The Nymph King. Gena Showalter
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Praise for the novels of New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Gena Showalter
Heart of the Dragon “Lots of danger and sexy passion give lucky readers a spicy taste of adventure and romance.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Filled with steamy sex, adventure, and a sprinkle
of humour…a fantastic book!”
—Myshelf.com
Jewel of Atlantis “Showalter has created a ripe mythological world populated with fascinating creatures and dark lore… For extraordinary escapism, read this book.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Shines like the purest gem…Rich in imagery and
evocative detail, this book is a sterling example of
what makes romance novels so worthwhile.”
—A Romance Review, 5 stars
The Nymph King “A world of myth, mayhem and love under the sea!”
—New York Times bestselling author J.R.Ward
“I want to visit Atlantis! Deliciously evocative and
filled with sexy men, The Nymph King is every woman’s fantasy come to sizzling life. A must read.”
—New York Times bestselling author P.C. Cast
“Gena Showalter’s stories hum with fast pacing and
characters that leap off the page. Pick up one of
Gena’s books! You won’t be disappointed!”
—USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Kenner
Atlantis
New York Times bestselling author
GENA SHOWALTER
invites you to enter Atlantis,
a world of dark seduction and powerful magic…
HEART OF THE DRAGON
JEWEL OF ATLANTIS
THE NYMPH KING
THE VAMPIRE’S BRIDE
The Nymph Ring
Gena Showalter
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author GENA SHOWALTER has been praised for her “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories”. She is the author of more than seventeen novels and anthologies, including breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting-edge young adult novels and stunning urban fantasy. Readers can’t get enough of her trademark wit and singular imagination.
To learn more about Gena and her books, please visit www.genashowalter.com and www.genashowalter blogspot.com.
Other sexy, steamy reads from Gena Showalter and MIRA Books
ATLANTIS
HEART OF THE DRAGON
JEWEL OF ATLANTIS
THE NYMPH KING
THE VAMPIRE’S BRIDE
LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD
THE DARKEST NIGHT
THE DARKEST KISS
THE DARKEST PLEASURE
THE DARKEST WHISPER
DARK BEGINNINGS
THE DARKEST PASSION
THE DARKEST LIE
More stunning tales from Gena Showalter are coming your way…
INTERTWINED
UNRAVELLED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To Leigh Michelle Heldermon and Shelly Mykal.
Cousins. Extraordinary women. Angels (a long time
ago I might have added “fallen” before that last
one, but that’s neither here nor there).
To Jill Monroe.
You had me at hello and now you complete me.
You are the wind beneath my wings.
I am nothing without you.
Dear Reader,
I gave you a peek at Valerian, King of the Nymphs, in Jewel of Atlantis…but I didn’t intend to tell his story. Well, I did—just not right away. There were several more books that I planned to write first. Bad little boy that he is, Valerian insisted I concentrate on him. (Picture me shaking my head and muttering, “Typical Nymph behaviour.”) I tried to say no. Really, I did. But…I couldn’t resist him. Neither can Shaye Holling, though she gives it her best shot. She’s the woman Valerian is determined to claim. Like me, Shaye finds herself up against the greatest lover of all time. A mesmerising and seductive force unlike any other. A rogue. A fantasy come to life.
Anyone else shivering?
I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. For more information about Atlantis and all the creatures and humans who reside there, visit my website at www.genashowalter.com and my blog at www.genashowalter.blogspot.com.
Warmest regards,
Gena Showalter
Chapter One
Atlantis
UPON AWAKENING, Valerian, King of the Nymphs, untangled himself from the naked, slumbering woman beside him…only to discover his legs were entwined with two other naked, slumbering women.
With a sleep-rough chuckle, he fell back onto the softness of the bed, dark strands of feminine hair cascading atop his shoulder. Silky red tendrils floated over his stomach, intertwining prettily with another woman’s blond tresses. Satisfaction hummed inside him.
There were only four females in residence, and all four were deliciously human. Utterly sexual. Captivating. A few weeks ago, right after his army had taken control of this fortress, the women had accidentally entered through a portal leading from the surface world. The gods must have been smiling upon him last eve because three of them had found their way into his bed.
He grinned slowly, and his gaze traveled over the sated beauties sleeping so peacefully around him. Tall, rounded and sun-kissed they were, with faces ranging from daringly bold to endearingly plain.
Whatever they looked like, he didn’t care. Quite simply, he loved women. He loved his power over them and wasn’t ashamed of it. Wasn’t repentant. Oh, no. He enjoyed. Relished. Savored.
Devoured.
Though none in particular had ever been more to him than a passing fancy, he adored every luscious inch of them. Their sweet softness, their breathy moans. Their decadent flavors. He loved the way their legs tightened around his waist (or head) and welcomed him into paradise, allowing him a gentle slide or a rough pounding—whichever he happened to prefer at the time.
As he lay there, light uncoiled slender fingers from the crystal ceiling above, caressing everything it touched and bathing