Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway:
Moonwish by R.L. Merrill
Sundowners, Book 2
Vampire Creed Lowell’s life was altered fifty years ago at the hands of an ancient being known only as The Source, right before rogue members of the cult he belonged to destroyed their way of life. Just as Creed discovers the identity of the responsible party for that terrible tragedy, temptation is placed in his path in the form of grad student Roman San Angelo, a stubborn, proud, infuriating man who’s everything Creed ever wanted in a partner. When Creed’s past catches up to them, Roman is snatched from his grasp and Creed is forced into hiding, saddled with the care of his former mentor. He’s the only one strong enough to heal them and prevent a catastrophic event, though his rage builds the longer he’s kept from his love.
When Roman’s safety is threatened once more, the two are finally reunited, and Creed is devastated to see the physical effects of Roman’s run-in with The Source. He wants nothing more than to secret Roman away and share whatever time they have left on this Earth in peace. But once again, Creed is forced to sacrifice everything when an old enemy sets their sights on his unique genetic makeup and skills.
This time, it’s Creed who’s taken, and Roman will do whatever it takes to rescue him, even if it means trusting the being that nearly ended his life. With the help of Roman’s long-suffering uncle, a determined FBI agent, and a mysterious benefactor with a multitude of resources at his disposal, they’ll need to bring down a shadowy financial powerhouse and put an end to their villainy before it’s too late for Creed to have a life with his beloved.
Moonwish is a continuation of the events in Sundowners and the books should be read in order. The events of this story are resolved by the end, but Roman and Creed will continue to work towards a resolution of the series’ story arc in future books.
Universal Book Links
Amazon Book Links
“Don’t try to make me sound like a victim, Roman. I chose to continue, even knowing I’d have to live off of other people like a damned parasite—”
“Baby, please. Humans starve without affection, without touch, without love. There’s a reason failure to thrive is a real thing. An adult inmate cannot survive long-term in solitary confinement because they need to be around other people. What you do is an amplified version of what all humans must do to survive.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and fought to keep tears at bay. Sobbing would undo everything I’d gained from last night’s feeding. “You said once that I was an example of next-level evolution. But what if I’m actually a step back? My big brain can heal the sick and wounded, but it can’t sustain my own life. Maybe instead of being an advanced form of humanity, I’m not fit to exist.”
“Creed,” Roman whispered. “I wish I could hold you right now.”
“Why? To prolong a life not meant to be?”
“I can’t accept that. First of all, I refuse to believe we weren’t meant to find each other. And second, I want to hold you because obviously being away from my particular brand of sexual potency has got you all morose. You need a healthy dose of me, baby, that’s all.”
“Goddamn you.” But I laughed. “For a smart-mouthed grad student, you sure talk like you know shit.”
“That’s right, I know shit. And I know you. I know when you’re trying to run away from me, and dammit, Creed, we’re not doing this again. I don’t care if you had to fuck your way through a line of frat boys to get enough energy to last you. Well, as long as you wore condoms. And that you hated it.”
That bullshit, along with his smirk, had me cracking up, which lifted my funk the tiniest bit.
“And as long as no one touched my ass?”
“Damn right,” Roman growled. His dark eyes flared and he pursed his lips, that bottom one with the curve I loved so much. “That ass is mine. As soon as I can walk across the room without needing my oxygen tank, I’m going to have that ass again.” His expression turned soft. “Baby, please don’t talk like this.” His tone went from cocky to pleading so quick. “You are so important, and you give so much more than you take. How can you even believe I would be upset? The only thing I’m upset about is that I couldn’t go with you.”
“Todd is probably upset too. I think he hated it, truly.”
“He probably got all uptight about it, huh? I do think there’s a freak in there somewhere,” Roman whispered. I missed the little mischievous crinkle he’d get in his nose before giving me that wide smile full of large, straight white teeth, a shadow of dark hair on his upper lip that I knew was just as velvety soft as the hair on his belly.
“Maybe,” I sighed. “I hate telling you this. And I hate you worrying about me when you’re the one who needs the worry.”
“Don’t not tell me. There’s nothing you can tell me that will tarnish my image of you. You’re a good man, a generous and caring person who has dedicated his whole existence to making life better for others. And I can’t wait until we’re together and I can meet all of your needs once more. All of them.”
“Roman, no. I can’t. I won’t hurt you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ve got plenty of blood now, and it’s pretty damn healthy too. I’ll have Rey send you my records so you can see for yourself.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve any of this, but I’ll spend the rest of my existence trying to live up to this image you have of me.”
Catch up with Book 1: Sundowners
From the author of the supernatural suspense series Gifted (Healer, Connection) comes a new queer paranormal romance series.
Praise for Connection: “The romance element is complemented nicely by the relentless action and adventure throughout, creating an emotionally intense and page-turning narrative…A fast-paced and fun fusion of supernatural romance and mainstream thriller.” ~Kirkus
Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him.
Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems.
Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.
*This book contains violence and sexual content. It is meant for audiences 18+
www.rlmerrillauthor.com/all-the-links www.facebook.com/rlmerrillauthor www.instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor www.tiktok.com/@rlmerrillauthor1342
