by Kate Hill
Erotic Historical Vampire
From Changeling Press
Starving Artist
After finding his family brutally murdered, Blair tries to end his life, but is instead Changed by a vampire. Burdened by guilt and driven by rage, he dedicates his new life to fighting evil. When he fails to save a family from the fate his own had suffered, he retreats to endure self-imposed starvation while he immerses himself in his art.
Alone and penniless, May is hired by a mysterious gentleman who sends her to work at his friend’s country manor. Mr. Black is even stranger than the man who hired her, but she is soon infatuated with the handsome, tormented artist who has deeper secrets than she could ever imagine.
Excerpt from Starving Artist
Maybe it was because she arrived at ten minutes to midnight that Wildberry Hill looked ominous. Tangles of bushes lined both sides of the walk leading up to the mansion silhouetted against the enormous autumn moon.
May shivered in her worn cloak and made her way toward the house. Several times she glanced over her shoulder, her heart pounding. She thought she’d heard someone behind her, but it was merely the echo of her own shoes against the cobblestones.
As instructed, she walked to the front door, but hesitated before using the brass knocker. It was terribly inappropriate for a servant to approach the front door, but Mr. Fiske had said her new employer insisted that everyone enter through the front. He’d said Mr. Black was an artist and a bit of a recluse.
A strong wind cut through her and she considered knocking again.
Then the door opened and she found herself facing a blue-eyed man with wild ginger hair and a short beard. Tall and lean, he wore a linen shirt, unbuttoned, and well-fitting black trousers that accentuated the length of his legs. Paint in various colors stained his clothes and marked the pale skin of his lean chest. A streak of blue ran down the length of his long, straight nose.
“Hello,” he said, staring at her, his brow furrowed in question.
“Pardon me, but I’m here to see Mr. Black.”
His slender lips pressed into an annoyed line. He stared at her so long that she started to feel quite uncomfortable, yet that was a sensation she’d grown accustomed to of late.
Finally he said, “What business do you have with Mr. Black?”
“I’m the new maid.”
“The new what?” He curled his lip and her stomach clenched. She nearly took a step back, but held her ground. She desperately needed this job.
“Mr. Fiske said I was expected.”
“Then Mr. Fiske lied. We have no need of a maid here.”
“But…”
He closed the door in her face and May winced.
She stood for a moment, stunned and terrified.
Mr. Fiske had paid for her train ticket here and given her money to hire a ride to the manor, but the wagon was already gone.
The driver had rushed off as soon as she’d placed both feet on the ground.
It was miles to the village–not that it mattered even if she walked there. She had no money, no job and absolutely nowhere to go but the street.
May turned and made her way down the walk, slowly at first then finally breaking into a run, as if she could somehow escape her problems.
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About Kate
Always a fan of romance and the paranormal, Kate Hill started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Her first story, a short erotic vampire tale, was accepted for publication in 1996. Since then she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels.
When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out and spending time with her family and pets.
Kate also writes under the pen name Saloni Quinby. She enjoys hearing from readers and she can be contacted at katehill@sprintmail.com. Visit her online at http://www.kate-hill.com.