Winter's Island is the story of Cay Winters--a young, artist whose only want in life is to not end up like her reckless mother. After being raised by an intrusive aunt, Cay finds it easier to just run free of her fears hoping that the evils of the world will never catch up to her. Well that is all wishful thinking when she arrives in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands as a mentor to her impressionable cousin.
Her first test is to get through the initial meeting with her cousin's liaison, William Gatling. He affects her in a way that takes her senses away. Little does she know, he holds a secret that can save her life...as well as end it.
Islands, the pesky, majestic things that they are, don't allow you to run very far before the demons or in this case...VAMPS...catch up to you, so let's hope that Cay can make it out alive.
Her first test is to get through the initial meeting with her cousin's liaison, William Gatling. He affects her in a way that takes her senses away. Little does she know, he holds a secret that can save her life...as well as end it.
Islands, the pesky, majestic things that they are, don't allow you to run very far before the demons or in this case...VAMPS...catch up to you, so let's hope that Cay can make it out alive.
William GatlingWilliam Gatling is a 26 year old, blood-born vampire of Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. His motto is to accept the positivity in all situations no matter the circumstances. Dealing with the evils of his past and the nature of his habits, that creed is sometimes difficult to follow.
Mornings are the best part of his day due to the meditations he has under the sun as he relaxes on his rooftop. When he encounters Cay for the first time, he knows that she was created by the heavens just for him; however, the difficulty in loving one not of his race is something that he never counted on when it comes down to protecting her. Cay’s life is constantly in danger not only from the ills of society but also from his need to feed. But William fights against everything in his body just to love the woman who is his heart that beats. When it comes down to it in the end, to win the war is worth the battle. The model who was my inspirational muse for this character was Eric Nicoleau. Not much of a reason why...look at the man. |
Cay WintersCay Winters is an impressionable 23 year old free spirit with a passion for nature and artistic expression. Orphaned at the youthful age of 3 by a mother lost to the world, she was adopted by her aunt Lucinda “Lulu” Winters.
Agreeing to accompany Lulu’s son, Malcolm, to the US Virgin Island of Saint Thomas, she leaves the overpopulated City of Angels behind to embark on the lush tropics of the Caribbean. Her immediate fondness to the friendly liaison, William Gatling, is disrupted when his dominant older brother, Jeremiah, enters the equation. Openly swooning over both men causes arguments between the two brothers that eventually changes the inner peace and tranquility that Cay has set for herself. With her emotions in disarray, she is faced with answering to demons that she shut away in the past, so she can fight the devils that threaten her future. The model who was my inspirational muse for this character was Melodie Monrose. Her skin tone reached out to me and I knew from first sight she was Cay. |
Jeremiah GatlingJeremiah Gatling is the older brother of William Gatling. Born into a strong bloodline of vampires residing in the Virgin Islands, he found a strong love for the power that he possessed with being a feared, blood-thirsty creature. Only having one attached dependent in Ivy, he yearns for more of his goals to be completed in life.
Ivy aides him in the demise of the civilization contained in Saint Thomas; but to achieve a higher level of domination, he seeks someone stronger, level-headed, and innocent to the ills of society. With his sights on the one that will help him achieve that particular purpose, he strives to do everything in his power to gain what he thinks he rightfully owns. The model who was my inspirational muse for this character was Keston Karter. He is Jeremiah...that is all. |
Excerpt 1
William was leaned up against the wall grinning to one side like a sly fox. He twirled a set of car keys in his hand as he scanned every inch of her flesh from head to toe, unwrapping her with his gaze. Cay locked her arms together across her chest feeling naked to his watchful eye. If he blinked, her clothes would fall off at the seams she felt.
He chuckled licking his lips. "Don't try to cover up, I saw enough of them when you were pinching and touching in bed."
Cay gasped then turned to retreat back into her cubby hole when he took her arm. His skin touched hers sending a static shockwave down her arm. Cay winced drawing away from him.
"Cay, look at me, please," he pleaded. "I apologize. I have an asinine sense of humor."
She faced William. His eyes seemed to shimmer into a soft glow and her body loosened.
"I'm sorry. I'll behave myself, I promise." His smooth, deep voice knocked the remainder of tension from her muscles and she was willing to trust in his words.
"Just don't make those comments anymore please," Cay whispered breaking eye contact.
"I'm just nervous. I become kind of an asshole when I'm full of nerves. Like I can't find my words," William admitted.
She could relate to his apprehension considering she was on edge as well.
They both stood awkwardly glaring at each other in the hallway lost in the silence. Then he blurted, "Let's go."
Excerpt 2
"That looks delicious on you," the woman said closing in the gap between her and Cay. There was something about the woman that made her insides chill. She could feel her body weakening just from her intensity.
"What looks delicious?" Cay asked wondering why the woman had approached and where the hell did she come from.
"The color of cream against your skin," the woman hissed while she fingered the string of Cay's bikini near her neck. Normally Cay would have veered back or even winced but she could not will herself to do anything but stand there. The strange woman moved in so close behind her that Cay could smell her perfume hinting of coconut as if she had bathed in the juice herself. Cay had so many words she wanted to shout. Back up. Give me space. What do you want? Nothing left her lips but shallow, slow breaths. The woman moved adjacent to Cay, making the situation hit the height of discomfort. Cay could feel her pulse skyrocket when she started to caress the artwork in Cay's hands then trailed her touch up to Cay's wrists.
She felt trapped in a web with no escape when she turned to face the vixen that towered an exaggerated foot or so over her head. She had the thin, angular body of a high fashion Milan model. Her sleepy eyes were electrifying circles of platinum gray with smoke filled black edges lining her lids. Flawless. Her plump lips wrapped around a sugar cane slither while Cay watched in awe as her tongue snaked in the sweetness. Her presence was commanding and her beauty bewitching. Something spelled danger when she looked into her eyes.
Her hair, an enormous mass of blond tipped curls, made the sultry woman stand out in a crowd. Cay was hypnotized in her intent gaze upon the woman's eyes. She had the allure of a poisonous snake in the grass ready to strike her next victim. Something in Cay's brain switched off and she felt her own body moving without her command. She glided her hand through the air like a ghost. If she could only touch the soft tresses of the vixen, everything would be right. She had to feel her. Be a part of her. Her flame was so striking that she yearned to be burned.
Excerpt 3
As soon as Jeremiah's name was spoken, William's body tightened. It was like the man was giving him physical pain. What had he done to William? He let out a huff then stood drawing her up out of her seat with him. Without a word and his hand still locked with Cay's, he headed for the exit. Just the day before, she was snatching herself away from William, but the look on his face let her know that then was not the time.
Once they reached the bike, William hopped on and waited on her to mount. He couldn't even look at her. It was understood that there was some type of rift between William and the couple, but there was no reason to take it out on her. She was so bewildered at the play out of his aggression that she stood contemplating whether to leave with him or call a cab.
"What're you doing? Get on!" he shouted.
"Why are you yelling? And why are you pissed at me? What is going on, William?" Cay was a level past irritation. He needed to give her some answers or she was going to explode.
"Get on, Cay! I'm taking you home right now," he fired at her with an intensity she didn't know he could possess.
"No! I'm not budging until you answer at least one of my questions." She was tired of his direct nature. It was all becoming too exhausting.
Cay stood her ground while William slumped down over the handlebars. "Just chop up the bad taste in my mouth to a heated sibling rivalry that has ruined my meal. Now come on let's go," he ordered.
"Hold on, sibling rivalry?" she repeated. "Yes, Jeremiah as in Jeremiah Gatling my older brother. Question answered. Now get on the bike so we can go!"
Cay was at a loss for words, yet full of questions, but the veins protruding from William's brow and neck sated her desire to go further into the explanation.
William was leaned up against the wall grinning to one side like a sly fox. He twirled a set of car keys in his hand as he scanned every inch of her flesh from head to toe, unwrapping her with his gaze. Cay locked her arms together across her chest feeling naked to his watchful eye. If he blinked, her clothes would fall off at the seams she felt.
He chuckled licking his lips. "Don't try to cover up, I saw enough of them when you were pinching and touching in bed."
Cay gasped then turned to retreat back into her cubby hole when he took her arm. His skin touched hers sending a static shockwave down her arm. Cay winced drawing away from him.
"Cay, look at me, please," he pleaded. "I apologize. I have an asinine sense of humor."
She faced William. His eyes seemed to shimmer into a soft glow and her body loosened.
"I'm sorry. I'll behave myself, I promise." His smooth, deep voice knocked the remainder of tension from her muscles and she was willing to trust in his words.
"Just don't make those comments anymore please," Cay whispered breaking eye contact.
"I'm just nervous. I become kind of an asshole when I'm full of nerves. Like I can't find my words," William admitted.
She could relate to his apprehension considering she was on edge as well.
They both stood awkwardly glaring at each other in the hallway lost in the silence. Then he blurted, "Let's go."
Excerpt 2
"That looks delicious on you," the woman said closing in the gap between her and Cay. There was something about the woman that made her insides chill. She could feel her body weakening just from her intensity.
"What looks delicious?" Cay asked wondering why the woman had approached and where the hell did she come from.
"The color of cream against your skin," the woman hissed while she fingered the string of Cay's bikini near her neck. Normally Cay would have veered back or even winced but she could not will herself to do anything but stand there. The strange woman moved in so close behind her that Cay could smell her perfume hinting of coconut as if she had bathed in the juice herself. Cay had so many words she wanted to shout. Back up. Give me space. What do you want? Nothing left her lips but shallow, slow breaths. The woman moved adjacent to Cay, making the situation hit the height of discomfort. Cay could feel her pulse skyrocket when she started to caress the artwork in Cay's hands then trailed her touch up to Cay's wrists.
She felt trapped in a web with no escape when she turned to face the vixen that towered an exaggerated foot or so over her head. She had the thin, angular body of a high fashion Milan model. Her sleepy eyes were electrifying circles of platinum gray with smoke filled black edges lining her lids. Flawless. Her plump lips wrapped around a sugar cane slither while Cay watched in awe as her tongue snaked in the sweetness. Her presence was commanding and her beauty bewitching. Something spelled danger when she looked into her eyes.
Her hair, an enormous mass of blond tipped curls, made the sultry woman stand out in a crowd. Cay was hypnotized in her intent gaze upon the woman's eyes. She had the allure of a poisonous snake in the grass ready to strike her next victim. Something in Cay's brain switched off and she felt her own body moving without her command. She glided her hand through the air like a ghost. If she could only touch the soft tresses of the vixen, everything would be right. She had to feel her. Be a part of her. Her flame was so striking that she yearned to be burned.
Excerpt 3
As soon as Jeremiah's name was spoken, William's body tightened. It was like the man was giving him physical pain. What had he done to William? He let out a huff then stood drawing her up out of her seat with him. Without a word and his hand still locked with Cay's, he headed for the exit. Just the day before, she was snatching herself away from William, but the look on his face let her know that then was not the time.
Once they reached the bike, William hopped on and waited on her to mount. He couldn't even look at her. It was understood that there was some type of rift between William and the couple, but there was no reason to take it out on her. She was so bewildered at the play out of his aggression that she stood contemplating whether to leave with him or call a cab.
"What're you doing? Get on!" he shouted.
"Why are you yelling? And why are you pissed at me? What is going on, William?" Cay was a level past irritation. He needed to give her some answers or she was going to explode.
"Get on, Cay! I'm taking you home right now," he fired at her with an intensity she didn't know he could possess.
"No! I'm not budging until you answer at least one of my questions." She was tired of his direct nature. It was all becoming too exhausting.
Cay stood her ground while William slumped down over the handlebars. "Just chop up the bad taste in my mouth to a heated sibling rivalry that has ruined my meal. Now come on let's go," he ordered.
"Hold on, sibling rivalry?" she repeated. "Yes, Jeremiah as in Jeremiah Gatling my older brother. Question answered. Now get on the bike so we can go!"
Cay was at a loss for words, yet full of questions, but the veins protruding from William's brow and neck sated her desire to go further into the explanation.