Vixenwriter

Today’s theme is Lost Loves – as I’m a fan of the reunion story, I thought I’d post a snippet from my first Federation Chronicles novel – UNDERCOVER

FEDERATION CHRONICLES: UNDERCOVER by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2009, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

He pulled out a platinum necklace bearing a stylized B in diamonds. Concubines of very important men often wore such identifying jewelry. A status marker for both parties. Reaching around, he fastened it about her neck. Diamond baubles for her ears and a bracelet followed and he slid a pink diamond ring on her left hand.

He stepped back and looked to Ash who nodded. “And one more thing.” Upending the pouch into his palm, a ring with a dangling row of diamonds slid out.

Heart pounding, she took a deep breath and reached down to slide the bodice of her dress out of the way, exposing her breast. And the ring she still wore in it. A ring Ash gave her when she’d first gotten it pierced.

She heard his sharp intake of breath and suddenly he was there, next to Brandt. “You’re still wearing it.” She didn’t fail to hear the raw emotion in his voice.

Glib words tried to find their way from her lips but they faltered when she looked into his eyes. He was satisfied, yes. But there was more. He was moved by the sight of his ring still marking her. She knew that.

All she could do was nod. If she’d tried to speak her voice may well have cracked.

“I think this one is better, Ash. I understand your feelings on this but Sela would wear something far more flashy.”

Sera nodded, agreeing with Brandt.

“You’re right. But I’ll take it off. I put it on to start with.”

And before Sera could disagree, Ash’s hands were on her, fingertips sliding over her nipple to unlatch the ring and pull it loose. She watched his hand on her flesh and the sense memory of the last time he’d touched her naked breast slammed into her, wrenching out a strangled gasp.

His gaze moved from her breast to lock with hers. The cool metal of Brandt’s ring slid into her nipple and the weight of the diamonds provided a new sensation.

Ash pulled her dress back into place before stepping back, and Sera wanted to run screaming from the house. If he’d done anything but that she might have resisted the look in his eyes. But he’d touched her with respect, even as she saw the desire in his gaze.

And then it got worse when Ash reached up and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest and his own nipples. In the one on the left, over his heart, he wore the simple ring she’d given him on the same day she’d begun wearing his. He put the one she’d been wearing in the nipple on the other side after he removed a barbell.

All of this without a word. Brandt watched them both. “Okay then, shall we be off?”

Sera took Brandt’s arm, Ash fell in on her other side and they left the house. They loaded into the posh limousine that would take them to the Portal and she left her old life behind.

* * *

She still wore his ring. Ash sat, head back against the seat as he thought about the way her nipple looked in his hand. The ring he’d given her when she’d gotten pierced just for him. It had carried a sapphire but she’d left that with her letter and her collar.

Hope burned deep within him. He saw love in her eyes. Distrust still, and hesitance too, but she had feelings for him that didn’t all involve wanting to shoot him in the head.

He’d need to be smart about how he went about getting her back. Smarter than he’d been so far, that was for sure. On the ship, he’d have to get her used her to his touch again anyway. Originally, he’d planned to work his way into their bed right off. But he rethought that. He’d be more slow and steady, show her she could trust him.

It meant Brandt would forge a physical bond with her first, which was slightly disconcerting. But Ash already had the depth of his memories of her and they’d share that again. Brandt would help her heal, be the bridge between them.

Once Ash had her back, he didn’t plan to let go again.

Be sure to visit today’s other Snippeters!

Lauren Dane
Mari Carr
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd

I don’t often write pets into my books, like kids, I feel like they need to be an actual character with wants and needs and it’s always a challenge to add any new characters and to do it right. But when I wrote Tri Mates, I felt like Tracy needed a dog, and Milton came into the series. He’s one of my favorite secondary characters of all… I’m also going to cheat a little and include two of my favorite scenes from the book. Because I want to.

Cascadia Wolves: TRI MATES by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2006, Lauren Dane

Milton, her chocolate Labrador retriever, was happily waiting for her in the front windows. Those big front windows looked out toward the Ballard Locks. The water could look green and murky, black and cold or bright blue and glittering beneath the sun depending on the day and the season. The small porch had a glider swing and plants that were tended to by Nina. Even in the cold of winter, she’d had colorful plants. Nina planted some stuff that looked like cabbages and they were a vibrant purple. Tracy had no freaking idea just what it was, but she couldn’t argue that it made the house look nice with a bit of color to break the monotony of the gray Seattle skies.

The house had been built in the Forties. Architecture of that type was dying in the area, where old houses were being bought and demolished and new ones replaced them. She preferred the old-style charm of the place, the curved doorways and big common areas and small bedrooms. Heck, the house still had the original hardwood floors. Tracy had stripped them down and refinished them herself a few years before.

She smiled to herself as she unlocked the front door and turned the alarm off. It was hers, this place. Filled with memories of weekends walking to nearby Woodland Park Zoo and having picnics. Time spent digging in the dirt with her grandmother, planting bulbs each November. Her father’s life had been consumed with the Pack and her grandparents had been a more tangible part of her life than her parents had been for a very long time. More than a few nights of her life it had been her grandfather who’d tucked her into bed and her grandmother who’d baked the snacks for her classroom celebrations. Her mother had been miserable without the presence of her mate and had retreated into herself and into community work for a great many years. Until her father had handed over the leadership of Cascadia to Cade.

Shaking her head to dislodge the memories, she grinned instead at what greeted her. A big overstuffed couch sat across from the fireplace and currently held Milton, who was giving her his lopsided grin, tongue peeking through his front teeth. She rolled her eyes at him and laughed at the sight he made.

It was odd for her to have a dog. Some werewolves didn’t have animals because they felt owning animals was exploitative or they were uncomfortable that they too were close to dogs on some level. But Tracy had found Milton at the animal shelter when he was a puppy. She’d fallen in love with him immediately. Most people wouldn’t adopt a dog with three legs. But Milton sure wasn’t affected by it and she couldn’t find a reason not to bring the goofy dog home with her. She hadn’t regretted her choice once in the four years he’d been with her.

“Hey, dude.” She leaned down and smooched the top of his head. Suppressing a smile, she scratched behind his ears until he made that growly moan, nearly falling over because his one back leg thumped in response.

She laughed and opened up the back door to let him out, tossing his tennis ball for him. She knew the dog walker had been by but he did love a good run out there while she made dinner.

Tossing her coat and scarf on a chair, she put her bag on the hook and took a quick look into the mirror, running fingers through her curly hair.

Big green eyes looked back at her, and an eyebrow ring that should have overwhelmed her face but really just enhanced the pixieish nature of her features. A dusting of freckles sprinkled over her nose and cheeks, the juxtaposition of the eyebrow ring and the row of piercings up each ear and that tiny nose and freckled face worked for her. There was an air of wicked innocence about her. Of mischief.

After a quick change into jeans and wooly socks, she poured food into Milton’s bowl and made sure he had fresh water and cooked up a quick stir-fry before she went out to Nina’s. She loved these quiet evenings when she wasn’t expected at the Pack house, time that was hers alone. She did admit to herself that it would be nice to have a man around. It wasn’t like she never dated. She’d just gotten out of a six-month relationship a few weeks prior. The problem was, wolves tended to not get into long-term relationships while they were younger and looking for a mate. She pitied the poor human men she’d dated. They’d gotten the scare of their lives once they’d met her family.

When her phone rang, she looked at the caller ID and was relieved to see it was Nina and not her mother.

