Today I am so pleased to welcome Kris T. Bethke to Joyfully Jay. Kris has come to talk to us about her latest release, Fated Hearts. She has also brought along an exclusive excerpt and a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Good morning everyone. I’m super excited to be here today to bring you a little background and a NSFW excerpt from my upcoming release Fated Hearts which is out on February 19^th.

It started with a submission call, as so many of my stories do. I’m a sucker for sub calls. And this one was slated for February, with a theme of a heart-shaped object. But I thought, what if a person had a heart-shaped birthmark? What would that mean?

Ethan and his heart-shaped port-wine-stain birthmark was born. As was his fated mate, the vampire Avriel. Because if a person has a birthmark on their neck, that signifies them as a mate for a supernatural being, it would definitely be a vampire, right? I’m not sure where Cash came from, but true to his nature, he barreled onto the page as well.

Pick up Fated Hearts, to find out how a human, a vampire, and a wolf shifter find their happily every after!

It’s available now for preorder at https://www.jms-books.com/kris-t-bethke-c-224_240/fated-hearts-p-4250.html

Excerpt

Avriel’s POV

Ours.

But we had a twenty minute drive, and we’d thankfully convinced Ethan to ride with us. He’d put his bracelet filled with protection stones back on, and that helped mitigate his scent some. But in the confines of the car, I could still smell him and his need. I made my mouth water and my fangs descend.

I was driving because I knew Cash would speed recklessly if I let him behind the wheel right now. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, but he did have a lead foot, and other drivers on the road were not as cautious as I was. We had precious cargo. It was more important that we arrive safely than quickly.

“Perhaps now would be a good time to discuss our expectations for the evening,” I suggested as I braked for a yellow light.

Cash let out a whine that was more wolf than human. “I’m already hard enough to explode and you wanna talk about stuff? I’ll come in my shorts!”

I shook my head, making a tsking sound. But Ethan laughed, the low, wicked sound filtering from the back seat. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see him lean forward; his grin was downright sinful as he moved into Cash’s space, mouth right near his ear.

“Maybe that’s a good thing for you. Take the edge off. If you come now, I’ll lick you clean.”

“Fucking hell!” Cash slammed his eyes closed as he grabbed his dick and squeezed so hard, I saw his knuckles turn white in my peripheral vision. He was breathing hard.

“Ethan, schatz, don’t tease.” My admonishment was light, but firm. He could save it until we got home. I patted Cash’s hand, the muscles so tense under my touch. “Love, you have control. Please use it.”

“For a virgin, he has a dirty mouth,” Cash grumbled.

“Which you love.” Ethan seemed very pleased with himself. He sat back with a shrug as the light changed to green and I stepped on the gas. “And just because I’ve never had another person in my ass doesn’t mean I don’t know what I like. What I want.”

“You’d like to bottom?” I strove to keep my tone conversational, though it wasn’t easy. I wasn’t unaffected by the talk, but I had to keep myself in check a while longer. But the thought of him under me, or under Cash with me watching, was enough to make my pants uncomfortably tight. I’d wanted him from the moment I saw him, and now we were so close. He was delectable, to say the least. It would be delicious to make him moan, beg, cry out for us.

“Open a window, babe. Your arousal isn’t helping.” Cash sounded so grumpy.

“You can handle it,” Ethan chimed in with confidence. “And yes. I want to bottom. I want you both in my ass. Not at the same time.” He made a humming noise. “At least, not yet.”

“Fucking hell in a handbasket. Avriel, drive faster!”

“Oooh, he used your whole name. Are you in trouble?”

I chuckled. “Are you going to be a handful, Ethan?”

“Maybe. Probably. I’ve been waiting for this, and now that I know I can have it, I want it really badly. My hole is quivering and my body is on fire. I want.” The last came out as a whine, which Cash echoed.

Blurb

Ethan MacGowan has been not-so-patiently waiting for his mate to find him. The heart-shaped mark on his neck is not just a birthmark, but an <em>Anam Cara</em>, a sign he’s destined for a supernatural being. At thirty-three, he hasn’t given up, but he is frustrated by waiting. Until a regular night out puts him face to face with a vampire that makes his blood sing.

Avriel has spent a century on this earth, skulking in shadows. Until he met his mate thirty years ago, and gave up illegal activities for a more sedate life. Being mated to a wolf shifter isn’t anything like he expected, but Avi is happier than he’s ever been. Meeting Ethan at a club, and knowing the man is supposed to be his, sends Avi’s world into a tailspin. How can he be so drawn to Ethan when he has Cash at home?

Cash Turner never expected to mate a vampire. He certainly never expected his mate to come home distraught because Avi feels the mate pull with someone else. Ever the alpha, peacemaker, and fixer, Cash remains calm. When he meets Ethan for the first time, Cash understands what’s going on.

Cash and Avi were never meant to be just two. Ethan was always destined to join them. But navigating a relationship between three people is never easy, no matter that Fate has decreed it. If they work together, and make sure everyone’s needs are met, will it be enough to cement a happily ever after?

Bio

Kris is a bisexual hardcore fan of romance, and has been from a very young age. She believes love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and all love deserves to be celebrated. With that in mind, she writes romance across several subgenres but with the ultimate goal of a satisfying happily ever after at the end. That is, after all, the important part.

Kris lives in a converted attic with a pack of rodents who amuse her daily, and long naps on the weekend are her greatest pleasure. A creative soul and an avid daydreamer, her pursuits range past just the written word into fiber arts, candle and soap making, and expressing herself with makeup. Kris finds inspiration in all of life’s twist and turns. From the mundane to the fantastical, just about anything will make it into her books. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to get in touch through email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Giveaway

Kris has brought a backlist book to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Monday, February 21st at 11:59 pm ET.

• By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
• Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
• If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
• Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
• Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
• All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
• By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
• Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
• Void where prohibited by law.