Today's Saturday Snippets theme is: Reunions
Who doesn't love a good reunion romance? I sure do.
Luckily, I have the perfect story for this theme. In fact, it's part of an anthology full of reunion/second chance at love stories.
My story in the anthology is "Undiplomatic Relations". If you're familiar with me, you'll know that I'm ex-Air Force and thus some of my romances feature military characters and situations. When I have titles with military type titles, you now know what to expect. For example: Civil Affairs, Bad Conduct, Undiplomatic Relations...
In this story, my hero and heroine are on opposite sides of an intergalactic war although they were once on the same side. The hero's a little bit nuts, but in a fun way. And it doesn't stop him from being very, very hot. Just the opposite.
In the 26th century, Major Kady Elliott witnesses a heartless massacre of innocent children. Deeply disillusioned and troubled, she escapes the evil murderer, Emperor Lukas. She vows to stop him, so she defects from the Federation and goes in search of the rebel forces hoping to join their ranks.
But that's not as easily done as planned. Not only was she a high-ranking officer in the Federation, but she is the ex-lover of the rebel commander, Admiral Shane Trigilio. And Shane's not only bitter about her supposed betrayal of him, but he's insane. To rebuild his trust, he demands she follow his every command…
Excerpt: UNDIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Copyright © ASHLEY LADD, 2006.
“Do you remember what you said to me just before we crashed?”
Unsure of what her response should be if he repeated himself, wanting to kick herself if he reneged, she held her breath and masked her expression.
With unswerving canniness Shane met her gaze. “Of course. I have perfect recollection. I said ‘I love you’.”
Kady’s heart almost exploded with joy and her every emotional nerve ending fluttered. Happiness surged through her and she lifted his hand and pressed her lips to it. “And I never stopped loving you…”
His expression turned to granite and he yanked his hand back. “You have yet to prove yourself to me, sweetheart. In love or not, I’m not that crazy.”
Shane’s rock-hard expression smashed all hope and prayer of reconciliation. Hot acidic tears stung the back of her eyes, which she swiftly and harshly commanded to retreat. When they disobeyed, she threatened court-martial procedures. If only she could court-martial these insanely tender feelings Shane still stirred up. Four years of being on enemy sides should have killed any unauthorized emotions. How she wished it had!
Furious at her weakness for this man, she backed away a few steps. How dare he reject her so heartlessly! “I hope for your sake you can at least stand being around me. Looks like we could be on this deserted rock a long time.”
A long, long time. If they survived…
Could she stand to spend eternity with a man who wanted no part of her? Of all the people in the universe to be stranded with, why this crazy man that sent her emotions into melt down and her nerves into dizzy tail spins? She had no clue why she loved him.
He looked at her as pragmatically as if she were a desexed robot. “Guess I’m stuck with you.”
“Gee thanks.” Presumably she could dance around naked under the triple moons and he wouldn’t care.
Shane circled her, closing in. “You know, there might be a way…”
As she eyed him warily, Kady’s already frayed nerve endings sizzled. What was the fool up to? Scared as she should be, she had to hear this. She quirked a brow and tilted her head. “A way?”
“To regain my trust. To earn my love.”
Dreading his response, she schooled her features into a mask.
“Well? Don’t you want to hear what it is?” His blue eyes were so intense they almost seared her.
Treading carefully, she bit gingerly on his hook, hoping it wasn’t barbed. “How can I regain your trust, prove myself worthy of your love, and set everything right in our universe?”
A winning smile curved his lips, those same lips that had once driven her utterly, impossible mad with desire, that still made her lust after his mind-shattering touch. He slid his finger beneath her chin and forced her gaze to lock with his. “Submit to my every whim. Do whatever I say, no questions asked.”
"Undiplomatic Relations" is available in the "Chances Are" anthology at Ellora's Cave.
For more fun today be sure to visit the other authors who posted Saturday Snippets for your enjoyment.
Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
TJ Michaels
Eliza Gayle
Ashley Ladd
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1 comment:
Happy Mother's Day, Ash.
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