Welcome! First thing on your mind is what the heck is a contemporary medical romance author doing in a Zombie/Mayan Apocalypse Blog Hop? LOL. Well, I've been branching outside of my normal writing into the paranormal. I have a series of books planned that will showcase some strong, totally kick-ass heroines who are Phoenix, which is the Sun Council's type of CIA/peace keeping force between the human race and all things supernatural. The project is in it's infancy and as I've developed the story line, I realized I need to do a little rewriting. My first heroine, Agent Tatum Wilder is on a quest to hinder the dark forces trying to bring about the end of days... I'd love to know what you think! Comments are always appreciated! Here's my sneak peek of part of chapter one of my wip, From Lust To Ashes...
Excerpt:
“One. Two. Three.
Jump!”
Helicopter blades whirling overhead, Agent
Tatum Wilder obeyed the command without hesitation and leapt from the open door
into the frozen, black night. Snow
swirled around her as she floated toward the ice-covered ground, easily
manipulating the lines of her parachute.
Crisp winter air chilled her heated face. She landed in the knee deep snow with a thud
and dispatched her chute.
The target was close. She
cocked her head, listening intently. The
whoosh of a blade sliced through the air, then there was a sharp crack before the metal cored through
wood. She closed her eyes and inhaled a
ragged breath, using her inner sight to size up the male she’d been called upon
to seduce. Even at this distance Tatum could sense the heat of well muscled
flesh. Blood coursed through his
veins. She could even smell the
distinct, delicious all male scent as he worked up a sweat.
Nice.
He was younger than her last assignment--Thirty something.
A former Navy Captain with
the nickname “Rockstar” because of his golden good looks and outgoing
personality. Her sex clenched. She licked her lips. Her body hummed with anticipation, panties
already damp despite the snow drifting lazily to the ground. Wonder how long he will resist before he
caves and does as the Sun Counsel mandated?
Hopefully, a long, long, time. Her lips curved.
As she drew closer to the cabin, she perceived an inner strength
of will that ought to make the night a little more interesting. In the end, his resolve will crumble, and it
won’t be long before the former Navy Captain begged her for his own release.
She stumbled a bit on the icy path. Damn. Weakness began to consume her as Akthuá drew
near. Her core body temperature rose
with every footfall. Needing the
distraction, Tatum had leapt at the chance when Magna offered her this assignment. Her superior and the oldest member of the Sun
Counsel, Tatum had been surprised Magna hadn’t realized how close Tatum was to Akthuá.
Magna knew everything.
Tatum dismissed the slight wooziness clouding her brain and
straightened her spine. She had enough power for good ole Captain Murphy. This
was just a quickie. Get in. Get
out! She snickered, amused at the
innuendo.
Once her
assignment was complete, she’d check into Sanctuary and prepare. Not that the healers of Sanctuary could
control the excruciating pain she’d suffer as Akthuá consumed her flesh, but the hallowed ground and sacred doors
of the temple would keep her safe from Him
during her weakened state. Not even the
Dark God, Osiris, would risk the wrath by violating Sanctuary’s bylaws. Every supernatural being, hell, even humans
were bound to obey.
She rounded
the bend and the log cabin came into view.
A single light shone from a downstairs window. The sound of wood chopping grew louder as she
approached the back porch. There he
was. Sam Murphy in the flesh with arms
raised above his head wielding an axe downward in a fluid stroke of strength
and masculinity. Hungrily, her gaze
traveled over him by the glow of a single lantern. Her keen sense of sight left no detail
unnoticed.
Sandy blonde hair damp from the
falling snow and the sweat from his exertion grew unfashionably long and passed
his shoulders. The tendrils curled
slightly at the ends. Prominent forehead
with darker brows and lashes framed penetrating hazel eyes. Nose, straight and proud, was reddened from
the cold. A rough, unkempt beard covered
the rest of his face and framed full, sensual lips. His breath showed in little puffs of smoke in
the freezing night air.
Dressed in a
black and grey long sleeved flannel checked shirt, the material drew taught
against his broad shoulders, bulging biceps, and tight pecks with each stroke
of sharpened blade through the wood. Faded denim hugged tapered hips and dipped
dangerously low with each lift of the axe over his head. Her glance dropped lower and she appreciated
how the material melded over well-muscled thighs.
Fascination
held Tatum in place. Desire stirred deep
within her core and her body temperature shot up another ten degrees. Wetness pooled between her thighs.
Careful, girl. Or the human won’t be able to touch
you.
Her breath
hitched. Unacceptable! She needed
this as much as the Council did. No, she
amended. She needed this more. One last
physical release to help distract her from the unbearable pain she’d have to
endure during Akthuá.
“Who are you
and what the hell are you doing on my property?” Sam asked.
Distracted by
her raging need, Tatum hadn’t realized he’d stopped chopping wood. Her gaze focused on his face. The axe rested casually on one shoulder in a
deceptively vulnerable pose. Anger
burned deep in his eyes and his brows drew together deepening the frown on his
face.
Tatum tugged
at the drawstring of her hooded cloak and let the heavy material fall to the
ground, revealing herself. Thick,
straight, deep auburn hair with varying shades of golden highlights wound down
past her waist, lifted lightly by the breeze.
She was dressed in a black leather pantsuit that embraced every feminine
curve she possessed. She knew the
picture she presented. Painted red lips
curled into a provocative smile. “Agent
Tatum Wilder, Captain Murphy,” she said, her voice infused with just a hint of
a seductive purr. She bent in a mock
bow. “At your service.”
“I’m no
longer enlisted, so take your sexy vamp ass over the hills and back through the
woods and find yourself another blood bag,” he said drawing the axe from his
shoulder and holding the handle in preparation to strike.
“A vamp?”
Tatum said and laughter erupted. Absolutely ludicrous! “You…think…I’m…
Vampire?” she said through gasps of merriment.
Tears of mirth filled her eyes and she held her abdomen, trying to get a
hold of herself.
Uncertainty
filled his gaze and the tip of the axe lowered a bit toward the ground. “Well, aren’t you?”
In a swift
move of velocity and grace, Tatum zipped behind Captain Murphy and disarmed
him, tossing the sharpened axe blade in the center of the back door to the
house. A loud “crack” broke the tense silence as the wooden handle wobbled from
the impact. Her arm snaked around his
neck and lifted his chin, forcing his head to rest upon her shoulder. She pulled his body flush with hers, pushing
her breasts into the strong corded muscles of his back. The spicy scent of male mingled with sweat
filled her and she drew him in. Her
tongue trailed liquid heat along his ear.
He stiffened within her embrace.
She closed her eyes, savoring the all male strength she held close and
inhaled deeply.
“Relax,
Rockstar. I’m not going to eat you,” she
said, enjoying the feel and scent of the human male against her. “And, fyi, I’m not a vampire. If I was, you’d be drained already,” she
said, voice husky and filled with unspoken promise. “Why don’t we go inside your cozy little
cabin, sit by the fire, and… talk.” With
reluctance, she released him and headed toward the porch.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed. I can't wait to get it finished and subbed to my publisher! Don't forget to stop by this link to check out the other hoppers today! http://ashlynnmonroe.com/
Kathleen
