Hot Stuff: Some Like it Haunted

By Imari Jade

FROM POPULAR AUTHOR OF LGBTQ+ ROMANCE FICTION, IMARI JADE

From the Some Like it Haunted collection

A master vampire gets the surprise of his life when a sexy male fairy dances his way into his club—and into his life.

An Irish fairy prince named Nicholas Bryne arrives in New Orleans and gets a job as a host at a popular nightclub called the Fur and Fangs. The two club owners—Stephen Chenoweth, a master vampire, and Andrew Newcomb, an alpha werewolf—are both captivated by the fairy's handsome face and sexy body. Though neither of them has ever encountered a fairy before, both are well aware that they are pranksters.

Stephen doesn't know why Nicholas has come to Louisiana, but he is more interested to find out what he's like in bed. Nicholas, on the other hand, has been kicked out of the fairy kingdom for messing with a brownie prince and seeks a new life where he can just be himself without complications—and prove to his parents that he's not a complete ass.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Oct 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839434440

Book preview

Author

Pride Publishing books by Imari Jade

Single Books

Dark Enchantment

Some Like it Haunted

HOT STUFF

IMARI JADE

Hot Stuff

ISBN # 978-1-83943-444-0

©Copyright Imari Jade 2020

Cover Art by Claire Siemaszkiewicz ©Copyright October 2020

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride Publishing

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

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2020 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Some Like it Haunted

A master vampire gets the surprise of his life when a sexy male fairy dances his way into his club—and into his life.

An Irish fairy prince named Nicholas Bryne arrives in New Orleans and gets a job as a host at a popular nightclub called the Fur and Fangs. The two club owners—Stephen Chenoweth, a master vampire, and Andrew Newcomb, an alpha werewolf—are both captivated by the fairy’s handsome face and sexy body. Though neither of them has ever encountered a fairy before, both are well aware that they are pranksters.

Stephen doesn’t know why Nicholas has come to Louisiana, but he is more interested to find out what he’s like in bed. Nicholas, on the other hand, has been kicked out of the fairy kingdom for messing with a brownie prince and seeks a new life where he can just be himself without complications—and prove to his parents that he’s not a complete ass.

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Café Du Monde: H.N. Fernandez Inc. dba Café Du Monde Coffee Stand Corporation

Robin Hood: Disney Enterprises Inc.

Captain Hook: Disney Enterprises Inc.

Zorro: Johnston McCulley

Grim Reaper: Terry Pratchett, Ingmar Bergman

Casablanca: Warner Brothers Pictures

The Wizard of Oz: L. Frank Baum

Cleopatra: Twentieth-Century Fox Film Corporation

Hurricane: Bridgit Mendler, Emmanuel Kiriak

Count Dracula: Bram Stoker

If I Can’t Have You: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb

Can We Talk: Babyface

All of Me: John Stevens, Toby Gad

Drunk in Love: Beyoncé Knowles, Jay-Z, Detail, Andre Eric Proctor, Rasool Diaz, Brian Soko, Timbaland, J-Roc, Boots

Flawless: Beyoncé Knowles, Rashad Muhammad, Terius Nash, Chauncey Hollis and Raymond DeAndrew Martin

Blurred Lines: Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, T.I.

Stay With Me: Sam Smith, James Napier, William Phillips, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne

You Make Me Wanna: Usher, Germaine Dupre, Manuel Seal

Daddy’s Home: James ‘Shep’ Sheppard, Charles Baskerville, Clarence Bassett

Riverdance: Bill Whelan

Prologue

Why aren’t you dressed? Queen Beth asked her son Prince Nicholas as he lay around in his room doing nothing to get ready for his engagement party.

Because I don’t plan to attend, Nicholas answered. I don’t want to marry Princess Fiona.

His mother sat on a chair in her son’s suite. I thought this issue was settled.

Nicholas sat up. Nothing has been settled. I don’t love Fiona.

What does love have to do with anything? his mother asked. A marriage between the two families would bring a solid front to this land.

At the moment, Ireland was divided between two powerful groups…the Seelie and the Unseelie.

Nicholas angrily crossed his arms. So, am I to be the olive branch?

Princess Fiona is beautiful, and—

She is also in love with another.

She can learn to love you, his mother reasoned. You’re quite attractive.

And I’m gay.

His mother sighed. That is a choice.

Nicholas shook his head. His mother just didn’t understand. Liking males wasn’t something he had any control over. Females just didn’t do it for him. No, it isn’t.

How would you know? Have you ever tried to make it with a female?

Nicholas scowled and shook his head. No offense, Mother, but I really don’t like women. They’re too manipulative, they want entirely too much attention and they are vain.

Like you, his mother said.

Exactly. If you know this, then why are you insisting that I marry the princess?

Because your father has given his word that you will do it, his mother answered.

Nicholas frowned. Well, he shouldn’t have. He paused. Wait. Maybe he can marry Fiona and take her on as his second wife.

Hell no, his mother shouted loudly.

Why not? Nicholas asked. It can bring solidarity to this kingdom with two queens in power. The more Nicholas thought about it, the more he liked the idea.

Because, like you, I am also vain, need attention and am manipulative. I haven’t invested all these years in a relationship with your father to share him with another woman. He hardly pays any attention to me as it is.

So he had two selfish parents. I still won’t do it, Nicholas said. Not even for the good of the kingdom. I want to find someone to love and who will love me for me.

A royal prince of the Seelie court can only be wed to another Seelie or someone of great power, his mother reminded him. She must also be of rare beauty. You can’t marry a commoner.

There are other kings and princes outside of Ireland, Nicholas reminded her. He also didn’t miss the fact that his mother had said ‘she’ must also be of rare beauty, instead of ‘he’.

And how do you plan to meet them when you have been forbidden to leave the fairy mound since your last little escapade among the humans?

Nicholas continued to frown. His parents wanted him to be a fairy only when it was convenient for them. Fairies were notorious pranksters and he had pulled off the ultimate prank on some tourists a couple of weeks before. He’d stolen their passports and they couldn’t leave Ireland without them. So, they had been tossed in jail and interrogated. Nicholas smiled to himself. It had caused an international incident and brought shame on his kingdom once his father had learned of Nicholas’ involvement. Since then, the king had promised the brownie prince Shamus that Nicholas would marry his daughter. Prince Shamus had jumped at the chance, because he didn’t like the guy Fiona was in love with. His father had confined him to the fairy mound until after the wedding, which was scheduled to be in two days. Since the official wedding announcements, both kingdoms had been preparing for the lavish celebration. I don’t know, Nicholas finally answered. But he knew he would think of something eventually.

Get dressed, his mother ordered as she stood up. Until you come up with a better plan, you’re coming to the party. Wear something flattering. We want to show you off.

Shouldn’t you be saying that to Nicole?

Nicole was Nicholas’ twin sister. She was very much still single and able to carry on the Bryne family’s gene pool.

Leave your sister out of this. Someday her prince will come. The queen left his room.

Nicholas rose and went over to his closet to select something cute to wear. He’d go to the party, but he wasn’t going to make it easy on anyone.

* * * *

The brownie mound was alive with music as Nicholas and his family arrived. His sister kept messing around with the skirts of her gown like she was the one the hubbub was all about.

The brownie court was already present in their royal finery. The musicians stopped playing the moment his family entered.

Presenting his Royal Highness Avery Bryne, Queen Beth, Princess Nicole and Prince Nicholas of the Seelie court, someone announced.

The crowd looked in their direction and bowed to them. Nicholas hated all this pomp and circumstance. He just wanted a normal life where he could do what he wanted to do without being under the constant scrutiny of their subjects.

He followed his family forward toward the hosting royalty. Besides Princess Fiona, both her parents, Prince Shamus and Princess Tamala, were present, along with Fiona’s younger brother, Prince Aiden. The king and queen of Brownie Land were away from the country on business and probably didn’t have a clue what their son Shamus was up to. That little bit of information, Nicholas planned to use in his favor.

They sat him with Fiona on his left and Aiden to his right. Nicole sat to the left of Aiden. Nicholas guessed this had been done so the youngsters could get to know each other.

Nicholas was simply bored to tears midway through the festivities. Princess Fiona didn’t have much to say to him and he spent most of his time talking with Aiden.

Where is the men’s room? Nicholas asked Aiden when he had finally gotten rid of the younger man’s older sister.

I’ll show you.

Nicholas followed Aiden out of the ballroom. Aiden was rather good-looking, with a slim body and long blond hair. He was a couple of years younger than Nicholas, but perfect for what Nicholas had in mind. After using the facility, he engaged Aiden in conversation and ended up in the guy’s suite instead of the ballroom.

I’m so glad you’re marrying my sister, Aiden said. You don’t know what it’s like without another guy to hang around with.

Yes, I do, Nicholas said.

Oh, yeah, I forgot you have Princess Nicole.

Do you have a girlfriend? Nicholas asked Aiden.

Aiden shook his head. No, I’m really not allowed to date until my parents find me someone suitable.

Oh, that’s a shame, Nicholas said. You’re quite handsome and I’m sure a princess would be out of her mind not to want you.

Aiden blushed like an innocent. Do you really think so?

Nicholas moved closer to him. Yes, and your lips are so full and kissable-looking.

Aiden touched his lips. Really?

Nicholas nodded. Don’t tell me you’ve never been kissed.

Aiden shook his head. No.

Would you like me to demonstrate? Nicholas asked, hovering over the shorter guy. He swooped down for a kiss before Aiden could answer. Young brownies are so trusting. Getting Aiden naked was easy too. They were sleeping in each other’s arms when their families finally tracked them down. The following day, Nicholas’ father sent him away from Ireland and asked him never to return.

Chapter One

A bolt of adrenalin shot through his body, and vital organs shifted into place as dusk arrived. Blood and other bodily secretions flowed through Stephen’s veins, giving him life. The musty smell of ancient European soil from his native country of Transylvania, Romania, assaulted his nostrils. Though it was offensive, he needed to lie atop it each day in order to rest and rejuvenate. Luckily, in this century, soap and water were plentiful to wash away the odor of the dead.

Stephen lifted both arms, pushed the lid up and opened it. All his creatures were starting to stir too. He could feel each and every last one of them as they woke. Only one still remained with him at his stately three-story colonial mansion on Saint Charles Avenue. He had picked up Ivan Genaro on his last trip to Baton Rouge. The handsome legal clerk had caught Stephen’s attention when he and his business partner Andrew Newcomb had gone there to renew their license and permits for their hotel and nightclub.

Ivan Genaro worked in one of the legal offices that handed out the permits. So pretty, Stephen had thought when he’d seen him. He’d persuaded