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These excerpts contain sexually explicit material. If you are not at least 18 years of age, please leave.
If you are 18 or older and are not offended by such material, please stay and enjoy!
Shadows Stir
Book 1: Shadow Ryders
by N.J. Walters
 
In the anthology
Ellora's Cavemen:
Dreams of the Oasis IV
Warriors of the Shadow Realm are facing their own demise, so the Shadow Lord sends one of his Ryders into the world to protect a woman who might hold the key to their very survival. Gideon finds more than someone to protect. He finds a woman to love.
Jo Harris is a woman on a mission to find her missing sister and she’ll do whatever it takes. She encounters a mysterious stranger who becomes both protector and lover. But will their love be enough to save them both from the encroaching shadows?
 
"...NJ walters brings this tale into the light beautifully! I...didn't want it to end."
—5 Blue Ribbons for the Anthology, Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies
"...an exciting, sexy and very intriguing storyline....Dreams of the Oasis IV is one of the best anthologies I've ever read."
5 Kisses—Kerin, TwoLips Reviews
"This is a precious gem of a story - to be enjoyed and treasured and looked at over and over again."
4 1/2 Kisses—Elise Logan, Romance Divas
"Shadows Stir is a wonderful story of destined love."
—Amelia, Joyfully Reviewed
"... a scorching story...layered with enough sexual heat to smoke the pages..."
—Janalee Ruschhaupt, PNR Reviews
"Ellora's Cave has once again succeeded in bringing together six of it's most talented authors to create an anthology that deserves a place on your keeper shelf."
—Lori Ann, RRT Erotic
"Shadows Stir was an excellent read! I enjoyed the fast paced action and hot sex between Gideon and Jo."
4 Stars—LT Blue, Just Erotic Romance Reviews
"...thrilling and well written, wtih plenty of passion and tenderness."
Aris, Alternative-Read
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Excerpt from Shadows Stir
©2006 N.J. Walters
Her inattention gave him the opening he was looking for. Her senses kicked in before she even fully registered the threat. He had a gun drawn and pointed straight at her. Well damn. Now she’d have to go to the trouble of disarming the asshole. Her body began to move even as her mind was sorting through her options.
A gigantic shadow fell in front of her and her informant disappeared from her view. “What the hell?” The shadow whirled back toward her as she spoke and she drew her gun and aimed. “Stand back, I’m armed.”
Without warning, he was right in front of her. She took an involuntary step backward, stumbling slightly, but never losing her grip on her weapon. Holy shit, he was big. No, make that huge. The dim light shone straight at his face and torso and she froze. Every cell of her body went into overdrive. He was without a doubt the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on.
His hair looked black, but she couldn’t be sure if it was just the lack of light. But it was long, hanging down over his bare shoulders. He was wearing a plain black leather vest that was open, revealing the widest chest she’d ever seen, and with her years in the police force she’d seen plenty of buff-looking guys. She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a tattoo of a large black bird right in the center of that magnificent chest.
He stood as still as a statue, his eyes never leaving her face. Now it was her turn to be unnerved by his stillness and his silence. Even though she knew what he was doing, it was still very effective. Those eyes looked so deep and dark, she could almost swear she could see her reflection in them if she looked hard enough.
And his face looked as if it was chiseled by the hands of the gods. His jaw was strong, his cheekbones high, his nose aquiline. But his lips, his lips made her want to taste them, lick them. She licked her own lips instead, fascinated as his eyes followed her tongue as she trailed it over her bottom lip.
Oh lord, she wanted him. Her entire body was screaming at her to jump him. Her nipples were hard points against the soft cups of her bra and she could feel the cream flowing between her legs. The crotch of her jeans was wet and it took all her discipline not to squirm to try to alleviate the growing ache.
This kind of thing just didn’t happen to her. Sure, she’d had sex before, but not often. Her size scared off most men and the few times she had been serious about a guy, it hadn’t lasted long and had always ended in disappointment on both sides. But this guy didn’t look like anyone would scare him off. He had to be at least six-foot-eight, maybe more.
