Living For You, page 1
Living for You
Synopsis
In the final installment of Jenny Frame’s Wild For You series, danger and desire are impossible to avoid in the end game of good versus evil.
Eternity is a long time, but for Serenity Debrek, immortality has been one long party. As little sister to Byron Debrek, the leader of the Debrek vampire clan, Serenity has never wanted for anything. If only she could be useful to her sister and be taken seriously, especially as she accidentally endangered the clan during their last encounter with the dark witch Anka.
Bhal has lived all eternity serving the Debreks. She has only one rule to avoid inevitable tragedy: never fall in love again. But Serenity haunts her dreams. Bhal shouldn’t love, and Serenity hates her it seems.
When Serenity falls into a path of self-destruction, only Bhal can save her and show her she has everything to live for. But in the end game of good versus evil, will they be able to find reasons to live, and love?
Praise for Jenny Frame
Longing for You
“Jenny Frame knocks it out of the park once again with this fantastic sequel to Hunger For You . She can keep the pages turning with a delicious mix of intrigue and romance.”—Rainbow Literary Society
Hunger for You
“[Byron and Amelia] are guaranteed to get the reader all hot and bothered. Jenny Frame writes brilliant love scenes in all of her books and makes me believe the characters crave each other.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
“I loved this book. Paranormal stuff like vampires and werewolves are my go-to sins. This book had literally everything I needed: chemistry between the leads, hot love scenes (phew), drama, angst, romance (oh my, the romance) and strong supporting characters.”—The Reading Doc
The Duchess and the Dreamer
“We thoroughly enjoyed the whole romance-the-disbelieving-duchess with gallantry, unwavering care, and grand gestures. Since this is very firmly in the butch-femme zone, it appealed to that part of our traditionally-conditioned-typecasting mindset that all the wooing and work is done by Evan without throwing even a small fit at any point. We liked the fact that Clementine has layers and depth. She has her own personal and personality hurdles that make her behaviour understandable and create the right opportunities for Evan to play the romantic knight convincingly…We definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a feel-good mushy romance.”—Best Lesfic Reviews
“There are a whole range of things I like about Jenny Frame’s aristocratic heroines: they have plausible histories to account for them holding titles in their own right; they’re in touch with reality and not necessarily super-rich, certainly not through inheritance; and they find themselves paired with perfectly contrasting co-heroines…Clementine and Evan are excellently depicted, and I love the butch:femme dynamic they have going on, as well as their individual abilities to stick to their principles but also to compromise with each other when necessary.”—The Good, The Bad and The Unread
Still Not Over You
“Still Not Over You is a wonderful second-chance romance anthology that makes you believe in love again. And you would certainly be missing out if you have not read My Forever Girl , because it truly is everything.”—SymRoute
Someone to Love
“One of the author’s best works to date—both Trent and Wendy were so well developed they came alive. I could really picture them and they jumped off the pages. They had fantastic chemistry, and their sexual dynamic was deliciously well written. The supporting characters and the storyline about Alice’s trauma was also sensitively written and well handled.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)
Wooing the Farmer
“The chemistry between the two MCs had us hooked right away. We also absolutely loved the seemingly ditzy femme with an ambition of steel but really a vulnerable girl. The sex scenes are great. Definitely recommended.”—Reviewer@large
“This is the book we Axedale fanatics have been waiting for…Jenny Frame writes the most amazing characters and this whole series is a masterpiece. But where she excels is in writing butch lesbians. Every time I read a Jenny Frame book I think it’s the best ever, but time and again she surprises me. She has surpassed herself with Wooing the Farmer .”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
Royal Court
“The author creates two very relatable characters…Quincy’s quietude and mental torture are offset by Holly’s openness and lust for life. Holly’s determination and tenacity in trying to reach Quincy are total wish-fulfilment of a person like that. The chemistry and attraction is excellently built.”—Best Lesbian Erotica
“[A] butch/femme romance that packs a punch.”—Les Rêveur
“There were unbelievably hot sex scenes as I have come to expect and look forward to in Jenny Frame’s books. Passions slowly rise until you feel the characters may burst!…Royal Court is wonderful and I highly recommend it.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
Royal Court “was a fun, light-hearted book with a very endearing romance.”—Leanne Chew, Librarian, Parnell Library (Auckland, NZ)
Charming the Vicar
“Chances are, you’ve never read or become captivated by a romance like Charming the Vicar . While books featuring people of the cloth aren’t unusual, Bridget is no ordinary vicar—a lesbian with a history of kink…Surrounded by mostly supportive villagers, Bridget and Finn balance love and faith in a story that affirms both can exist for anyone, regardless of sexual identity.”—RT Book Reviews
