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LENGTH: Mid Novel
SENSUALITY: Carnal

Cover art (c) Eliza Black 2006
ISBN 1-58608-974-9
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Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-58608-897-2
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Dr. Thaddeus Green survived a werepanther attack long ago, leaving him immortal and a member of the I-Ops team. He’s dedicated his life to genetics and to serving his country. After his mutated DNA led to the death of his loved ones, he vowed to never let anyone close to his heart again. Try as he might, Green is unable to stop the mystical pull to the tall, leggy blonde with a sharp tongue and an even worse bite. Thinking Melanie is suffering from mating withdraw, Green is prepared to do what he must to assure her survival, even if it means claiming her for himself, regardless of his need to protect his heart. Little does Green know that fate has been preparing him for Melanie Daly all his unnaturally long life.

When ghosts from the past resurface, in ways he never dreamt possible, the normally mild-mannered scientist finds himself drawing on his inner beast and rage to assure his mate and their future are protected. But even Green can’t fight all of Melanie’s battles for her. Some she has no choice but to face on her own.

Rating: Contains graphic violence, explicit sex and strong language.

RADAR DECEPTION

By

Mandy M. Roth

© copyright September 2006, Mandy M. Roth

Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright September 2006

ISBN 1-58608-974-9

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Radar Deception

The deliberate radiation, re-radiation, alteration, suppression, absorption, denial, enhancement, or reflection of electromagnetic energy in a manner intended to convey misleading information to an enemy or to enemy electromagnetic-dependent weapons, thereby degrading or neutralizing the enemy's combat capability. Among the types of electromagnetic deception are: a. manipulative electromagnetic deception--Actions to eliminate revealing, or convey misleading, electromagnetic telltale indicators that may be used by hostile forces; b. simulative electromagnetic deception--Actions to simulate friendly, notional, or actual capabilities to mislead hostile forces; and c. imitative electromagnetic deception--The introduction of electromagnetic energy into enemy systems that imitates enemy emissions. ~ Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

Prologue

Melanie sat--bordering on catatonic--as her best friends tried to comfort her. Their night had been anything but ordinary. What had been planned as a birthday outing for her friend Peren quickly turned bizarre, dark and deadly. It had been her idea to drag Peren out and about--get her back in the land of the living since she’d taken to locking herself away from mankind.

Missy, her other close friend, agreed and the two plotted a way to get Peren on a date. It had taken some work on their part and after a few phone calls, Missy had set up what Melanie had assumed was a fool-proof night. Well, right up until Peren bolted from the bar and Lukian, the man set up to be her blind date, went after her, leaving Missy and Melanie being shoved into an unmarked van by two armed hunks.

Once Lance and Roi, the two hunks, had explained that Peren was in danger and that they were there to help, she’d calmed down a bit. Missy, the hellcat that she was, didn’t let up once. She’d even gone as far as to smack Roi across the face and then spend the remainder of the evening arguing with him.

Melanie hadn’t used her head. No. She’d followed blindly behind Lance, seemingly unable to deny the simplest of his requests. Something about him left her feeling as if she had no choice but to comply. She also hadn’t been able to tear her gaze from him. When he’d come onto her, rubbing, petting, kissing, it felt right but wrong for reasons she couldn’t name. Still, she gave in, letting him please her multiple times. It wasn’t until their third time joining that it happened.

Melanie shuddered as she sat in the cold steel chair. The light in the room was harsh and the room itself had a vibe to it, reminding her of integration rooms on television shows.

“Mel, guess what our little buddy did,” Missy said, folding her arms over her chest and arching a dark brown towards their friend Peren.

Still too distracted by the night’s event to fully focus on whatever had set Missy off this time, Melanie looked at Peren. “What’d ya’ do?”

“Mel?”

“What’s wrong, honey?” Peren asked, concern lacing her voice.

The feel of being watched came over Melanie but she shrugged it off, doing her best to concentrate on her friends. “I ... I had sex with Lance last night.”

Missy grunted and Peren shot her a nasty look.

Melanie continued on, “He was just ... I mean, well, he wasn’t…oh, shit, he was hot and I wanted him.” Shame filling her, she glanced at Peren. “I got him. I got more than just him. We fucked three times before it happened.” She took a keen interest in the floor, wanting to avoid her friends’ stare. “You won’t believe me if I tell you.”

“No, sweetie, it’s okay. We’ll believe you, go ahead,” Peren said, moving closer.

Melanie took her friend’s hand and held it tight. “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I swear to you ... Lance changed during his orgasm.”

“Changed?” Peren asked, rubbing her thumb over the back of Melanie’s hand.

Missy snorted and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, psycho-paramilitary freaks tend to do that.”

“He changed how?” Peren asked.

Melanie debated on ending the discussion then and there. It was bad enough she was sure she’d lost her mind seeing the impossible, but to share her insanity with her friends was another matter. Peren gave her hand a gentle tug, reassuring her.

Melanie nodded more to herself than anyone else. “His mouth widened and then his shoulders moved up ... hair, dark black hair just sort of appeared all over him, and the worst part was his teeth ... they were huge ... he looked like,” she gasped, “he looked like he was going tear me apart after he fucked me.”

“Oh, this is ridiculous!” Missy stood quickly, tipping her chair over. “He obviously slipped you something in your drink at the club and you were hallucinating.”

Melanie wiped the tears from her cheeks, embarrassed and humiliated by what she’d said--what she’d done. “Hallucinating? Yeah, maybe, but it felt ... it felt so real.”

It was real.

Inside she knew, but she didn’t voice it aloud. There was no point. No one believed her.

Missy gave a rather dramatic wave with her hand while she huffed. “Well, you don’t have a mark on you and since you’re sitting here telling us this, he couldn’t have eaten you.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right,” Melanie said, knowing to just play along rather than make any more waves. “When I got up this morning he was lying next to me in the bed, normal. I ... yeah, it must have been something in my drink.”

Peren held her tight. “Yes, you were tired, and had too much to drink. Lance didn’t slip you a thing. You were half in the bag when we got to the club, and you’ve been running on empty with finals lately. I’m guessing that the stress of all that, combined with alcohol, left you a little off.”

Melanie didn’t believe Peren was as sure as she presented herself to be. In fact, Melanie’s powers, the ones she kept hidden from her friends, told her that Peren was as worried about Melanie’s revelation as she was. Maybe more.

She waited until Peren glanced away to close her eyes and try to calm her nerves. Someone’s rage swept over her and for a split second she could have sworn she heard the auburn-haired man’s voice--the one who had driven the van away after Lance told her to get in. The one whose emerald eyes locked on her in the review mirror and rarely left. The one who made her feel uncomfortable but not in a bad way. What had Lance called him?

Green.

That’s right.

Green.

Melanie stared around the white room. She, Missy and Peren were the only ones in it. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched. Her gaze flickered to the mirror, running the full length of the left-hand wall. Drawing upon her power, she let the tiniest bit out and watched in awe as Green lunged at a man she didn’t recognize. Green paused and looked in her direction, as if he felt her gaze on him.

Melanie stiffened and dropped her power quickly. Peren wrapped her arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay, Mel.”

“Thanks,” she said, holding tight, still thinking about Green when she should be thinking about Lance.