It was getting harder for her to breathe so she sucked in a deep breath and then forgot to let it out when his eyes went straight to her chest as if he could see her swollen breasts and pointed nipples through her top. She knew it was too dark for him to see her, but it still made her uncomfortable and incredibly aroused at the same time.
She had to get a grip on herself. The sound of someone scrabbling in the dirt reminded her of her informant. How could she have forgotten? Moving quickly, she skirted around the unknown man, keeping him further than arm’s length and her gun trained on him. She was just in time to see the back end of her informant as he fled around a corner.
“Damn it,” she swung back around. “You let him get away. I wasn’t finished with him yet.”
“I was protecting you.” She almost melted into the ground as his deep voice washed over her.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t need help.” Realizing how ungrateful that sounded, she shook off her disappointment. “Look, I appreciate what you were trying to do, but I didn’t need any help.”
“He had a weapon pointed at you.” His logic just ticked her off.
“I could have disarmed him. I can take care of myself.” She turned and started walking back down the alley toward the light, sheathing her weapon as she went. Her mind was already planning her next move.
There was no sound, no warning at all. One minute she was almost out of the alleyway, the next, her back was up against the wall, her hands trapped in his. He lowered his head until his forehead was all but touching hers. The scowl on his face left no doubt that he was angry with her. Leaning even closer, he whispered, “Can you now?”
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Beyond Shadows
Book 2: Shadow Ryders
by N.J. Walters
Warriors of the Shadow Realm are facing their own demise, becoming lost in the shadows that were once their salvation. The Shadow Lord, hoping to stave off their destruction, sends Blade, one of his fiercest warriors, to protect a woman who holds one of the keys to their survival.
Jac Harris is an accountant, not a risk taker, preferring to live her life quietly. That all changes when she is sent on an accounting job by mistake and stumbles onto a crime ring. Now the bad guys are chasing her and she doesn’t know where to run.
A mysterious man shows up at her family’s beach house swearing to protect her at all costs. But Jac doesn’t quite know what to believe. With an arsenal of knives strapped to his body, and clothed from head to toe in black leather, he resembles the assassin she fears he is. Blade becomes her protector and lover in this deadly game, but it’s up to her to save him from the shadows that haunt him.
"I absolutely adored this novel...Graphic, well-executed love and action scenes left me breathless and on the edge of my seat...An awesome reading experience..."
5 Hearts—Abi, The Romance Studio
"...like the sensual pleasure of fine, dark chocolat, a single taste of N.J.'s passionate warriors could never be enough!"
—Liz Pawsey, PNR
"Blade is as sexy as sin and hard as nails. He radiates dark and deadly like a gunfighter at high noon, but instead of a six-gun, he possesses knife-fighting skills that left me breathless. Hands down, he's one of the yummiest alpha heroes I've ever seen between the covers of a book."
4 1/2 Kisses—Merrylee, TwoLips Reviews
"...an erotic romance that will curl your toes. I’m wondering…does N J stand for Nice Job, because she always seems to leave you with a satisfying read and awaiting more from her. Enjoy!"
4.25—Susan, Night Owl Romance
"This was a fast moving, action packed erotic read. I loved the chemistry between Jac and Blade and it kept me glued to the book until I was done."
4.25—Chris, Night Owl Romance
"Ms. Walters has proven she is a master of her craft with Beyond Shadows.
This story is a book full of sex, suspense, and a love for the ages."
3/4 Stars—L.T. Blue, JERR
"...the sparks of sexual attraction between Jac and Blade could practically be felt jumping off the pages."
4 Headstones—Stacy, Bitten By Books
"...a sensual read sure to rev your motor!"
4—Lori Spears, The Romance Readers Connection
"Blade is a hero to fall in love with. Although he knows his relationship with Jacqueline is doomed, he can't stop himself from loving her. He would sacrifice his own life to keep the woman he can never have safe. This is one character deserving of a happy ever after. Beyond Shadows will have readers cheering for the hero."
