Genre: Erotic Sci-Fi Romance Heat Level: 3 Word Count: 38, 070 ISBN: 978-1-77130-944-8 Editor: JS Cook Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Dark by Erin M. Leaf

Heat Level 3
$3.99
SKU 978-1-77130-944-8
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Stronghold, 1

Greyson Dark doesn’t like strangers in his territory.

Eva Waverley doesn’t like being told to keep out.

After her father's suicide, hiking is the only thing that makes the bullying in Eva's new school bearable. When Greyson rescues her from a tumble, she falls for him despite his autocratic demeanor. She's leaving for college soon—what does it matter if she crushes on a man everyone else fears?

Greyson suspects Eva is his true mate, but duty demands he remain aloof. She doesn’t know he's a long-lived Sentry, sworn to protect Earth from an ancient alien menace. When she leaves for college, he's relieved, but four years later she comes back, all grown up and more gorgeous than ever.

Greyson can't afford to care for a mortal woman, no matter how compelling. Hackers are attacking Stronghold, the Sentries' net, and Spiders are swarming beyond the moon, but when Eva is attacked, he discovers he can't just let her die…

Be Warned: anal sex

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Excerpt:

“Eva, don’t,” Greyson said gently. His fingers touched her temple.

She refused to take his comfort. “I’ll do it,” she said, turning her face away from his hand. Anger rushed through her. Damn John. And damn Greyson, for being a Sentry.

“I already told my brothers no.” He pulled her close.

Eva didn’t have the strength to fight him off again. Her lips hit his damp shirt and she let her head fall into his shoulder. He tasted like rain and dust.

“I would never use you as bait,” he murmured.

She bit her lip, hard. If she let herself think about it too much, she’d lose it. “You have to. It’s the only way.” At least he believed she was innocent. Small favors, she told herself grimly.

“I’ll find another way,” he murmured, kissing her hair.

He was being so gentle. The strangeness of it undermined her best intentions. Dammit. I can’t do this alone anymore. Eva blinked back tears, and hurriedly wiped them away. Screw it. I’ll do what I have to, but I want to live a little first. She grabbed onto him, twining her fingers in his shirt. “I don’t want to die, Greyson.”

“God,” he muttered harshly.

The next thing she knew, he’d lifted her up in his arms. “Greyson, stop,” she cried, hanging on for dear life.

“Shh,” he admonished her, heading for the stairs.

She shoved her face in his chest. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“I do,” he said, kicking open the door to his room with his foot. The bed was lit with red and gold light as the sun set over the valley.

Eva trembled as he lowered her down. “I thought you couldn’t get close to anyone. You said you had to remain aloof, as a Sentry.”

He growled as he took off his shirt, tossing the wet fabric to the floor. “I changed my mind.”

She stared at his chest. Muscles played over his torso as he popped the buttons on his jeans. She knew he was strong. He’d picked her up like she weighed nothing at all, but she hadn’t realized until right now just how much his clothing hid. He unlatched the metal clasps of his boots and kicked them off, padding barefoot to the bed. Her eyes went to a rip in his jeans as her whole body went hot. Whoa, she thought, overwhelmed. Is this really happening? She’d been dreaming about this moment for years and had all but given up on being with Greyson intimately.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, tugging at the arms she’d self-consciously wrapped around her chest.

“I’m sorry,” she said, voice cracking. “I’m not perfect and thin and strong—”

“Shh.” He cut her off. “You don’t see yourself the way I do.”

She frowned at him, but he picked up her hands and put them on his shoulders. His skin is so hot. She kneaded the warm muscles beneath her palms, trying to convince herself she wasn’t dreaming.

When he closed his eyes and shuddered, she bit her lip. “I’m sorry,” she said again, unable to help herself, but then he moved in and kissed her. The shock of his lips moving against hers destroyed her ability to think. All she could do was hang on and trust him.

**** 

Greyson released the control he held over his empathic power and let himself sink into her emotions. He didn’t understand why she thought she was so unattractive—Eva was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever known, not just in body, but in strength of character. She’d been through so much and come out the other side a survivor. She eroded his self-control until he couldn’t fight himself any more. He hadn’t let a woman get close to him in two hundred years, but this slip of a girl destroyed all his good intentions. He nibbled on her delectable lower lip. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, hands on her hips. No way was he going to stop now. He’d committed to this, Bruno and his suspicions be damned.

She gasped, opening to him perfectly. He kissed her again, savoring her taste. Her hands clutched at his arms and he kissed down her jaw, reveling in the softness of her skin. “You’re strong,” he said, unbuttoning her blouse and pushing it over her shoulders. His breath caught when he saw his ring nestled between her breasts.

“I’m not,” she argued, but he kissed her a third time, cutting off her protests.