“The sex scenes were some of the sexiest, most intimate and quite frankly, sensual I have read in a while. Jenny Frame had me hooked and I reread a few scenes because I felt like I needed to experience the intense intimacy between Finn and Bridget again. The devotion they showed to one another during these sex scenes but also in the intimate moments was gripping and for lack of a better word, carnal.”—Les Rêveur
“The sexual chemistry between [Finn and Bridge] is unbelievably hot. It is sexy, lustful and with more than a hint of kink. The scenes between them are highly erotic—and not just the sex scenes. The tension is ramped up so well that I felt the characters would explode if they did not get relief!…An excellent book set in the most wonderful village—a place I hope to return to very soon!”—Kitty Kat’s Book Reviews
“This is Frame’s best character work to date. They are layered and flawed and yet relatable…Frame really pushed herself with Charming the Vicar and it totally paid off…I also appreciate that even though she regularly writes butch/femme characters, no two pairings are the same.”—The Lesbian Review
Unexpected
“If you enjoy contemporary romances, Unexpected is a great choice. The character work is excellent, the plotting and pacing are well done, and it’s just a sweet, warm read…Definitely pick this book up when you’re looking for your next comfort read, because it’s sure to put a smile on your face by the time you get to that happy ending.”—Curve
“Unexpected by Jenny Frame is a charming butch/femme romance that is perfect for anyone who wants to feel the magic of overcoming adversity and finding true love. I love the way Jenny Frame writes. I have yet to discover an author who writes like her. Her voice is strong and unique and gives a freshness to the lesbian fiction sector.”—The Lesbian Review
Royal Rebel
“Frame’s stories are easy to follow and really engaging. She stands head and shoulders above a number of the romance authors and it’s easy to see why she is quickly making a name for herself in lesfic romance.”—The Lesbian Review
Courting the Countess
“I love Frame’s romances. They are well paced, filled with beautiful character moments and a wonderful set of side characters who ultimately end up winning your heart…I love Jenny Frame’s butch/femme dynamic; she gets it so right for a romance.”—The Lesbian Review
“I loved, loved, loved this book. I didn’t expect to get so involved in the story but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Annie and Harry…The love scenes were beautifully written and very sexy. I found the whole book romantic and ultimately joyful and I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion. A wonderful book that certainly stirred my emotions.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Reviews
“Courting The Countess has an historical feel in a present day world, a thought provoking tale filled with raw emotions throughout. [Frame] has a magical way of pulling you in, making you feel every emotion her characters experience.”—Lunar Rainbow Reviewz
“I didn’t want to put the book down and I didn’t. Harry and Annie are two amazingly written characters that bring life to the pages as they find love and adventures in Harry’s home. This is a great read, and you will enjoy it immensely if you give it a try!”—Fantastic Book Reviews
A Royal Romance
“A Royal Romance was a guilty pleasure read for me. It was just fun to see the relationship develop between George and Bea, to see George’s life as queen and Bea’s as a commoner. It was also refreshing to see that both of their families were encouraging, even when Bea doubted that things could work between them because of their class differences…A Royal Romance left me wanting a sequel, and romances don’t usually do that to me.”—Leeanna.ME Mostly a Book Blog
Living For You
Brought to you by
eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com
eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.
Please respect the rights of the author an
By the Author
A Royal Romance
Courting the Countess
Dapper
Royal Rebel
Unexpected
Charming the Vicar
Royal Court
Wooing the Farmer
Someone to Love
The Duchess and the Dreamer
Royal Family
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Sweet Surprise
Royal Exposé
A Haven for the Wanderer
Just One Dance
Wild for You
Hunger for You
Longing for You
Dying for You
Living for You
Wolfgang County Series
Heart of the Pack
Soul of the Pack
Blood of the Pack
Living For You
© 2023 By Jenny Frame. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-492-1
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: November 2023
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Ruth Sternglantz
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Jeanine Henning
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Rad, Sandy, and all the BSB team for all their hard work. I couldn’t hope for a more supportive publishing team.
Huge thanks to Ruth, who helps and encourages me so much.
And finally, thanks to my family for being so supportive in all that I do.
For Barney and Lou—We three are family
.
Chapter One
The Debrek London mansion was alive with the sounds of laughter and happy chatter. How things had changed in such a short time. It was only a few weeks since the Debrek vampire clan fought the malevolent witch Anka and her followers at Stonehenge.
Anka had disappeared into the night with her people, and the Debreks were coming to terms with what lay ahead.
