Devoured by Eden – Exclusive excerpt and interview

We recently got the chance to interview spicy romance author Jade May and ask all about her writing, her newest book, Devoured by Eden, and why spicy romance is popping off right now. Read on to find out why she set her Eden series in a Gentleman’s Club, why she’s probably on an ASIO watch list, and what’s in store for book four…

We’re so excited for your new book! What can people expect from Devoured by Eden?

Thank you, I’m so excited to finally release Devoured by Eden! Readers can expect an intense, high-stakes medical romance that blends spicy chemistry with gripping suspense. At its heart, it’s a Doctor x Intern love story with a twenty-year age gap, a dynamic that brings both forbidden tension and heat. Alongside the romance, the book dives deep into themes of chronic illness and resilience, all wrapped up in a fast-paced, dual-timeline narrative that keeps the pages turning. And yes, there’s plenty of spice, some delicious daddy kink, and more than a few moments that will leave your heart racing.

Read more: How do I ask for kinky sex by David Hollingworth.

Age gap, medical doctor, and a workplace romance. What made those tropes the ones you had to write about?

For me, those tropes allow space to explore both vulnerability and control, duty and desire. They heighten the tension because the stakes are real: careers, reputations, and hearts are all on the line. Writing this story let me lean into the fantasy of workplace romance, but also dig into the emotional weight that comes when you fall for someone you’re not supposed to want and can’t resist anyway. I’ve always been fascinated by the intensity that comes with forbidden dynamics.

What’s the one scene everyone on BookTok is going to be gushing over?

I’d have to say the yacht scene. Let’s just say it involves a very unexpected turn of events… including a little partner swapping. It’s guaranteed to have BookTok fanning themselves and talking non-stop.

Devoured by Eden is the third book in your Eden series. What made you decide to make your focus, Eden, a gentleman’s club?

Because of my own experiences working behind the scenes at an escort agency in Sydney for over seven years. It was a side hustle alongside my professional career, but it gave me a rare insider’s perspective into the adult industry—an industry that has always fascinated me. That time opened my eyes to the complexities, the stigma, and also the humanity within it, and it became the perfect inspiration for creating Eden.

What’s in your internet search history from Devoured by Eden that’s cemented your place on ASIO’s watch list?

Oh I love this question! Honestly, my search history while writing Devoured by Eden isn’t as bad as my previous books. It’s basically a string of “Can you die from…?” and “What happens if you’re stabbed in the shoulder?” mixed in with a whole lot of very specific medical emergencies. Add that to the late-night Googling of symptoms and recovery times, and I’m sure I look like either a budding surgeon or someone very suspicious. Luckily, I’m just a romance author trying to make my ER scenes accurate… and maybe giving ASIO a laugh in the process.

Are sex scenes difficult to write?

I don’t find sex scenes difficult to write, if anything, they come quite naturally to me. That said, I do need to be in the right headspace. Sometimes I’ll write several spicy scenes all at once when I’m in the mood. Because my books are high heat, I lean into being descriptive, but for me the most important part is capturing the undeniable chemistry between the characters. Without that emotional tension and slow build, spice feels flat. I’m not interested in writing sex scenes that exist just for the sake of it—they have to push the story forward, deepen the connection, and make the reader feel every beat of the intimacy.

How long does it take to write a book? And do you need breaks to cool down?

For me, it usually takes around four months to put together what I call a “draft zero.” That’s the messy version where I’m just getting the story out of my head and onto the page. From there, I shape it into a more sensible draft one, which then goes through about three rounds of self-edits before I send it off for developmental editing. After that, it moves through line and copy editing, and finally proofreading. So yes, it’s a long process, but one I love. I generally aim to release one to two books a year, depending on how life and my health are going. And as for breaks? Absolutely. I’m a firm believer that every author should step away from their manuscript after draft one and give themselves a proper break. That way, when you return, you’re looking at it with fresh eyes and that distance makes all the difference.

When you write a book, are you a plotter or a pantser?

Oh, I’m definitely a mix of both! I like to start with a general structure in mind so I know where the story is heading, but once I sit down to write, I give my characters the freedom to speak to me and take me on their journey. Sometimes they surprise me and the story veers in a direction I hadn’t originally planned. But I’ve learned to trust them, even when they’re a little unruly, because those moments usually bring the most authentic twists and emotional depth.

Can you tell us anything about book 4? There is a book 4, right?

Yes, there will absolutely be a book four! It will be the final instalment in the Eden series, and it’s a brother’s best friend, rockstar romance. You can expect all the swoon-worthy moments, delicious angst, and high heat the series is known for. Plus, a finale that will tie everything together in a way I think readers are going to love.

We have an exclusive excerpt of Devoured by Eden below – what do readers need to know before diving in?

This excerpt comes from chapter two and is told from Zac’s point of view, set in the past timeline. It’s the very first time readers get to step inside his head and see Eden through his eyes, a glimpse that begins to reveal the layers of his character and the intensity driving his story.

Devoured by Eden: exclusive excerpt

Zac. Past.

I’m already counting the seconds until I can exhale. My back’s tight, shoulders aching from hours spent hunched over patients. And even here—in the hidden world of Eden—I can still hear the echo of sirens in my skull. It rattles behind my ears, woven into my pulse. Always ready. Always listening.

“Another drink, sir?”

A goddess kneels before me, posture perfect, tray steady. Her eyes stay low, but I can feel her attention. I lift the empty glass and set it gently on her tray.

“I’m good, thank you.”

She rises with practiced grace and disappears toward the bar. I want another drink—desperately—but rules are rules. Even at Eden, I’m always on call. My phone’s locked in a drawer outside, but I can’t switch off the part of me that listens for the beep. The doctor who can’t afford to be caught off guard. Madame Anna has strict instructions. If my phone rings, she must find me.

I close my eyes and breathe. Let it all fall away.

That’s why I keep coming back. Because Eden gives me the one thing the ER never can: silence without consequences. No crashing monitors or begging hands. No families breaking in two while I try to glue together the pieces. Here, everything is measured and controlled. Power offered or taken, and always by choice.

I need this. The control. The quiet beneath it. Because without somewhere like this—a safe space where I set the rules, where no one dies and nothing precious slips through my hands—I’d come apart. Rip at the seams until there’s nothing. Eden holds me together. It’s the only place I can let go without breaking something sacred. And at least here, I’m not going home to an empty house, dragging shadows behind me like chains. Not tonight.

When I open my eyes, the goddesses are kneeling on the stage. Ten women, each with their head bowed, energy coiled tight. I roll the token in my palm. Number Three. The metal disc is smooth against my skin, warmed by my grip.

The crowd quietens as a woman with long platinum-blonde hair announces from the corner, “Gentlemen, it’s time to make your selection.”

It doesn’t matter who I pick. They all offer the same thing—relief. A place to disappear. A warm body to crawl inside and forget the noise. To bleed out the ache in silence and to fuck the ghosts for a little while. To quiet them. The goddesses give me the illusion of peace. Of forgetting her.

I stand and move toward the stage, eyes sweeping the line. And then I stop. Honey-blonde hair falls in loose waves around her face, the ends grazing the top of her breasts. Her chin is tucked, her posture straight, but her energy… it’s different.

“Come with me,” I instruct, extending my hand.

Her fingers are warm, delicate in my grip. She keeps her head dipped as I lead her from the stage and down the hallway to Room Three.

The door shuts with a soft click behind us, and the silence is instant. Only the sound of my own breath and the soft scuffle of movement fills the air.

When I turn around, she’s already stretched out on the bed. She settles in, completely owning the space, one leg bent, head propped on her hand, and those dark, curious eyes watching me. She’s built for sin. Long limbs, supple curves, cream-like skin glowing in the low light. Every inch of her is that impossible combination of softness and strength.

I stay standing. Watching. Letting the want tighten in my chest until it stings. She studies me just as intently. We’re circling each other in silence.

Every curve of her body is built to tempt. But it’s her tits that undo me—high, perfect, begging to be touched. I want them in chains. In clamps. In diamonds. I want to bite them, bruise them, watch them swell under my mouth. Leave her marked, every inch of her skin telling a story only we know.

Fuck.

“You gonna stand and stare all night?” she drawls, lips curved. “Or am I getting that drink?”

The question startles me. My brows lift. “What?”

“Water,” she replies, sitting up with a shrug. “Please.”

I cross to the minibar and hand her a bottle. She drinks, the line of her throat flexing with each swallow. Dragging in a breath through my nose, I remain still.

She sets the bottle down on the bedside table, eyes fixed on me. “So. What are you looking for tonight?”

I say nothing.

She tries again, head tilting. “Something rough? Or slow? Any kinks you want to try?”

Still, nothing.

She shifts onto her knees, expression unreadable. “Okay… not into talking?”

A pause.

“Correct.”

“You need quiet?” she asks gently. “I can do quiet.”

I nod once.

She holds my gaze for a long moment, then sits back on her heels and waits. The quiet stretches between us. I don’t fill it. And neither does she.

Crossing the room, I lower myself into the chair facing the bed. My body sinks into the leather, my chest easing slightly for the first time today. This is what I needed. Someone willing. Someone here, while everything else fades away.

I let my gaze drift over her, from her parted lips to her thighs. She’s letting me take her in, and I’m greedy enough to do it at my own pace.

She doesn’t fidget or blink. She waits.

Goddamn. This woman understands energy. Tension. She’s not just performing—she’s listening. Reading the room. Reading me.

Casey’s voice echoes in my head. Laughter, quick and bright. Then, pain. Endless nights of it.

I clench my jaw.

This girl in front of me isn’t anything like Casey. And that’s the whole fucking point.

But now she’s watching me with something close to softness. There’s no pity or concern in her eyes. Only… patience.

It almost makes me flinch.

I rub the tension from my chest and try to bury the ache. This is about control. About holding it, not losing it.

She speaks again, her voice low. “Can I offer you something else?”

I blink out of it. “What did you have in mind?”

“The fantasy,” she explains. “The one you came here for.”