“Gorgeous,” he whispered when he let her up for air. He peeled the fabric from her body. Her generous breasts strained against the black satin of her bra and he wasted no time in nuzzling against them. She slid her hands into his hair as he tugged at the cup, popping a nipple out over the top. He sucked it in, playing at it with his tongue until it pebbled.

“Oh God, Greyson,” she gasped, fisting his hair.

He grinned against her skin and undid the clasps, sliding the bra away. He licked at her other nipple, plying the first one with his thumb. His senses were wide open and he could feel just how much she liked this. When he bit down, she arched her back. The tiny bit of pain shot her arousal higher. Greyson groaned as the echo of it funneled through him. His dick hurt where it was trapped in his jeans. He bit down again, then undid her pants. He paused and looked up her body. Her fair skin flushed under his gaze.

“There’s no going back from this,” he said, wanting her to be certain. He reached up and snagged a lock of her gorgeous hair between his fingers. “Be sure.”

Product Reviews

Score: 5 out of 5 (based on 4 ratings)
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5/5
HIGHLY recommended
Written by Magali A. Fréchette on 3rd Nov 2017

So, I love this book. Like, seriously, love. I loved the main characters, Eva and Greyson - they both have amazing chemistry, and there's just a... I don't know, spark between them from the beginning, even if he pushes her away at first. The secondary characters I also really liked, and I grew interested in Greyson's brothers since they're so different from one another. Lucy was a bit on the 'strong' side for me (peppy, and a bit pushy, in my opinion), but she ended up growing on me because she's such a great friend. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this series! It was such a refreshing, and different story. Intelligent, and kept me interested and hooked the whole time I read it. HIGHLY recommended!

4/5
Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Written by Cocktails and Books on 2nd Jan 2015

Squeeeeeeeeeeee!! I am so happy to have read “Dark” from Erin Leaf! I’d like to start this review off by saying that I love Erin Leaf’s books. She’s just a fantastic author, and none of her books have disappointed me, and she’s kept up that winning streak by writing a really great one here. This was truly a unique story (and you know how much I love unique stories). I’ve read shifters, vampires, werewolves, aliens, and all sorts of other nifty creatures, but Sentries who are protecting earth? Nope. This was a first for me. I don’t want to give too much away here because it really is something that you should read for yourselves. I don’t want to spoil all the goodies that “Dark” is bringing. It’s like Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, and a Leprechaun with a pot of gold all rolled into one. You have Eva. She’s a misfit in her senior year of high school, and being in the woods helps to ease the pain in her life. Greyson is a grumpy man who wants to keep Eva out of “his” woods. He warns her away and warns her away, but it’s just not working. Eva goes off to college for four years, but neither one of them forget each other. Now, Eva’s back, and she wants to see Greyson again. This book is just so rich. The characters are well developed and have real chemistry. Greyson and Eva have a connection that is palpable…and it’s VERY sexy. The background characters are also outstanding. They don’t just take up space and are important to the story. There is action, a mystery to solve, and political intrigue too. There is also a bit of humor, and I really enjoy a book that makes me laugh along with all the awesome smexytimes. I want EVERYONE to read “Dark”. It’s just that good! There is a sequel as well called “Dusk” that I just cannot wait to read. Please, do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to this book. I promise you won’t be sorry!

4/5
The Romance Review TRR
Written by Isabelle on 4th Sep 2014

Have you ever imagined if aliens exist? Have you ever dreamed how they look alike? In DARK, they are hot, tall and dangerous! Eva Waverly is hurting. Her father killed himself, her mom decided to start over in a different place, and on top of all that, she has to deal with being the new student on senior year. There is only one place where she feels safe, and she spends all her free time there. Four years later, after finishing university, because of that spot on the woods and its mystery man, she comes back looking for closure. May she dream of more? Greyson Dark takes his obligations very seriously. He has been on Earth for a long time and it won't be now that he let a girl distract him from his duties. The problem is that she doesn't listen to him. He suspects she is important, but his job is even more important and history has taught him to keep temptation away. Will he be strong enough? The book is fast-paced, easy to follow, with a great conflict and it left me wanting more. The world Ms. Leaf has created is very interesting. Aliens, humans, advance technology and passion are all mixed in this book. It is a different and better approach about aliens and how they can live among humans. I like all characters. I could relate, connect and understand them. I'm also interested in several secondary characters and I'm looking forward to read about them in the next installment of the series. What I have enjoyed the most in this book is this breath of freshness and creativity that Ms. Leaf has brought within her plot. Of course the lovable characters adds nicely to the tale and the panty-wetter passionate scenes are a great bonus. I would recommend DARK to everyone out there that would like to meet a family of six foot plus, mouthwatering aliens. I also believe that anyone that enjoys a sexy read would love to be "abducted" by this book.

5/5
a fascinating romance
Written by Booklover Sue on 13th Aug 2014

I really enjoyed this fascinating romance! It was well written with a great blend of romance, science fiction and action! I am looking forward to more stories featuring the sentries!

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