4 Angels—Kimber, Fallen Angel Reviews
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Excerpt from Beyond Shadows
©2008 N.J. Walters
There was a low snick and then a light almost blinded her. He’d turned on one of the floor lamps. She had to blink several times to clear her vision. It wasn’t that the light was so strong, but that she’d been in darkness seconds before.
He was sitting on the edge of the coffee table, patiently waiting for her to look at him. For a brief moment, Jac wished she’d never asked for a light. Darkness was preferable.
Her assassin was gorgeous.
Even though he was sitting down, she could tell he was tall. His shoulders were encased in leather and appeared solid and very wide. His jaw was square and covered with a light stubble that made him look sexy. His skin was swarthy, whether it was tanned or part of his heritage, she couldn’t be sure, but if she was a betting gal, she’d bet he was of Mediterranean descent. His nose was straight, his cheekbones high. But it was his eyes that captured her.
Dark and fathomless, they seemed to look within her all the way to her very soul. They were like the sea on a moonless night, cold and unforgiving. She shivered.
He reached out and she flinched back in spite of her resolve to be brave. He didn’t touch her. Instead, he grabbed the blanket that had been tossed to the end of the sofa in their struggle. Shaking it out, he tucked it carefully around her without actually touching her.
“Who are you?” She could hear the slight quiver in her voice and hated herself for it. She didn’t want to appear weak.
“Blade.”
That didn’t tell her much, except that maybe she was right about his profession. Blade was the perfect name for an assassin. It suited him somehow. Maybe it was all the black leather and his sharp features.
His hair was past his shoulders and tied back at his neck. When he’d reached for the blanket it had fallen over his shoulder. The light had shined on the black mass, highlighting some strands that appeared to be almost a midnight blue.
She shook her head to clear it. “That doesn’t tell me much.” She was proud that her voice was steady this time, her reply almost tart in tone.
He raised his hand and slowly moved it toward her. This time she didn’t flinch, but met his gaze straight on. His fingers cupped her chin, his thumb stroking over her bottom lip in a sensual caress.
Jac pressed her legs together as she felt that tiny touch right between her thighs. What was the matter with her? As he stroked his thumb over her lip again she could feel herself creaming her panties. This was so not like her. She wasn’t the type for spontaneous attraction. Like everything else in her life, she took her time with men and relationships, moving slowly until she felt certain about them.
This immediate attraction took her by surprise and made her feel uncomfortable.
“All you need to know is that I will kill anyone who tries to harm you.” He said the words easily, as if killing someone meant no more to him that swatting a fly.
She swallowed hard. “So you say.”
His hand stilled and he let it slide downward until he was cupping her throat. She feared for a moment that she’d pushed him too hard and he’d simply squeeze the life out of her. His hand was big and she could feel the hard calluses on it. He was more than capable of ending her life that way.
But his hand continued to move lower. He traced her collarbone, the edge of his hand brushing against her right breast. In spite of herself, her nipple tightened, pressing against the cup of her bra.
His fingers trailed down her right arm until he was touching the cast on her wrist. “Tell me who did this and I will kill them for you.”
Laughter bubbled up inside her and she knew she was on the verge of hysterics if she didn’t pull herself back. She shook her head and snorted.
His grip tightened around her wrist. It was then that she realized that he wasn’t hurting her. In fact, hadn’t hurt her at all yet, even though he obviously had the upper hand here. In their struggle, he’d tempered his strength, using only enough to control her without harming her. It was a revelation. But she still didn’t trust him.
“What is it?” There was a slight accent in his voice, one she couldn’t place, but made him sound as sexy as hell.
“I knew you were here to kill me.”
“I have told you I am here to protect you.” She could sense his rising exasperation.
“Yeah, well, you also said you’ll kill whoever did this to me.” She tugged her arm from his grasp and held it up between them. “I did it climbing out of a bathroom window.”
His black eyes narrowed. “You were running.”
