Archive for the ‘Excerpt Monday’ Category

 

 

 
Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

 

In celebration of my most favorite month…October, I thought I would post what I think is a rather scary scene from my MS Broken…enjoy!!!

~UPDATE 11/07/09 : I’ve made some revisions to the original post.

 

         “Beer?” Caleb leaned over to ask, and I nodded.

         He disappeared in the crowd surrounding the bar, and Kim slid up next to me.

          “What is going on?” She demanded.

          I bit my lip and shrugged. “I have no idea. He was in the parking lot when everyone left.”

          “And did he apologize?”

          “I guess, sorta.”

          “Sorta? He should have, Sarah. He was gone and didn’t even bother to call you. And then Thursday night, that’s bullshit.”

          “What’s bullshit?” Caleb asked as he placed an ice cold beer in my hand.

          “That was fast,” I said.

          Kim opened her mouth to say something else, but I stopped her with my glare. She shrugged and walked off, mumbling, “Whatever.”

          “What is she talking about?” He tilted his head to the side with child-like curiosity.

          I took a deep breath. “She thinks you owe me an apology for Thursday night and for being a jerk. And then sneaking off with Aimee. While you were gone, you didn’t bother to answer my texts. I was seriously worried about–”

          He held up his hand. “Wait a minute. I was still in some pain Thursday night. It’s no excuse. As for Aimee–” He shook his head with a laugh. “Really Aimee? I’ve known her for a very long time. There’s nothing you need to worry about.”

          I felt my face flush with heat. “Why the hell does everyone keep telling me that?”

          “Because it’s true. Trust me,” he said. I took a sip of my beer and turned my head away from his searing gaze. He laughed again, and I looked up at him. “Am I right in assuming that you’re jealous?”

          “No, absolutely not.”

          He swallowed down his own beer but couldn’t hide the grin forming across his lips. “I like it.”

          “I am not jealous,” I stammered. “I have no reason to be. It was an arrangement. We’re not really an item.”

          The words tumbled out before I realized I’d said it. My heart pounded in my throat and in my ears, drowning out the music blaring in the bar.

          He looked down at me, and his eyes swirled with a heated glow. “If we were together, would you trust me?”

          “Yes.” I didn’t think about my answer. I just wanted him. Even more when he flashed me his heart stopping smile.

          “Come on,” he said, taking my hand and leading me toward the front stage area.

          It was empty, but music blared out of the speakers. As if on cue, the song switched from a loud rocking tune to a slower alternative one. He guided my hand to his shoulder and then placed my other one in the palm of his. Oh, no. I really sucked at slow dancing. I always tried to take the lead and then stepped all over the poor guy’s feet.

          “Just follow my lead.” His mouth twisted with mischief as he pulled me tighter to him. “And don’t look at your feet.”

          “I’m not.” I widened my eyes, and he chuckled.

          We moved like blood flowing through the veins, a thick, pulsing flow. Slow and warm while the rest of the room melted away. I was aware of his breath hot against my ear and the stiffness in his shoulder under my fingers.

          “So, now that we’re an item,” he stated and drew my attention back to his lips.

          “Yes.”

          “What shall we do about it?”

          “Seal it with a kiss?” I bit my lip.

          His laughter reverberated through his chest, over my hand and across my skin. I dug my teeth harder into my bottom lip.

         “That’s a thought, but not in this bar.”

         When the song ended, we went back and finished our beers. Then he took my hand, led me out of the noisy bar and back to his car. Suddenly, this all seemed surreal to me. Did he really mean it, or would he turn back into old Caleb at any moment? As if to reassure me, he flashed his heart-stopping smile while he pulled out of the bar’s lot. He raced back toward campus, and I floated like I sat on a heavenly cloud.

         “I’ve broken a lot of rules recently.” His voice was thick with emotion.

          My breath caught in kmy chest. “What do you mean?”

          He glanced at me and then shrugged. “Nothing.”

          “No, tell me,” I prodded.

          He twisted the steering wheel in his hands and stared out the window. I regretted pushing him. I followed his gaze as the Mercedes came to a stop. He’d driven to the little park on the far end of campus that overlooked an old covered bridge.

         “Do I appear normal to you?” He asked, and I was floored by the sincerity in his absurd question.

         “Yes, of course you do.” But the thoughts I’d tried to deny, they began to swirl uncontrollably in my mind.

         He turned in the seat in a split second, and his face hovered so close that I could feel the heat of his breath. “Yes, on the outside. But what about everything else?”

         I shook the confusion out of my head. “I guess.”

         “What if I told you I wasn’t normal? What if I’m not like the average guy?” He leaned away.

         “Caleb, what you are talking about?” I bit my tongue from speaking my own crazy ideas.

         The mismatched edges of the jigsaw puzzle that made up Caleb Smith began to shift into place, and slowly one by one the layers of questions all seemed to string together to form one absurd answer. The unearthly figures that appeared in my peripheral, the near collision, and the strange way Caleb acted. Finally, Tristian’s story about angels in Wenham fluttered in my mind.

         The leather seat sighed as he pressed his back against it. “What if I told you that I was all wrong for you?”

         I crossed my arms over my chest, indignant. “Are you breaking up with me after only dating for about twenty minutes?”

         His ‘no’ echoed in a soul rending, guttural cry, and I knew it was the last thing he wanted. His answer resounded deep within my own soul, and it cried the same answer.

         “Caleb?” I asked and placed my hand on his arm. He gritted his teeth, and the taut muscles under my hand tensed. I let go, thinking I’d done something wrong, and curled my hand in my lap as if the touch seared my flesh.

         He looked over at me. “No, it’s okay.”

         “Is it?” I bit harder into my lip and turned my eyes to the window, unable to bare the scowl that marred his perfect face. “I feel like you’re hiding something from me, Caleb. How can I trust you, if you can’t trust me?”

         “Sarah, of course I trust you. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. But there are things…things I am unable to explain to you, but God, I want to.”

          “Then tell me.” My whisper cracked in the electrically charged atmosphere. I tucked my fingers under my lap afraid I would reach out and touch him again.

          His gaze melted with tenderness. I watched from the corner of my eye as he smiled suddenly as if a thought tickled his brain.

         “There is one thing–” He leaned across the seat, cupping my cheek in his hand.

          The molten touch of his lips brushed mine. And my heart sizzled in my stomach at the explosive feeling. The bold movement of his tongue darted across my top lip, and I sighed into his embrace. He shifted in the seat and grasped the base of my neck, cradling my head and tilting it upward. I pressed my lips against his and savored the warmth of his breath as it melted over my cheeks. A groan escaped from chest as his lips danced over my face and down my neck. He pulled away swiftly, and I was left with a cold rush of air. Apology accepted.

           “Just one thing?” I asked breathless.

          “You know, you’re doing that thing again with your breathing.”

           My cheeks burned, and my ears rang with the thunder of my heart. “Sorry.”          

          He smiled wickedly. “Am I forgiven?”

          I twisted the corner of mouth. “For now.”

          Suddenly, the playfulness slid from his face as a flash of light caught my attention. He turned the key in the ignition, but the familiar purr sputtered and died. His eyes darted from the mirrors to the bridge, and fear pulsed through my veins from his strange reaction.

         I swallowed the lump in my throat. “What is it?”

         His eyes swept over the landscape a second time before they rested on me. I nearly jumped when I recognized the concern etched on face. I’d seen this look before in my dreams.

         The edge to his voice scared me. “You must do exactly what I say. Do you understand?” My eyes widened, but I nodded. “Don’t get out of the car for any reason.”

         He shoved on the door and leapt out. I trembled with the vibration as he slammed it closed. I squirmed forward, trying to locate his dark shape against the black woods. There were no campus safety lights in the park. SGA would be hearing from me.

          I swore I heard a voice call out and Caleb answer. But as my breath fogged up the windows, I lost sight of his silhouette. I rubbed away the white film and saw nothing at first. A scream tore through my lungs with a burn. A black shape whizzed over the hood and shook the Mercedes. I pressed back against the seat, my heart expanding in my throat and preventing air in my lungs. The thing flew by again followed by another shape.

         My voice scratched in a whisper. “Caleb?”

         Minutes passed and nothing else happened. My imagination whirled at sickening speed, and I envisioned Caleb injured and unconscious somewhere. I’d seen enough strange things since I’d arrived in Wenham to know that this classified as one. I knew he’d said to stay in the car, but I just couldn’t sit there if he was in danger.

          I checked through the windows before I pressed the unlock button. The door swung open, and I gripped the handle, ready to yank it back closed if threatened. Only the sound of the rustle of the wind through the trees reached my ears, so I pushed the door wide. A dense fog crept along the stream bank and drifted over the park. I hugged my elbows against my ribs and peered through the darkness. Afraid to call out his name and have that thing swoop down after me, I inched toward the structure, stark white against the black woods that surrounded it.

         The whistle of something in motion erupted behind me, and I dashed for the opening of the bridge. Spindly fingers with the strength of iron grabbed my upper arms. The scream that shook from my throat caused the thing to laugh. I struggled to break free and failed. My feet scraped at the gravel lane as it pulled me off the ground and into the air with it.

        ~~~~

 

 

“Links to other Excerpt Monday writers
Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.

 

 
Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just a writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

 

 

It’s that time again. This month to celebrate overcoming my first hurdle of submitting my full MS to an agent, I decided to post an excerpt from that manuscript. This scene is from my YA paranormal romance called BROKEN. Enjoy.

 ~UPDATE 11/07/09 : I’ve made some revisions to the origianl post.

~~~

          The steering wheel was slick in my hands. I tried to grip it, attempting to ease the pounding of my heart. Licking my lips and trying to swallow, my throat constricted with fear. I focused on the dust floating in the headlamps. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the other car back up and stop across from me on the opposite shoulder. The driver’s side window lowered, and a dark head leaned out. So much for easing the tight squeeze on my heart, it somersaulted in my stomach. I recognized the jet-black hair, deep-set blue eyes and twisted scowl. It was Caleb.

          “Are you ok?” His eyes reflected the electronic blue of the dashboard and held an eerie glow.

          When I didn’t answer, he leapt out of the black sports car and dashed across the highway. His jaw tightened, and I tried to get my breathing under control.

          “Are you hurt?” Those damnable eyes raked over me as I sat immobile.

          “No, I’m fine.” The words tumbled out.

          Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. My mind screamed while I stared at the steering wheel. But I couldn’t escape, and he didn’t leave. Instead, his hand gripped the window frame.

          “I feel terrible.” Yeah right.  “Are you sure you’re okay?” His voice sounded kinder, almost sincere. And smooth. God, it was smooth as velvet.

          “Someone was standing in the middle of the road. Did I hit them?” I finally turned my head in his direction.

          Concern deepened the lines of his face, softening his cold demeanor. I’d been holding my breath and didn’t hide the sudden, noisy outrush.

          “There’s no one here. I’d feel better if you allowed me to drive you back to campus.” He stood back, placing his hand on the door handle. “I assume that’s where you were going?”

          Tendrils of shock shimmied from my spine, tightening across my chest. I still shook from the fright, even though my eyes must have played tricks on me. But the sexiest guy in school pulling on my door wasn’t a mirage. And now, he insisted I get into his car. My mind protested the idea but couldn’t fight the insatiable curiosity.

          “I insist.” He opened the door wide.

          There was no refusing him. The way he stood, one hand on the door and the other outstretched toward his car, denied all thoughts of resistance. I reluctantly climbed out and stumbled, my knees turning to Jell-o. His arm slipped around my waist, and he pulled me tight against his chest. My knees weren’t the only thing weakening.

          “You’re certainly in no condition to be driving a car.” His mouth twitched with a hint of humor.

          He steered me across the street and dumped me in the passenger seat of his slick, black Mercedes SLK. I watched as he grabbed my stuff and locked the car. My mind whirred into motion. He’d been racing away from Wenham, and my reckless driving prevented him from whatever he was on his way to do. Guilt gnawed at my uneasy stomach. Pissing off Caleb Smith placed first on my list of things not to do while in college.

          “You were on your way somewhere. I don’t want to keep you,” I said as he climbed in and slammed the door.

          He whipped the car around and headed back toward Wenham and campus. “You’re not.”

          “I’m sorry. I swear there was someone standing in the middle of the road.” My heart pounded at the ridiculous words coming out.

          “You must have been seeing things.” The line of his jaw, stone-cold blue from the dash lights, clenched and relaxed. The mask dropped back over his face, and distinct animosity slipped into his tone. I should have stayed in the Passat.

          “You really don’t have to do this. I’ll be fine in a second.” I wrapped my arms across my chest to stop the shaking. His eyes drifted over me, and an eyebrow lifted. When he didn’t answer, I asked, “What about my car?”

          “I’ll take care of it.” His eyes flickered back to the road.

          When we curved another bend, a second set of headlights blazed toward us. The semi barreled down the middle of the road. Caleb laid on the horn and rolled the SLK onto the grassy shoulder just as the massive truck careened back into its lane. Caleb never slowed but maneuvered the sports car back onto the highway with a nonstop smoothness.

          “Jerk truck driver! We could have been killed,” I said, gripping my sides tighter.

          Caleb gripped the wheel with knuckles as white as his pressed lips. He stared intense, almost agitated, out the window. My heart quickened its thrumming because I was fearful of his frozen attitude.

          “You don’t trust me,” he hissed. It was a statement rather than a question.

          “No.” At the moment, I didn’t feel like being polite or lying.

          The lines of his face softened, and the corner of his mouth curved. “Good,” he whispered.

          Staring at my lap, I inhaled slow, deep breaths to calm my heart rate. The pattern of light, a prismatic splotch of LCD blue, changed to a brighter orange glow. I glanced up as we raced through Rockport.

          “Why did you transfer to Wenham?” His tone held an accusation, and I jerked my head to stare at him.

          He twisted his hands around the steering wheel when I hesitated, but his gaze never left the road. I found it unnerving the way he avoided looking at me when he spoke.

          The in rush of my breath slid through my clenched teeth with a sizzle. “My mom took a promotion. She insisted I transfer.”

          “There’s dozens of colleges in Boston. Why did you choose Wenham?”

          The accusation was still present. My mouth hung slightly open as I wondered how he knew my mother planned to move us to Boston.

          “My aunt lives in Rockport. It was my mother’s choice, not mine.”

          “Then you would have rather stayed–” He paused to glance over at me, blue eyes searing. “In Tennessee?”

          “No, not necessarily.” The words caught in my throat, and I licked my dry lips. “Do you have a dislike for people in general, or just me in particular?”

          The corner of his mouth quivered. “Why on earth would you think I dislike you?”

          My mouth made a pop as I shut it. I could mention the sneers and the obvious intimidation, but my courage faltered when I gazed into those blue eyes. Instead, I glanced out the window, avoiding how seductive he looked with taut muscles under a tight black sweater. I couldn’t help recalling Cybil’s silly palm reading. One true love, my ass.

          The first row of shops along Wenham’s main street appeared, and I was glad he was speeding. The sooner this ride was over the better. Before I could catch my breath, we pulled into the fire lane in front of Pembry. The German precision sports car glided to a stop dead center of the plate-glass lobby windows. Determined to escape the car with lightening speed, it didn’t occur to me that he knew which dorm I lived in.

          “Thank you,” I muttered as I climbed out. My mind still swirled, and my knees still wobbled.

          He leaned across the seat. “You want your car, right?”

          I whirled around to find him smiling. Stunned, it was the first time I’d ever seen him do it, and it left me breathless. I just stood there in foolish amazement. He cocked his head, waiting.

          “Oh, right,” I stammered, fishing for the keys.

          When I gave him my keychain, my fingers barely brushed the inside of his palm. He whipped his hand away, and for a second, I swore that I didn’t feel anything but warm air. I had to be hallucinating. Or there must have been something weird in Cybil’s organic spaghetti sauce.

          I sighed. “Thanks.”

          “Don’t mention it.” He said as the window slid up.

          I stood with my feet glued to the sidewalk and watched as he raced up the fire lane. His final statement recoiled with a sting like a popped rubber band. Recalling my original assumption of him, pretentious and callous, I didn’t plan on mentioning it to anyone ever.

~~~

“Links to other Excerpt Monday writers
Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.