Everyone knew this was the calm before the storm. War was coming in the paranormal world between those that wanted to live in harmony with humans, and those that saw humans as merely dirt beneath their boots, inferior, and only fit for serving the nefarious side of the paranormal world.
Bhal scanned the room but found her gaze settling on one woman. Being in a roomful of people and only seeing one person was a growing occurrence for Bhaltair. She was a Celtic warrior, bound by honour to protect the Debrek clan and, more specifically, its current head—Byron Debrek.
But more and more it was the other Debrek sibling that caught her attention, Byron’s younger sister, Serenity. She stood at the other side of the room, standing with Alexis and her blood bond, Katie, and a couple of other friends. But although their conversation was lively, Sera was not present. She had checked out from their conversation a while ago.
Tonight, Byron was throwing a drinks party in honour of her parents’ visit home, and to officially welcome her cousin Torija back into the fold. The former Dred clan leader had turned against her clan and the darkness when she and Daisy became blood bonded and fell in love.
Bhal kept her eyes on Sera as she put her half-drunk glass of champagne on the tray of a server and walked over to the drinks cabinet to pour a glass of malt whiskey.
Before Bhal could think about it, she was walking over to Sera. “Can I have a top-up?”
Sera gave her a hard stare, then filled up her glass. Sera and Bhal had a rocky relationship. It had been Bhal’s duty to train Byron and Sera in combat up to the age of eighteen, when they became full-blown born vampires.
The Debreks, unlike other vampire clans, had the ability to procreate, with each generation being stronger than the last. They remained mortal but with increased strength and speed until they were eighteen years old, when they had the choice to remain human or to be reborn as a born vampire at their ascension ceremony.
Byron, firstborn and most powerful daughter of her parents, Michel and Juliana, apprenticed to her father for a long, long time before taking over as Principe and letting her parents retire.
She had been a dream to train, taking instruction and practicing religiously. Sera, on the other hand, did not take kindly to instruction. She argued, talked back, and was generally a pain in the arse.
Despite this, Bhal always tried to take care of her, but this never went down well. It frustrated her that Sera had so many gifts, was so capable in combat—although she would be better if she had taken her lessons seriously, and she was intelligent, but she chose to spend most of her immortal life partying and trying to have fun.
“Is there something you want, Bhal?” Sera said.
“No, not really. I just wanted a top-up and to see if you were all right.”
“Wow. I should get kidnapped more often, then maybe you’d have cared about my feelings before now.”
In an effort to show her sister that she was valuable and worthy of responsibility, Sera had gone against Byron’s orders and used her initiative when pursuing their enemy Anka. It got her imprisoned and threatened the lives of the humans Anka had taken hostage.
“Of course I care…” Bhal’s words trailed off as Sera just walked away from her. The night Sera was captured was the night everything changed for Bhal. The fear she felt that night broke something inside her.
Before, her concern was to protect Sera as a Debrek, but now it was all the more personal, and Bhal didn’t like to think about the reasons too much. But whatever it was, Bhal worried about Sera every time she went out, which was a lot more than she used to, and found herself gazing at her, memorizing every part of her—Sera’s silky blond hair, her blue eyes, and her petite nose.
But like Bhal, Sera seemed to have changed from that night. Her eyes had tired, dark shadows around them, something that shouldn’t be seen in a vampire.
The normal sparky, annoying Serenity Debrek was replaced by a slumped, sad vampire, but even still, that haunted look could not disguise her beauty. Nothing ever could.
“I think I can guess what you’re thinking.”
It was the Grand Principe, Michel, Byron and Sera’s father. Bhal almost jumped at being caught gazing at his daughter.
“Sorry, Grand Principe?”
“You’ve noticed something isn’t quite right with my little girl.”
“She does not seem her usual self, Michel.”
Michel poured himself a drink. “I think Sera is a little bit lost.”
“Lost?” Bhal asked.
“Look at Byron. She was born to this role.” Michel pointed over to Byron who had an arm around Amelia and was laughing with Juliana, Torija, and Daisy.
“Byron’s had her ups and downs, but she’s always had a clear purpose, to be Principe of the clan. Sera’s never had that. She doesn’t know her place.”
“I see what you mean. Life without purpose, far more immortality without purpose, is empty.”
“Exactly. Byron strides through life with a clear purpose, to lead. She hasn’t meant to do it, but Sera has been washed to the side in her wake,” Michel said.
Bhal nodded. “She needs purpose.”
“Yes, but purpose cannot be given. It must be sought and found.”
Bhal got the feeling that Michel had some request hidden in this conversation. “Would you like me to do anything, Grand Principe?”
“Byron has had one other blessing bestowed on her.” Michel pointed to her chest. “You, Bhaltair.”
