Excerpt Monday – New Year Edition

January 18, 2010 on 12:01 am | In Elise, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

For this month’s Excerpt Monday, I thought I’d give you a taste of Trusting Destiny – Eric and Maggie’s story. I just finished first round edits, so we’re moving toward a publication date (watch for more info!).

Maggie Cassavetti isn’t sure what she has when she brings her late mother’s topaz pendant and family Bible to Dr. Eric Larsen.  Her mother believed that the pendant helped its wearer find true love, but Maggie doesn’t buy it.  What interests her is the history – the topaz is supposed to be a Biblical artifact.  But meeting Eric changes things.  The attraction that flares between them is hotter, faster, more intense than she could possibly anticipate.  Was it simple chemistry?  Or was something more going on?  As Maggie and Eric work together to uncover the history behind the family lore, Maggie begins to believe that there may be something to the power of the stone:  something that she won’t soon let go.

Trusting Destiny

Eric reached out to touch her hand – the first contact since he’d arrived.  A little frisson of heat snaked up her arm, distracting her.  She looked up to find his pale eyes full of unexpected compassion.  She shrugged, and his hand slid away.  She didn’t want his compassion, it made her too vulnerable.

“Want help tomorrow?  My Italian is pretty good.”

“My Italian is darned rusty.  Thanks, that would be helpful.  Given the time difference, I’ll start making calls in the morning.”

“Good idea.  Donuts?”

Her eyes lit, dispelling the last of the melancholy.  “I adore donuts.  They’re terrible for me, though, so don’t let me eat more than one.”

He eyed her closely.  “Don’t need to worry.”

She stopped herself before she snorted her disbelief.  “Shows what you know.”

He sat up straight, reaching out to cup her jaw.  “I know. You are hot.”

With no warning, he leaned in to capture her lips in a scorching kiss.  There was no gentle introduction, no slow building of heat.  Instead, Eric plundered her mouth, leaving her no time to erect a defense against his invasion.  He tasted of ginger with an undertone of molasses.  Momentary surprise gave way to answering hunger.  This close she could smell his skin, a dry, clean smell that reminded her of winter wind.

His long fingers massaged along her jaw, his tongue slowing its urgent pace to begin a leisurely exploration.  He turned her chair so she was fully facing him.  Their knees bumped when they leaned toward each other.  Eric shifted his legs so hers bracketed his, his lips shifting position to take the kiss even deeper.

Maggie’s head spun and her eyelids drooped closed.  She concentrated on the taste and feel of his firm lips, his agile tongue.  The rough feel of his calloused fingers on the smooth skin of her cheek added a layer of heat she couldn’t have expected.  He kissed her and she went up in flames.

Lost in the melting heat of his mouth, her world narrowed to the flavor and feel of his mouth on hers.  His hand dropped from her jaw to her waist.  Those long, narrow fingers moved up, playing lightly over her ribs.  She gave herself to the kiss, devouring him as he devoured her.

With a sharp tug, he pulled her into his lap.  She gasped into his mouth, stunned to find herself suddenly seated on his hard thighs, her legs dangling over the edges of the chair.  Her damp sex pressed against the hard ridge of his cock.  Her heated body responded with a prickling rush of sensation, drawing her nipples to hard points.  It didn’t matter that his jeans and her leggings separated them, what mattered was the delicious pressure of that hard cock.  She squirmed in his lap to position that bulge where she wanted it, wrapping her arms around his neck while he clamped her body to his.  Her breasts flattened into him, the thin lace of her bra rubbing her hardened nipples.

He slid one hand under the hem of her sweater.  His palm moved up and he pushed the lace of her bra down, bumping the topaz aside to free her breast.  The point of her nipple stabbed into his palm, and the slight rasp of his calloused skin against the sensitive flesh sent shivers through her.

He lifted his mouth from hers, his breath already coming in choppy pants.  “Yeah.  Completely hot.”

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