“Yo.”

“Articulate. All of that money on a college education and that’s the best you can do? What am I going to do with you?” Nina said this dryly and it made Tracy laugh.

“What do you want, old woman?”

“Hmpf! Well, I was calling to warn you that we’ve just had a visit from a certain furry mother-in-law who mentioned stopping by your place, but if you have that attitude…”

“Crap!”

“Yes. Well. I hear that there’s a nice werewolf boy who’d love to take you to dinner at Canlis and woo you. Because, you know, if I’m not going to breed a few puppies for her for a few years, you have to.”

“Milton and I are on our way.”

“Bring a bag and stay over.”

Tracy grinned. “Okay, twist my arm. Thanks, old woman.”

“You’re welcome, dog girl.”

She hung up and slid into her sneakers. Quickly, she tossed her dirty dishes into the dishwasher before running to toss some clothes into a bag.

Going to the door, she whistled. “Milton? Let’s hit it. Wanna go for a ride over to Auntie Nina’s?”

Hearing Nina’s name, Milton barked and ran to wait by the front door, tail wagging gaily. Nina was as goofy as the dog and they got along famously.

She finally let out a relieved breath as they drove away from the house. She really had to deal with this situation with her mother or consider transferring Packs to keep from going insane.

(and the second one, this one follows the one above)

Tracy bounded up the stairs from the garage and Milton blew past her and straight to where Nina was standing in the kitchen.

“Stinky!” Nina grinned and knelt down and hugged the dog. Straightening, she tossed him a chunk of cheese and tipped her chin at Tracy. “Yo, Stinky’s mom, what’s up?”

“I’ll just go put this in the guest room.” Tracy held up the bag. “Don’t steal my dog and don’t feed him tofu dogs, blech!”

“They’re tofu corn dogs and he loves them.” Milton barked to underline his love of the tiny corn dogs.

Cade wandered into the kitchen, distaste clear on his face. “Bad enough she’s got a three-legged dog, you’re feeding him those nasty things?”

“Shut up, fur butt. He’s just fine. Your steaks are on the grill as we speak so you don’t have to sully your oh-so-manly stomach with tofu pups.”

“Werewolves are not tofu eaters,” Lex said as he came into the room.

“Is that from the official how-to manual?” Nina raised her eyebrow at him. “And he’s not a werewolf, he’s a dog. I know there’s not a huge difference and you both have that blank, slightly dazed look around food, but still.”

Tracy snickered as she came into the kitchen and kissed Nina’s cheek. “Thanks for the heads-up. Close call.”

“She’s just trying to help. She wants you to be happy.” Cade drank a beer and checked the steaks on the large indoor grill.

“Yeah and isn’t it nice she hounds me instead of you?” Tracy dug in the fridge and pulled out a beer of her own.

“Well, that is a bonus. I’ve tried to put her on Nina and Lex. If they gave her grandchildren she’d really back off.” Cade grinned at Nina, who threw a potholder at his head.

Be sure to visit today’s other Snippeter!
Emma Petersen
Lauren Dane

How about a sneak peek of my next Federation novel, INSATIABLE? I wrote this particular scene while listening to Oh Fortuna from Carmina Burana. In fact, this scene came to be early on and I had to put it aside until the time was right. I can still see Daniel’s face, hear the pinging of spent shells hitting the road beneath his feet.

A hand shoved her to the ground. Shouts rang out, wrapped in the pop, pop, pop of weapons fire. She stayed, her arms clutched around his ankle. He changed his stance so that she rested between his legs, changed his stance to protect her better. And he did it all automatically.

She did not look at the men in the trees, did not look at the men crouched at the next corner shooting round after round, all set to kill her. They would not harm her; she knew that instinctively. Knew Daniel Haws would kill a thousand men to save her, knew he’d give his life for her. This last bit scared her more than the men trying to kill her. This last bit was a bigger threat than any, because he was her everything, and she would not survive losing him. So she looked up at Daniel, into his face, and held on to her certainty that no one was better than he.

Spent shells showered around her head, glittering in the sunlight

with a sick sort of beauty. The ones that touched her bare skin burned as they bounced, hitting the ground, still smoking. Their metallic ping sounded over and around the other sounds, all chaos. The stench of the powder within the shells hung in the air, stinging her nose, making her eyes water.

His face was stark, a mask of furious, righteous anger, a vengeful angel. Each shot brought the energy rebounding through his upper body, and she watched, fascinated, as it bounced against him over and over, but he never lost his focus.

All around her she heard screams of rage and pain, the percussive thump as bodies hit the ground. The thick, coppery scent of blood mixed with the stench of the spent shells, the acrid wash of fear coating it all.

They’d been ambushed as they neared the portal and had fallen back into a small garden off the main street. Julian, Vincenz and Marame had split off as Carina grabbed her blaster. Andrei had melted off, disappearing like smoke, only to appear for a moment in a splash of red and disappearing again.

Daniel, brooking no argument, had shoved her down and begun shooting at the men trying to close in. She curled into a ball, not wanting to choose that moment to push back. He was the expert. She wasn’t so stupid she didn’t understand that when an expert gave you instructions, you took them.

She wanted to help, but she wanted him to live, wanted to live herself. So she stayed at his feet, looking up at him as the light glinted from his hair, dark like roasted kava, so beautiful, even as an avenging angel, he shone.

The paving stone she rested her elbow on splintered, driving shards of rock into her skin. She barely held in her cry of pain, but it sang through her system nonetheless.

Moments later, he said her name, hauling her up to his side as she struggled to get to her feet. He didn’t drag her, he simply held her with one arm, shooting with the other as they rounded a corner and Julian came out, pulling them both into the building and slamming the door in their wake. If she hadn’t been so terrified, the sheer gallantry and skill he showed would have wowed her.

The silence settled in, deafening after the chaos outside.

Daniel set her down in a far corner, patting over her, holding his bloody hand up as if she’d done it on purpose. “Are you all right? Did you get shot? Tell me now!”

“I-I don’t think so.”

“Blood! Carina, you’re bleeding.” He tried to rip her clothes back to look, but she slapped at his hands. His face was set; he was on a mission.

“The rock splintered. It hit my arm. I’m cut, not shot. Stop! Stop it!” She yanked his hair, hard, and finally he seemed to hear.

He froze, blinking several times until he pushed her sleeve up with a hiss. “Stay right here. Do not move.”

As if she would with him in such a lather! “Bossy,” she managed to say, and his shoulders eased a bit as she’d intended.

Marame looked over and grinned. Andrei was suddenly there, kneeling, looking her over, a question in his eyes. Vincenz stood near the windows, out of sight but watching the street. Every once in a while, he looked over at Carina, and she smiled, reassuring him.

“Move,” Daniel said to Andrei. He settled at her feet and began to clean her arm when Andrei moved to the side.

Andrei tweezed the small shards of rock out of the wounds.

Julian came back in. “We have to move. They’re not too far away, going house to house. Can she travel?” He indicated Carina with a tip of his chin.

Be Sure To Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!

Emma Petersen
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Lissa Matthews
McKenna Jeffries
Shelli Stevens
Eliza Gayle
Mari Carr
Elisabeth Naughton
Juliana Stone
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw

Today’s Snippet Saturday topic is Family – one of my very favorite things to write about! Since I did my Cascadia wolves last week, I thought this time I’d toss out a passage from MAKING CHASE. I love the Chase family so much, I’m always thrilled to revisit them.

