All I want for Christmas is…

By Gracen Miller

*last minute touch-ups on hair as the producer counts down with his fingers…three…two…one..*

Gracen: *sitting straight with legs crossed at the ankles*  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am bringing you a rare interview with the cast of characters from the Road to Hell Series. They’re an enigmatic group of folks. Nix hunts demons full-time as a Sherlock. Madison is working hard at avoiding her future. And Micah, well, he’s dedicated to exploiting your sins if you’re even a little tempted to stray into wickedness. But, I digress! Micah, I’ll start with you, how would you finish the sentence “All I want for Christmas is…”

Micah Dominus: *knocks imaginary lint off his slacks* Christmas is celebrated by imbeciles.

Gracen: Okay…let me rephrase. “All I want is…”

Micah: *deadpan* Both my father and brother dead.

Gracen: *notes the nearest exit*

Micah: More importantly, I look forward to an eternity showing my wife how much I love her.

Gracen: Aww…How sweet.

Madison: *snorts*

Gracen: *glances quickly at Micah to gauge his response to Madison’s reaction…a naughty grin teases the corners of his mouth*

Nix: More like showing his wife how much he enjoys stalk her.

Micah: Cute, but remember I own you, Phoenix.

Nix: *glares at Micah*

Gracen: *swallows nervously at the tension in the room* Moving along…Phoenix—

Nix: Call me Nix, darlin’.

Micah: *sniffs*

Gracen: Okay…Nix, how would you complete my sentence “All I want for Christmas is…”

Nix: *scrapes his thumb along his jaw* Hmm…I’d say win the lottery, but I kind of already won that when I met Mads.

Madison: *squeezes his hand * He hasn’t touched a dime of that money I gave him.

Gracen: *nods, pretending to follow the conversation*

Nix: So, all I want for Christmas is…*peers at Mads*…I think I’d pick a normal life for Mads and Amos. That’s what she wants the most.

Madison: Stop being a suck up. *pokes him on the shoulder with a finger*

Nix: Is it helping? *flashes her a smile that exposes two dimples*

Madison: No. Tell the lady what you want, Nix?

Nix: *turns back to Gracen, going all business * Two things and not in order of priority. One…*holds up one finger* A world without the supernatural monsters that terrorize innocent, unsuspecting people. *sends Micah a snarky glance* Until that day comes, I’ll continue to kill as many of them as I can. *waggles two fingers at Gracen* What would make my world perfect—with or without demons—is a woman to call my own. That would be my second wish.

Gracen: *leans forward and whispers* Does that woman have a name?

Nix: Nice try, but that’s my secret.

Gracen: *twists in her seat to face Madison* Your turn. “All I want for Christmas is…”

Madison: A week for my son to be a normal little boy. *brief, sad smile* It’s been too long since he’s had a normal Christmas.

Gracen: Thank you Micah, Nix and Madison for opening up and telling us your deepest wish this holiday season. It’s your turn now. Finish my sentence “All I want for Christmas is…” for a chance to win a large pink on black skull cameo pendant. PLEASE leave your email address so I can contact you if you’re the winner!!! And remember…once you open Pandora’s Box, there’s no turning back!

Find out more about Madison, Phoenix and Micah, and everything else that happens when you open Pandora’s Box, Book One of the Road to Hell series. Out now from Decadent Publishing. Buy links to follow below!

To read the first 3 chapters of Pandora’s Box, follow this link: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/p/pandoras-box-coming-8-19-2011.html

Huggles,

Gracen

Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/gracen.miller

Road to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=ts

Website: www.gracenmiller.com

Blog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/

Buy Pandora’s Box

Blurb for Pandora’s Box:

Where does the road to Hell begin?

What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn't believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn't know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.

With good intentions? Or by demonic design?

Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison’s life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix's aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?

In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind's liberty has begun...

EXCERPT:

“May I?” He held up the medical supplies.

She nodded and watched as he doused gauze with antiseptic. “Dr. Nix at your service,” he said with a grin, two adorable dimples charming her where words failed.

Madison rolled her eyes, and tipped her head to the side to give him better access. He brushed her hair off her neck, back behind her shoulder. Such a simple gesture, yet it felt terribly personal. The air grew thick and sticky with her awareness of him. She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs.

Madison stared into his eyes. Green, she thought, his eyes were green, gorgeous and intense, with ridiculously long eyelashes women would fantasize about. If they didn’t, they should. A flicker of compassion, concern, and something else she couldn’t identify flashed in his eyes.

“Ready?” he asked.

The husky tenor of his voice forced her gaze to shift to his mouth. Nice, sexy lips, designed for kissing. She gave a mental shake but couldn’t resist wondering how his mouth would feel on hers.

“Madison?” Humor deepened his voice, a touch of a smile tilted the edges of the lips she’d been fantasizing about, and she realized she still stared at them. “You ready?” he asked again, and her eyes widened in embarrassment over her foolish stupor.

She swallowed hard. “Yeah.” She whispered past the lump in her throat and forced her vision to lock on the wall over his shoulder. Good God, what was wrong with her? Her pulse throbbed like crazy, and she felt woozy. Loss of blood! Must be why she reacted that way. No other explanation made sense.

Even though the antiseptic stung like hell, the gentle touch coming from such a gruff man surprised her. “It’s not bad,” he said, dabbing the blood away. “Just a nick.”

Well, she could nix the blood loss theory. Exhaustion and stress were the only other excuses she could come up with. “I’ve suffered worse.” Her voice sounded off, kind of hoarse. She tried to clear her throat delicately, but he must have noticed her unease, because his perceptive eyes met hers. Again, she thought she caught the edge of concern reflected in their green depths.

“This isn’t the first time he’s attacked you?”

“No. It’s the first time he’s tried to seriously kill me, though.” She sighed as she closed her eyes, ready to give up fighting, the sudden tears threatening to fall. Okay, woozy and acting strange because of strain…not because of him. Seriously, as far as first impressions went, she wasn’t impressed.