Sinful Seduction: Midnight Embrace, #1

By Marilyn Lee

A sultry jazz bar owner, a string of brutal murders, and an enigmatic police chief with a dark secret. ... what could go wrong?

Lena Johnson's nights are filled with the smoky ambiance of Midnight Blues and its enchanting supernatural patrons in the city of Cres-Haze. But when a series of grisly killings rocks the community, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the dangerous investigation—and the ruggedly handsome Police Chief Sergei Peytona. As they delve into the dark underbelly of Cres-Haze, uncovering twisted rituals and forbidden magic, the line blurs between the murder cases and their smoldering chemistry.

 

With each electrifying encounter, she's left wondering whether she should trust her life or body to the seductive Sergei. Or will surrendering to the passion consuming her end in heartbreak? Or worse?

 

Lose yourself in this deliciously steamy urban fantasy where murder and desire collide on the shadowy streets of Cres-Haze. Sinful Seductions is for fans of sizzling paranormal romance blended with gripping mystery and suspense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marilyn Lee Unleashed
• Release date: Jun 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227610430

Marilyn Lee

Marilyn Lee lives, works, and writes on the East Coast. In addition to thoroughly enjoying writing erotic romances, she enjoys roller-skating, spending time with her large, extended family, and rooting for all her hometown sports teams. Her other interests include collecting Doc Savage pulp novels from the thirties and forties and collecting Marvel comics from the seventies and eighties (particularly Thor and The Avengers). Her favorite TV shows are forensic shows, westerns (Gunsmoke and Have Gun, Will Travel are particular favorites), mysteries (loves the old Charlie Chan mysteries. Her all-time favorite mystery movie is probably Dead, Again), and nearly every vampire movie or television show ever made (Forever Knight and Count Yorga, Vampire are favorites). Marilyn has won numerous writing accolades, including a CAPA award for Bloodlust: Conquering Mikhel Dumont and the following Lub-Dubs Awards for 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award, In Blood And Worth Loving (Best erotic novel and best sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal Award. She loves to hear from readers who can email her at [e-mail] or who can visit her website, http://www.marilynlee.org. Visit her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.lee.393950?ref=tn_tnmn) She has a Yahoo! Group called Love Bytes that readers can join by sending an email to [e-mail]

Book preview

Midnight Embrace 1:

Sinful Seduction

©2024 Marilyn Lee

All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. All service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except for brief quotations embodied in reviews. Copyright laws prohibit trading, selling, and or giving away ebooks while retaining the original. Please support your favorite authors by purchasing your books from sites that pay author royalties.

Contents

Midnight Embrace 1:

Sinful Seduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

A Full-Blood Homecoming Excerpt

Marilyn’s Full Book List:

Marilyn Lee’s Bio

Chapter 1

Lena Johnson adjusted the straps of her crimson dress, feeling the fabric caress her curvy silhouette as if whispering promises of the night ahead. She stood at the entrance of her jazz bar, Midnight Blues, welcoming the Saturday night crowd. The air was thick with the aroma of aged whiskey and heady cologne, the kind that made you turn your head to find its source. But tonight, the scent she caught was entirely different—something ancient and inexplicable. A thrill of anticipation tingled down her spine.

She scanned the room and saw him seated in a booth near the door. Sergei Peytona. Just the sight of the man was enough to set her senses on high arousal. He had that rugged yet sophisticated look—thick dark hair, a jawline that could probably cut glass, and eyes so intense, they almost glowed. And those arms. She’d caught a glimpse of his tattooed bicep once, and the image had teased her dreams ever since.

Nodding to her seated patrons, she made her way to his booth. Dark blue eyes met dark brown, and a shiver cascaded down her spine that had nothing to do with the bar’s air conditioning. She leaned slightly over the table, certain the soft lighting subtly highlighted her curves, not to mention her sizable cleavage. Evening, Chief Peytona.

He nodded a formal acknowledgment. Ms. Johnson.

She caught the faint Eastern European accent lacing his voice. What brings you to Midnight Blues? Looking to let loose? Because this is just the place to come for a good time.

I’m sure. However, I’m here on business.

Official or monkey?

His lips tightened. Official.

No sense of humor then. As in?

There’s been a nearby incident.

What kind? Anything a curvy girl can sink her teeth into?

She watched his gaze sweep across the room, noting the usual diverse crowd, including human and supernatural, enjoying the ambiance and music. His gaze briefly flicked over her curves before meeting hers. Do you have a moment for a private discussion?

I’m busy but willing to make time to do my part. Follow me. She was acutely aware of his presence as she walked to her office at the back of the building. The jazz saxophonist’s solo seemed to sync with their steps, adding an almost cinematic layer to the palpable tension.

Opening her office door, she felt the weight of his gaze on her. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking. She motioned him to a large sofa along one wall. What kind of incident?

A series of killings that have shaken the delicate balance we strive to maintain.

Her smile vanished. Like her grandmother, she prided herself on creating a haven where humans and supernatural beings could coexist without fear or judgment. The thought of that harmony being threatened unsettled her.

She spun around and then slowly turned to face him again, allowing her dress to realign to emphasize her hips and bust. She’d give him something to stare at. Why come to me? What are you implying?

Not implying. Investigating, he corrected, but his eyes traced her silhouette for just a fraction of a second too long.

Her thoughts drifted to another time when she had asked the questions, digging for the inconvenient truths. Five years earlier, she was an investigative journalist, her career on a steady incline. She had traced a series of disappearances to a secluded cult that operated on the fringes of Crescent Haven society or, as locals liked to call it, Cres-Haze.

One night, she found herself trapped in an abandoned warehouse filled with occult symbols and strange altars. Fear had coursed through her veins as the cult members advanced with dark intentions.

She backed up until she felt