copyright e.s.venton 2009 |
An excerpt:
Alpha II Space Station, Earth date 2184
From her defensive position behind a pile of twisted metal, Dana Tangier watched First Lieutenant Gavin
Moore roll to his left and take out the last enemy aerial combat mini-drone with his laser whip. A long beep
echoed around them and the lights brightened in the holographic game room.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant. You've racked up a record score." Dana rolled her sore shoulder as the heavy
pulsar rifle disappeared from her hands at the same time the holographic battle challenge faded away.
She hadn't worked out this strenuously in years. Thank goodness her next training session put her back in
the classroom, behind the podium where she belonged. Why in the world had she offered to substitute for
Moore's partner?
"I did well because I had a war hero for a partner," Moore remarked, moving behind her. Without a
by-your-leave, the young lieutenant massaged the tightness in her shoulders. For a brief moment, she
tensed. At the International Military Academy, a student touching an instructor, and vice versa, crossed the
line of appropriate behavior. However, Lieutenant Moore had graduated five years ago. He'd recently
returned for six weeks of specialized training before he headed out on his next mission. He certainly wasn't
nursing her overworked muscles for a better grade. Besides, a complaint would stop his wonderful
kneading fingers.
"I'm afraid my glory days are behind me, Moore." She winced and dropped her shoulder when he dug into a
tender spot.
"Sorry." His touch gentled to a soothing caress. "If it were up to me, I'd take you on this mission instead
of Krystal."
"That would be a disastrous decision," Dana quickly asserted.
"Why? You might be ten years older than Krystal," he continued, "but your instincts are ten times sharper."
Dana stifled a snort. Ten years older? Try seventeen. "Krystal is a great fit for your mission. Better than I
could ever be." Fresh from military academy, Second Lieutenant Krystal Riddon was intelligent, in perfect
physical shape, vivacious, and the best Tai-Jorian linguist Dana had ever taught. She'd mastered Tai-Jorian
customs as if she'd been born in their capital city, which meant the girl loved to party. All those groping
males wouldn't bother her a bit. "As soon as she recuperates from her hangover, I want you two back in
here," she said over her shoulder. "She needs your expertise more than you need mine."
His hands stilled on top of her shoulders, their warmth seeping through her thin athletic shirt to her damp
skin. "I might know my way through tactical maneuvers, but there's plenty you can teach me."His breath
stirred the short layers of her hair at the back of her head. Lowering his voice, he added, "In other areas."
He skimmed his fingertips down her arms and clasped her wrists. "I hear the Tai-Jor are openly erotic," He
pulled her arms behind her back and crossed her wrists. "Do you know anything about that?"
A chill slithered across her shoulders. What was he doing? She shook off his hold, stepped away, and
turned to face him. The rebuke poised on her tongue instantly melted away.
The sight of his sparkling brown eyes and the slight pull of his lips to one side in a taunting smile hit her
square in the chest. Whether it was his good looks, or simply his youthful abundance of testosterone, he
wrung a deeply guarded passion from her every time she neared him. If she were fifteen years younger.
Well, she wasn't.
"I'm very familiar with Tai-Jorian mating rituals," she said in a professional tone. Another reason why she'd
be a bad choice for the mission. The memory of being kidnapped, fought over, and forced to submit still
gave her nightmares. She'd vowed to never tread on the Tai-Jorian continent again, or on their planet
Moria for that matter, and to do her best to prepare visitors for a society with little tolerance for outsiders
who don't follow their rules. "We'll go over Tai-Jorian sexual conduct tomorrow."
"Can't wait," he said with a waggle of his dark brows.
She crossed her arms and leveled a no-nonsense look at him. "Here's the bottom line. The Tai-Jor will only
deal with linked pairs. You and Krystal must forge an inseparable bond before you leave this space station.
Otherwise, you'll get nothing accomplished."
"Are you saying I should bed the Wild One?"
"Whatever it takes, Moore." If Krystal didn't appreciate Moore's bright mind and buff body by now, she'd
better soon. The Tai-Jorian Council would be spying on them every second. "Keep her focused on you at all
times. Krystal's weakness is her wandering eye. On Tai-Jor, flirting is an art form with nuances we'd
overlook. One misconstrued gesture and a Tai-Jorian will fight to the death to mate." A sour churning
twisted in her gut. Single Tai-Jorian males fought over everything. "You know how to hold a woman's
attention, don't you?"
He answered her with a cocked brow and devilish grin.
A familiar heat warmed Dana's insides. Yes, Gavin had charm in spades.
