If you like broncs and bulls and the sexy shifters and vampires who are able to stay on for a damn good ride, then you’ll love my new series, Cowboy Matchmaker. There’s a fling featuring contemporary characters out now (no paranormal, just hunky cowboys finding love), and Eight Second Magic, will release everywhere on March 14, but if you purchase it from Changeling Press directly you’ll receive it on March 7. Enjoy this snippet of a meet cute that just happens to occur on the back of a bull.
Smoke Demon went into the chute, and it was showtime. Upon reaching the chute, he climbed down, straddling the gate while he adjusted the bull rope. When he was ready and the arena cleared of the last rider, he settled on Smoke Demon’s back. He fastened his bull rope, and though he’d done this a thousand times, he wasn’t sure if it was like strapping himself to a rocket or a fifteen-hundred-pound rattlesnake. One wrong move and it’d hurt like hell at the very least. He was immune to a lot, but a horn through the chest wasn’t one of them.
Out of habit, he reached to press down his cowboy hat, his hands encountering his helmet instead, and gave the nod. The gate swung open and Smoke Demon exploded. He jumped from the gate, hitting the ground with his front feet solidly in the
dirt and his hind feet up over his ass. A long thread of snot whipped from the bull’s nose to slap across the toe of Beau’s boot with the remainder hitting the ground. Beau ignored it, because just as the hind feet landed, the bull bucked again — another leap and snort and all Beau’s focus remained on his center of gravity locking with the bull’s.
One more jump, then the bull settled down to turn to the right, into his hand. He didn’t get cocky, didn’t think he had the ride. Instead, he rode each spin, each jump as it came, and when Smoke Demon whirled out of the spin, reversing like a cat pouncing on its prey, he rode with the bull. He’d never been one to count the seconds. He didn’t even try to view the board, but surely he’d ridden eight seconds by now.
He dimly registered the bullfighters staying in position in case he needed help. One, dressed all in black, a mop of curly blond hair poking from beneath his black cowboy hat, gave him a thumbs-up as the bull twisted and spun. More jumps, more
bucks — how the hell could so much beef be so athletic?
Then the whistle blew.
Beau yanked on the bull rope.
It didn’t budge.
Fuck.
He yanked again as the pressure on his hands tightened, his fingers swelling from the loss of circulation.
The bullfighter in black was there. “I got you,” he yelled over the crowd’s gasp as they realized what was happening. “Relax your hand.”
Relax his hand? He was trying to cling to a pile of angry fucking hamburger. He also knew the bullfighter was right.
“I got you. Look into my eyes,” the bullfighter said again, and something about his voice, a bit of compulsion, captivated Beau, mesmerized him, and his hand relaxed.
The bull jumped.
The rope fell free and he toppled off Smoke Demon’s back right into the bullfighter’s arms. He slammed into his chest, but to his credit, the cowboy stayed on his feet. This close he saw the blue of his eyes was dark, like the ocean at night, and the
white paint and comically drawn features couldn’t hide cheekbones to die for and lips that needed to be kissed.
“Now that’s what I call a catch, ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said, making Beau suddenly aware of his position and of the twinkle in the bullfighter’s eyes.
“I wouldn’t mind but…” He jerked his chin toward Smoke Demon, who not only had dislodged his rider, but was between him and the chute. “Find me after the event’s over. I’ll be at Smokey’s Grill. Now git.” He helped Beau down, then gave him a playful
swat on the ass, sending him running back to safety.
When vampire Beau Hollings falls into rodeo clown Leon Lavoie’s arms as he comes off a bull, he’s more than grateful for the save.
Sparks fly when Beau meets the sexy vampire clown after the event for drinks, and a night of passion makes the night complete. But what should have been a one-night stand turns into something more when Leon reveals that they were matched by Cowboy Magic, a dating service for paranormal rodeo performers.
Wolf shifter Rhody Tallwood, one of the famous Tallwood brothers of bronc riding fame, put in a request with Cowboy Magic, then forgot — until he’s told to watch the bull riding.
Now he’s got to juggle not one, but two vampire mates, as well as his brothers’ displeasure, because the three of them together are magic, and each of them wants their relationship to last a lot longer than eight seconds.
TRIGGER WARNING: Rodeo Clown, may be a trigger for those with clown phobia. Adult language and situations.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Each book in the Cowboy Magic series contains stories of queer cowboy/cowgirl/cowthey love across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
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