Laura Kaye is the author of the bestselling contemporary romance and award-nominated HEARTS IN DARKNESS and the bestselling and award-winning paranormal romance FOREVER FREED (NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011), as well as an erotic romance novella, JUST GOTTA SAY. Her fourth book, bestselling contemporary fantasy romance NORTH OF NEED, is the first in the 4-book Hearts of the Anemoi series, while her fifth, IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING, is a dark paranormal romance and the first in a novella mini-series with Harlequin. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
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Before I dive in to my love for all things fangs, let me say thank you to Lori for hosting me here, Merry Christmas! to all who celebrate, and happy holidays to the rest! I’m very excited to be here today and to be a part of this event. Now, with that said…
Hello. My name is Laura Kaye. And I am addicted to fangs.
There. I said it!
Vampires are and always have been my favorite supernatural creature. There are many things I love about vampires: their dark natures, their inherent sensuality, their allure, the immortality. The loneliness of their existence just calls to me, just speaks to me on some primal level. As is true for so many of us, vampires have gotten under my skin and in my blood since my very first Anne Rice novel. I devoured every single one of them and read many multiple times. There aren’t many vampire series I haven’t tried, and I’m always looking for the next great one to whisk me away into my favorite fantasy…
One of the things I find most attractive about vampires is their fangs. Here are some reasons why I especially love this vampire trait:
Fangs are dangerous and animalistic. If their paranormal character is part of what draws me to vampires, nothing says “not human” like a pair of fangs.
Fangs are powerful. Fangs are just the most visible manifestation of the latent power and magic of the vampire.
Fangs penetrate. Do I really need to expound here? They. Penetrate.
Fangs bring a mix of pleasure and pain. Just imagining how that first searing bite would be followed by a pulling rush of pleasure you’d feel everywhere… Mmm.
Fangs bring a vampire sustenance. The idea that I, as a human, would have the power to keep such a preternatural creature alive, and that his fangs would make it possible…yeah, that’s enough to make me love fangs right there.
So, in the spirit of my confession, I thought I’d share a fangtastic, erm, adult, excerpt from each of my vampire books:
From Forever Freed– Now Available!
(Note: In this scene, the heroine has just learned the hero is a vampire…)
“What are you looking at?”
“Your…um”—a blush heated her face again—“mouth.”
“Ah.”
“So…how…”
“I just will it, and they change. Some situations cause it automatically.”
She licked her lips and her eyes flitted between my eyes and my mouth. “Show me,” she whispered.
“Sam—”
“Show me.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know you.”
I glared at her and hated the idea she might define me by the vampiric nature I didn’t choose or want. Her heart rate spiked. I cursed myself. I leaned my head into the cradle of my hands and tugged at my hair.
She stroked the back of my head. “Lucien, I didn’t mean to—”
“I know what you meant—”
“No, obviously, you don’t.” Her tone surprised me. I dropped my hands and looked up. “I know…this isn’t all you are. But it’s part of you. I want to know it, too. Please show me,” she said softly as she fingered the side of my foot. Her small gesture of outreach melted my resolve.
Resigned, I glanced down into my lap. And punched out my fangs. I flinched when Samantha lifted my chin, but I didn’t resist. Instead, I closed my eyes, not wanting to also see the fear I was about to feel. As if on cue, she gasped. But the scent of her fear never came.
“Please look at me.” Her expression was filled with wonder and curiosity. “Eyes too?”
I frowned. “You didn’t close your eyes at all, did you?” She shook her head. I rolled my eyes, blinked them closed, and then trained my crimson orbs on Samantha. Her heart worked harder in her chest but still the fear didn’t come.
“Does it affect your eyesight?”
“Improves it,” I replied in a low voice.
Out of nowhere, she reached a hand forward. “Can I touch—”
I flinched away. “No!”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she cried.
“You can’t…I can’t…”
“Okay. Okay. It’s okay. That was stupid of me.”
“Sam—”
“What situations?” she deflected.
“What?” I panted.
“You said some situations make it happen?”
I groaned. “When I’m feeding, threatened, or, um”—I sighed—“aroused.”
From In The Service of the King– Available for Pre-Order & Releases 2/1/12!
(Note: It was much harder to pick a PG excerpt for this title, so it’s a bit shorter… *winks*)
A kiss from the heroine’s point of view:
This time it was her mouth that claimed his. His fang pinched her lip and she moaned. Then she wrapped her tongue around the other fang and flicked it repeatedly. His mouth tasted like danger and ecstasy. Embracing his nonhuman side so wantonly felt decadent, but also like the most natural thing she’d ever done.
And from the vampire hero’s:
Kael fisted his hands in her hair but couldn’t decide whether to pull her away or hold her there forever. Definitely forever. Now that he’d accepted the magic weaving around them, he felt it down deep. Being with Shayla this way was as right as breathing, as drinking blood. Her tongue curled around his right canine and he sucked in a breath and growled. His fangs were so sensitive and her tongue was relentless.
Well, I told you I had a fang fetish! *winks* And there’s much hotter fang play where these came from… jus’ sayin’!
Thanks for reading!
Laura Kaye
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter
My favorite thing about vampires is that there are so many ways an author can take the vampire legend.
Their story behind the turning and how they handle the lost or hold on to their humanity with the one thing evil cannot destroy…LOVE. Plus let’s not forget their sensual looks and bodies. YES!!!!!!
My favorite thing about vampires is they can be whatever I want them to be. Not like when I was a kid and all they were were nasty blood suckers. I think I like how most are sexy and sarcastic ;).
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite thing about vampires is their long life. I like that they have seen and done everything. Sometimes it makes them sympathetic to humans and other times it makes them indifferent to humans.
I like how they cling to their humanity and don’t give in to the dark side.
srbagby50@gmail.com
I think you pretty much outlined in that fantastic post reasons for my own fang fetish:)
yadkny@hotmail.com
My favorite things about vampires are that they live among humans and you can’t always tell. I like that they are mysterious creatures.
I like how they struggle with their lost humanity. It’s the whole tortured hero aspect.
OMG, love the excerpt from Forever Freed. That has just got to be my next read!
i think my favorite thing is their hunger, it defines who they are and everything about them.
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
I really enjoy the internal struggle that goes on in vampire characters. Their vampire side drives them to do dark things but usually they want to do what’s right in their heart. Oh, and generally they are just sexy! itsmenatalie@gmail.com
Really enjoying reading all the things you love about vampires! Good luck everyone!
Thanks for the interview!
burbanette@yahoo.com
There are many vamp, um, attributes that strike my fancy, but one of the most appealing is the dark sensuality. They seem to embody sex and passion and when their bites are also erotic, geez, I go weak in the knees!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
MJB
Tall, dark and sexy.
I would have to admit to having a fang fetish too. Vampires are my first paranormal love, and I figure they will always be number one with me. They are just so sexy: Alpha males, dangerous, protective of their loved ones, they can make you immortal, and so much more. I love all kinds of paranormals, but vamps will probably always be #1 with me. <3
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Me too, June! Totally me too! :)= I love hanging with all you vampire lovers! *grins*
Vampires have always been my favorite ‘monsters’ Even when I was young. My first romantic vampire book was Single White Vampire by Lyndsay Sands. I think the mystery surrounding their power and glamour is the best part.
A favorite thing? Wow, just one thing? Hmmm … I guess that they are just so darn sexy – the whole package … fangs, eyes, stamina (for those who can, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro made poor St. Germain impotent), the many different abilities, the inherent danger that they can take too much either accidentally or on purpose.
Thanks for the introduction to a new (to me) author and books.
The struggle to stay good and not turn evil they face each night and of course those fangs
flanagan@mebtel.net
I find myself nodding at every attribute you guys list as your favorite! There’s just so much to love! *grins* Thanks for the comments!
The whole tortured hero aspect, their immortality, their protectiveness,and just about everything.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
My favorite thing about vampires is that they are sexy, immortal and they are really bad-ass. Everyone likes a bad boy.
truebloodfan(at)rock(dot)com
Their BITE!….*shivers*
barbbattaglia@yahoo.com
Yup yup yup!!! Love you guys!
For me it’s definately the bite. I get shivers just thinking about being bitten on the neck.
drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com
I like the heightened tension…not just the struggle of a regular man trying to stay away from the temptation of a woman that isn’t good for him, but the Heightened sense of awareness of the woman, her smell, her taste, her skin….Its just SO much more with the Vamps!!
I like you feel that fangs are one of the most sexy part ( of the MANY parts) of a vampire and the heighten emotions that comes from their bite is worth the pain, if earth shattering ecstasy is the reward. All I can say is BITE ME!!!!!
I think my favorite thing about vampires is the lure of immortality. They are potentially forever and can amass power, etc. over their years-they get to see civilizations evolve and be a part of the past, present, and future. There is a cool continuity there. In fiction, this usually causes for a very tortured lonely hero-searching for that perfect mate to spend eternity with. Vampires totally have a lot going for them!
Vampires are the unltimate “bad-boys” –and then Vamps almost always super sexy and affluent (read “gainfully employed). That’s hitting the guy Trifecta!
Thanks for the giveaway & have a Happy New Year!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
Great interview..loved the excerpts. I have now added your books to my “to be read” list.
I love the mystery of vampires. The idea of their long life, what they have lived thru, seen, been apart of..boggles the imagination.
Happy Holidays
I think the whole biting thing is totally hot especially in some of the places they like to bite ;)
I like the blood fetish. For one thing, it can be incredibly hot. For another, it can be a metaphor for so many other layers to a story: blood as virility and/or draining of power; blood in the time of AIDS or other illness tropes; blood as women’s power (harking to menstruation and the long history of lesbian vampire erotica); blood as creative/life force and therefore as a metaphor for artistry, etc.
I love that there super sexy and love to bite ;-)
My favorite thing about vampires is the strength of the bonds they form.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
My favorite thing about vampires is the varied difference in them – like humans, they can be good or evil. I particularly love the ones that are all bad boy outside, and “don’t mess with me or the ones I love” to everyone BUT those that are their mate, family or those considered may as well be family. I love that that they can compel and will do so, when and if necessary. And I love that they always seem smarter than the average Joe…I mean, have you ever noticed that the good ones are mega smart?!? And they are just dang sexy.
Ok, I got lost there for a minute, sorry – I was picturing my fictional boyfriend again. It happens a lot to me *sigh.*
Thank you for a great topic to get lost in *grin*
My favorite thing about vampires are their constant battle to retain their humanity. It makes them survivors, heros and definitely deserving of a happy ending.
My favorite thing about vampires is that WE can imagine how they look, how they feel and how WE want them to react to us! We know how I want my vampire to look!
It’s their mysterious and tormented souls that draw me in. And those kinky love bites ;)
I think my favorite thing as that they are more powerful and different from humans, but yet they need humans.
Enjoyed your checklist on your fetish and the book excerpts. Very nice!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
What is there not to like! The tall dark & handsome vamp, with a tortured soul, who needs to find his mate to be in order to be saved. ** LOL ** Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Happy New Year!!
Thanks for all the wonderful comments, everyone, they were so much fun to read! And thanks to the wonderful LORI DEVOTI for hosting such a fun event!
The winner of my $10 amazon GC is…Tammy Ramey trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
CONGRATULATIONS!!!