Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group discussion
Writing Challenge
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Danielle's Dangerous Hero Writing Challenge Story (Captive/Kidnap): Shadow Tryst
Danielle,I love your story,I think you and Arch need to head off to the publishers house and get your writing carears going ,you are both certainly good enough and your hero is oh la la and hubba hubba-love him.Keep writing ,and I`ll keep reading
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I love your story,I think you and Arch need to head off to the publishers house and get your writing carears going ,you are both certainly good enough and your hero is oh la la and hubba..."
Thanks Kathy, but I honestly don't want to get published.
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Danielle, Alexie is a good dangerous guy. He's not one of the evil bad guys on the wrong side. He wants to do right by Karina. That's makes him likable.
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lol, Cop is forever threatening Sanjar. His last threat was to put a bullet in her head, if she throw that chair at his glass.
message 108:
by
Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal
(last edited Apr 07, 2010 10:12AM)
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Or torture bunny rabbits or small children. :)
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I agree. Cop is edgy. He wouldn't dare hurt Sanjar.
I always feel like the heroine is always aware how he feels about her and knows she can get away with stuff no one else would dare try.
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I agree Kathy Anne. I think the heroine pretty much knows how he feels or hope he feels. She might cross a line and he might react. Well, she thinks he will.
The hero can do something that scares the heroine.
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Yes, you are right Danielle. Karina is Alexei's soft spot. That's why he killed the driver. He was telling the man "Hands off. She belongs to me."
I agree ,I think the reason we like bad boys is because we want to be that soft spot on this otherwise Tiger.
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He killed the guy in the apartment lobby because he was angry that had murdered Henri, who was an innocent, in Alexei's mind. But Alexei will definitely show jealous/possessive tendencies. Don't worry. You know I like my jealous/possessive heroes. :)
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He killed the guy in the apartment lobby because he was angry that had murdered Henri, who was an innocent, in Alexei's mind. But Alexei will definitely show jealous/possessive..."
Hey, a jealous/possessive hero is the best kind. :)
I so agree about that! I can't wait to see how jealous/possessive Alexei gets. Yum. Hehe.
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Make time. Even if it has to be five minutes a day.
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Business comes before pleasure.
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I need to catch up on some reading too.
I know what you guys mean. My TBR books are starting to scream at me and my other WIPs are giving me the evil eye. Agh. Need more time. Hope you get back to writing, Danielle. I can't wait to see what happens!
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Hope you get back to writing, Danielle. I can't wait to see..."
What's WIP? Does it has something to do with writing?
Yup! WIP = Works in Progress. :-)
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Okay. Thanks!
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He continued to hold her as her sobs abated, hoping that his will-power would hold true. Her body was soft and womanly in his arms. She felt too good there. She felt right.
It was like a peculiar mix of pleasure and pain to hold her. Alexei, a man who kept most people at arms’ length, was enjoying holding this woman. He was some kind of fool, this desire to comfort her, going against the hard lessons he’d learned in his life as a killer. Keep people at a distance, at all times. Any closer, and the kill was acutely dangerous, to both parties.
The places where her untethered, generous breasts touched his torso burned. The smell of her, a mix of the milled lemon verbena soap and her natural scent, teased at his nostrils. He could take her, and she’d let him. And it would be oh, so sweet. But tomorrow, they’d be back to square one. Except she’d have an edge over him. Because he’d know what it felt like to have her, and he’d want more of it.
Alexei was nothing, if not a pragmatist. He was very much about putting business before pleasure. He’d steel himself to keep this woman at arms length, until the time was right. Then he’d have his revenge, and he’d have her. But until then, he’d bide his time. The determination did little to assuage the desire burning inside of him. But Alexei concentrated on Karina’s soft breaths against his shoulder. He focused on slowing his heartbeat, until it almost matched hers. Eventually, she slumped into a sleep of exhaustion, literally while he was holding her. He eased her back down onto the bed, covering her with a blanket. She didn’t stir again, sleeping soundly the rest of the night. He knew, because he watched her the whole time.
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Morning came, and Karina slowly emerged from the deep sleep of the truly fatigued. The bed beneath her was soft and comforting. It was so warm and homey, that she wanted to snuggled deeper between the thick comforter, and bask in the feel of it. But something nagged at her, prodding her conscious mind to kick in.
