Apothecary Tea by Autumn M. Key is book 1 in the Crescent Moon Phayed Series. It's a Paranormal Romance. It's available for pre-order, so what are you waiting for go pre-order your copy today!! Keep reading for excerpt, giveaway & check out her playlist...
Title: Apothecary Tea
Series: Crescent Moon Phayed #1
Author: Autumn M. Key
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 7, 2020
You've heard this before, but trust me when I say you've never met a man like me. There are very few of my kind left, but I refuse to completely succumb to what I am.
When I spot her at the Apothecary Tea House, I'm captivated. There's a sensual charge between us, an irresistible, electric pull.She feels it too.
The way she sees through me, like she understands me already, like we know each other … When tragedy suddenly strikes her life, she needs me to alleviate her painful emotions as much as I need to consume them.
And there are other needs pounding through us both, stealing our breath every moment we share together. The sustenance I can take from her is like my perfect drug, and my craving is strong.
Too strong.
She's delicious. Exquisite. But she's so vulnerable now, and I feel for her. I feel a lot.
Can I do this? Can I be the man she needs and help her when she needs me most? Or will the temptation be too much to resist taking more, and more, until she’s as cursed as I am?
She’s not like anyone else. The more I learn about her, the more I realize she’s much smarter than any other person in the room, even me. She’s so accepting of what she doesn’t understand, and she’s allowed herself to be open to someone like me.
I’ve been trying so hard to get her to accept herself that I’ve realized she and I are exactly the same. We’ve both spent our lives hiding our true selves from everyone out of fear: fear of the truth, fear of rejection, and fear that the truth will be too much to bear.
High on anticipation, I turn the music up louder and let it filter through me. Ember has sparked something in me that I’ve never felt: the desire to open myself to someone and be honest about who I am…what I am.
She’s intrigued by what I am. I intend to show her all of it. No more barriers or half-truths to protect us from each other. I’m not letting her leave me without both of us stripping away our facades and dealing with the consequences.
I’m Drake and I’m Phayed—I’m not suppressing either when I’m with her. It scares the hell out of me. Only one person has ever known this about me, and she’s the one who made me what I am.
I promised myself that I could wait until things were more normal in her life, but the closer we get to Sunday the more desire I have to hold on to her. What if she doesn’t return?
What if I don’t try to open up to her now? What if I never get to love her? I can’t bear the thought, so I’m not going to wait another moment. I pace in front of the wall of glass. Cold emanates from its surface, so I decide to build a fire. Once a small flame ignites in the ash and climbs the bark on the wood, I stand up and lean against the mantel, laying my head against my arm, and watch the flames grow.
They spread and surround the bark, and warmth spreads around my body. Even though the music is still loud, I hear the front door. Ember is standing there, flushed and panting for breath. I ran here.
As I slowly walk toward her, she looks over my body, making me feel exposed. I’m not wearing anything except my jeans. I push my hands into my pockets and lean against the back of the sofa. Why were you running?
I need you, she whispers, still trying to catch her breath. I raise my arms in offering. Here I am, love. She seems to feel trapped as she considers how to react. I shouldn’t do this, she says finally.
Do what? I stay relaxed. This is not the side of her inner turmoil that’s going to win out tonight, but she has to figure that out for herself. I want her to come to me.
She looks into my eyes, searching for the answer to her dilemma. I have time and something she doesn’t: I know what I am and what I want. Her words come out in a rush. Any of this!
I shouldn’t stay with you, but I can’t leave you! I can’t fathom that Evan is dead. I can’t accept a world without him. I can’t accept that a week ago I existed in a reality that is completely different from this one.
I just had that reality invade this one, and all I wanted to do was run here…to you. You going to run the rest of the way, or just stop short, Ember?
Her hand is pressed to her chest, and I’m not sure whether she’s trying to control her heart or her breath. She mouths the words: I can’t. You can, love.
She shakes her head, closes her eyes, and presses her fingertips to her temples. I don’t know how. This can’t be real, because it’s supposed to be wrong. How can I choose to be here, in this reality, rather than the one I have always known?
My anger spikes at the way she succumbs to guilt for following her heart. Take off your wrap, Ember. I keep my tone even, calm but serious. She plants her feet, blinking at me, and even the sound of her breathing leaves the room.
Feeling low on patience, I insist. Do it. My need for her is something I can neither confess nor contain. Do you want to leave? I ask. No, she answers quickly.
Then don’t. That reality is gone, and you can’t go back. Watching my eyes, she removes the wrap and lays it across my desk. But I shouldn’t want this. I take a deep breath so my voice doesn’t reflect my temper. Strip.
I’ve been trying so hard to get her to accept herself that I’ve realized she and I are exactly the same. We’ve both spent our lives hiding our true selves from everyone out of fear: fear of the truth, fear of rejection, and fear that the truth will be too much to bear.
High on anticipation, I turn the music up louder and let it filter through me. Ember has sparked something in me that I’ve never felt: the desire to open myself to someone and be honest about who I am…what I am.
She’s intrigued by what I am. I intend to show her all of it. No more barriers or half-truths to protect us from each other. I’m not letting her leave me without both of us stripping away our facades and dealing with the consequences.
I’m Drake and I’m Phayed—I’m not suppressing either when I’m with her. It scares the hell out of me. Only one person has ever known this about me, and she’s the one who made me what I am.
I promised myself that I could wait until things were more normal in her life, but the closer we get to Sunday the more desire I have to hold on to her. What if she doesn’t return?
What if I don’t try to open up to her now? What if I never get to love her? I can’t bear the thought, so I’m not going to wait another moment. I pace in front of the wall of glass. Cold emanates from its surface, so I decide to build a fire. Once a small flame ignites in the ash and climbs the bark on the wood, I stand up and lean against the mantel, laying my head against my arm, and watch the flames grow.
They spread and surround the bark, and warmth spreads around my body. Even though the music is still loud, I hear the front door. Ember is standing there, flushed and panting for breath. I ran here.
As I slowly walk toward her, she looks over my body, making me feel exposed. I’m not wearing anything except my jeans. I push my hands into my pockets and lean against the back of the sofa. Why were you running?
I need you, she whispers, still trying to catch her breath. I raise my arms in offering. Here I am, love. She seems to feel trapped as she considers how to react. I shouldn’t do this, she says finally.
Do what? I stay relaxed. This is not the side of her inner turmoil that’s going to win out tonight, but she has to figure that out for herself. I want her to come to me.
She looks into my eyes, searching for the answer to her dilemma. I have time and something she doesn’t: I know what I am and what I want. Her words come out in a rush. Any of this!
I shouldn’t stay with you, but I can’t leave you! I can’t fathom that Evan is dead. I can’t accept a world without him. I can’t accept that a week ago I existed in a reality that is completely different from this one.
I just had that reality invade this one, and all I wanted to do was run here…to you. You going to run the rest of the way, or just stop short, Ember?
Her hand is pressed to her chest, and I’m not sure whether she’s trying to control her heart or her breath. She mouths the words: I can’t. You can, love.
She shakes her head, closes her eyes, and presses her fingertips to her temples. I don’t know how. This can’t be real, because it’s supposed to be wrong. How can I choose to be here, in this reality, rather than the one I have always known?
My anger spikes at the way she succumbs to guilt for following her heart. Take off your wrap, Ember. I keep my tone even, calm but serious. She plants her feet, blinking at me, and even the sound of her breathing leaves the room.
Feeling low on patience, I insist. Do it. My need for her is something I can neither confess nor contain. Do you want to leave? I ask. No, she answers quickly.
Then don’t. That reality is gone, and you can’t go back. Watching my eyes, she removes the wrap and lays it across my desk. But I shouldn’t want this. I take a deep breath so my voice doesn’t reflect my temper. Strip.
©Autumn M. Key 2020
Releasing May 7, 2020
I grew up in the deep south where we don't talk about any of the things I write about, which is what makes it so much fun! Since I was a kid I have been writing something - books, poems, journals - always something.
It wasn't until a few years ago that I embraced the story that was burning in my heart and invading my dreams. It turned into my debut novel, Apothecary Tea.
I am living my own happily ever after which is why I love to write about love and romance. I'm married and madly in love with my soul mate. We have one beautiful daughter who is the light of my life. We also have three pet rabbits.
I've realized my dream of living by the sea, and when I'm not writing, I'm usually drawing, painting, reading, sea shell hunting or cross-stitching. Honestly though, if I'm not working I'm writing!
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