Wicked Hot is coming sooooon! Here’s a snippet:

Wicked Hot
Charlene Teglia
copyright 2008
Coming from St. Martin’s July 22

“Alone at last.” I peeked up at Eli, giving him my best come-hither smile.

“You won’t succeed.” His voice was even and neutral, giving nothing away.

“Are you sure?” I trailed a hand down his front and then raked him lightly with my nails. I couldn’t feel any reaction, but I held onto my image of seductive confidence and smiled wider. Ninety percent of success in anything is attitude, and I really didn’t want to lose.

“I’m sure.” He covered my hand with one of his, pinning it in place. “I won’t forbid you to try, though.”

“Very sporting of you.” I thought about dropping my skirt and giving him full frontal nudity, but I didn’t think it would get to him. Sometimes less is more. Eli struck me as the type who would find the most direct approach easiest to sidestep. Too bad. Subtle was not my strong suit. “Do you want to frisk me for weapons?”

“I think Dal already did that.”

“He might have missed something.”

“If it’s important, he doesn’t miss it.”

“I’m missing something.” I abandoned seduction and scowled up at Eli, letting him see my frustration and exasperation. “I’m the tenth demon this month? Nephilim are alive in the world again, and your brother couldn’t think of a better way to tell a girl he isn’t gay than to grope another one in front of her?” Eli’s lips twitched in reaction on that last one. “I don’t suppose you’re going to enlighten me about any of this.”

“Dal isn’t gay,” Eli said, his face straight.

I rolled my eyes. “Thank you. That’s helpful.”

“Did you expect help? You’re the enemy.”

“Maybe, but I’m not much of a threat,” I pointed out. “I’m helpless in your power. You’re probably going to kill me anyway. So what would it hurt to tell me a few things?”

“I’m not gay, either.” He offered the information deadpan.

I ground my teeth together.

“Love to stay and chat, but I have things to do and demons to kill.” Eli curled a finger under my chin and looked into my eyes.

He didn’t do anything but breathe. As he did, a cold beyond anything I’d imagined, the opposite of hell’s flames that still somehow managed to burn with arctic agony, pierced me with a thousand jagged edges. Then he said a phrase that sent me away into the icy emptiness of space, leaving me falling in the dark void while I screamed soundlessly.