Taken by the Vampire King by Laura Kaye (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I would like to welcome the truly fabulous, Laura Kaye, joining us with her new release (Out today!) TAKEN BY THE VAMPIRE KING! I don't know about y'all, but I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one! Happy release day, Laura!

Top Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Henrik Magnusson

Today I’m very excited to be at Reading Between the Wines Book Club to celebrate the release of my dark vampire romance, Taken by the Vampire King. This book is the third in my Vampire Warrior Kings series from Harlequin Nocturne—definitively not your mother’s Harlequin! *grins* (Note that the books in this series stand alone very well, but the reading order, if you prefer, is In the Service of the King, Seduced by the Vampire King, Taken by the Vampire King.)

Since I adore heroes, I thought I’d celebrate release day by sharing the top ten reasons I think you just might fall in love with mine:

10) Henrik is so concerned for those he loves, he’s willing to sacrifice himself to keep them safe.

9) He is strong and brave in the face of his own mortality, which should be impossible but is not due to a mysterious illness.

8) He’s protective, righteous, courageous, and can kick some major evil ass when he needs to. Wait until you see him in action!

7) He’s tattooed. If you guys know me at all, you know I love heroes with tattoos. And Henrik’s body bears multiple fascinating inked marks of his royal status and position. You’ll enjoy discovering them one inch of skin at a time. Yum.

6) He loves his brother, Jakob, the heir to the throne should Henrik die. And there’s a pretty epic bromance in Taken by the Vampire King.

5) Henrik’s dying. Seriously, how can you not love him when everything in his world is at stake?

4) He is absolutely ravenous not just for blood, but for Kaira Sorensen’s blood. And, man, the satisfaction he feels at long last while feeding on her… Incendiary!

4a) He has fangs and he knows how to use ‘em! (AKA, he hazskillz!)

3) He’s a vampire on the edge of losing everything human and moral. His need for blood is desperate because he is starving and has been for a long time. That makes his feedings and the sex scenes absolutely scorching in intensity.

2)Henrik is so nearly out of control that he requires his brother’s assistance to insure he doesn’t kill Kaira when he feeds from her. And that leads to one of the hottest scenes I’ve ever written!

1) He’s Norwegian. Tall.Blond.Muscled.Immortal. With ice blue eyes that turn indigo after a feeding. And wait til you see what else happens to him with a little nourishment in his system…

Need more convincing? Read on…

Excerpt

“Jakob is here to ensure I don’t lose control as you saw before, and to make sure I stop before the blood loss becomes harmful to you. He will need to monitor your heart rate. Would you be okay with him holding your other wrist?”

“Sure,” Kaira whispered, her gaze flickering to the other vampire. He crouched beside her, his expression serious, a little on edge, even. His big hand wrapped its warmth around her right wrist, two of his fingers pressing firmly against the thrumming pulse there.

Looking into her eyes, Henrik whispered, “Just relax.” His voice was almost mesmerizing, and a calming ease blanketed her body. The tension drained from her shoulders and her heartbeat decelerated.

He cradled her hand and forearm in his big hands and gently pulled her arm toward him as he knelt closer to her thigh.

Henrik’s hands were warm, yet cooler than Jakob’s, and big, though thinner than his brother’s, too. The comparison came out of nowhere and made her acutely aware that two men—two male vampires—had their hands on her bare skin.

Henrik struck, his fangs sinking deep into her radial artery, opening it up, and letting her blood flow.

It was just as before—a flash of pain erased by the first caressing sucks of his mouth against her flesh. Kaira flinched and inhaled a sharp breath. Her eyes flew toward Jakob, who was studying her with unabashed interest. The heat of a blush bloomed over her cheeks. His nostrils flared. Her heart kicked up in her chest again. The air in the room heated by ten degrees, at least. His brow furrowed and he looked away, staring at her upturned wrist like he suddenly found it fascinating.

Henrik held her arm tighter and fed from her more urgently, his mouth pressing harder against her skin, his sucking draws coming faster. Appreciative grunts and half whimpers spilled from him, giving voice to his pleasure and satisfaction in her blood. He leaned some of his weight against her thigh, and the heat rolling off him threatened to sear her.

She unleashed a shuddering breath, and he moaned.

Breathe, breathe, just breathe, she chanted to herself. Because it was getting harder to do so.

Once again, her body was responding to his feeding—to his mouth, his tongue, his hands. His need was so great it nearly coalesced into a physical presence in the room. And, God, she was so hot and wet for him she could barely sit still.

Kaira wanted Henrik. His big body climbing up hers, his weight holding her down, him claiming her in every way he could.

The high-pitched whimper escaped her unbidden.

Henrik’s drinking eased up.

She went to stroke his hair, to encourage and reassure him, and forgot Jakob held her other wrist.

His gaze cut to hers.

She tried tugging her hand out of his grasp.

Cocking an eyebrow, he released her. Her hand fell on the silkiness of Henrik’s hair just as Jakob knelt closer and pressed his fingers against the pulse in her throat. The heat of his big hand covered her skin from her throat to just above her breast.

Henrik growled and twisted without breaking contact to track the movement, his eyes slits of brilliant pale light.

“Shh,” she managed, petting his hair. His gaze shifted to her for a long moment and, apparently satisfied with what he saw, he returned all his attention to what was happening where his mouth met her arm.

Her arousal spiked. Everywhere she looked she saw big, muscled male bodies.

Taken by the Vampire King Blurb:

Henrik Magnusson is supposed to be immortal, but a mysterious ailment leaves the vampire king near death, and not even the blood of the Proffered, human virgins trained to serve the elite, can sustain him. Then he rescues a beautiful young woman from his enemies, and is filled with blood lust and desire he hasn't felt for centuries.Photographer Kaira Sorenson's life takes a nightmare turn when she's attacked by blood-thirsty creatures—and saved by a vampire. She should be afraid of Henrik, but she can't deny her intense attraction to this regal, enigmatic being—nor the fact that her blood may be his only salvation. Now she must decide if she's willing to be his forever…

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About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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GIVEAWAY: 

Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? One commenter who leaves their email address will win a signed paperback of Summer Holiday with a Vampire, a rare, UK-only anthology of vampire stories that includes Laura’sIn the Service of the King, Vampire Warrior Kings #1! Open to international! Good luck!