I'm back this week with more pre-release excitement about Fools Rush In, the third in my Interstellar Rescue series. This space opera noir novel starring IR series regulars Rescue agent Rayna Carver and Shadowhawk Captain Sam Murphy debuts October 18, but you can read an excerpt here TODAY!
“What
the hell do you think you’re doing? This
is a restricted area.”
Still clinging to the grab bar, Rayna
glanced up at the captain’s face. His
expression didn’t match the censure in his words. The furrows between his brows didn’t look
like anger, but she couldn’t quite interpret their true meaning.
“For a pirate ship, you sure have a lot of
rules.”
“Discipline is necessary no matter what
kind of ship it is.” His lips curved
upwards. “Now answer my question.”
Sam Murphy really was a fine-looking man,
a dangerously fine-looking man, with those green eyes and a face that belonged
in holovids rather than on the deck of a real ship. But damned if he was going to back her up,
even in zero G.
“You saw what I was doing; I was working
out. The ribs have healed—almost. I didn’t think I’d have to ask permission,
especially since I was back here with the waste processors.”
Murphy leaned in closer. In spite of herself, Rayna inhaled and took
him in. God, he smelled good—like . . .
the first breath of fresh air dirtside after months on a ship. For a second she was lost, drifting as surely
as if she had let go of her mooring on the hull.
“This is my ship, Little Bit.” His
voice was a seductive purr. “You need
permission for everything.”
Heat flashed from the top of her head to
the bottoms of her feet. Rayna meant to
shout, but her voice came out in a matching sultry whisper. “Why you puffed up, self-righteous,
arrogant—” She got her hormones in check and started over. “Control seems to be your middle name,
Murphy. Well, let me tell you
something: I joined Rescue because
Independence is mine.”
“Do I have to remind you you’re a guest on
my ship?” His expression had tightened
into a smoky scowl. “The one place I
have plenty of room onboard is the brig—maybe you’d like accommodations there.” His eyes held hers like he meant it, but a
muscle jumped in his jaw. His tell, she
realized. He wanted something quite
different for her. That heat flashed
through her once again, and this time she was certain it had nothing to do with
anger.
Damn
it.
“All right, yeah, I saw the big ‘Keep Out’
signs. But every other square centimeter
of space on this tug is occupied. I
needed a workout, and zero G is a good place to get started. I didn’t think anyone would be back here.”
His expressive face changed yet again, the
hard lines around his mouth and eyes going soft as the tension drained from
him. “Any day but today you’d have been
right.”
“What’s different about today?”
He scanned the empty hull space before he
answered. “The ship’s on lockdown; I’ve
ordered a full security sweep in hull space.”
Understanding dawned. All that bluster was because Murphy was
feeling protective. She looked up at him
and, yep, there it was, shining from those eyes, despite his stern refusal to
smile.
But just because her body responded
instantly with eager anticipation didn’t mean her mind should be onboard with
this program. Seriously, how would it
ever work between them? He was a pirate,
for chrissake. According to him, she was
an interfering bleeding heart. The only
thing they had in common was a disregard for authority, and they would never
even agree on the reasons for that.
Oh, but, damn, he smelled so good. He kept floating closer, and she was so
tired. She wanted to let go and settle
into those arms.
“You miscalculated.” His arm was around her shoulders again, his
lips against her ear.
“What do you mean?” Her protest came out in a breathy murmur.
“You’re exhausted. You weren’t ready for this much
exertion.” He was so close, so warm,
encouraging her to let go. “I bet you
didn’t ask Doc Berta for permission either.”
She finally gave up and transferred her hold
to him, arms and legs wrapping around his hard body. He hooked both feet around the handholds
below them, anchored one hand and used the other to clasp her to him; she was
so small in comparison, his arm stretched all the way across her lower back.
She looked up at him, lips inches from
his. “I don’t ask permission for
anything.”
He made a low sound of amusement, then he
gave her what she wanted, just a brief touch at first, a brush of his firm lips
across hers, but it was enough to send a thrill of electric sensation through
her chest. She gasped, even as he pulled
her closer and stroked into her mouth, his tongue tangling with hers. The way he felt, so smooth and hot, the way
he tasted, like dark cherries, the way his arm curled around her back like he
would never let her go, every detail was clear in her mind. Still she was gone, as if he had somehow
turned off her rational mind and allowed her access only to the more primitive
part of her brain, the part that wanted to take this kiss to a place where they
were both naked and straining toward climax.
She knew it couldn’t happen—could it? A moment ago they’d been arguing. But, God, the way he held her, the way he was
kissing her, set every nerve-ending on fire.
In desperation she broke off the kiss. “What is it about you?” As she spoke his lips were at her throat,
nuzzling his way down to her shoulder.
“You drive me crazy.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” he answered. “And I’m damned if I understand it.”
____________________________________
Yeah, these two are on fire for each other--and there's no dousing the flames, despite all the cold water the universe keeps throwing on them! Check out the blurb when you pre-order NOW on Amazon.
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| Experience it on audiobook! |
AND DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY!
Did you know that audiobooks are the fastest growing segment of the publishing industry today? That's because they can be enjoyed on the go (while you're driving or working out or walking). But it's also because the experience of listening to an audiobook adds so much to your enjoyment of the story. A good reader--like Lisa Beacom, who does the Interstellar Rescue series audiobooks--gives every character his or her own voice and personality, making the words come to life.
All you have to do to experience this for yourself is COMMENT BELOW for a chance to win a FREE audiobook of Trouble in Mind, Book 2 of the series, AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Or go to my Facebook Author page and COMMENT, LIKE and SHARE to enter. The winner will be announced here next Friday, August 19.
Cheers,
Donna