It wasn’t a question. “Very astute.”
“Who were you running from?”
“Most likely the man who hired you to find and kill me.” It was bold and possibly stupid, but she wanted all the cards on the table. No more games between them.
Blade came to his feet in one lithe motion. She looked up. Way up, to meet his black eyes that appeared positively glacial at the moment.
She stood, not liking the feel of him towering over her. She was tall, but he was still several inches above her. With his larger build, he made her feel small, not something she was used to.
He put his hands on his hips and his calf-length, leather coat parted to reveal a mini-arsenal. He was wearing a harness of some kind with handles of metal and wood visible at various intervals. Knives! She could feel the blood draining from her face as she imagined the sharp edge of one of those sinking into her flesh.
“I have said that I am here to protect you, Jacqueline Harris.”
“Call me Jac.” The response was automatic and out of her mouth before she could stop it. Now probably wasn’t a good time to correct him.
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Out of Shadows
Book 3: Shadow Ryders
by N.J. Walters
Dovina Horne has arrived in Sleepy Hollow to study the legend of the horseman. She believes it’s only a myth until she is threatened by a horse and rider while walking on a deserted trail in the woods. Only the sudden appearance of an immortal warrior saves her from the horseman’s sword. She feels an instant connection, both sexual and emotional to this protective stranger.
An immortal warrior of the Shadow Realm, Hadeon’s mission is to protect Dovina at all costs. He knows the horseman is not what he seems, but something more powerful and sinister in disguise. The longer Hadeon spends with Dovina, the more he wants her. He finds his way into her bed and her heart, but their relationship is doomed. He is an immortal from the shadows and she is a human filled with light. But when the final battle comes, they must use all that is between them if they hope to survive.
"Awesome read. Third in the series, they just keep getting better. Very emotional as well as erotic...A touching love story that's not to be missed."
4.5 and a Reviewers Top Pick—Chris, Night Owl Romance Book Reviews
"Out of the Shadows drew me in like a moth to a flame. NJ Walters has made this series both intriguing and exciting...If you enjoy dark, sitting on the edge of your seat stories with passions that rob you of breathing, then pick up Out of the Shadows by NJ Walters. Get drawn into the shadows."
5 Diva Review and a Recommended Read—Deb, Dark Diva Reviews
"Wow, and Oh My! There should be a warning label on this one. It is HOT!...Kept me wanting to read more and more."
5 Stars—Pam, Romance Writer's Reviews
"Between the scorching hot love scenes that stole my breath, and the intriguing story line, once I began reading I did not stop until the end."
5 Siren Stones—Nikki, Siren Book Reviews
"N.J. Walters writing is pure magic and her name on the cover of any book makes it an automatic must buy for me. Having read the other books in the Shadow series, this book surpassed my expectations and was a treat that ticked all the boxes."
5 Tea Cups—Claudette, Happily Ever After Reviews
"This is a love story that has the aura of the impossible--an immortal with a mortal--but which expands to have so many more dimensions...full of action and suspense, dark and mysterious on the one hand and loving and light-filled on the other, just like the main characters."
4.25—Judith, Book Binge
"...highly creative, well-plotted, and original, with characters that put a bit of a different slant on shapeshifters."
4 Kisses—Merrylee, TwoLips Reviews
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Excerpt from Out of Shadows
©2010 N.J. Walters
A feeling of dread crept over her. For the first time in her life, Dovina was afraid of the dark. She, who’d visited cemeteries around the world, who’d tromped through the Black Forest in Germany in search of a local legend, who’d even visited Bran Castle—what most folks thought of as Dracula’s Castle—for heaven’s sake, was afraid in a small stretch of woods in upstate New York.
A sound trickled into the air around her. It sounded like someone breathing heavily. Impossible. Even if she wasn’t alone, she wouldn’t be able to hear a person breathe unless they were right beside her. That thought unfroze her feet and she spun in a circle. This was no longer fun.
She hurried down the path, retracing her steps. “One foot in front of the other.” She’d be back on the main road in no time. From there, it was a short walk back to her car.
A twig cracked, the sounds echoing through the air. She froze and listened. Nothing but the mournful sound of the wind whistling through the trees. She felt it in the soles of her feet first, a vibration that grew stronger with each passing second. Then she heard it, the hard clop of a horse’s hooves on dirt. Living on the family ranch for several years, she was very familiar with the sound.
She looked behind her, pointing her flashlight into the impenetrable gloom. The horse trumpeted as the sound of his hooves got closer. She caught a glimpse of movement in the distance. Then her flashlight went dead.
“Oh shit.” Stuffing her keys in her coat pocket, she whirled and started to run. No pretext at being anything other than terrified. If this was local kids trying to scare a solitary female tourist, they were doing a hell of a job. And what if it wasn’t a kid? What if it was some crazy person? Or worse?
Heart pounding, legs and lungs pumping, she raced through the trees, branches slapping at her arms and face. The sound of her labored breathing drowned out the pounding of hooves, but she could still feel the vibration in the ground.
Something flew past her in the woods. She didn’t stop, didn’t pause. Dovina was running for her life. A dark mass appeared on the path ahead of her. She stumbled to a stop. Tripping over a rock, she fell to her knees, barely catching herself on her hands. Gravel tore at her palms and she cried out.
She jerked her head up, unable to believe what was before her. A large black horse with reddish eyes and steam coming from its nose rose up on its hind legs. The rider, a huge black shadow, raised one arm. The moon caught a glint of metal. A sword? He was holding a sword. She blinked twice to be certain.
The horse came back down and the clouds moved away, letting the full light of the partial moon illuminate the specter before her. She shook her head in disbelief. It couldn’t be. She’d seen him clearly for a brief second and he had no head.
Impossible. It couldn’t be. Yet it was. She’d talked to people all around the world in person and via email, many of whom claimed to see vampires, ghosts, werewolves and other creatures of myth and lore. But never had she seen anything resembling the paranormal herself. Until now.
Her logical mind was scrambling to find a rational explanation, while her survival instincts were screaming at her to run. She ignored her brain, jumped to her feet and ran. She’s figure it out later, right now getting out of here alive was paramount.
Dovina whirled around and raced back toward the bridge. It was believed that the horseman couldn’t cross water, so if she could get over the bridge she should be okay. At least she hoped she’d be okay. She really didn’t have a choice, not with him blocking the path back to civilization.
Sweat coated her body as she ran faster than she’d ever run in her life. For once, she wished she were less of a bookworm and more of an athlete. The bridge got closer as pounding of the horse’s hooves got louder. A maniacal laugh cut through the dark. She heard the swish of his blade as he brandished it through the air.
She was going to die.
Damned if she would. Dovina dug deep and pushed harder. The muscles in her legs cramped, her lungs screamed as she managed to quicken her pace. Her heart was pounding at a furious rate as she scrambled toward the bridge. She jumped onto the wooden structure, not stopping until she was on the other side.
Only then did she glance behind her.
As if he’d been waiting for her, the horseman appeared on the far side of the bridge. Again, laughter filled the air. “You cannot escape me. I will have you.” His deep booming voice echoed through the woods, coming from nowhere, yet everywhere at the same time. The horse reared again and she took a step back.
The horseman reined in the horse and urged the great beast forward. It’s foreleg stepped on the wooden structure. Oh god, the water and the bridge wasn’t going to stop it. Real or ghost, it didn’t matter. It was after her.
The horse had placed only one hoof on the bridge when a massive shadow appeared in front of her, blocking her view of the horse and rider. Dovina blinked and the shadow coalesced into the body of a man. She shrieked, certain the horseman had dismounted and was almost upon her.
It was then she saw his head. Whoever this man was, he at least had a head. “Run. He has a sword.” For some reason, she felt compelled to warn this stranger who’d put himself between her and the deadly horseman.
“So do I,” came his gruff reply.
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