Buy link: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=901
Alpha II Space Station, Earth date 2184
From her defensive position behind a pile of twisted metal, Dana Tangier watched First Lieutenant Gavin
Moore roll to his left and take out the last enemy aerial combat mini-drone with his laser whip. A long beep
echoed around them and the lights brightened in the holographic game room.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant. You've racked up a record score." Dana rolled her sore shoulder as the heavy
pulsar rifle disappeared from her hands at the same time the holographic battle challenge faded away.
She hadn't worked out this strenuously in years. Thank goodness her next training session put her back in
the classroom, behind the podium where she belonged. Why in the world had she offered to substitute for
Moore's partner?
"I did well because I had a war hero for a partner," Moore remarked, moving behind her. Without a
by-your-leave, the young lieutenant massaged the tightness in her shoulders. For a brief moment, she
tensed. At the International Military Academy, a student touching an instructor, and vice versa, crossed the
line of appropriate behavior. However, Lieutenant Moore had graduated five years ago. He'd recently
returned for six weeks of specialized training before he headed out on his next mission. He certainly wasn't
nursing her overworked muscles for a better grade. Besides, a complaint would stop his wonderful
kneading fingers.
"I'm afraid my glory days are behind me, Moore." She winced and dropped her shoulder when he dug into a
tender spot.
"Sorry." His touch gentled to a soothing caress. "If it were up to me, I'd take you on this mission instead
of Krystal."
"That would be a disastrous decision," Dana quickly asserted.
"Why? You might be ten years older than Krystal," he continued, "but your instincts are ten times sharper."
Dana stifled a snort. Ten years older? Try seventeen. "Krystal is a great fit for your mission. Better than I
could ever be." Fresh from military academy, Second Lieutenant Krystal Riddon was intelligent, in perfect
physical shape, vivacious, and the best Tai-Jorian linguist Dana had ever taught. She'd mastered Tai-Jorian
customs as if she'd been born in their capital city, which meant the girl loved to party. All those groping
males wouldn't bother her a bit. "As soon as she recuperates from her hangover, I want you two back in
here," she said over her shoulder. "She needs your expertise more than you need mine."
His hands stilled on top of her shoulders, their warmth seeping through her thin athletic shirt to her damp
skin. "I might know my way through tactical maneuvers, but there's plenty you can teach me."His breath
stirred the short layers of her hair at the back of her head. Lowering his voice, he added, "In other areas."
He skimmed his fingertips down her arms and clasped her wrists. "I hear the Tai-Jor are openly erotic," He
pulled her arms behind her back and crossed her wrists. "Do you know anything about that?"
A chill slithered across her shoulders. What was he doing? She shook off his hold, stepped away, and
turned to face him. The rebuke poised on her tongue instantly melted away.
The sight of his sparkling brown eyes and the slight pull of his lips to one side in a taunting smile hit her
square in the chest. Whether it was his good looks, or simply his youthful abundance of testosterone, he
wrung a deeply guarded passion from her every time she neared him. If she were fifteen years younger.
Well, she wasn't.
"I'm very familiar with Tai-Jorian mating rituals," she said in a professional tone. Another reason why she'd
be a bad choice for the mission. The memory of being kidnapped, fought over, and forced to submit still
gave her nightmares. She'd vowed to never tread on the Tai-Jorian continent again, or on their planet
Moria for that matter, and to do her best to prepare visitors for a society with little tolerance for outsiders
who don't follow their rules. "We'll go over Tai-Jorian sexual conduct tomorrow."
"Can't wait," he said with a waggle of his dark brows.
She crossed her arms and leveled a no-nonsense look at him. "Here's the bottom line. The Tai-Jor will only
deal with linked pairs. You and Krystal must forge an inseparable bond before you leave this space station.
Otherwise, you'll get nothing accomplished."
"Are you saying I should bed the Wild One?"
"Whatever it takes, Moore." If Krystal didn't appreciate Moore's bright mind and buff body by now, she'd
better soon. The Tai-Jorian Council would be spying on them every second. "Keep her focused on you at all
times. Krystal's weakness is her wandering eye. On Tai-Jor, flirting is an art form with nuances we'd
overlook. One misconstrued gesture and a Tai-Jorian will fight to the death to mate." A sour churning
twisted in her gut. Single Tai-Jorian males fought over everything. "You know how to hold a woman's
attention, don't you?"
He answered her with a cocked brow and devilish grin.
A familiar heat warmed Dana's insides. Yes, Gavin had charm in spades.
Buy link: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=901
Back In Action
by Elayne S. Venton
Changeling Press
Futuristic erotic romance
by Elayne S. Venton
Changeling Press
Futuristic erotic romance
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |