If someone did a study of the heroes of romances, the physical characteristics that make the hero sexy are somewhat standard. How many can you name? Strong jaw. Piercing eyes. Defined abs. That little cut on the lower abdomen that makes so many women drool…

But in real life, women’s definition of sexy can vary quite a bit. One of my best friends, for example, has an automatic thing for bald-headed men—and this was before being bald was in vogue. My other best friend stops in her tracks for a man with dark eyes. Me? I have a thing for scars. Not necessarily disfigurement, but more like the kind that bisects an eyebrow or one that looks like an artificial cleft on the chin. If you can’t get on board with that one, how about this…I also have a thing for gingers. (Just go with it, okay?)

The heroine of Hunger Awakened, discovers that she has an unusual chose d’affection. Take a look.

She’d thought his eyes had gone from beautiful to incomparable, but words failed her at trying to categorize them right now. They were a crystalline blue, while silver and pearl swirled through its sea. His pupils had elongated, the darkness a slice that seemed out of place.

“I’m wrong.” Sebastian’s voice contained raw emotion. “This…” His wings repositioned.

Jesus. He had wings.

“I know. We’ll figure out what’s going on.” She spoke with a false confidence that she clung to. “How are you feeling otherwise? Any pain? Faintness?”

He rose to his feet without her assistance, and the stomach that contracted painfully before released just a fraction. She wanted to inspect his back, to study his new appendages, but if he was on the brink of destruction, that had to be their priority.

As she stood next to him, all of her senses became hyperaware. While her stomach might have been put at ease, the rest of her body went taut at the looming presence of Sebastian in this new form. He had always been gorgeous, no doubt. The transformation, however, had given him a new strength. More definition. A devastating beauty.

The sharp angles of his face became slashes of bone and shadow. When he’d spoken, the teeth he kept well hidden were longer. More lethal looking.

And those dangerous eyes. They gave her delightful shivers.

“I hurt everywhere.” His gaze was disconcerting. “And nowhere. I’m hungry too.”

Alice took a slow step closer, keeping her hands outstretched and nonthreatening. Not like she could ever do him any harm, but the underlying skittishness in Bast needed reassuring. “Let me take a look at you,” she said. “Maybe I can help a little.”

“You think it’s wise?”

She smiled. Not only was he still nude, he was sporting an impressive erection. “I’ll take my chances.”

He remained rooted, indecision spread across his expression. “I don’t know who I am anymore. What I am.”

“You are still the man who protected me from a blood-thirsty vampire and a dangerous werewolf. I believe you are the man who vowed to protect me from any and all dangers. You’re also the man who kisses me until I can’t think straight anymore.” She paused, licking her lips. “Finally, you’re the man who promised me sexual oblivion. Remember that?”

It probably wasn’t appropriate to bring up his promise, but it was hard to think straight with the sign of his arousal so blatant.

“Like this? You would have me still?”

Alice took another step forward. She wrapped her arms around him, astonished by his new definition. Cautiously turned on. “You’ve got wings now, honey. It’s kind of hot.”

That seemed to startle a chuckle out of him.

What about you? What “questionable” physical characteristic gets your motor revving? I’ll pick one random commenter to receive a ebook copy of Hunger Aroused, the first book in this series, on March 10th because I’m certain you’ll already have your copy of Hunger Awakened by then because it’s available now at Carina | AMZ |  B&N | Kobo | Audible | ARe. (By the way, did you know there’s a free between-the-books short on my web site, featuring characters from both Hunger Aroused and Hunger Awakened? Come on over and see!)

Dee Carney is an award-winning, best-selling author of sweetheart vampires and terrifying chefs, husband/wife reconnections and take-no-shit women. Read more on her web site, www.deecarney.com.