Jamie DeBree's Blog, page 43
April 13, 2012
Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 46
This serial novel is posted in draft form every Friday.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 | Ch. 44 | Ch. 45 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 46
She didn't really want to watch but Holly opened the window shade anyway, just in time to see Eddie reach the bottom of the slide with a thud. He got up, brushed himself off and looked up, squinting against the sun. She waved, and he waved back as he flung the bundle over his shoulder and started walking. In a few seconds, he'd disappeared under the wing, and she closed the shade again.
Settling into the curve of the wall, she got a bottle of water out of her supplies and took a sip. He'd left her with two liter bottles, and she tossed back a couple ibuprofen with a longer drink. Setting the bottle aside, she probed at the wound on her thigh with her fingers, noting that it had stopped bleeding, and didn't seem to hurt as bad. If those neanderthals hadn't dragged her onto the plane and dropped her, it would probably be far more stable by now. Pulling a blanket around herself, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Rest would be good. She'd need energy for later, when Eddie got back.
Something stung her hand, and she frowned, absently batting it away without bothering to open her eyes. Another pinch on her arm, then a finger. Moving restlessly, she blinked her eyes open, disoriented at the dark, unfamiliar surroundings. Then something sharp stabbed into her wounded leg, and she yelped, her heart racing as she tried to pull away, and found herself wedged into a small space with nowhere to go.
The air moved as something flew away with an annoyed squawk. Remembering the plane, she felt the space around her and found the bundle of supplies, taking the flashlight out and turning it on. How long had she been asleep, she wondered?
The plane's interior looked far more menacing in the dim beam from her flashlight, and she forced herself to take deep, even breaths as she tried to relax. Obviously that bird had thought she was an easy dinner, and she didn't want to know what the rustling noises coming from somewhere above and to the side of her position were.
A low groan carried from somewhere deeper in the plane, and she sat up straight, switching the flashlight off. The only people in that part of the plane had been her, Eddie, Natalie...and Sean. Was it possible he'd survived, tied to the seat like that? If he had, could she just leave him there?
Another groan, louder this time. The voice was definitely male. Holly closed her eyes, then opened them again, holding the flashlight tight against her chest. What if he got free on his own? What if he came after her to finish her off?
"Is anyone there? Help me! Please." Panic laced his voice, and she gripped the light harder. How could she just leave him there? But how could she help him without putting herself in danger?
There was a rattling noise, then a pause before it started again. He must still be tied down, but for how long? She considered her options. The flashlight was really her only weapon. Not wanting to draw attention, she left it off as she rifled through the other things Eddie left, but there were only a few lukewarm dinner trays and some plastic packages that felt like eating utinsels. Opening one as quietly as she could, she pulled out a plastic knife and fork, wishing desperately that they were metal.
Leaning her head back, she glanced toward the open hatch and wondered how fast she could get to the slide, if need be. Not that it would do any good if he followed her down.
Suddenly she realized the plane had gone silent again.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 | Ch. 44 | Ch. 45 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 46
She didn't really want to watch but Holly opened the window shade anyway, just in time to see Eddie reach the bottom of the slide with a thud. He got up, brushed himself off and looked up, squinting against the sun. She waved, and he waved back as he flung the bundle over his shoulder and started walking. In a few seconds, he'd disappeared under the wing, and she closed the shade again.
Settling into the curve of the wall, she got a bottle of water out of her supplies and took a sip. He'd left her with two liter bottles, and she tossed back a couple ibuprofen with a longer drink. Setting the bottle aside, she probed at the wound on her thigh with her fingers, noting that it had stopped bleeding, and didn't seem to hurt as bad. If those neanderthals hadn't dragged her onto the plane and dropped her, it would probably be far more stable by now. Pulling a blanket around herself, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Rest would be good. She'd need energy for later, when Eddie got back.
Something stung her hand, and she frowned, absently batting it away without bothering to open her eyes. Another pinch on her arm, then a finger. Moving restlessly, she blinked her eyes open, disoriented at the dark, unfamiliar surroundings. Then something sharp stabbed into her wounded leg, and she yelped, her heart racing as she tried to pull away, and found herself wedged into a small space with nowhere to go.
The air moved as something flew away with an annoyed squawk. Remembering the plane, she felt the space around her and found the bundle of supplies, taking the flashlight out and turning it on. How long had she been asleep, she wondered?
The plane's interior looked far more menacing in the dim beam from her flashlight, and she forced herself to take deep, even breaths as she tried to relax. Obviously that bird had thought she was an easy dinner, and she didn't want to know what the rustling noises coming from somewhere above and to the side of her position were.
A low groan carried from somewhere deeper in the plane, and she sat up straight, switching the flashlight off. The only people in that part of the plane had been her, Eddie, Natalie...and Sean. Was it possible he'd survived, tied to the seat like that? If he had, could she just leave him there?
Another groan, louder this time. The voice was definitely male. Holly closed her eyes, then opened them again, holding the flashlight tight against her chest. What if he got free on his own? What if he came after her to finish her off?
"Is anyone there? Help me! Please." Panic laced his voice, and she gripped the light harder. How could she just leave him there? But how could she help him without putting herself in danger?
There was a rattling noise, then a pause before it started again. He must still be tied down, but for how long? She considered her options. The flashlight was really her only weapon. Not wanting to draw attention, she left it off as she rifled through the other things Eddie left, but there were only a few lukewarm dinner trays and some plastic packages that felt like eating utinsels. Opening one as quietly as she could, she pulled out a plastic knife and fork, wishing desperately that they were metal.
Leaning her head back, she glanced toward the open hatch and wondered how fast she could get to the slide, if need be. Not that it would do any good if he followed her down.
Suddenly she realized the plane had gone silent again.
Enjoy
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| Desert
Heat | The
Biker's Wench
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April 11, 2012
Writer's Notes: Reading in April...
I really need to update my Goodreads shelves soon...it's been
months, and in that time the books I've read that are waiting to be
cataloged/starred/reviewed there have been piling up (virtually in most
cases, thank goodness). In any case, I thought today instead of talking
about my own books, I'd mention a few I've read or that are next up on
the "to be read" list, in case you're interested in looking them up.
Links to back to the author's site in most
cases (the Goodreads page when author site is not available), so that
you'll be able to grab whichever version works best for you, should you
decide you want to read it.
Current Fiction:
[image error]
American Gods by Neil Gaiman I
picked this up for free on Amazon (publisher special I think), and in
reading the introduction (am I the only one who actually does that?), I
found out that it's the 10th anniversary edition, and has been e
xpanded
to include more than the original. I have a trade paperback copy given
to me by my mother (who thought it was a weird book - read it for book
club), but I hate reading trade paper, and even moreso when it's several
inches thick (can you say sore wrists?)...hence my picking up the free
copy for my Kindle when I had the chance.
In
any case, so far, I'm intrigued, though it was a bit jarring jumping
from past tense to present for a rogue disturbing scene having nothing
to do with the main storyline (yet) just yesterday. I'll admit I'm sort
of wondering where we're going (or if we're actually going anywhere),
but for the moment, I'm content to trust that Gaiman has a point. His
style is easy to read and well-paced, which helps a lot. [image error]
The New Death and Others by James HutchingsThis
is a collection of short stories & poems that was sent to me free
for review, so I'll be posting one on GR as soon as I finish it. I
anticipate it will make good lunch hour reading...I'm starting it today.
TBR Fiction (the entire list is too long, but these are what I plan to read once the above are finished):
The Dark Path by Luke Romyn Attic Toys (horror short story collection from Evil Jester Press)
Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West (love story from a male POV)
Current Non-Fiction:
[image error]
The Writer's Workout by Christina KatzI
go in spurts with this book...I'll read a bunch at a time, and then put
it aside for awhile, then pick it back up again. Lots of good, solid
advice and suggestions, more for career building than anything else. I'm
enjoying it though.
[image error]
Coconut Cures: Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems with Coconut by Bruce Fife and Conrado DayritVery
interesting stuff here...I'm learning a lot, and it's all very logical,
with scientific research well-documented. At the same time, it doesn't
claim that coconut oil is a "cure-all", but rather that it's a super
food that will help us stay healthy along with other good lifestyle
choices. Good stuff.
TBR Non-Fiction:
The Shelfless Book: The Complete Digital Author by Jen Talty & Bob Mayer The Dog Cancer Survival Guide by Demian Dressler and Susan Ettinger
I
should note that the "to be read" books are books I plan to read the
samples for first, and then if they grab me, I'll buy the book and
finish it. So those are not set in stone, by any means.
So
that's a peek into my reading world...hopefully I'll get Goodreads
updated soon. It's your turn - what are you reading? And what's up next?
months, and in that time the books I've read that are waiting to be
cataloged/starred/reviewed there have been piling up (virtually in most
cases, thank goodness). In any case, I thought today instead of talking
about my own books, I'd mention a few I've read or that are next up on
the "to be read" list, in case you're interested in looking them up.
Links to back to the author's site in most
cases (the Goodreads page when author site is not available), so that
you'll be able to grab whichever version works best for you, should you
decide you want to read it.
Current Fiction:
[image error]
American Gods by Neil Gaiman I
picked this up for free on Amazon (publisher special I think), and in
reading the introduction (am I the only one who actually does that?), I
found out that it's the 10th anniversary edition, and has been e
xpanded
to include more than the original. I have a trade paperback copy given
to me by my mother (who thought it was a weird book - read it for book
club), but I hate reading trade paper, and even moreso when it's several
inches thick (can you say sore wrists?)...hence my picking up the free
copy for my Kindle when I had the chance.
In
any case, so far, I'm intrigued, though it was a bit jarring jumping
from past tense to present for a rogue disturbing scene having nothing
to do with the main storyline (yet) just yesterday. I'll admit I'm sort
of wondering where we're going (or if we're actually going anywhere),
but for the moment, I'm content to trust that Gaiman has a point. His
style is easy to read and well-paced, which helps a lot. [image error]
The New Death and Others by James HutchingsThis
is a collection of short stories & poems that was sent to me free
for review, so I'll be posting one on GR as soon as I finish it. I
anticipate it will make good lunch hour reading...I'm starting it today.
TBR Fiction (the entire list is too long, but these are what I plan to read once the above are finished):
The Dark Path by Luke Romyn Attic Toys (horror short story collection from Evil Jester Press)
Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West (love story from a male POV)
Current Non-Fiction:
[image error]
The Writer's Workout by Christina KatzI
go in spurts with this book...I'll read a bunch at a time, and then put
it aside for awhile, then pick it back up again. Lots of good, solid
advice and suggestions, more for career building than anything else. I'm
enjoying it though.
[image error]
Coconut Cures: Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems with Coconut by Bruce Fife and Conrado DayritVery
interesting stuff here...I'm learning a lot, and it's all very logical,
with scientific research well-documented. At the same time, it doesn't
claim that coconut oil is a "cure-all", but rather that it's a super
food that will help us stay healthy along with other good lifestyle
choices. Good stuff.
TBR Non-Fiction:
The Shelfless Book: The Complete Digital Author by Jen Talty & Bob Mayer The Dog Cancer Survival Guide by Demian Dressler and Susan Ettinger
I
should note that the "to be read" books are books I plan to read the
samples for first, and then if they grab me, I'll buy the book and
finish it. So those are not set in stone, by any means.
So
that's a peek into my reading world...hopefully I'll get Goodreads
updated soon. It's your turn - what are you reading? And what's up next?
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotica | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
April 9, 2012
Weekly News, Goals & Prompt, April 9, 2012
Prompt o' the Week: A woman stands on the deck of a ferry, having been asked to meet an old
friend on a nearby island. She reflects that it's strange she's the only
one aboard just after work, and as she walks to the other rail, she
sees another similar ferry loaded with people going the same direction.
She feels a touch on her shoulder, making her pulse jump...
It's
Monday again...everyone have a good holiday weekend (if you celebrate)?
We did the family thing, and poor Lucy-dog was ill for most of the weekend,
so it was long and I didn't get nearly as much done as I should have.
You know things are bad when I procrastinate on bookkeeping and taxes by
cleaning house...
We did watch two movies though, both excellent, IMO: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (US version) and Real Steel
(um, Hugh Jackman, anyone?). I've seen the dubbed version of GDT, but
didn't like it nearly as well - the US version does a much better job of
filling in important plot details for those of us who haven't read the
books. And I really want a boxing robot now...
I'm
taking Tuesday off the day job this week for a hair cut in the morning,
and a dental cleaning and root canal in the afternoon. Fun, no? I am
heartily sick of my teeth, I tell you what. But sometimes there's no
overcoming genetics, and I do like to eat.
I'm interested to see what happens tonight when I sit down to write tomorrow's chapter of The Minister's Maid.
There's something very bad that needs to happen, and I'm not sure
whether I can actually go all the way with it or not. I mean, this is
the very worst thing that could happen, and it will take the story to a
whole 'nuther level, but still, it's a hard direction to take, even for
someone who routinely knocks her characters down.
I've
been thinking a lot about my romantic suspense stories lately, and why
they don't sell as well as my erotica. The only thing I can come up with
is the emotional/psychological elements aren't as strong or central in
the romantic suspense - and I think I can fix that, though I'm not sure I
want to. Right now, the books seem to appeal to men and women equally. I
don't really want to make them so "romance-ish" that men no longer
enjoy them. So we'll see. TMM will be an experiment.
What do I need to get done this week? Here's the list:
- Serial scenes, plus one extra scene- Newsletters- Bookkeeping- Taxes
And we'll just leave it at that, since those are my top priorities until they're done.
Here's hoping the sun stays out this week...and that I can manage to get over myself and get all that paperwork done...
friend on a nearby island. She reflects that it's strange she's the only
one aboard just after work, and as she walks to the other rail, she
sees another similar ferry loaded with people going the same direction.
She feels a touch on her shoulder, making her pulse jump...
It's
Monday again...everyone have a good holiday weekend (if you celebrate)?
We did the family thing, and poor Lucy-dog was ill for most of the weekend,
so it was long and I didn't get nearly as much done as I should have.
You know things are bad when I procrastinate on bookkeeping and taxes by
cleaning house...
We did watch two movies though, both excellent, IMO: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (US version) and Real Steel
(um, Hugh Jackman, anyone?). I've seen the dubbed version of GDT, but
didn't like it nearly as well - the US version does a much better job of
filling in important plot details for those of us who haven't read the
books. And I really want a boxing robot now...
I'm
taking Tuesday off the day job this week for a hair cut in the morning,
and a dental cleaning and root canal in the afternoon. Fun, no? I am
heartily sick of my teeth, I tell you what. But sometimes there's no
overcoming genetics, and I do like to eat.
I'm interested to see what happens tonight when I sit down to write tomorrow's chapter of The Minister's Maid.
There's something very bad that needs to happen, and I'm not sure
whether I can actually go all the way with it or not. I mean, this is
the very worst thing that could happen, and it will take the story to a
whole 'nuther level, but still, it's a hard direction to take, even for
someone who routinely knocks her characters down.
I've
been thinking a lot about my romantic suspense stories lately, and why
they don't sell as well as my erotica. The only thing I can come up with
is the emotional/psychological elements aren't as strong or central in
the romantic suspense - and I think I can fix that, though I'm not sure I
want to. Right now, the books seem to appeal to men and women equally. I
don't really want to make them so "romance-ish" that men no longer
enjoy them. So we'll see. TMM will be an experiment.
What do I need to get done this week? Here's the list:
- Serial scenes, plus one extra scene- Newsletters- Bookkeeping- Taxes
And we'll just leave it at that, since those are my top priorities until they're done.
Here's hoping the sun stays out this week...and that I can manage to get over myself and get all that paperwork done...
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotica | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
April 6, 2012
Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 45
This serial novel is posted in draft form every Friday.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 | Ch. 44 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 45
The look on Eddie's face was almost worth the pain throbbing through her leg as Holly forced herself to smile. She'd underestimated the amount of energy it required to climb down the seats without falling - if you could call it climbing. If they couldn't use the slide, she wasn't sure what she'd do, because at this point climbing back up to the center aisle didn't feel like an option.
Luckily, Eddie nodded. "I think we can get down, but it's going to be steep. How's the leg?"
"It hurts," she said, refraining from rubbing her wound. "But I can handle it. Any idea how far it is to civilization once we get on the ground?"
He shook his head. "It didn't look like there was much out there when we were landing...a few farmhouses, but none close by." He moved to look out the door. "Maybe it would be better for you to stay here, while I go get help. I think we landed in a wheat field, and it could be hard walking through the rows to get anywhere."
Holly tried to tamp down the panic in her throat, knowing he was right, but not wanting to be left alone. At the same time, she knew he'd move faster without her.
Swallowing hard, she finally nodded. "That's probably the smart decision. I don't like the thought of you going out there alone though. What if you get hurt? Or Winston's men find you?"
He shrugged. "They could find the plane too. I'll just keep moving, and get back as fast as I can." He looked around the compartment, brows drawn together. "I should take a flashlight, if I can find one. You need one too, and a blanket. I'll be right back."
Holly watched as he climbed up the row of seats, wishing he'd moved back one so he wasn't hanging directly over the open hatch. She breathed a sigh of relief when he went over the top. Turning, she pushed up the plastic window cover below her, and peered out at the ground, the emergency slide swaying in the wind. The angle was much steeper than she'd imagined, and she cringed at the thought of Eddie going almost straight down with only a three foot cushion waiting at the bottom. What if it popped?
Snapping the shade shut, she leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes as she balanced with her good leg. There wasn't any other way. It had to work.
It wasn't long before she heard a scrabbling sound above, and she opened her eyes just in time to see Eddie leaning over the seats with a grin. He held out a bundle, lowering it until she could support the bottom before he released his grip.
"There's extra blankets, a flashlight, some food and one of those insanely expensive inflatable pillows in there. I found some ibuprofen too - the only painkillers they had, unfortunately. That should be enough to keep you at least sort of comfortable until I get back. I made another one for myself." He held up another cloth bundle for her to see, and she smiled.
"Wow. That was quick. Where did you find all this stuff?"
He pointed toward the back of the plane. "I raided the first class galley by the restrooms. If you run out of anything, try that first."
She nodded. "Thanks. Hand me yours - I'll hang on to it while you climb down." She took his bundle, and then waited while he made his way back to the open hatch. He carefully swung his legs out onto the slide, barely anchored to the threshold as it tilted out.
"Okay," he said, taking the pack from her and positioning it on his lap. "Wish me luck."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Good luck, Eddie. Hurry back."
He winked. "You'll hardly notice I'm gone." Scooting forward another inch, he cleared the lip and slipped out of sight.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 | Ch. 44 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 45
The look on Eddie's face was almost worth the pain throbbing through her leg as Holly forced herself to smile. She'd underestimated the amount of energy it required to climb down the seats without falling - if you could call it climbing. If they couldn't use the slide, she wasn't sure what she'd do, because at this point climbing back up to the center aisle didn't feel like an option.
Luckily, Eddie nodded. "I think we can get down, but it's going to be steep. How's the leg?"
"It hurts," she said, refraining from rubbing her wound. "But I can handle it. Any idea how far it is to civilization once we get on the ground?"
He shook his head. "It didn't look like there was much out there when we were landing...a few farmhouses, but none close by." He moved to look out the door. "Maybe it would be better for you to stay here, while I go get help. I think we landed in a wheat field, and it could be hard walking through the rows to get anywhere."
Holly tried to tamp down the panic in her throat, knowing he was right, but not wanting to be left alone. At the same time, she knew he'd move faster without her.
Swallowing hard, she finally nodded. "That's probably the smart decision. I don't like the thought of you going out there alone though. What if you get hurt? Or Winston's men find you?"
He shrugged. "They could find the plane too. I'll just keep moving, and get back as fast as I can." He looked around the compartment, brows drawn together. "I should take a flashlight, if I can find one. You need one too, and a blanket. I'll be right back."
Holly watched as he climbed up the row of seats, wishing he'd moved back one so he wasn't hanging directly over the open hatch. She breathed a sigh of relief when he went over the top. Turning, she pushed up the plastic window cover below her, and peered out at the ground, the emergency slide swaying in the wind. The angle was much steeper than she'd imagined, and she cringed at the thought of Eddie going almost straight down with only a three foot cushion waiting at the bottom. What if it popped?
Snapping the shade shut, she leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes as she balanced with her good leg. There wasn't any other way. It had to work.
It wasn't long before she heard a scrabbling sound above, and she opened her eyes just in time to see Eddie leaning over the seats with a grin. He held out a bundle, lowering it until she could support the bottom before he released his grip.
"There's extra blankets, a flashlight, some food and one of those insanely expensive inflatable pillows in there. I found some ibuprofen too - the only painkillers they had, unfortunately. That should be enough to keep you at least sort of comfortable until I get back. I made another one for myself." He held up another cloth bundle for her to see, and she smiled.
"Wow. That was quick. Where did you find all this stuff?"
He pointed toward the back of the plane. "I raided the first class galley by the restrooms. If you run out of anything, try that first."
She nodded. "Thanks. Hand me yours - I'll hang on to it while you climb down." She took his bundle, and then waited while he made his way back to the open hatch. He carefully swung his legs out onto the slide, barely anchored to the threshold as it tilted out.
"Okay," he said, taking the pack from her and positioning it on his lap. "Wish me luck."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Good luck, Eddie. Hurry back."
He winked. "You'll hardly notice I'm gone." Scooting forward another inch, he cleared the lip and slipped out of sight.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author: Tempest
| Desert
Heat | The
Biker's Wench
| Flash Fiction
**Please
note - comments take a few moments to appear. If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated.
April 4, 2012
Writer's Notes: Puttin' the Hurt On
I have a really bad habit of injuring my heroines. Without delving
too deeply into why it's usually my female characters who have to bear
the brunt of physical pain, I found myself insanely annoyed the other
day when having to write around a character's injuries. Mainly because
it is going to require some research in revisions as to how long that
particular wound would *actually* take to heal, the stages of healing,
re-injury possibilities, etc.
Also,
I'm tired of having to figure out how to get her places while making
allowances for her wound. Because you know, I can't ever write these
things half-way...there is no "simple scrape on the arm" with me. If I'm
going to hurt someone (um, on paper), I don't generally go half-way.
Because that wouldn't be nearly dramatic enough.
*eyeroll*
Yes,
I do realize that if I were a planner rather than a pantser, this
probably wouldn't be so much of an issue, because I'd have thought it
out ahead of time. But where's the fun in that? And what would I have to
complain about if I knew what was going to happen before it happened?
On
a brighter note, I'm well on my way to amassing serious knowledge on
how the body works, heals, and just how much suffering it can deal with
before saying "screw it, I'm done." Adrenaline, anyone? So you know,
there is that...
I can't complain too much though - I mean, I
do this to myself. In my erotica stories, no one gets seriously maimed
or hurt, ever (which you'll agree is a bit ironic, if you've ever read
one). And those stories seem to turn out fine. Actually, more people buy
those.
Hmm. Maybe I should look into that more
closely. Perhaps readers object to my fictional violence towards women?
I honestly can't tell you why it happens, it just does. I tend to write
by asking myself, "what's the worst thing that could happen here?" and
then I write that. Apparently for my romantic suspense and thriller
heroines, the worst thing that could happen is being physically damaged
in some way. Which we all know isn't true in all cases, but it's
interesting to note. I think it's because the physical wound makes it
that much harder for my strong women to do what they need to do - and
they will always, without fail, find the inner strength to push through
to the end.
But what if that isn't the worst
thing that could happen? What if I'm neglecting the emotional wreckage I
could be putting them through instead? I'm going to have to ponder that
too - the erotica deals far more with the psychological than the
physical. Perhaps I need to bring more of that out of the bedroom, so to
speak.
Hmm. Much to think about today.
All this pondering has given
me an epiphany about one of my rom. suspense stories that readers are
not going to like. But truly, it is the *worst* thing that can possibly
happen, in a very psychological way, and it's going to push my heroine
over the edge. This particular heroine has escaped major physical injury
to this point. No one is safe though, until I write "The End".
too deeply into why it's usually my female characters who have to bear
the brunt of physical pain, I found myself insanely annoyed the other
day when having to write around a character's injuries. Mainly because
it is going to require some research in revisions as to how long that
particular wound would *actually* take to heal, the stages of healing,
re-injury possibilities, etc.
Also,
I'm tired of having to figure out how to get her places while making
allowances for her wound. Because you know, I can't ever write these
things half-way...there is no "simple scrape on the arm" with me. If I'm
going to hurt someone (um, on paper), I don't generally go half-way.
Because that wouldn't be nearly dramatic enough.
*eyeroll*
Yes,
I do realize that if I were a planner rather than a pantser, this
probably wouldn't be so much of an issue, because I'd have thought it
out ahead of time. But where's the fun in that? And what would I have to
complain about if I knew what was going to happen before it happened?
On
a brighter note, I'm well on my way to amassing serious knowledge on
how the body works, heals, and just how much suffering it can deal with
before saying "screw it, I'm done." Adrenaline, anyone? So you know,
there is that...
I can't complain too much though - I mean, I
do this to myself. In my erotica stories, no one gets seriously maimed
or hurt, ever (which you'll agree is a bit ironic, if you've ever read
one). And those stories seem to turn out fine. Actually, more people buy
those.
Hmm. Maybe I should look into that more
closely. Perhaps readers object to my fictional violence towards women?
I honestly can't tell you why it happens, it just does. I tend to write
by asking myself, "what's the worst thing that could happen here?" and
then I write that. Apparently for my romantic suspense and thriller
heroines, the worst thing that could happen is being physically damaged
in some way. Which we all know isn't true in all cases, but it's
interesting to note. I think it's because the physical wound makes it
that much harder for my strong women to do what they need to do - and
they will always, without fail, find the inner strength to push through
to the end.
But what if that isn't the worst
thing that could happen? What if I'm neglecting the emotional wreckage I
could be putting them through instead? I'm going to have to ponder that
too - the erotica deals far more with the psychological than the
physical. Perhaps I need to bring more of that out of the bedroom, so to
speak.
Hmm. Much to think about today.
All this pondering has given
me an epiphany about one of my rom. suspense stories that readers are
not going to like. But truly, it is the *worst* thing that can possibly
happen, in a very psychological way, and it's going to push my heroine
over the edge. This particular heroine has escaped major physical injury
to this point. No one is safe though, until I write "The End".
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotica | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
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note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
April 2, 2012
Weekly News, Goals & Prompt, April 2, 2012
Prompt o' the Week: A shaft of sunlight from an upper window hits the face of a large grandfather clock in the living room just before one in the afternoon. As the big hand moves to twelve, a round hole in the arm aligns with a light sensor, and gears whir behind the wall until a nearby bookshelf swings out with a loud click. A shuffling noise comes from within...
Welcome to April, eh? Aside from my insanely bad judgment in staying up far, far too late last night doing my nails and watching old episodes of Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman (say what you will about the giant plot holes…that romance – and Joe Lando - still makes me swoon) the day has been fairly uneventful. Then again, it's only the lunch hour, so who knows what will happen this afternoon? But I'm hopeful all will remain somewhat calm.
Know how I thought I was done being distracted last week? Yeah, not so much. But things are *definitely* better now, and I can feel "life" coming back into focus. Things like characters and stories and writing time and housekeeping…well, everything. It's a good feeling, though a bit daunting at the moment considering everything I let go. I'm behind several weeks now on ancillary things (thank goodness I didn't let the writing slip more than a day or two at a time), so focus is exactly what I need to barrel ahead and get stuff done.
I've decided to post my weekly goals here again. While it may not be interesting or exciting for you, it's helpful for me to lay them all out at the start of the week. Good for that whole "focus" thing. If you don't already, I'd encourage you to try making a weekly goals list of your own. You might be surprised how handy it is, whether you hit all your goals or not (I'm normally about 50/50 with mine).
So for this week, in no particular order of importance:
- Write/post all serial chapters on time
- Devote half an hour nightly to entering data for bookkeeping purposes
- Format/publish next flash collection by Friday
- Meet calorie/fiber/exercise goals daily (if you use My Fitness Pal, friend me there)
- Write/send two main newsletters by Monday (Apr. 9th)
- Update BSB web site
- Spend a couple hours Saturday cleaning house (just because it needs it)
- Reinstate nightly load of laundry
And that's it for this week. It sounds like a lot, but it's really not when spread out over the week.
Here's to focus and productivity!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotica | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
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note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
March 30, 2012
Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 44
This serial novel is posted in draft form every Friday.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 44
Eddie saw Holly wince as she pushed off the door frame, her leg obviously protesting the action. He grabbed her hands and pulled, taking full advantage of her momentum to help her get anchored on the top edge of the wall. Once she was stable, he moved back, steadying her as she got first one, then the other leg over and perched on the side of the counter next to him. Her gaze moved past his shoulder, and he moved to block the view, though not quickly enough. She covered her mouth, her eyes tearing up.
"I should have warned you," he said, rubbing a hand on her arm. "There's nothing we can do, and we need to get out of here, so try not to look at them, okay?"
She was silent for a long moment, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. He untied the rope around her waist, letting it drop the six feet to the lower wall where the bodies of Winston's guards had ended up. Finally, she nodded.
"Okay. Let's go. Which way?" Blinking a few times, she dutifully looked toward the main passenger area, then back to him for confirmation. He nodded, putting one foot across the narrow gap to the other counter.
"Step across here, and then through to first class. You'll have to brace yourself on the sides of the seats. I'm right behind you." He waited until she'd crossed to the other side, then followed her through the sideways door. She'd wedged her good leg on one of the wide seats to the side, and her hands on a seat diagonally above her, just as he'd suggested.
"Are you okay there for a few minutes?" he asked, eying the emergency exit just below the first row of seats.
She nodded, twisting to look over her shoulder at him. "I'm fine. What are you going to do?"
He started climbing down the seats, using the arm rests as a ladder of sorts. "I'm going to see if the emergency side will deploy when I open this door. I don't know if it will be long enough, but it's worth a shot, right?"
"Be careful," she called as he reached the door and started looking around for an anchor point. Wishing he would have brought the rope, he settled for leaning against the wall of the plane and hooking one foot through the bottom of the nearest seat. Scanning the directions on the door for emergencies, he pushed the lever up, struggling to force it all the way and then let gravity pull the door out. There was a pop, and a hissing noise, and he ducked back behind the wall, hoping the slide wouldn't inflate back into the cabin. A few seconds later, he peered around the corner, relieved that the slide was touching the ground, and seemed to be fully inflated. It was a pretty steep angle, but it should work.
"Holly?" he yelled, looking up, but unable to see her. He wasn't sure if she'd be able to climb down or not, but maybe he could go back for the rope. "Where are you?"
"Right here," she said, her voice coming from the row behind him. He looked over the back of the seat, and she smiled at him from her position between the two rows. "I figured I'd just come down while you were working on the door. Was that the slide I heard?"
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 | Ch. 43 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 44
Eddie saw Holly wince as she pushed off the door frame, her leg obviously protesting the action. He grabbed her hands and pulled, taking full advantage of her momentum to help her get anchored on the top edge of the wall. Once she was stable, he moved back, steadying her as she got first one, then the other leg over and perched on the side of the counter next to him. Her gaze moved past his shoulder, and he moved to block the view, though not quickly enough. She covered her mouth, her eyes tearing up.
"I should have warned you," he said, rubbing a hand on her arm. "There's nothing we can do, and we need to get out of here, so try not to look at them, okay?"
She was silent for a long moment, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. He untied the rope around her waist, letting it drop the six feet to the lower wall where the bodies of Winston's guards had ended up. Finally, she nodded.
"Okay. Let's go. Which way?" Blinking a few times, she dutifully looked toward the main passenger area, then back to him for confirmation. He nodded, putting one foot across the narrow gap to the other counter.
"Step across here, and then through to first class. You'll have to brace yourself on the sides of the seats. I'm right behind you." He waited until she'd crossed to the other side, then followed her through the sideways door. She'd wedged her good leg on one of the wide seats to the side, and her hands on a seat diagonally above her, just as he'd suggested.
"Are you okay there for a few minutes?" he asked, eying the emergency exit just below the first row of seats.
She nodded, twisting to look over her shoulder at him. "I'm fine. What are you going to do?"
He started climbing down the seats, using the arm rests as a ladder of sorts. "I'm going to see if the emergency side will deploy when I open this door. I don't know if it will be long enough, but it's worth a shot, right?"
"Be careful," she called as he reached the door and started looking around for an anchor point. Wishing he would have brought the rope, he settled for leaning against the wall of the plane and hooking one foot through the bottom of the nearest seat. Scanning the directions on the door for emergencies, he pushed the lever up, struggling to force it all the way and then let gravity pull the door out. There was a pop, and a hissing noise, and he ducked back behind the wall, hoping the slide wouldn't inflate back into the cabin. A few seconds later, he peered around the corner, relieved that the slide was touching the ground, and seemed to be fully inflated. It was a pretty steep angle, but it should work.
"Holly?" he yelled, looking up, but unable to see her. He wasn't sure if she'd be able to climb down or not, but maybe he could go back for the rope. "Where are you?"
"Right here," she said, her voice coming from the row behind him. He looked over the back of the seat, and she smiled at him from her position between the two rows. "I figured I'd just come down while you were working on the door. Was that the slide I heard?"
Enjoy
this post? Support your author: Tempest
| Desert
Heat | The
Biker's Wench
| Flash Fiction
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will be moderated.
March 26, 2012
Weekly News & Prompt, March 26, 2012
Week 12 Prompt: A prisoner sits in a small cell, walls on three sides, bars on the
fourth. It's cold and damp, but the surroundings are adequate. Heavy
footsteps on the concrete stop in front of the cell, and a guard appears
as the loud buzz that signals freedom sounds. The prisoner follows the
guard to an alcove, where one wrist is cuffed to a metal bar bolted to
the wall. The phone on the wall rings, and the prisoner answers, heart
racing at the sound of the voice on the other end...
I
won't patronize you by wishing you a "happy" Monday...though I do hope
yours is off to a decent start. Last week was pretty much a bust - I
barely got my chapters done and decided to cancel the "challenge" part
of the Flash 52 project, simply because all the time I've spent being
distracted by health issues lately has gotten me way off track with a
lot of things, and I need to play catch-up in a serious way, especially
since taxes are due soon. So the next couple weekends will be eaten up
by paperwork and web site updates rather than writing, sadly.
There's
another reason I'm canceling the challenge though, and that is flash
fiction just doesn't sell well enough to spend so much time on it. I'd
rather spend more time on the stories I've got in progress than new
short stuff that isn't selling. Yes, it's great writing practice, and I
will still be writing flash as I have time for that reason. If sales
pick up on the flash side, I'll make it a higher priority again.
I
was in a fair amount of pain all last week, and after extensive
searching/webmd diagnostics/confirmation with my mother this weekend
(who is not a doctor, but knows family medical history better than I
do), I'm fairly certain I'm dealing with a gallbladder/gallstone
attack(s). Because I'm stubborn, have little faith in modern medicine,
and am opposed to just ripping out my organs when they misbehave except
as a last resort, I've spent the weekend trying out alternative remedies
for dealing with this with decent success. By which I mean the pain is
manageable, and getting better. However, much like the dog-cancer thing,
very distracting. Hence many late serial chapters last week, and the
lack of Weds. post. With any luck, this week will be far less
distracting, and I can focus on fiction again.
For
those interested, I am starting a blog about my experiences with both
human and canine health management - the posts won't be regularly
scheduled, and it may be months between updates, but it will serve as a
place to sort of collect all the information have gathered/am gathering
as I go along. I'll post a link when there's something there...at the
moment it's just an empty template.
So what's up this week? Serial chapters for The Minister's Maid (Tues at the Fantasy Ranch blog), Animal (Weds at the thriller blog), Irish Cream (Thursday at the erotic romance blog), and Falling in Public
(Friday back here). Also on Wednesday, meet me back here for a
discussion on injured characters and how that affects plots both
positively and negatively from a writer's perspective.
I think that's it for now...carry on!
fourth. It's cold and damp, but the surroundings are adequate. Heavy
footsteps on the concrete stop in front of the cell, and a guard appears
as the loud buzz that signals freedom sounds. The prisoner follows the
guard to an alcove, where one wrist is cuffed to a metal bar bolted to
the wall. The phone on the wall rings, and the prisoner answers, heart
racing at the sound of the voice on the other end...
I
won't patronize you by wishing you a "happy" Monday...though I do hope
yours is off to a decent start. Last week was pretty much a bust - I
barely got my chapters done and decided to cancel the "challenge" part
of the Flash 52 project, simply because all the time I've spent being
distracted by health issues lately has gotten me way off track with a
lot of things, and I need to play catch-up in a serious way, especially
since taxes are due soon. So the next couple weekends will be eaten up
by paperwork and web site updates rather than writing, sadly.
There's
another reason I'm canceling the challenge though, and that is flash
fiction just doesn't sell well enough to spend so much time on it. I'd
rather spend more time on the stories I've got in progress than new
short stuff that isn't selling. Yes, it's great writing practice, and I
will still be writing flash as I have time for that reason. If sales
pick up on the flash side, I'll make it a higher priority again.
I
was in a fair amount of pain all last week, and after extensive
searching/webmd diagnostics/confirmation with my mother this weekend
(who is not a doctor, but knows family medical history better than I
do), I'm fairly certain I'm dealing with a gallbladder/gallstone
attack(s). Because I'm stubborn, have little faith in modern medicine,
and am opposed to just ripping out my organs when they misbehave except
as a last resort, I've spent the weekend trying out alternative remedies
for dealing with this with decent success. By which I mean the pain is
manageable, and getting better. However, much like the dog-cancer thing,
very distracting. Hence many late serial chapters last week, and the
lack of Weds. post. With any luck, this week will be far less
distracting, and I can focus on fiction again.
For
those interested, I am starting a blog about my experiences with both
human and canine health management - the posts won't be regularly
scheduled, and it may be months between updates, but it will serve as a
place to sort of collect all the information have gathered/am gathering
as I go along. I'll post a link when there's something there...at the
moment it's just an empty template.
So what's up this week? Serial chapters for The Minister's Maid (Tues at the Fantasy Ranch blog), Animal (Weds at the thriller blog), Irish Cream (Thursday at the erotic romance blog), and Falling in Public
(Friday back here). Also on Wednesday, meet me back here for a
discussion on injured characters and how that affects plots both
positively and negatively from a writer's perspective.
I think that's it for now...carry on!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotica | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
March 23, 2012
Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 43
This serial novel is posted in draft form every Friday.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 43
Eddie shrugged. "It's all true - why wouldn't they believe it? Besides, isn't it your job to make people believe stuff that isn't true?"
Holly gave him a wry grin. "Well yeah, but I wouldn't call getting shot, kidnapped, and then crashing a plane all that romantic. My readers would probably get bored."
He reached up and trailed his fingers down her neck, and suddenly her argument felt hollow.
"What would your readers say if I kissed you right now?"
As if she were watching a movie, Holly saw herself perched on a doorframe in a tiny tilted hallway, her rock-star hero propped up next to her. It was surreal, watching him move closer as she closed her eyes and just knew the moment his lips were going to press against hers. The image vanished from her head as soon as he made contact, and there was only soft, moist, warmth that nearly overwhelmed her as she met him move for move. Leaning closer, she pressed against his chest, reveling in the feel of his arm clamped around her waist as he left her mouth and kissed his way across her jaw and down her neck. His breath was hot against her skin, and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to strip down and feel him flesh against flesh.
"Eddie?" She forced herself to open her eyes and started to pull back, but realized there was nowhere to go. "Eddie, we have to get out of this plane."
His lips curved up against her chest, kissing her one more time before he looked up at her. "I don't know. This is pretty cozy, don't you think?" The playful glint in his eye made her want to kiss him again, but she managed to refrain.
"Beds are cozy too, if I remember right."
"You remember right." He wiggled his eyebrows and carefully straightened, placing one last quick kiss on her lips. "I'll find you a bed if you promise to share."
She laughed. "Deal." Tilting her head back, she looked at the corner of the wall. "So how are we going to to get from here to there?"
Eddie reached a hand out and hooked his fingers on the edge. "Are you okay here for a few minutes?"
She nodded.
"I'm pretty sure there's a counter on the other side of the wall in the galley. I'm going to stand on that, and then I should be able to pull you out."
He reached out with his other hand, gave a small hop and started pulling along the diagonal surface. Holly made sure her footing was stable, and then tried to help push as he scaled the wall. When he got to the top, he swung one leg over and gave her a thumbs-up before disappearing over the edge.
It wasn't long before a length of rope came sliding down toward her. She grabbed it, looking up in time to see him anchored above.
"Tie it around your waist," he said, feeding out more until she had enough. She knotted it, then changing her mind, slid it up under her armpits.
"It will just ride up if I do that," she said when he looked like he was going to argue. "This way, less rope burns." She centered the knot above her breasts, then turned so only her toes were supported below. "Ready for me to jump?"
He nodded, adjusting his grip. "Try to get a hand on either side of me, so I can help."
Holly nodded, then took a breath, let it out slow, bent her knees and jumped.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15| Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25 | Ch. 26 | Ch. 27 | Ch. 28 | Ch. 29 | Ch. 30 | Ch. 31 | Ch. 32 | Ch. 33 | Ch. 34 | Ch. 35 | Ch. 36 | Ch. 37 | Ch. 38 | Ch. 39 | Ch. 40 | Ch. 41 | Ch. 42 |
Falling in Public
Chapter 43
Eddie shrugged. "It's all true - why wouldn't they believe it? Besides, isn't it your job to make people believe stuff that isn't true?"
Holly gave him a wry grin. "Well yeah, but I wouldn't call getting shot, kidnapped, and then crashing a plane all that romantic. My readers would probably get bored."
He reached up and trailed his fingers down her neck, and suddenly her argument felt hollow.
"What would your readers say if I kissed you right now?"
As if she were watching a movie, Holly saw herself perched on a doorframe in a tiny tilted hallway, her rock-star hero propped up next to her. It was surreal, watching him move closer as she closed her eyes and just knew the moment his lips were going to press against hers. The image vanished from her head as soon as he made contact, and there was only soft, moist, warmth that nearly overwhelmed her as she met him move for move. Leaning closer, she pressed against his chest, reveling in the feel of his arm clamped around her waist as he left her mouth and kissed his way across her jaw and down her neck. His breath was hot against her skin, and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to strip down and feel him flesh against flesh.
"Eddie?" She forced herself to open her eyes and started to pull back, but realized there was nowhere to go. "Eddie, we have to get out of this plane."
His lips curved up against her chest, kissing her one more time before he looked up at her. "I don't know. This is pretty cozy, don't you think?" The playful glint in his eye made her want to kiss him again, but she managed to refrain.
"Beds are cozy too, if I remember right."
"You remember right." He wiggled his eyebrows and carefully straightened, placing one last quick kiss on her lips. "I'll find you a bed if you promise to share."
She laughed. "Deal." Tilting her head back, she looked at the corner of the wall. "So how are we going to to get from here to there?"
Eddie reached a hand out and hooked his fingers on the edge. "Are you okay here for a few minutes?"
She nodded.
"I'm pretty sure there's a counter on the other side of the wall in the galley. I'm going to stand on that, and then I should be able to pull you out."
He reached out with his other hand, gave a small hop and started pulling along the diagonal surface. Holly made sure her footing was stable, and then tried to help push as he scaled the wall. When he got to the top, he swung one leg over and gave her a thumbs-up before disappearing over the edge.
It wasn't long before a length of rope came sliding down toward her. She grabbed it, looking up in time to see him anchored above.
"Tie it around your waist," he said, feeding out more until she had enough. She knotted it, then changing her mind, slid it up under her armpits.
"It will just ride up if I do that," she said when he looked like he was going to argue. "This way, less rope burns." She centered the knot above her breasts, then turned so only her toes were supported below. "Ready for me to jump?"
He nodded, adjusting his grip. "Try to get a hand on either side of me, so I can help."
Holly nodded, then took a breath, let it out slow, bent her knees and jumped.
Enjoy
this post? Support your author: Tempest
| Desert
Heat | The
Biker's Wench
| Flash Fiction
**Please
note - comments take a few moments to appear. If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated.
Delayed...
Sorry...no chapter just yet. This week's been rather distracted all around. But I'll have it up later tonight, I promise. Thanks for waiting!