CHASE BROTHERS: MAKING CHASE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2007, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing

“We’ll make sure the picnic goes smoother. There’s gonna be a lot of us. We’ll put her near Momma. No one will mess with her then. Oh and Maggie too. We’ll be on the outside. No one’s gonna hurt her, Matt. We’ll keep her safe. One thing we all need to keep doing is let this town and the people like Melanie know Tate is one of ours and we believe in her.”

Matt didn’t know what else to say. Family did what family needed to do. Still felt good though.

He caught up with Tate. “You still up to dinner at my parents’ house?”

She sighed. “There’s no choice. She’s bound to have gotten at least five calls by now and she’ll just hunt us down at home if we don’t go over there and tell her the story firsthand. And speaking of hands, yours looks like hell. I want to clean it up better and I’m quite sure your mother has first aid supplies.”

He grinned. “Come on then.” He waved at everyone else. “See y’all in a few.”

Polly met them at the front door, anxious. But instead of cooing over Matt’s hand, she pulled Tate into a hug and it made her want to cry. She towed Tate down the hall and into Edward’s study, closing the door behind her and leaving Matt in the foyer.

“Let it go now, honey. Give the tears up to me and be done with them,” Polly crooned as she rubbed Tate’s back.

As soon as Polly gave her permission, it was like her body just let it go and a sob so deep wrenched from her body that it buckled her knees but Polly just went to her knees with her and continued to rock her and rub her back while she wept.

“It was wrong, Tate. What he said was wrong. What they’ve done to you is wrong. They’re wrong. You’re a good person. You love my son and he loves you. You’re worthy of this wonderful gift you and Matt have. Don’t you let them take the certainty of who you are from you. You’re strong. You survived worse than those idiots in town who can’t stand to see anyone else happy. You hear me? You give me those tears you’ve been holding back for so long and let them go. You’re safe here.”

So Tate let it go. Cried and cried and cried until there was nothing left and long minutes later, totally spent, she let Polly help her to the couch.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart like that. I don’t even know where it all came from.” She accepted a box of tissues and a glass of water from Polly who sat across from her and clucked. Her voice was rusty and every few seconds she hiccuped.

“It came from inside you. Where you’ve pent it up to be strong for everyone else. Tate, I know you, girl. You take everyone else’s burdens for them. But you can only take on so much before it breaks your back. Sometimes you need to let it out. Tonight must have been very ugly.”

“He called me a whore. A whore.” Tate shook her head, still shocked. “I didn’t hear it firsthand. That was the first time Matt punched him apparently. But I heard Matt telling Shane everything Ron said. Men. They must think we can’t hear them at three feet away.”

“They don’t know we multi-task as well as we do.” Polly nodded her head . “You’re not a whore. He’s wrong. You know that.”

“I do. But it hurts anyway. He accused me of being a gold digger. Polly, I’d never use Matt for his money. Not ever. I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve achieved in my life. I love Matt, I’d never hurt him like that. Ever.”

“I expect it does hurt, being misunderstood and misused. It’s shocking to be faced with so much hatred. I know you love Matt. Matt knows you love Matt. Hell, honey anyone with eyes in their head can see you love my son. They are bad people. Wrong. The people in the world who count know the truth and that’s all that matters. As for the rest of them? Don’t let them see you hurt, Tate. They aren’t worth it and you’re better than they are. You hold your head up because you have every right to.”

Tate nodded, blowing her nose.

“There’s a bathroom right through there, sweetie. Wash your face and come out when you’re ready. I expect Edward is holding Matthew back out there. Can I let him in? I know he wants to help.”

Tate needed that, needed to see Matt, to be held by him. “Yes. Let me get cleaned up and I’ll be out in a minute.”

She went into the bathroom and looked at the ruin of her face. Her eyes were red and swollen as was her nose. Every last trace of eye makeup was gone or dripping down her cheeks. She looked like she had the starring role in a B-horror movie.

Still, after a few minutes of cold water compresses she began to look and feel better and she knew it was time to face the music.

The first gut wrenching sob broke Matt’s heart. His father had simply put his arms around him and held him as they’d listened. Edward had urged him to let her cry it out, to let Polly mother her because she needed it desperately.

Matt wanted to rush in and take over, wanted Tate to open up to him that way but he understood Tate never would have let him bear the pain she held inside. Thank goodness his mother had been there and known just what Tate needed.

For long minutes she’d cried and cried and Matt had wanted to climb the walls. Her siblings arrived and they’d all stood in the hall and listened to her grief leave her body. Maggie held tight to Kyle, Shane to Cassie. The Murphys clutched each other and they’d all held vigil.

Twenty minutes later, his mother had come out and told them all very quietly that Tate needed a few minutes to clean up and to go on and get in the dining room. She sent Matt in to her, knowing they both needed it. Before he closed the door, Anne approached him quietly and said, “Melanie Deeds has a bill coming due.” He couldn’t have agreed more.

The door to the bathroom finally opened and her bottom lip trembled as she stepped into his embrace.

“Oh, Venus, I love you so much. I wish I could protect you from all this.”

She didn’t answer, instead just pushed herself closer to him.

After several minutes he kissed her gently. “You okay? Do you need more time or do you want to go and eat dinner?”

“I can’t face anyone. You all must have heard.”

“Heard what, Tate? Heard you being human? Heard you being mothered instead of doing all the mothering for a change? We love you. I’m glad my mother could help and I’m sorry you had to see all that tonight. Come on, everyone is waiting and they want to love you. Let them comfort you for a change.”

“They’ve all got enough to deal with.”

“Tate, don’t be selfish right now. They need to help. I need to know you’ll lean on me from time to time. You take so much on, give us all the gift of being the strong ones every once in a while.”

“You’re going to make me cry again.” The way she clutched his shirt made him want to keep her indoors and shield her forever.

“It’s okay to cry you know. It’s not a weakness.”

She made her little hmpf sound and he knew then she was on her way back to being all right.

They walked out into the dining room and her siblings came to her, pulling her into an embrace. Matt put his arm around his mother and they watched until Liv burst in, pregnant and pissed as hell.

“Where is that Melanie and who’s gonna hold my hair?”

Marc came in after her, grinning. “Liv’s a little excitable after we got a call about what happened tonight. She wanted me to drive her around looking for Melanie but I talked her into coming here instead.”

Cassie laughed and Maggie joined her as the three of them hugged each other and then Tate.

“If you’d just gone into labor early this afternoon none of this would have happened. Truly, Liv, I blame you.” Tate blinked up at Liv, who laughed and hugged her again.

“I’m trying, sweet thang. Orgasms, spicy food, cod liver oil and this baby is blowing me off. Gets it from her father. Oops, did I say her?”

Marc burst out laughing as everyone excitedly discussed Liv’s slip and the gender of the next grandchild.
Matt pushed Tate into a chair and made her a plate. “Eat it.”

She shrugged, obeying him as she began to eat. Others noticed and began to fill plates and eat. His momma beamed at them all, doting over everyone, making Liv sit and get her feet up.

The dinner was a nice way to exorcise the demons of the evening. Being with family washed that all away.

Be Sure To Stop By To Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!!

Leah Braemel
Emma Petersen
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Lissa Matthews
McKenna Jeffries
Eliza Gayle
Shelli Stevens
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro
Jody Wallace
Taige Crenshaw
Eliza Gayle
Mari Carr
Elisabeth Naughton
Juliana Stone

How about a scene from Standoff?

CASCADIA WOLVES: STANDOFF by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2008
Al Rights Reserved, Samhain Publishing

Lex paced at the private airfield. Anxiety rode his nerves and he wasn’t sure what it was. His people had gone over the field an hour before and all was clear. It was probably Nina. She’d been pissed off that he’d made her stay back at the house. Could be his brother too. Cade was livid but Lex had refused to let his brother come to get Grace. Two Alphas at the airfield in a time of war? Absurd. And there was the little fact of hello, Lex Warden, big bad Enforcer?

“Megan, you there?” he asked into the wrist mic.

“I’m here.” He’d stationed her at the other end of the field to keep an eye on things. She had a good eye, one of the very few people he trusted totally.

“Something feel off to you?”

“Yes. But I’ve checked in with everyone and so far so good. I’m sure it’s just the stress of not hearing back from Tee yet.”

The control tower let them know the plane would be landing momentarily and they moved back as the sleek, small jet taxied down the runway and came to a halt.

He saw Dave come down the steps followed by Jack and then a glimpse of Grace and Hiroshi after her. Breathing sigh of relief, he motioned to have the car brought close and walked to greet them.

He wasn’t able to stop his grin at the sight of his sister-in-law. So serious, intellectual and compassionate, but she had a quirky sense of humor and God knew she adored Cade and she kept Nina in line, which he had to admire in a big way.

“Okay, everyone can let me go now.” She tried to get around them to move toward the car but looked up to see Lex and smiled. “Hey, any news?”

He put an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “Nothing. But they had to plan and get ready. Lots of humans in the area so they’re probably just watching and waiting for dark.”

He opened the door and that’s when he heard it.

Jack had too and shoved her down, landing on top of her. A helicopter had dropped three wolves carrying automatic weapons onto the tarmac and as they ran toward the car, they shot.

“Get her in the car, now!” Lex screamed and Jack moved faster than any wolf Lex had ever seen. In one deft toss, Grace landed in the car and Jack slammed the door, staying just outside.

Megan came running and in a moment of utter unreality, Lex watched a bloom of red cover her chest. She looked down and then fell. Lex transformed and charged their attackers as his own people came from all corners of the airfield, shooting, growling, transforming.

“Oh my God!” Grace shoved at Jack to get out but he held her there as she watched Megan get shot. She realized it was their normal car and she rifled under the seat until she found her traveling bag, just a basic medical bag but she thanked the heavens she’d been compulsive enough to carry it everywhere before going out the other door and running around the back of the car toward Megan.

Dave saw her and moved to grab her as Jack growled her name and charged. But she was an Alpha, damn it, she was fast and powerful and she would not let anyone but her brother’s people die out there that day. She jumped around Dave who knocked into the last standing attacker. The wet sounds of teeth meeting flesh and strangled cries sounded in her ears right as the white-hot pain of a bullet ripped through her chest.

But she kept moving until she reached Megan.

“Megan, honey, you have to change. You have to. I can’t help you. Not like this.”

She leaned down and spoke in her sister-in-law’s ear. “The wound is too much. You can’t heal as a human. Come on, I order you to change, damn it. Bring your wolf, Megan. Come on!”

Her fingers were slick with blood as she grabbed Megan to hold her close. She realized it was her own as her left arm began to go numb.

“Grace! Fuck, fuck. You’ve been shot. Damn it, why didn’t you stay put?” Jack reached her and fell to his knees. “Come on. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

She turned to him and snarled. “I’m not going anyfuckingwhere! This is my sister, she’s my wolf and she has to change or she will die. You will help me bring her wolf and you’ll do it now. LEX!” she screamed and Lex approached, naked from his shift back to human form. Grief on his face when he saw Megan.

“Shit, Grace, you’re… No, not both of you. Get in the car or I will put you in the trunk.”

“We’re wasting time! Bring her wolf! She can be healed if we bring her wolf. NOW. Damn it, now.”

And the whip crack of authority in her voice finally made them hear her. Both men looked to Megan who barely breathed and began to chant at her, put their hands on her, ordered her wolf to emerge.

And then in a shower of power, weak and warm but there nonetheless, Megan found
her wolf.

“Get her into the car and back to the house now.” Grace stood and fell to her knees.

“Hospital.” Jack picked her up and Lex his sister and they jumped into the car.

“No. Not the hospital. They’ll have to make a police report. We can’t risk any more exposure. Take me home. I have medical supplies there, I’ve stored them just in case. Let me transform once I know Megan is all right. For now…” she paused as more blood pulsed from the wound just inches above her heart, “…the bullet passed through. Silver.

Tear strips from your shirt and pack the wound. I’m losing blood.” The Pack doctor had headed to the haven as there were several pregnant women who needed her care. Grace had to stay human until she knew all was well.

Dave drove the car faster than was totally safe but Hiroshi kept an eye out for anyone following and called ahead to the house.

Grace slumped back into Jack, feeling his anxiety and worry for her. “Grace, you have to be all right. Change now.”

She shook her head. “Can’t. If I do, I may be too weak to change right back. If Megan needs me…”

She lapsed in and out of consciousness. A normal bullet and her metabolism would already be healing but the silver, even just passing through was poisoning her, impeding healing.

“Cade is going to rip my head off.” Lex brushed the hair away from her face. “You were hell on wheels out there today, Grace. You saved Megan’s life. But if you ever disobey like that again, I’m gonna kick that tiny little ass.”

“And whose army?”

“You shouldn’t let her hang around Nina so much,” Dave called from the front seat.

“We’re here. Hold on, they’re opening the gates for us now.”

“Megan on the low table in the living room. Bring my supplies.” Grace had to do that one last thing and then she could transform.

She heard Hiroshi relay the order and allowed herself to rest again. It began to hurt to breathe and she figured there was internal bleeding to deal with as well.

They skidded to a stop and the doors yanked open. Cade. The scent of Cade rushed through her system as Jack got out, still holding her.

“What the fuck? Whose blood is that?” Cade demanded in the background. They apparently hadn’t told him, which was wise. Hiroshi began to explain as Jack followed Lex and took them into the living room. She heard Cade’s bellow of anger in the background.

People rushed around Megan but Grace pushed them back until she could ascertain Megan was all right. Her breathing was normal as was her blood pressure. Grace turned in slow motion to see Cade, throwing aside the wolves who’d been trying to hold him back while she did her check. She coughed and wiped a hand over her lips, staining her skin scarlet. Lovely.

“Okay,” she whispered and fell to her knees. Cade surrounded her, crying out her name as she let her wolf take over.

Be sure to stop in to visit today’s other Snippeters!
Emma Petersen
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Lissa Matthews
McKenna Jeffries
Eliza Gayle
Mari Carr
Elisabeth Naughton
Juliana Stone
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw

How about an oldie? Here’s a scene from Threat of Darkness when Mei comes back after three thousand years and everyone, including her mother and her husband Jayce, had thought her dead.

THREAT OF DARKNESS by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2007, Lauren Dane

“Mei, we’re going in now. I’ve asked for a private audience so it’ll just be your mother, her secretary and three of her Favored guards. She doesn’t know you’ll be with me. There are things you don’t know. Things she doesn’t know. But…I’m asking you to trust me. Can you please do that? Hold on for a bit and it’ll become more clear.”

Mei inclined her head. “Of course.”

Taking one of her hands, the Donovan taking the other, the twelve-foot-high doors opened up and the trio walked in.

Aine, who’d been merrily chatting with her secretary, turned around, smiling as she saw Freya and the Donovan and then stopped, eyes widening and mouth dropping open in shock when she saw Mei.

“No!” Aine’s hand went to her throat. “It can’t be! What cruel trick is this?” Her rage heated the room, made the flesh on Mei’s arms itch.

Mei watched her mother through narrowed eyes until the flash of red hair drew her attention. Slowly she turned to see Jayce. Just as he saw her. She nearly sank to her knees. Would have done had Freya and the Donovan not been holding her up.

“Mei?” Jayce’s voice was a tortured whisper.

Confusion made it difficult to form words. “They said you were dead! They said you died the first year at Carthau!” Had he been a part of their plan to exile her?

Aine stood, her power shimmering around her, the room growing hot with it. Fury shot from her eyes. “Tell me the meaning of this evil trick immediately! How dare you come to my court with this trickery!”

“This is your daughter, Aine.” Freya’s voice was soft but it rang clear through the room, cutting through the chaos and silencing everyone.

“My daughter died over three thousand years ago on the battlefield in Sareem. My sister saw the body herself.”

“Your sister knew Mei was taken prisoner at Sareem. She had a terrible wound. They took her to Carthau.” The Donovan watched Aine through compassionate eyes.

Mei shook. Her world crumbled around her and she couldn’t even process what she’d been hearing.
“No! Why would Eire do such a thing? I don’t believe you. This is a trick.”

“What do we have to gain from such a trick?”

Mei pulled her hands loose and stood forward. “Trick? Wouldn’t that be an easy way to get around your treachery, mother? I wish to the gods it had been a trick. A thousand years I rotted in that place. Beaten and worse. Starved of my magic. Told my lover was dead. When the Donovan found me I was… Well I don’t want to think about what I was. But I dragged myself back here and you refused to see me. Had your seneschal tell me about my father and brothers’ deaths. Due to the shame I’d caused you my title and lands were stripped from me and I was exiled. What trick are you playing to stand there as if you were the one wronged? Has Jayce been a part of this plan from the start?”

Aine shook her head, mouth opening and closing but no words coming. “You can’t be my child,” she managed to whisper.

“There’ve been many days in the last three thousand years I’ve wished just that.” Mei turned and pulled her hair away from the mark on her shoulder. The three circles that marked her as a member of the royal family glowed with the magic of Tir na nOg.

A sound of anguish so deep, so ragged that it tore at Mei’s gut sounded, echoing through the room. Turning, she saw Jayce, tears streaming down his face, walking toward her.

“Mei, they said you were dead.”

She heard the pain in his voice, the depth of loss and longing, and all she could do was look at him, at the features she’d adored so much. Still did.

Still, she wasn’t sure she could trust his tears. When he pulled her into his arms a sob wanted to break from her but she held it in. He held her tight but she didn’t return the embraceit . Didn’t know if she could. And it wasn’t so simple anymore.

“Why?” Aine’s voice was close and Mei looked up to see her mother staggering toward them, two of her guards flanking her. “Why would anyone do this? I buried my child millennia ago. Could it be? Oh my baby.”

“It’s her. She has the mark. I would not lie to you, Aine,” the Donovan assured her.

“Who told you? Who sent you away?” Aine demanded of Mei.

Mei pushed herself away from Jayce but he stayed close to her. “Like you didn’t know. But I’ll keep playing. Brian, the seneschal. I came back and he met me at the doors to my suite. He told me Nessa was dead, that Jayce had died in the first year at Carthau and Con and Finn were dead too. He said I’d shamed you by letting myself be taken prisoner and that I’d been stripped of lands, title and property and exiled. He had an order with your signature on it. Aunt Eire came out and sent me away. I’ve not been able to sift back here until today.”

Aine’s face threatened to crumple. “I…I would never do that to you. How could you believe that? Mei, I’m your mother, I love you. I’ve grieved every day since they told me you’d been killed.”

“Your signature was on the paper! The spell that exiled me was very powerful. Certainly not something many Fae could manage. Your own man told me you’d exiled me and Aunt Eire backed him up. What else could I believe? And no one came for me in Carthau.” Her hands curled into tight fists. She still had nightmares that even Card couldn’t stave off. “I waited. Goddess I waited. A thousand years I was there!”

Aine pushed Jayce out of the way and looked into Mei’s face, cupped her cheek. Mei clenched her jaw but Aine wouldn’t let her move away. “My darling girl, I love you. I’ve loved you since the moment I knew you existed within me. One reckless afternoon, oh I was stupid! But you came from that and I’d never trade it away. I didn’t know. I didn’t know. I grieved, I wanted to die when they told me you were dead on that battlefield. Your aunt…I don’t… We’ll get to the bottom of this, I swear to you. But now you’re back. My child is back. You must believe me, I would have moved heaven and earth to get you out of that hellhole if I’d known you were alive!”

Aine waited, tears shimmering in her eyes as she took in Mei’s face. “Please, please believe me. Let me be your mother. Let us find the answers we need.” She threw her arms around Mei and the two women hugged as each one wept. Mei didn’t know what to think but it felt so good to be with her mother again.

In the background Mei heard Jayce’s voice harden. “Send for Eire at once. Go in person, Cullen. Do not tell her of this and bring her in the back through her majesty’s personal rooms.”

He stepped forward. “Majesty, we need to get to the bottom of this. Let’s have Mei stand back so she can’t be seen when Eire enters the room.”

“How could my sister do this?” Aine stood back and looked between Mei and Jayce, confusion and pain clear on her face.

“Pull yourself together, Aine! She wants the throne, has done for a very long time and you’ve remained blind as she’s smiled while she’s lied to you.” The Donovan stepped forward. “I’ve tried to tell you this, I know I’m not the only one.” His voice was a whip.

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you’ve never told me of Mei’s existence in all these years, Carl. There will be a reckoning to pay.” Aine narrowed her eyes at him and stood back, visibly putting herself back together. Placing the mantle of her leadership on like a cloak. “What do you know, Carl? Obviously Dark Fae are involved. But not Bron. He’s dead.”

“Eire’s in collusion with the Dark Fae and has been from day one. That’s obvious to us. The council has suspected for a long while that not only has Eire been with them since she sent Mei away but that she may have had something to do with the ambush at Sareem.”

Mei spun. “What? You never told me this! How could you keep this from me, Donovan? My own aunt is the reason I spent all those years in Carthau? You knew and let her live?”

“I’m sorry, Mei. Yes, I’ve known and no I didn’t tell you. I was not allowed to tell you. I wanted to, I argued for it for millennia. But I was not allowed to reveal it until today.”

“Why today?” Aine demanded.

“The Dark Fae have been more active of late. Not just the attack in New Orleans and here in the palace four years ago, but since. They’ve been gathering in other worlds, Aine.”

“How so? The Concordant restricts the numbers of Fae, keeps them from sifting in large groups. That’s why it was created—to stop armies of Fae from sifting elsewhere to make war.”

The Donovan sighed. “Think about it, Aine.”

Aine paled. “Rifts?”

“Yes. And it’s stressing the fabric of space-time. I’m not sure how much longer before something very bad happens and they won’t be able to close it. From our intelligence we know they haven’t quite mastered the spell yet. They can only keep it open for brief periods of time, less than ten minutes. But they’ve been moving people and getting ready. This must be dealt with.”

“She’s coming, Jayce,” one of the guards said quietly as he stood at the door.

“Mei, stand over there. Be silent until we draw her in. She will pay for this.” Jayce pressed a quick, hard kiss on her lips and withdrew.

Eire came into the room all Fae magic and bouncy curls. As a child Mei had adored her aunt but her betrayal had killed all that and a murderous fury rode Mei’s spine. To top it off the look she sent Jayce didn’t escape Mei’s attention. Jealous rage sliced through her at that look. She knew then another reason why Eire wanted her out of the way.

“What is it, Aine? You sent for me?” Eire’s hair was golden, much like Mei’s, her voice musical.

Freya put a hand on Mei’s shoulder to keep her silent.

“Yes I did, sister. I wanted to talk with you about Mei. The anniversary of her…death is approaching and I always find myself so sad. Do you know someone came to me earlier today and told me my child was alive?”

Eire laughed prettily and then frowned. “Sister, do not let these rumors hurt you. She is gone. Dead on the battlefield, and you know I always said you were silly to let her go out there when she should have been here at your right hand. You could try to have another child. Or I could.” Again the coy look at Jayce and Mei’s eyes narrowed to slits.

Jayce stood, back stiff, one hand clasping the other wrist at his waist. His sword gleamed at his side.

Aine’s jaw clenched a moment and then relaxed as she attempted to conceal her anger. “I hate to say this but the person, the one who told me Mei was alive, indicated that you knew this.”

Eire put a hand to her throat in dismay. “Sister! How could you say such a thing to me? She is…”

“Alive and well apparently. Despite your attempts to the contrary.” Aine stood and motioned for her guards to grab her sister.

“What is the meaning of this? I demand you let me go!”

Aine motioned at Mei to come forward.

“Hello, Aunt. How are you?” Mei’s voice was edged with violence.

Eire froze and stared, pretty green eyes wide with shock. Actress that she was, she quickly fell back into her role. “Darling girl! You’re alive. How can that be?” She turned to Aine. “Why do have me held so that I cannot embrace my niece?”

“Do you think I would let your treachery come near my child again? Do you think I’m that much of a fool?”

Be sure to visit today’s other snippeters!
Emma Petersen
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
Lissa Matthews
McKenna Jeffries
Shelli Stevens
Mari Carr
Lauren Dane
Vivian Arend
Elisabeth Naughton
Juliana Stone
Shelley Munro

Like many others, I find a great deal of inspiration from art of all kinds. I’ve always been a voracious reader and music is part of my daily life as well. When I write, I listen to music. Sometimes just my iTunes on shuffle, sometimes to a special tracklist I’ve created for a work in progress and sometimes I’ll just want to hear a certain artist (Today I listened to Sade’s new CD Soldier of Love several times. Her voice is so beautiful).

For me, Laid Bare is strongly rooted in my love of music. Like Erin, I find strength and inspiration through music and like Erin, I like to think music shapes my art. It’s my tip of the hat to all those musicians who’ve shaped me and my books, about the kind of woman Erin is – vibrant, strong, dark and imperfect.

I thought I’d choose a scene from the opening of the book when Erin and Todd first meet.

LAID BARE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2009, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

Music, raw and hard like sex, pulsed through the speaker stack, caught the people in front of the stage as much as it had her in its grip.

The bass line throbbed through her like a second pulse as the scent of beer and sweat settled into her system. Sweat slicked her forehead and slid down the line of her spine. The muscles in her forearm corded as she played, her fingers finding their way as they had time and again. A secret smile marked her lips as her halflidded eyes focused on something not visible to anyone else.

Yes, it was a man’s world up there, but she’d kicked down the door with her Doc Martens and she wasn’t giving her spot to anyone else. She loved making music, and it fit her like a second skin.

It made her alive.

Her dreads swung forward, partially obscuring her face—adding, she knew, to the overall effect. Her belly, glistening with sweat, slid against the back of her bass where her shirt ended and her low-slung jeans began.

Up there, under the blue lights, she didn’t have to work at it.

She was. She was exactly where she wanted to be, a guitar strapped to her body, calluses on her fingers from playing. The muscles in her upper arms were well defined because she hauled equipment around for gigs. There wasn’t any doubt, any self-consciousness. She lived the life she wanted.

Erin Brown had stopped apologizing for wanting things. She grabbed experiences with both hands and gobbled them down.

Even if the band never made it beyond small, local rock clubs, she’d be happy to just keep playing. There wasn’t much more you could ask for in life, and Erin accepted her blessings quite happily and graciously.

Todd took a pull from his beer, one leg bent as he leaned against the windowsill, looking out toward the street. There she was, getting out of her beat-up van. He had no idea why the hell he did it, but since
he’d moved to the day shift he found himself at his window every night at six-fourteen to watch her make the walk from car to door.

She was so not the kind of woman who usually caught his eye.

Still, his fingers gripped the sill as he greedily took in the way she moved. Like she couldn’t care less if people watched. Or worse, got off on it.

Long and lean, her gait ate up the walk, her dreadlocks swinging to her ass. A fine ass it was in those faded jeans. If he looked close enough, he saw the threadbare spots just beneath the pockets.

Reflexively, he tightened his hands into fists as tension hummed through him. Anticipation and a sort of need filled his gut as he watched her.

He snorted at what an idiot he was being. Dreadlocks. What woman wore dreadlocks? Not his sort of woman, that was all there was to it.

Time stopped, along with his heart, when she turned at her door and met his gaze with a smile. A smile that told him she’d known he watched. Surprised but rooted to the spot, he raised a hand in greeting.

She paused a moment before tipping her chin at him.

Briefly he relaxed as she turned back to her door, but that slid away when she paused again, dropped her bag on the porch and turned back toward his place.

Shit.

Be Sure To Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!

Lissa Matthews
Ashley Ladd
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Vivian Arend
Mari Carr
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro

Okay here’s the deal, I signed up for today, which is Scary/Horror and I knew it was this theme and I’m not sure why I did because my stuff that’s scary isn’t finished so I can’t post it and the rest is thriller-ish or sort of horrifying, but not scary.

Anyhoodle, after like twenty minutes of cycling through my books I just said, “I should just admit I got nothing and put up something else.” So that’s what I’m doing. I figure since I didn’t follow the rules, I can give you an uber sneaky peek from INSIDE OUT.

This is rough, I’m revising now to turn in to my editor, but I hope you enjoy it. Oh and don’t forget to visit today’s other snippeters who probably signed up and had stuff on topic, LOL!

INSIDE OUT by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2010, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Berkley Publishing Group
Releasing November, 2010!

“My kid is smart. Everyone knows that.” Brody tried to sound tough, but Cope heard the pride and love in his voice. “She was pretty damned proud of herself. Elise and I told her if she kept it up, we’d go to Disneyland next summer.”

A burst of laughter and chattering rose and then faded again. Todd came in the front door with a few more of their friends. Cope half listened to them, taking the beer handed his way, nodding his head. But his attention was focused on that hallway.

The door opened and the sound level rose high enough that the men silenced, their attention snagged as they turned toward the noise.

Elise came first, her pale, elegant beauty highlighted by a deep red sweater and a black skirt that came to mid thigh. The woman had spectacular legs, no doubt. Brody’s mouth curved into a smile as he took her in. Envy crept into Cope’s heart, he wanted that. Wanted to look at a woman and know she was the one.

Erin looked pretty and damned pregnant in a high waisted dress with big red roses on it. Ben sighed happily. Cope would skip telling his brother about the conversation he’d had with their sister earlier that day. Despite Ben’s happiness and success, their father and sister had walled Ben out of their life. It galled Cope to no end. Ben had been the golden boy, the kid who rarely got in trouble in school, got great grades. He had been a good cop, a good friend and no doubt, he was a great brother. Their father’s reaction was stupid and it split their family in half.

When Erin went into his arms, Cope was happy Ben had that connection, thrilled for his brother that he’d built something unexpected and wondrous with not just one person, but two.

But he wasn’t looking for them. He turned his attention back to the hallway. Waiting. Anticipation and then a punch to the gut followed as Ella followed, her normally sleek, short red hair was tousled and curled. Her usually bare of makeup face bore just a bit, but enough to line those spectacular eyes. Her lips were stained dark, calling to his gaze, wondering for the millionth time what she’d taste like.

She wore pants, she usually did, he’d wager it had to do with the scarring on her legs. But she wore them well. Tight, with boots on her feet, showcasing legs that went on and on and on. Damn. The shirt, shit, if you could call it that, it was more of a corset with enough fabric to cover her areola. Her breasts, usually not on display though she couldn’t hide their size, even in a t-shirt, heaved up, mounds of creamy flesh, freckles sprinkled across the luscious curves.

Christ.

“Wow. You ladies look gorgeous.” Brody got up, moving to Elise and no one else existed for the two of them for long moments. Their connection was palpable and staggeringly intimate to see. Cope couldn’t tear his attention away.

In that connection to Elise, Brody had gained a whole new level to his identity, a new layer that Cope wanted for himself.

“You guys just going to hang out here all night?” Elise asked, blushing as she broke her gaze from Brody.

“Maybe.” Brody grinned and kissed his wife to be quickly before turning to his sister. He touched the belly and kissed the top of Erin’s head. “You better take care of yourself.”

“You can’t smoke indoors anymore so the air will be clean of that. I have no plans to drink and I have enough energy to sit at the table and watch everyone else dance while I eat a few of the red velvet cupcakes Ella brought.” Erin smiled sweetly at her brother. “Anyway, we all know you’ll show up in an hour or two, so I’m sure Ben and Todd will take care of me once that happens.”

“I like that color on you.” Cope moved nearer to Ella so he could speak just to her. “Sets off your skin and hair.” The shirt was deep blue with just enough purple to compliment her skin outrageously. The breasts helped, in the way breasts always did. But this was more and he let himself drift a little closer.

“Thanks. It was Erin’s idea. I don’t normally…” She waved around her breasts. “You know, show this much boob.”

He was sure his grin was wolfish because she was ringing his bell like it was dinner time. Christ what she did to him without even knowing it. “Ella, I must dissuade you from that policy. You have beautiful breasts. They’re a delightful addition to anything you wear. Trust me, please.”

Her laugh was sultry. On a lower register than her speaking voice. Which wasn’t that hard given her normal voice. And beyond sexy. He was sure that was her sexually interested laugh. She’d finally reacted to him as a woman did to a man she was truly flirting with. Victory flushed through him, and hope that things could move forward with her at long last.

“I’ll um, keep that in mind.” Her lips quirked up in one corner.

“You know, you’re like a cartoon character. Like a quirky superhero.” Holy shit, did he just say that out loud?

TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Vivian Arend
Mari Carr
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro

Today’s theme is Dumped! So I thought I’d use an excerpt from LAID BARE when Erin dumps Todd ten years before…

LAID BARE by LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2009, Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, The Berkley Publishing Group

“I don’t know how to talk to you.” He scrubbed his hands over his face.

“Why do you make simple things so complicated? Maybe you should stop worrying so much and just talk to me. Be yourself. Why don’t you tell me about yourself? We’ve been, um, dating for a few months now, but you don’t talk about yourself much.”

He took a bite of pizza and watched her carefully. “Not much to tell. Seattle born and bred. Being a cop runs in the family. My dad, both brothers and my sister are cops. I’m single because I broke off an engagement about a year and a half ago. I’m dating around right now. It’s hard to find a woman who accepts the whole cop’s wife thing.”

Erin looked at him and thought over what she’d heard.

“Maybe you’re looking in the wrong place.”

“What do you mean?” He shifted uncomfortably. “Look, Erin, I like you and all, but this . . . thing between us is just fun. No offense but we’re not suited at all.”

It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did. He was delusional. “Bullshit.” She finished the first slice and leaned back. “I’m not asking you to marry me or anything. But we connect, Todd Keenan. You spend so much time trying to just be fucking normal, you get tripped up in it. Just be yourself. Yes, you like dirty talk. You’re kinky, big deal. Why do you fight so hard against what you seem to really like? I like it, I’m willing. You come hard. Why do you deny yourself this way?”

“It’s not who I am!” He stood and stormed into the kitchen. She heard the plate clatter and she wiped her mouth.

“Is it so fucking awful? It’s not like you want to wear a chicken suit while you fuck someone wrapped in plastic wrap or something. You don’t, do you?” She laughed but stopped when he growled and stomped back into the living room.

“It’s not who I am, damn you! Look, it’s you and me. I’m not like this with other women. I’m gentle and the sex is nice. I don’t know what comes over me when you’re near. It’s not right. I wasn’t . . . I’m not supposed to like it.”

She shrugged. What else could she do? Beg him to be who he was? When he thought being who he was, who she was, made them some kind of freaks? “The last thing I want to do is force you into talking dirty and begging me to suck your cock with my fingers in your ass, stroking your prostate.”

He winced and petty satisfaction settled in. He liked it. Got off on it. And it was her fault he was so damned repressed he hated himself over it?

She grabbed her bag. “I’ll spare you the it was fun talk and you can spare me the it’s not you, it’s me stuff. Okay?” Hesitating, she sighed and tiptoed up to kiss him quickly. “I hope you find a place in your life when you can let go and be happy. But I’m not a dirty secret. I’m not bad and wrong for being comfortable with myself, and I won’t let you make me feel that way.”

He slammed a hand against the wall next to her and then grabbed her around the waist, pulling her flush against his body.

“Damn it, Erin, I don’t lose control. I’m a controlled man. I make good choices. I don’t fuck women against alley walls. It’s offputting.”

“Really now? So who fucked me in that alley, Todd? Your doppelganger? Who shoved my mouth down on his cock in his truck three nights ago when we got back from the grocery store? You like it rough. You like it dirty. Why are you so ashamed of it? You didn’t hurt me. I was there with you every step of the way.”

“I don’t want to like it, damn it. Can’t you understand that? I don’t choose to like it. I don’t want to be the man who likes to fuck rough! I choose not to be him.” He shoved a hand through his hair.

Pain sliced through her. “I get it. You think being with me is a bad choice.”

“It’s not . . . I didn’t plan for you, Erin. I like you.”

“But you don’t like who you are when you’re with me. You blame this on me and I’m not having it. I won’t be responsible for your life. You’re a big boy.”

“No. Oh fuck, I don’t know. This is very intense. I have an intense job. I’m not sure if I need an intense personal life too.”

“I see.” She looked into his eyes, wishing he’d wake up and see her. See them and what they could have together.

“You keep saying that, Erin. But how can you see? I don’t even see.”

“All I see is a man who can’t face himself. And it makes me sad, because you’re alive when we’re together and you’re not hiding who you are. You’re playing a game with this, a stupid game. Why I don’t know, because I like who you are. I won’t play this game with you. I’m worth more and so are you.” She leaned up, pressed her hand over his heart and kissed his chin. “Good-bye, Todd. I wish you well, I really do. If you change your mind, give me a call. Maybe I’ll be available.”

He watched her walk out the door and told himself it was for the
best, but he knew he was lying to himself. Just like she said he was.
Be Sure To Visit Today’s Other Snippeters!
Lissa Matthews
TJ Michaels
Ashley Ladd
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Shelli Stevens
Eliza Gayle
Vivian Arend
Mari Carr
Lauren Dane
Shelley Munro

How about an excerpt from NO RESERVATIONS? Kate and Leah both have their own reasons for escaping the holidays back east and have headed to Vegas together for some girlfriend time…

NO RESERVATIONS by MEGAN HART and LAUREN DANE
Copyright 2009, Megan Hart and Lauren Dane
All Rights Reserved, Random House

‘You’re a bitch when you drink champagne,’ Leah snickered. ‘Do you think I have to keep it? You know, bring it out when they visit and stuff?’

‘So you’ve accepted they’ll visit? You’ve accepted you and Bingo have a capital F future then? You know you want to marry him, Leah. He’s young and eager and yes, he makes me want to ruffle his hair. If I could reach it without standing on a chair that is. But he’s a good dude. He loves you. He accepts you and respects your space. He gets you—in and out of bed. He has a job. He’s not a dick like Mike. He’ll apparently grow into a hot older man like his dad. And you’ll have a lifetime supply of doilies and BeDazzled shirts. Lastly and most importantly, he doesn’t have an ex-wife.’

‘Marriage? It seems like such a big step. I do not appreciate that he planned to do it there. He should have done it in private. He should have discussed it with me first!’

‘You know he did it because that’s how he thinks. He wanted to make a statement to you about how important you are to him. I bet asking women to marry them at Christmas with the family is important down in Hooterville. If you weren’t ancient, he would have given you his Four H pin or whatever the fuck.’

‘Hooterville, ha! You’re going to hell for making me laugh about this.’

‘You can sit at my table in the cafeteria.’

They paid and went outside, relaxed, mildly intoxicated, still full from an awesome sushi lunch and all prettied up. Kate hadn’t been so manicured and facialized in a while. Her roots were done, her pores were sparkling clean, her skin was soft and she smelled good. She wished Dix were there to get an eyeful.

Once they got in the cab heading back to the hotel, Leah got back to the subject. ‘We’re already living together, why isn’t that enough? And you’re one to talk. Dix wants to live with you and you keep putting him off.’

‘Of course I am. I would live with him if he didn’t have the whole daughter situation. I can’t be the slutty, selfish girlfriend who makes him think with his cock. I love him, Leah. He’s patient and kind, he thinks about what makes me happy. He loves to give oral sex and he’s damned good at it. He even had dinner with my parents at Thanksgiving! But I don’t want him to put his kids aside for me. I couldn’t live with that. He adores them. He’s a great, involved father. It’s only two more years. We can deal that long. I’m actually trying to see if I can take some of the cases further out of the city. There’s an entire division that deals with Lancaster and the surrounding environs. If I can do that three days a week, it might be a reality that I can move in with him and keep my place in the city.’

‘Have you told him about this?’

‘He only recently began the let’s move in together thing. He suggested we move to Lancaster which makes it halfway between our jobs and we each commute. Which is great but it doesn’t get at the situation with his daughters still going to school. While I don’t mind him commuting an hour, why should they give up the house he’s lived in for all these years?’

‘Because they’re old enough to deal with that. For God’s sake, they’re not eight years old. You said they were with Pickles most weekdays anyway because she was way closer to the school and their jobs.’

‘Back to you. I just think you should take a chance on Bingo. He’s worth it. He’s like way hot and stuff. He folds your laundry because it makes you happy. Christ, Leah, what man does that? He’s like, well listen, if he were five or six years older and not your boyfriend and Dix wouldn’t kill me and I didn’t love him and all, I’d nail Brandon myself.’

They got out and let the doorman get the door for them as they sauntered through the lobby, through the atrium and back toward the elevators.

‘Whore.’ Leah laughed as they rode up to their floor.

‘You know it. So when are you going to call him? He has to be worried.’

‘I know. After dinner tonight I will. Maybe I’ll go home when you do.’

They got off and walked around the serene, luxuriously appointed corner and what should they see but Dix and Bingo looking like they slept rough and very unhappy.

Kate stopped, sheepish. ‘Um. Guess you found where I was staying.’

Mouth in a hard line, Dix took the card key from her hand, opened the door, handed it to Brandon who looked equally pissed off, and turned back to Kate.

‘Which one is yours?’

She pointed to her room. He swatted her ass and pushed her along the way. She cast a look over her shoulder at Brandon and Leah before Dix slammed the door and menaced her.

‘No offense or anything, but one, you look like you slept on the floor of a Greyhound Bus and two, why are you here?’

He stepped toward her and she wrinkled her nose. ‘There’s a three, you smell like pee. Did Bingo have an accident or something?’

He threw up his hands and began to laugh. ‘Damn you, Kate. Why can you always disarm me? I’m supposed to be mad at you. Bingo? And why the fuck do you look so good? Being away from me means you turn into some fucking supermodel?’

She shoved him toward the bathroom. ‘I wouldn’t have had four glasses of champagne if I knew you’d be here. Bingo is apparently what Ma and Pa Kettle call Band Boy. If you tell him, I will have to kill you before Leah kills me so keep that to yourself. Get out of those clothes and into the shower. I can’t say I’ve ever had a thing for homeless, urine stinky men, even ones who can blow me until I scream.’

He got in and she brought back a glass of champagne just as he was getting out of the shower.

‘Thank you.’ He drank it in two swallows, put the glass down and hauled her to him for a kiss that left her tingly, shaky and breathless. ‘That’s better. I looked like I slept on the sticky floor of a Greyhound Bus because we spent last night at the ever so lovely Penny Pincher motor court about five miles from here with hot and cold running hookers with two-day beard growth and fishnet stockings in the lobby. By the way, he offered us a freebie. They had hourly rates. Brandon’s feet hung off the end of the bed. Which crinkled from the plastic lining on the mattress. My skin is still crawling. And here you are staying in the motherfucking penthouse suite at the Palisades! Why do you look so good? You smell like mango. Your hair is all soft and straight. Your breasts are very fetching in that blouse. What the fuck have you been doing?’

‘A guy I saved from a very nasty legal situation a few years ago works here. They had a last minute cancellation. It’s swank, no? I look rested because I am. I slept until eleven the last two mornings and I had breakfast served at the table out there while Kate and I leafed through magazines. Yesterday we shopped and lunched and went dancing. Today we had a spa day which included a massage, a facial, skin treatments including mango body butter, a manicure and a pedicure. Oh and I got my hair done. In between those things, we had sushi for lunch and flirted with servers. I also masturbated three times for no other reason than I could and I knew Leah wasn’t going to burst in without knocking and pretend she forgot I was in here. Why are you here? And most importantly, is Pickles with you?’

‘You test me, woman. You wouldn’t tell me where you were. I wanted to be with you. You promised me this entire winter break and I’m here to collect. Take those clothes off.’

She grinned. ‘How did you find me?’

‘Bingo has hotel connections. My God your tits look good.’ His hands replaced her bra and she arched into his touch.

‘I have a suggestion.’

‘I’m all ears and erection.’

‘We both owe the other a blow job, let’s start with that first.’

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