New Release! NOT REALLY THE OUTDOOR TYPE!

So excited to announce I've got a new release out with Blushing Books called NOT REALLY THE OUTDOOR TYPE! It actually came out years ago and has been out of print for a while, so I've reworked it. This version is totally different - and I think better - than the original. I'm excited about it! Hope you will be, too!

Not Really the Outdoor Type

The passion between them isn't the only thing that's hot when a big-city girl rekindles a romance with her high school crush!

Dumped by her boyfriend and out of a job, Kendall Merriweather moves from LA back to her hometown in rural Idaho, hoping to sort out her life. When she needs a job, she goes to Outdoor Outfitters, one of the few businesses in the small town that’s hiring. She’s not crazy about live bait and arming hunters against poor defenseless animals, but there is one benefit—the owner is her high school crush, and even more gorgeous now than he was then.

Unfortunately, her fascination with Jason Maxwell results in one workplace disaster after another. He’s patient with her at first, but soon decides that what Kendall needs is a good sound spanking to help her focus on her job.

Kendall tells herself she’s a big-city girl who shouldn’t have to put up with getting a spanking from any man, so why does she get turned on by having a big, strong guy like Jason warm her bottom?


Excerpt:

Jason still hadn’t come back by closing time, which made her even more curious about where he’d gone off to. Nicole and the Darren, the other high school kid who worked at the store, headed out shortly after the last of the customers, leaving her alone in the store. She considered waiting for Jason in his office, but decided to hang out by the lake instead.

As she sat on the bench, her gaze strayed from the crystal waters of the lake to the hothouse to make sure those nasty crickets hadn’t figured out a way to open it. They were probably all over the place by now. God, those things made her skin crawl.

The door to the store opened, making her jump. She almost laughed. What did she think, it was some big, bad cricket coming to get her? Getting to her feet, she walked over to Jason. She’d worn shorts and a pair of low-heeled sandals to work, and her pulse skipped a beat when she saw his eyes go to her long legs.

“Hey.” She gave him a smile. “I was wondering where you were.”

He didn’t return her smile, or answer her question. Instead, he frowned and looked past her at the hothouse. “One of the locals said he came in looking to buy some crickets and you told him we were out of them. In fact, he said you told him we were out of all the live bait.”

“Um…” She knew she should own up to it and tell Jason what happened, but for some reason, her self-preservation kicked in “I don’t really remember. We were so busy today. Maybe he talked to someone else.”

Jason lifted a brow, the look in his eyes making Kendall think he didn’t quite believe her little fib.

She hurried on before he could press the issue. “I waited because I thought you might like to come over for…”

The words trailed off as Jason walked past her and headed down the dock toward the hothouse. She hurried after him.

“Wh-where are you going?”

He gave her a sidelong glance. “To see if we’re out of live bait.”

Kendall grabbed his arm. “You can’t!”

He halted in his tracks and turned to face her. “Why not?”

She tried to come up some lie he’d believe, but she couldn’t think of anything. “Because…”

His brows drew together. “What did you do, Kendall?”

She chewed on her lower lip, hesitating. When she didn’t answer, Jason turned on his heel and headed for the hothouse again. Kendall followed.

“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” she said, stopping him just as he reached the door. “At least not without a really big flyswatter or something.”

Jason turned to look at her in confusion. “A flyswatter. What are you talking about?”

Kendall sighed. “I went in there to get that guy his stupid crickets, and the next thing I know, those creepy, disgusting things were jumping all over the place.”

He frowned. “Didn’t you use the net?”

“I tried. But before I could, they attacked me.”

Jason lifted a brow, a smile threatening to break the seriousness of his expression. “Crickets attacked you?”

“Yes,” she insisted. “You should have seen it. They were all over me. In my hair. On my clothes.” She shivered just thinking about it. “I can’t believe it’s even legal to keep those things. They’re dangerous.”

He chuckled. “The only thing dangerous in there is you, honey. Believe me, those crickets are more afraid of you than you are of them.”

“I seriously doubt that.”

“You know, it probably would have been easier if you’d just used your hands instead of the net.”

Her eyes went wide. “My hands? You’ve got to be kidding me. They could have bitten me.”

“Crickets don’t bite, Kendall.” He jerked his head toward the hothouse. “Come on. I’ll show you how to catch them.”

Kendall blinked. He didn’t seriously expect her to go back in there with those things, did he? “No way. If you haven’t noticed, I’m not really the outdoor type. That means anything dealing with nature is off-limits.”

Jason shook his head. “You’ve been living in LA for way too long.”

“Yeah, well at least I don’t have to worry about crickets attacking me there.”

He snorted. “No. There, you just have to worry about people attacking you.”

She made a face. “Go take care of your stupid crickets. I’m going home.”

Kendall turned on her heel to storm off, only to trip over a plastic bucket beside the hothouse. It fell to the wooden dock with a thud, the contents inside spilling out all over her feet. This day just kept getting better and better.

Cursing, she shook her feet, trying to get the dirt off. That was when she realized there were slimy, wiggly things crawling around in it. Kendall jumped back with a scream, frantically kicking her feet. While the dirt fell off easily, the squirming things living in it only clung to her skin. She backpedaled wildly, cringing as they squished under her sandals.

“Get them off me,” she shrieked.

Jason ignored her. Instead, he crouched down to hurriedly scoop up handfuls of the nasty little creatures and put them back in the bucket.

“Dammit, Kendall, you’re stepping on them. Just pick them up. They won’t hurt you.”

Kendall stared at him in disbelief. He wanted her to touch those disgusting squirmy things?
“Pick them up yourself!” she shot back.

Heedless of the worms crawling around underfoot, she started for the door when Jason caught her arm and spun her around.

“You didn’t learn anything from that spanking I gave you the other day, did you?” he growled.

Kendall gasped. He wouldn’t dare spank her again. But as he strode over to one of the benches alongside the building, she realized he intended to do just that.

“Jason, wait…”

The rest of what she was going to say came out in a whoosh of breath as he sat down on the bench and flung her over his knee. Kendall immediately tried to push herself back up, but the strong arm wrapped firmly around her waist held her fast.


Buy it at Blushing Books!
http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=315

Buy it at Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Not-Really-Outdoor-Type-ebook/dp/B00B1W7DN8/ref=sr_1_41?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358452965&sr=1-41


*hugs*
Paige

Sexy Romantic Fiction!

http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com
http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Passion's Victory by KC Kendricks (m/m adult)

(This post contains adult subject matter)

When passion is the prize, it’s time to change the rules….

PASSION'S VICTORY
2008 CAPA Nominee
ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-330-6 

Micah Souther is young, talented, and gay. As the junior owner of the family business, he knows better than to look for love “on the clock.” 

Jonas Chadwick is the new guy at the firm. Older, wiser, and a survivor of the school of hard knocks, he’s not in the market for an office romance, even if he knows for certain his young boss is gay. 

One kiss is all it takes to send Micah and Jonas on a collision course, and when bodies collide, the friction gets hot... 


EXCERPT

...My pulse pounded loudly in my ears and my cock rose, anticipating something I knew wasn’t a certainty. He’d come back, but for what? His warm lips found mine, seeking permission. I opened to him, inviting him to plunder at will. He did, thrusting his tongue into my mouth. I met him eagerly, hungrily. I wanted this, and more. 

Jonas’ strong fingers encircled my wrist and he lifted my arm above my head as his body pinned me, full length, against my front door. He pressed the hard ridge of his erection firmly to mine. I reached for him with my free hand, wanting to feel his length and girth, but he grabbed that wrist, too, and lifted it beside the other. I bucked against him, totally turned on by the aggression I sensed in him. 

“Be still,” he growled in my ear. He trailed kisses down my neck, even as his grip tightened. I struggled to break free of the vise grip he had on my wrists. 
His pelvis ground against mine. I tilted my head and delved into the heat of his mouth. I moaned. He moaned. I wanted my hands free in the worst way. I needed to touch him, caress the sensitive, silky skin I knew sheathed his penis. I ached to feel his lips on my cock. 

I threw my weight forward, desperate to force him to take a step back. It worked and I quickly spun him around and pinned him with my body. He grunted as he came in contact with the door and his lips bowed beneath mine. His strong fingers released my hands, and I reached for him, gathering him to me. His muscled thigh slipped between mine and applied upward pressure on my balls. Instead of worrying about injury I pressed down, reveling in the tingling sensation. 

“Jonas,” I murmured against his smiling lips. “Talk to…” His tongue flicked to mine, cutting off my request for a moment of conversation. 

Any of my neighbors watching were getting quite a sideshow. I shoved my hand in my pocket, fumbling for my keys. They fell from my shaking fingers to the porch decking. Jonas pushed me back, breaking physical contact. I longed to see his eyes, to get some idea of what he thought, what he felt. 

“Bend over and pick them up,” he said cheerfully as he rubbed my nipple. 

I stared at him and tried to catch my breath. “Not in front of you, Chadwick. I know all about men like you.” 

“Do you?” Something rough and dark in his voice gave me pause. What demon did he battle? 

“I know enough.” I pushed him back against the side of the house, not with some little force. “Why did you come back?” 

“I don’t know. Maybe to satisfy my curiosity.” 

“Bullshit.” I fisted my hands in his shirt and gave him a shake. “We take this inside, make it private, or we’re done here.” 

Jonas stared at me for the longest twenty seconds of my life, then he nodded. I released him and he bent over, snagged my keys, and dropped them into my outstretched palm. I unlocked the door and invited the devil into my home for the second time in one day. 

“I need a drink. Do you want one, Jonas?” I needed to haul him into my bedroom and have my way with him, that’s what I needed. My insides quivered. I shivered despite the warm evening. 

But I knew, to my sorrow, that quickie sex now would be a mistake, and I bet he knew it, too. 

“I’ll take a brandy, if you have it.” 

“I hope you’ll settle for bourbon.” 

I poured us each a generous shot and handed him one. He nodded and tossed it back like a pro. I followed suit, and we set out empties down on the counter in unison. Jonas reached for me again. I lifted my chin and stared him down. His hand dropped to his side.
I wanted him. God, how I wanted him. I ached with it. His gaze met mine before flicking down to the bulge in my pants and back up. 

“Looks nice.” 

“It’s a sock,” I told him cheerily, in the same tone that he’d used to tell me to bend over. 

“Hmm. Well, that’s the risk we run, isn’t it?” 

I snorted. “Ya think?” I went to check his package, and he moved away.
“Shy?” I hardly thought shyness to be a problem for him given his examination of my tonsils with his tongue. 

“Let’s just say I’m cautious...” 


PASSION'S VICTORY
2008 CAPA Nominee
ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-330-6 

Also available:
SURRENDERED VICTORY
2008 Amber Heat Wave Winner
ISBN 978-1-60272-283-5

SHINING VICTORY
One of the Top Ten Bestsellers at 
Amber Allure November and December 2008
ISBN 978-1-60272-422-8

A TASTE OF VICTORY (PAPERBACK)
http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/TasteVictory.html


KC Kendricks
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

New Release: Fantasy vs. Reality by Zenobia Renquist


Fantasy vs. Reality 
by Zenobia Renquist

(Contemporary Erotica, M/F, F/f, Voyeurism/Exhibitionism)

When the line between fantasy and reality is erased, the real fun begins.

Stacy hates benefit dinners -- fake smiles and empty conversation with people she can barely tolerate. Good thing she has her imagination to keep her occupied with sexual fantasies involving the other guests. And as the night wears on, it gets harder to tell where fantasy ends and reality begins.

Buy Link: https://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1982

Excerpt (R):
A man bumped Stacy as he turned from the buffet table. Sauce from the small plate he carried dripped onto the swell of one of Stacy’s breasts. She made a perturbed noise and backed up a step, bumping a second person and not caring.
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I should have looked before I turned,” the man said. “At least it missed the dress, right?” He gave a strained chuckle and then cleared his throat. “Here. Let me uh… get… uh… Excuse me.” He leaned over and put his plate down before reaching past Stacy.
She thought he would grab a napkin so she could get the sauce before it dripped between her breasts. A surprised squeak escaped her mouth when he slipped an arm around her waist and held her close as he ducked his head. His hot mouth landed on her skin, followed by his tongue. He licked her skin, removing the sauce and sending Stacy’s libido into overdrive.
She leaned back with her hands on his shoulders prepared to push him away. Her fingers bunched into the shoulders of his suit, pulling him closer as he trailed his mouth to the edge of her dress.
He said in a husky voice, feathering his breath across her skin, “I think I got it all, but I better check to be sure. You don’t want to be sticky.”
“No, I don’t.”
His tongue returned, delving between her breasts, as he scooped one hand into her dress and edged it down. Her breasts bounced when the dress gave way and exposed her nipples to the cool air. They hardened, begging for attention as the man worked his mouth down between her breasts and then to the side. When he took one nipple into his mouth, Stacy let out in a soft moan.
He circled his tongue around the hard nub and then flicked it before sucking at it. Stacy arched into his mouth with her leg riding his hip. A hard bulge in his pants pressed against her clit, exciting her more. Shifting her hips in a slight side-to-side motion, she rubbed her pussy against him.
The hand he had around her waist moved lower, slipping into the opening of her dress so he cupped her ass. Oh, yes. She was very happy she’d bought this dress. Easy access made everything better faster.
The man released her nipple with a soft pop and met her gaze. “Maybe you should do it instead.”
Stacy blinked a few times and reality reasserted itself. The man stood with a napkin held out to her and a sheepish expression that made him appear younger than he probably was. She snatched the napkin from him and dabbed at the sauce, getting to it right before it started dripping between her breasts.
“Sorry again.” He retrieved his plate and walked away.

Buy Link: https://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1982

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://about.me/zenobiarenquist
Caveat Emptor Series :: Three couples caught in a war have only one solution -- peace. Si vis pacem, para bellum. :: http://zenobiarenquist.com/bookshelf/caveat-emptor-series

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

A Perfect Fit

Released 1/5/13 on Amazon

Marissa Lambert is furious with her agent for hiring a security agency to protect her. The last thing she needs is some Texas cowboy following her around, and telling her what to do. Just because two plus-sized models have turned up dead in a month doesn’t mean she’s at risk. And besides, she can take care of herself. 


Beau Evans owns and operates Evans Security, and he’s the unlucky one who gets to babysit the beautiful Marissa. The moment he watches her strut her stuff down the runway, in a revealing corset that hugs her generous assets, he gets an itch that doesn’t go away. Their first encounter ends with an angry exchange and a battle of strong wills, but once they succumb to the lust in their blood there’s no turning back.



“Miss Lambert?” Another knock sounded. There was obvious concern and panic in the speaker’s tone.

Beau kept his burning gaze on her, and reached blindly for the doorknob. He opened it a tad. “Miss Lambert is okay.” He closed the door without looking at the person on the other side.

Handsome stud or not, Marissa decided to get right to the point. “Nothing against you, but you’re fired.” She tried to ignore the tiny scar at the corner of his sensual mouth.

“I don’t work for you. You can’t fire me.” He cocked a brow. “Even if you can take care of yourself.” His sexy drawl clearly said he didn’t think so.

Marissa pressed her lips together. “You caught me by surprise.” All of him caught her by surprise. He had the whole package right down to his muddy cowboy boots. He was a true Texan, and nothing close to her unflattering description to Kirk.

He laughed. “You think the killer is going to announce himself?”

Damn him! “Well, maybe I can’t fire you, but after what you just did, I can call your boss and demand another bodyguard.” Marissa slapped her hands on her full hips.

Why is he laughing again?

“My brothers and I own Evan’s Security and I’m afraid they’re all on assignments right now.”

Good God, there was more like him?

“I’m afraid I’m stuck with you.”

Marissa was preoccupied with the way his sensuous mouth formed the words, until what he said reached her on a conscious level. He was stuck with her? Her gaze returned to his. There was amusement swimming in his chocolate eyes. Rich, decadent chocolate that she could drown in if she wasn’t careful. Her lips twitched in response. She liked a man with a sense of humor, even directed at her.

Beau Evans was a big, well-proportioned man, and the way he filled out a pair of jeans revealed his powerful, muscular thighs. Marissa couldn’t help her wandering gaze as it moved down his body, then back up again. She gauged his height to be somewhere around six feet five. Not too many men made her feel small, but this one did.

“So, where’s the hat, cowboy?”

“In my truck.”

It figured he’d have a truck. Didn’t all macho Texans?

“What did you mean earlier when you said, ‘I have a lot to learn?’”

“I’ll show you after you put some clothes on.”

After years of modeling, Marissa was used to being in various states of undress around people. It came with the business, and she was very comfortable in her own skin. The minute she’d entered her dressing room she’d kicked off her heels and removed the sheer thigh length shirt.

“I am wearing clothes.”

If eyes could strip, she’d be naked right now. “If you insist, ma’am.”

His gaze dropped to her breasts, which Marissa knew were all but spilling out of the tight corset. Then she remembered the hard-on pressed against her during their struggles. Had she known then what she knew now, she might have had a little fun with him. The thought of his dick sliding into her cock-starved pussy caused her nipples to tighten into painful peaks of arousal. Then incredibly, her clit began to tingle.

Damn! This was new. She’d never reacted sexually to a man this fast before, and especially to a stranger. But looking at Beau, Marissa knew immediately that he was different. Instant attraction? She shrugged inwardly. It was possible. Or so her sister insisted. Dani had met and married Rob after only knowing him a week. And they’d been together eight years and three kids now.

By the time Beau met her eyes there was a warm lazy look in his that told Marissa he liked what he was looking at, too. A lot. A fact backed up by the still present bulge behind his zipper. The fact that he wanted her fueled her desire out of bounds. It also gave her a naughty idea. How strong was this Texan’s will power? It was crazy, but she suddenly had the overwhelming urge to test him.

“Well, before I can get dressed, I have to undress.” Normally Marissa would have called for an assistant. She sashayed up to Beau. “I need help, cowboy. Can you please unlace me so I can get out of this thing?” She presented her back to him, then lifted her hair out of the way and waited, holding her breath. She had to admit, the thought of his eyes roaming over her body made her hot.

There was the slightest of hesitations before she heard his low drawl, “Yes ma’am.”




  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Not Complicated

Not Complicated by Eve Summers

Excerpt


Facebook is weird. It lets you list your favorite movies (Casablanca) and music (Snow Patrol) and books (Joshilyn Jackson), it shows updates about your day (another late night at the office, Christopher was asleep by the time I got home), and yet it fails to capture the very essence that makes you - you.

Growing up, I wore homemade clothes because my parents couldn’t afford labels or even store-bought dresses. It made me feel inferior, but also loved beyond belief, because every garment I wore had been lovingly designed, cut and sewn by my mom. Where do I write that on Facebook?

My short-term goal is to work saner hours, my dream is for my son to get to know his dad, and my secret fantasy involves a happily-ever-after with Luke. Facebook remains totally oblivious of all that.

I choose not to confirm Luke as a friend. A Facebook friendship would be so much less than what we once had.

That leaves me one option: I have to go to the reunion.





  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

A rumor almost kills a romance






The stooped man moved with me, but toward the elevator, which was next to the door to the steps. “I saw you talking to an old friend of mine,” he said as he pressed the Down button.

“Really? Who's that?” I pushed open the stairwell door.

“Bill Manion.” The elevator dinged.

Curiosity warred with claustrophobia. Curiosity won. “Hold the door.” I scooted into the empty car behind the stooped man. “You know Bill?”

“Yep. We used to work together. Then I got laid off and lost track of him.” The man touched the 'L' button. 
“Is that good for you?”

“What? Oh, no. Three, please. I use the catwalk.” Then I remembered. I wasn't in my usual spot. The third floor was roped off. “Nope, sorry. The lobby will be fine today.”

“You must not be from here.” He smiled at my puzzled look. “Minnesotans say 'skyway', not 'catwalk'.”

“You're right. I've been here for about ten years.” The elevator descended and my stomach did an equally unpleasant plummet. “How long did you and Bill work together?” Keep talking, I thought. Keep your mind off the elevator and movement and the small space and the walls and...

“Almost twenty years. Then I got laid off and times got rough.” The man's face hardened briefly, bitterness replacing the dull resignation in his tired eyes. “And I got sick.”

Poor man. Losing a job was bad enough, but losing your health on top of it? I dug a business card out of my bag, my trembling fingers making the task difficult. “I work for the county and we have regular get-togethers for folks who are unemployed. Stop by sometime.”

He took the card and stared at it. I recognized his skeptical look. I'd seen it often enough on the faces of job-hunters at the county employment office where I volunteered. “We call it the Coping Club,” I said. “We talk about coping strategies for job hunting and dealing with unemployment. We meet on Tuesdays and Fridays.”

The elevator doors opened and two people got on. I shuffled to one side to make room, restraining myself from bolting for the open door.

The man moved closer to me, speaking in a low voice. “I haven't seen Bill for a while. Have you known him long?”

“No, I just met him. We met by accident.”

“Oh. Well...” He didn't look at me, his bloodshot gray eyes bouncing around the elevator car. The other two passengers were deep in conversation, ignoring us. “I suppose...”

“Yes?” Keep talking, keep talking, keep talking. The floor indicators were creeping past two and heading for one. After one there was the lobby. It was so close. Keep talking.

“I suppose since you're not from around here, you don't know about him.”

“Know about him?” The door dinged and people got on. I wanted to curse them. What idiot couldn't walk down one flight of stairs? The stooped man and I were moved to the back of the car, exactly the wrong spot for me. I broke out in a light sweat and clung to the strap of my purse. “What about Bill?” I asked.

The man shook his head. “It was sad. Not a nice story.”

My stomach dropped even further and I was close to clawing my way out of the space when the indicator dinged and the door finally opened. I almost fell out of the elevator, pushing past people in my haste. “What story?” I asked breathlessly in the small foyer.

The man started walking down the hall. “Rumor has it he raped someone.”

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

The fate of a planet, a world in the future

From Leap of Faith, Book 3 in the New Human Intercession, by J L Wilson





Jak approached the door to the main building and ran his hand over the security scanner. The door lock whirred but didn’t open. He tried again, pressing his palm hard against the red glowing light. The lock again made the hissing sound but nothing happened.

“Let me try, Leader Moreno.” One of his guards moved forward and reached out his hand to the door.

Jak stepped to one side to make room and that movement saved his life. A laser burst lanced through the night, its fine red beam bisecting the guard’s arm and traveling upward into the guard’s neck, which exploded in a spray of blood and tissue.

The second guard behind Jak grabbed him and pulled. Jak fell back with the man, assuming he meant to move them both out of danger. Instead the man twisted until Jak was in front of him, the guard protected by the door at their backs. Jak was exposed to the night, the guard’s arm around his neck and his chest in his light beige shirt like a beacon in the dark doorway. Jak jerked, trying to unhook the man’s arm from his throat, but the guard had him tightly with just enough pressure to keep Jak close.

Another burst of laser fire slammed into the plascrete of the building behind them. Shards of razor sharp fragments spiraled around them and Jak felt one bite into his face, making him flinch away from the pain. The guard briefly loosened his grip and Jak took advantage of the moment, dropping to the pavement to kneel briefly then jumping up, pivoting and ramming his fist hard into the guard’s chest.

The man went down with a startled grunt and Jak grabbed him, rolling to the ground with the guard on top of him. The next burst from the weapon caught the guard in the chest and he died with a strangled shout, sagging back and momentarily pinning Jak to the ground.

Jak pushed the body off of him and spun away from the lights that illuminated the path under the walkway leading to the government building. Alarms were clanging inside and Jak saw people running through the walkways, weapons drawn. People spilled out of doorways, muted shouts and panicked cries mingling with the sound of distant explosions.

“Leader Moreno!”

Jak turned and saw three guards racing across the courtyard toward him. They went just a few steps then laser fire crisscrossed in the night, overlying strands like deadly webs that ensnared the two men and woman, cutting them down in a bloody tangle.

Jak kept the apartment building against his back and began a dash to the government center where more guards – and more importantly, weapons – were housed. Adrenaline rushed through him and Jak used it to keep his panic at bay. Who is in on it? How did they get guards to attack me? Is the building still locked? He veered to the left, aiming for a different door. If all doors were locked, he would go to the front and break the glass there to get in. He had to cross some open space but he could minimize his vulnerability by staying close to the building most of the way.

He was halfway to the building when the lanterns that lit the courtyard flickered and died. The moon provided as much shadow as light, but Jak welcomed the darkness. He was nearing the side door leading to the common room on the lower level when he heard voices behind him.

“Exo!”

Jak froze and looked over his shoulder. Two figures were emerging from the darkness, weapons in their hands. Shouts were loud from the building behind him and beyond the shadowy courtyard he saw more people coming, people with weapons.

There was no clear exit ahead of him and he had no idea what was happening in the building behind him. He had only a slim chance of escape and nothing to use as a weapon. Jak assessed his options in the blink of an eye and settled on the only thing remaining: his telepathic training.

He turned and ran toward the doorway to the government center. If he could reach the relative security of that building, he might find others inside who could help, or weapons he could use. As he moved Jak focused on the attackers and attempted to touch the mind of the man running toward him.

Nothing except a dogged thought was palpable: Kill Exo Moreno. The single-minded focus was intense and for the first time since the attack began, Jak felt fright. The man either had rigid mental shields or he’d been somehow programmed, all other thoughts and emotions purged to leave only murder.

A clone? Jak wondered as he reached the door and slapped his hand against the palm reader. Did they reprogram a clone to kill me? That’s the only thing that makes sense. No one could be that devoid of emotion or thought.

The door didn’t budge. Jak didn’t waste time. He spun away to face the men coming at him, their guns raised. I can kill at least one of them, maybe two, with a psychic burst, he thought grimly. He gathered his power and refused to look beyond the four people who paused and took aim at him.

He saw movement in the glass panel at the top of the door. A face, then two, peered out at him then suddenly the door swung open.

“Move!”

Jak jumped to the left as a lithe figure darted out of the shadows of the doorway and fired over his shoulder. More shots blazed from inside the building, and Jak’s attackers went down amid a barrage of laser fire, screams torn from mangled throats and chests.

Dru grabbed Jak’s arm. “Come on! Don’t just stand there. We have a planet to save!”

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS