Dark Cravings: Bound to the Shadows, #1

By E.L. Jones

Finally.

My work gave me the coveted manager position.

Considering I have a degree in hospitality and tourism, they sure wasted three years putting me as a concierge.

I accept the job in a small town called Gray Hills where I'll manage a brand spanking new hotel.

I meet Stefan. A handsome mechanic/handyman who's given me a good….workout.

The feel of his accentuated and taut abs, the way he lifts me on the table, his dazzling smile and panty dropping biceps got me all hot.

But this small town has a problem I wasn't prepared for. 

Jaguars and wolves. The darn animals run rampant here.

And the last I looked at Stefan, he was sprouting black hairs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Habrid Publishing House
• Release date: Sep 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215112342

E.L. Jones

Elizabeth Lauren (E.L.) Jones is a mother to one little terror who keeps her on her toes. She's always loved books and have a soft spot for paranormal romance and fantasy genre. She is an introverted soul and on her spare time, loves to read various books, go on adventures with her little terror and her much taller husband, such as horse riding, snorkelling, kayaking and rock climbing, as well as watching different genre movies. She loves her coffee with no sugar and sitting by her deck taking in the soft breeze and fresh air.

Book preview

Chapter One

Blue

Ilove to start my morning with two bags of lime tea. Not necessarily because of anything other than the force of habit. I had this roommate with a thing for lime tea, and she kind of dragged me into it. Now, I’ve got the house all to myself, and I still can’t get off drinking lime tea. Hats off to you, Amira. I guess this is my way of saying I still miss your punk ass. I still can’t remember what reason she gave for drinking it, but habits are hard to break. And it’s not like this one’s taking something from me.

Where the hell is it, I ask out loud, even though I’m alone, as I grope about the cabinet in the kitchen.

It’s eerily empty and I keep slamming the bottom like I’m trying to make a beat out of nothing. I move over to the other cabinet. There’s nothing but dishes in here.

Shit.

I stand back, my breath slightly heavier from the effort of the search. I knew I was out of groceries, but I didn’t know the situation was this bad. I should have stopped by the grocery store on my way home from work last night. I was just so tired it slipped my mind – for what looked like the millionth time.

I scratch my head. I’m even out of coffee. Oh boy, am I in a big fix. I have to get one on my way to work then. Thank God there’s a café close by.

My wristwatch beeps. 6:30 am. I have to get ready for work right now. Anything later than now and I’d be explaining to the manager why I was ten minutes late. I really hate the douchebag. I work my ass off for nearly half a decade and when it’s my turn to get promoted, what do the owners do? Give it to the daughter of a friend of theirs who’s just moved to the neighborhood. That’s got to be one of the stupidest appointments ever. But what can I say? I’m making a quick buck from their establishment, right? There’s nothing I can do about it.

Getting prepped for work rarely ever takes more than 30 minutes. It’s the time I spend in front of the mirror that matters. I like to see myself, admire the weight of my full, rounded breasts, and the curves of my hips. If I can’t do much about my job, at least I can do something about this. I’m just glad it’s club night. My girls and I are about to see some real action. Clocking 30 has its disadvantages. One can get wrapped up in so much responsibility that they forget to have fun. I’m not married, in a relationship, or anything remotely like that. The only thing I’ve got close to a family is a half-brother, a brilliant Harvard graduate, and my stepparents who live in the South side. So, the only responsibility I feel is the one that comes with the age.

Get yourself into some clothes and get the hell out of here.

As I get into my car, I get a flash of the dream I had last night. It was an odd piece – a really odd one. In it, I’d been running through a wooded area with a trio of big cats on my heels. I don’t know why I have to get absurd dreams like that. Personally, I don’t know why anyone has to have dreams at all.

Well, I’ve got a bit of superstition still hanging in there so no more zoos for me or wild reserves. I haven’t gotten enough out of life just yet to be eaten by cats.

The atmosphere at work hasn’t changed one bit, it rarely does. I walk into the lobby at exactly 7:55 am. Pheew. Five minutes away from trouble. The aroma of lavender hangs faintly in the air, absorbing every little whiff that comes in from the street when the doors swing open. The cleaners from last night’s shift trudge about sleepily, mopping up the dirt from yesterday. Then there’s the occasional client walking down the stairs and towards the restaurant. It’s a good thing the restaurant had a 24/7 policy for clients who lodged at the hotel. The outcome if they had not would have been near cataclysmic.

Agnes is behind the receptionist desk, packing things up. She looks as bright as ever. Almost as if she hadn’t spent the last twelve hours behind that desk. Oh, to be