of Artemis’s hunting hounds without a flashlight than face the next few moments.

Slapping the rifle down on the counter, she uncapped one of the mini-sized vodka bottles and dashed the contents into her open Dr. Pepper can, then brought the soda to her lips for a healthy swig. Too healthy. She choked on it, hacking over the part of it that had apparently gone down the wrong tube. Meanwhile, he was crossing the street, seconds away from putting his hand on the brass doorknob and invading her store. Unless she was mistaken and he was in town for a French manicure from the salon next door.

Hell, she needed an extra moment. Flicking a glance down at her feet, she wheezed out the command. “Theo. Kill.”

The mastiff erupted from behind the counter, a bulldozer of rippling muscle and sheer bulk that would have knocked her off her feet, if she wasn’t practiced at flattening herself against the locked ammo case behind her to give him take-off room.

As Derek came through the door, the dog was clattering across the floor like an approaching herd of marbles, making menacing and somewhat asthmatic noises similar to low level thunder. A froth of drool hit the display case, spattering the glass and obscuring the array of handguns there. Ruby stuck the soda back under the counter and pummeled her chest with one decisive fist at the same moment the dog launched his considerable weight onto his hind legs and hit Derek’s chest with both front paws.

“You great big baby.” Derek tried to fend off a tongue that was like a sopping wet, lukewarm and slimy hand towel. “Still a crappy security guard, buddy.”

He should look ridiculous, struggling with the dog, but of course he didn’t. He’d braced all that well-sculpted muscle against canine attack, which just emphasized the fit of his T-shirt over his broad shoulders. The way his thighs and ass flexed in his worn jeans basically screamed sex-in-faded-denim. The hat was low on his brow, hiding the brown hair he kept trimmed short. He’d not yet looked her way, but she knew what kind of impact those eyes had when they turned toward a female.

His handsome, shit-eating grin could disarm a woman at twenty paces. But every time Ruby looked into those dark blue eyes, the country theme segued quite decisively into the Khazad-Dum score from Fellowship of the Rings. She could hear Gandalf standing before the Balrog, thundering like the voice of God.

You shall not pass.

Her gaze dropped. Anyone else would think the scuffed-up dragonskin boots were some kind of alligator skin. He had a healthy reverence and respect for dragonkind, particularly the non-shifters. However, when she’d pressed him for an explanation of those boots, he’d simply said, “I had a disagreement with that one.” She’d caught a dangerous glint in his eye, the honor-bound sorcerer crossed with the gunslinger who’d only be pushed so far. She’d told him he was something between Merlin and Wyatt Earp. It had earned her a flash of that devastating grin.

He was one of the most powerful sorcerers she’d ever known, directly or by reputation. He flew so far under the radar that to most he was a myth, or a scary bedtime story. But she’d had him in her bed, and while the feelings he conjured from her there could be overwhelming, they were far from nightmarish. In fact, the only good dreams she had anymore were about him. Which just pissed her off. If she could have banished him from her mind without banishing other important things, things she couldn’t afford to lose, she would have. That’s what she told herself.

Pull it together, Ruby.

When he finally managed to shove the dog back down to all four feet, which put his gigantic head at the height of Derek’s waist, she had her elegantly curved hip propped against the shelf behind the cash register and was eying them both, hopefully with a faint trace of disgust in her coffee brown eyes. “I’m trading him in for a Chihuahua. The littler they are, the nastier they are.”

“Make sure it’s a female. I hear they’re meaner.” He glanced up at the marquis. “Arcane Shot. Firearms, shooting range, safety courses and permits? A bit of a change from your previous career at Witches R Us outside Carmel.”

She shrugged. “I got tired of running a craft shop for the Wiccan wannabes, who think granola and hugs will change the world.”

“And this will do a better job of that?” He eyed the sniper rifle under her hand.

“Sometimes magic comes through, sometimes it doesn't. But Smith and Wesson is always ready to come to the game.”

“No argument there. I prefer the sawed-off shotgun myself. A classic. Took me awhile to find you. Your magic's gotten stronger."

*And darker*. She could tell he thought it, but points for him, he didn’t say it. "Told you I didn’t want to be found.” She tried to modulate the energy around her so it was more candy and flowers, less like the ominous stillness and yellow jaundice of a pre-tornado sky. Of course, candy and flowers might be more frightening to him.

“So you ran away and decided to run a gun shop because...people suck?”

It made her lips twitch. He always had known how to pull a smile out of her, but this time she firmly told herself not to give him that advantage. “I didn’t run away, but that last part works. Why are you here, Derek?”

He seemed in no hurry on that score. He sent Theo back to her, sauntered up to the counter, giving her a nice eyeful of how the man could walk. Damn him. “I understand you followed Raina out here. She still operating her overpriced escort service with succubi and incubi in sheep’s clothing?”

“Still. It’s doing well here, with the military base nearby. Things were getting a little hot for her back on the West Coast. Soldiers are more adventurous, a little less afraid of danger, so her cover’s safer.” She flashed a humorless smile. “I think she’ll last longer out here.”

“She should change professions.”

“She would, but she likes the fact this one pisses you off.”

“That’s a given.” He gave her his easy smile then. That good ol’ boy expression only enhanced the sexual confidence that made any wise woman wary. “I’m here about a job for you.”

The disappointment twisted inside her like a poisoned athame, making her curse at herself. Cerridwen, Circe and Cassiopeia. Female perversity was the bane of her existence. There was nothing more ridiculous than the fact she’d only wanted one thing more than him not to find her, and that was for him to find her. Now on top of that, she was feeling absurdly insulted that he’d come this far to find her merely for a job.

She needed to stop being in touch with her inner Goddess. Women were too damn irrational. She guessed she could find a spell that turned her into a guy, but she liked her long ebony hair, and she had a good figure. A better-than-decent rack and wrap-them-around-me-tight-and-fuck-me-all-night-long shapely legs. Raina’s description, of course, delivered in her typically colorful fashion.

Her irritation was only made worse by the fact that such deprecation didn’t make her feel one whit less different about seeing him. As if he was picking up on it, he slid his hat off his head, dropped it on the counter. All her senses went on alert, as if a lazy lion had just pushed up onto his feet, and all the four-leggeds on the open plain waited to see if he was merely changing position, going to get some water, or had decided it was time to check out the drive-thru menu.

“So what’s the real reason you left me, Ruby?” His tone was conversational, mild, but she wasn’t fooled. Not when those intent eyes were focused on hers, probing.

“I decided you were too old for me. You literally know what kind of fruit pie George Washington liked.”

He slid behind the counter. Her hand, resting on the rifle, instinctively tightened. He followed the gesture. “Gonna shoot me just for giving you a friendly hug hello? We are still friends, aren’t we?”

One wouldn’t think so, when she’d basically told him to stay out of her life. But for some reason, she didn’t reply. She couldn’t, because he kept coming on, and then he was there, right in front of her. Goddess, he was a big man, and she remembered way too well how much those broad shoulders could bear. She would not start shaking. She was not going to break. Yeah, she could have told him to keep his ass on the other side of the counter, or backed away, but she had to prove she was indifferent, right? Friendly hug, a peck on the cheek, then she’d tell him to shove his job up his muscular, far-too-fine butt and get the hell out of her store.

He kept his eyes on her face while she kept hers on his chin, stubborn, as his arm slid around her. He knew her so well, it was like fitting a key to a lock, the way his fingers easily cruised under the hem of her snug Arcane Shot tee, a forefinger sliding along the valley of her spine, his thumb hooking just under the waistband of her jeans, stroking the elastic band of her panties, so casually seductive.

He tightened his grip, let her feel all that strength reeling her in. She was too stiff, had gone as inflexible as a corpse, and his brow creased. She knew she was just proving there was something way wrong, because if she was over him, the hug would have been over by now. Thoughtfully, he leaned down and she closed her eyes as his warm mouth landed right next to the corner of her lips. Just rested there, a feather weight like a morsel of chocolate icing that had escaped when eating a really, really good fudge cake. The desire to lick at it, rather than reach for a napkin, was almost overwhelming.

The rest of her body wanted to roll the same way. She wanted him to press her back against the ammo case, his oaklike strength against her willow flexibility, and hook her leg over his hip, bringing him even deeper into the cradle between her thighs.

“I smell deception on your breath, Ruby. You’re doubledosing these days. The Dr. Pepper isn’t covering it.”

“I’ve never had a good poker face. You need one in this job. It helps.” She managed a casual shrug, one that she turned into a step back, knowing she was almost against the cash register. But she refused to give off trapped vibes. Sliding a hand in her pocket, she leaned against the ammo case. All by herself. “Okay, you’ve had your hug. Now give me some room and tell me what the job is so I can tell you I’m not interested.”

“Wasn’t much of a hug. You didn’t hug back.”

“You just wanted me to grope your ass, and I’m not in the mood.” Yeah, that was the biggest lie in the history of the world. “I mean it, Derek. I’m busy. Talk.”

Giving her a long look, he inclined his head at last, but he didn’t retreat. He just propped a hip against the front counter and crossed his arms, keeping her boxed in with his heat and presence. His hat was at her elbow. She didn’t want to remember, but she did. That wonderful weekend they’d spent at the beach together. The sun had been so bright, he’d given it to her to wear, to protect her fair skin from the rays as they walked hand in hand along the shore, like innocent lovers. He made love to her later, her wearing nothing but that hat, her sandy toes curled against his calves.

Thank Goddess he started to talk.

“There’s a coven in South Carolina that needs your help.”

“Tell them I offer group discounts. They can buy nine Sigs for a ten percent markdown, and I’ll throw in a free box of hollow points.”

He ignored that. “They’re on one of the magical fault lines, and there’s been some bad activity brewing there. It’s not a quick fix, so they need training, a way to keep it managed themselves. You’re one of the best instructional priestesses I know.”

“And one of the lousiest practitioners.”

“That’s your mother talking, not you.” He frowned.

“There are better people to do what you’re wanting.”

“That’s your opinion.”

“Mine’s the only one I’m counting.”

He straightened, moved from behind the counter. Though it gave her room to breathe, it didn’t give her any relief, because he stopped, hooking his hands in his back pockets to stare up at the row of assault rifles mounted and locked on a metal backboard. “What happened to you, Ruby?”

When she didn’t answer, he sighed. “They let it go too long. It’s going to take some work to get it all in balance again, and the fight may get a bit ugly. You won’t be in the line of fire; that’s my area, but I need to know they can hold it after I’m gone. That’s where you come in.”

“How ugly?” She asked, then cursed herself for appearing the slightest bit concerned.

“I think it’s torn up enough to attract Asmodeus’s attention. I’ve heard murmurings in the underworld he’s headed that way. I want to fend him off before he gets there.”

As she went still, he turned. His eyes narrowed. “Ruby?”

She was pushing the roaring back, wasn’t even sure he hadn’t said her name several times, because when she focused on him again, he was right up at the counter, his hand landing over her ice cold one. “Ruby, what the hell—”

“I’ll think about it. Can’t give you an answer right now.” Though of course she already knew that was a lie, and now he probably did, too. Asmodeus made all the difference in the world.

“Maybe you’re right. This isn’t the right job for you.” He studied her face, stepped back. “My mistake.”

“Give me the number of the coven priestess. I’ll call and talk to her.” At his expression, she rolled her eyes. “Stop being such a nanny and give me the number. You wouldn’t have come this far if you didn’t think I was the right one for it. I was just daydreaming over your manly chest.”

“Yeah. I’m sure that was what made you turn white as a sheet.” But he fished out the number, handed it to her. When he did, his fingers closed over hers, drew her eyes up to his. “Tell her when you’re coming so she can make arrangements for you. I’d hang here for a couple days, but I need to do something before I can head that way.”

“I’m crushed.” She arched a brow. “Here I thought we could do some shopping and get our hair done together.”

He gave her a narrow look. “I’ll be down there within the week.”

“No rush.”

“Yeah, there is. They need you to train them. But you need me for the rest. I’m not taking a chance of leaving you to face Asmodeus. That’s my job, if it happens.”

“My knight in shining Wranglers.”

Another one of those intent looks, and then he picked up his hat, put it back on his head. To her relief as well as dismay, he moved toward the door, tousling Theo’s ears as he passed the dog. “Keep your mistress safe, Theo.”

Glancing back, his hand on the door knob, he raked his gaze over her. “Felt like you’re wearing those Victoria Secrets cotton bikinis you like. Still prefer pink?”

“You’re losing your touch,” she returned sweetly. “I’m wearing a pair of my boyfriend’s briefs. More comfortable than girl’s underwear, you know.”

He pursed his lips. “Hmm. You may be right about that. I’m not wearing any at all, and I couldn’t say where they got off to this morning.”

She tightened her jaw. “You’re not my boyfriend, Derek Stormwind. I’m long finished with you.”

He shot her a look out of those piercing eyes, didn’t smile this time. “You may be finished with me, Ruby Night Divine, but I’m far from finished with you. See you in a week.”


After he left, she slumped against the counter, her knees buckling. Fortunately, she kept a stool back here to do computer work and now she slid onto it, taking another sip of the soda with the potion he’d correctly detected on her breath. Hell, if she was a better liar, she wouldn’t need it, but that part had been the truth. She’d always had a sucker’s face, showing every emotion. The Deception potion helped, kept those muscles locked down, the flickers of the gaze that could give things away.

Her body was still tingling, mouth wishing she’d taken that lick. Wishing she’d turned her head and met the kiss full on, given him everything and taken just as much back. But that was the deal, wasn’t it? Some things you just couldn’t take back.

That one touch had brought so many memories to mind. The way he would lay curved behind her in her bed, his arm over her body, his hand clasped around her wrist as they slept. Sometime she’d wake to feel his thumb tracing slow, sensual runes in her palm, along her pulse points. Protective runes, to keep her safe. She could close her hand and still feel them there. Realizing she was doing it now, she opened her fingers, shaking off the feeling.

It didn’t work, Derek. Damn you.

That day they’d been at the beach, they’d seen two children playing in the waves, a brother and sister, probably no more than six and seven years old. The boy had his plastic sand shovel and was sweeping it through the water in dramatic, sword swirling motion, sending out geysers of water toward his sister. She was ineffectually trying to use her spread-fingered hands to splash back at him. It was as if males came out of the womb with that warrior instinct, and women...women learned too late.

Asmodeus. She brought the sniper rifle determinedly back to her shoulder, lined up the sites with Derek’s retreating form, headed on down Main Street. Never again. She’d never be too late again. No matter the cost.
[center]

OOH! Love it, Joey! I can't wait to learn more about Derek and Ruby. Thanks so much for sharing!

OK Joey.....I don't think these are going to be any less HOT than any of your other books. Now I can't wait for these to come out. I want to know all about Ruby & Derek, what happed to freak her out, will they have a HEA, everything!

Wow, what a great teaser Joey! I love where you are going with the new series. By any chance would the children playing at the beach be any other series characters we know? Or is it my over active imagination trying to create the tie between series?

Thanks for that reaction, ladies! I'm excited about writing it as well, and straddling that erotic edge with these two (wink). Mindy, what children playing at the beach? I re-read the part where Ruby and Derek were walking on the beach, but didn't see a reference to children, so wasn't sure what I missed. But since my brain cells sometimes jam up, I may have overlooked something (grin).

Love it!! Can't wait to see what's coming!

Mindy, okay, never mind, I found them at the end of the excerpt. Can't believe I overlooked that. As far as I know at this moment, they are not tied in to any other book, but who knows down the line? Sometimes I'll get surprised by something - like when I did a mermaid/angel statue in an earlier book, before I wrote the Daughters of Arianne series (smile).

Thank you, Kelly!

Okay, Ms Joey, love the excerpt. Very interesting to see what untold secrets these two have.

Love it already and just waiting......

*fanning self* One of things I love about your work Joey is that you don’t muck around. It’s like blam straight away Thanks for the sneak peek. I love Derek and Ruby already. Look forward to their full story.

The sneek peak was great, Joey. Will be at the bookstore first thing in the morning that the books come out. WOW!!!! Can't wait.

Fantastic!! Really love these characters already.... love the scene where Rudy remembers how they slept together... how protective Derek was....

Absolutely love this sneak peek! Thank you so much. Ruby & Derek are very interesting characters that I really want to get to know better! Looking forward to the opportunity!!

LOL - glad you ladies enjoyed it!! And Shan, also happy you like how it dives right into their relationship. I'm only being given a word count of 100k on this, so I'll definitely have to stay right hip-deep in the relationship/plot progress, no meandering...okay, we know me, there will be some meandering, but it will be the good kind (wink). At first I was worried about it, because my paranormals are typically much longer because I have to integrate in so much external plot, but somewhere along the way the word limit for the Arcane series hit me as an opportunity/relief - I can focus on their relationship and not have to do so much world/politic building. We'll see how it goes...

Bernmtdog - I like the rune part as well. Aleah, Raeann and Terry, thank you!! Loved getting that response to them.

Joey,

You have a word limit that you have to stay under for this book? It is a lot less then your other books?

SM

Chuckle - yes, Terry has that right. I run over every time. My paranormals for Berkley have been on average between 150,000-170,000 words. Because this is a mass-market and Berkley is trying to cut paper costs during these tight times, they want it as near to 100k as I can get it. I've talked to other authors who've written mass market for Berkley, and they said they could get away with as much as 110k if it makes sense for the book, but nothing above that. However, it's not entirely impossible for me - my contemporaries for Ellora's Cave Publishing have ranged 110k-120k range, because you can't go much over that for their print specs. It's just a little harder with a paranormal plot, if you want to do equal justice to the paranormal elements AND the relationship. But I'm trusting the creative process/muse. I'm betting we'll make it work.

Every once in awhile, I can write a shorter book - I have a few novellas out there that didn't go hugely over word count (grin), though most of those were admittedly early in my career. Apparently I grew more verbose as I aged (wink).

I like this is going to be a good story when it is done, thanks Joey

Miss S, that's always the challenge - getting it done (lol). Thank you for the encouragement, though! :>

Joey - Glad the word count gave you an 'opportunity/relief'. With a start to the series like this, I'm positive the end result will be as great if not better than the rest of your work

Shan, you all are so supportive! It's delightful. While it doesn't completely block those insecure nightmares that I have - where I've written a bad book and all my readers are chasing me down the street with pitchforks and lynching rope, rotten fruit and rocks - but it sure helps keep those nightmares at a safe distance (lol).

Joey,

LOL!. You know you don't have to hide. Just keep giving us those wonderful books and you surely don't have to worry about your fans here (I think.....hmmm) *grinning*.

Glad to help if only a lil with those nightmares Whether good or bad I'm in your corner where I'm sure many of my fellow fans are

loved this teaser. in the last year I think I've caught up on all your work and I'm still always sucked in. you write emotion better than anyone else. I swear there's not a book of yours that hasnt caused at least one tear

Hi Reese,

I couldn't agree with you more! Every one of Joey's books have touched me deeply, and I have read them all.

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your first post!!

Aleah wrote:

...you surely don't have to worry about your fans here (I think.....hmmm) *grinning*.

These are the fans with all the pictures of clamps, ropes, whips, chains, etc in their sig lines, right? LOL

reese wrote:

...in the last year I think I've caught up on all your work and I'm still always sucked in.

Reese, comments like that just delight me to pieces. Thank you. And Terry, thank you for reinforcing that! Those are the types of stories I want to keep writing for you all, and comments like these really help (see my response to Shan, below - smile).

Shan - having you guys in my corner makes it possible for me to keep writing, even on those days when I'm banging my head on the keyboard saying "where art thou, muse?!" (those are the days I imagine she's on a beautiful sailboat, manned by a gorgeous all male crew - they're anchored off of Tintamarre Island in St. Maarten and She's sipping an umbrella drink, watching their muscles flex and not giving me the slightest thought...)