The memories of the last day stabbed her brain like sharp needles. The feeling of contentment was abruptly ripped away like a bandage from a healing wound. Karina groaned softly, rolling onto her back. She was in deep. And there was no forseeable way out. Yet.
“I see you’re awake, sleepyhead,” a deep voice that was incongruously sexy, considering the source, assailed her ears.
Karina set up, glaring at the man who was holding her captive. He looked fresh as a bunny rabbit on the first day of spring. And she had the usual unsightly appearance of a person who had slept hard. Her hair was all over her head, and her face felt grimy, her mouth unclean.
Alexei smiled at her. “Breakfast is waiting for you. I figured you’d want to go clean up first. So you shouldn’t linger. I might have to come help you,” he said.
Karina took in the male beauty of him, dressed in black, yet again. He was tall, lean, devastating. His angular face was freshly shaved, showing the clean lines of a jaw that ruggedly bespoke his fierce nature. His dark eyes roamed all over her, with an intensity that suggested a man taking in one of his possession to see if its value had changed the last time he surveyed it. The look made her bristle. Or it could be that she was not a morning person. A glance at the large window to the right of the bed showed that it was still early morning. That meant a long day of dealing with this man who had no problem torturing her if necessary. And he was sure to want answers. Her heart stuttered at the thought of what he might do to get them.
Alexei pointed at his watch with a long finger. “Time is wasting.” He stepped towards the bed, as if he was coming to give her assistance in removing herself from it.
Karina practically jumped out of bed. She marched towards the open door where he waited. “I hope you have an extra toothbrush. And I need a comb and brush and some conditioner for my hair,” she muttered, squeezing past him with as much dexterity as possible. Their bodies met in the process, sending waves of unease through her. The solid feel of him sparked a hazy memory of contact between them at some point in the night.
“All is ready for you, mademoiselle,” he said, humor dancing in the deep octaves of his voice.
Karina decided to ignore him. She stalked into the bathroom, closing the door. Until it occurred to her that she didn’t have clothes or underwear. Opening the door, she prepared to yell for both. Alexei was standing there, his arms full of a stack of folded clothing. It was not the clothes she wore yesterday. It was the spare pair of clothing she’d thrown in her tote, underwear neatly folded on top. The thought that he’d touched her underwear made her shiver. Clearing her voice, she said an awkward thanks, avoiding his gaze.
Karina gently closed the door in his face, and set herself about the task of showering, doing something with the mess of her hair, and washing her face and brushing her teeth. Fifteen minutes later, she felt presentable. She used the leave-on condition that Alexei had set on the rim of the toilet, managing to tame the tangled strands into some semblance of order. Her hair was neatly combed back away from her face now. She’d lost her ponytail holder, so she left it down. It fell in straight locks to her collarbone.
She wore a button down shirt in white with black stripes, black sleeveless t-shirt underneath over her spare bra, and straight-legged black pants over a pair of hip-hugging black cotton brief. Black socks she’d found tucked in the pile of clothes adorned her feet. She’d had to ask him about her shoes when she got out of the bathroom.
Karina faced her neat, composed reflection in the mirror. She told herself she’d be fine. Her stomach didn’t believe her. That man out there scared the crap out of her, for more reasons than one. He was a mortal enemy, it would seem. Yet there was something appealing about him. Something that drew her to him. And she’d never gone in for bad boys. “You need to keep your wits about you,” she told her reflection in English. “He’s a dangerous man to underestimate.” Karina intended to do exactly as she’d counseled herself.
She was between a rock and a hard place. She either gave up Liam Sullivan, or this man would kill her, hurting her first, and then go after Sullivan. And she wasn’t sure she could trust Liam anymore, anyway. Maybe the best strategy for now was to cooperate with him, they’d track down Sullivan, get the answers, and she’d be able to get out of this alive. If Sullivan was guilty, he’d have to deal with Alexei. If not, maybe Sullivan could help get them both out of the path of this relentless hunter on the trail for vengeance. Every instinct told her that wasn’t going to be an easy thing.
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Alexei is being bad. He wants Karina to go get ready or he will have to help her.
That's a bad boy kidnapper way of thinking. I don't know why he feels he has to help his captive get dress, brush her teeth, etc. - he just wants to be close to her. To torture her brain and body. :)
I believe that Alexei checked out Karina underwear. He seems like the type that would do so.
I can't wait for the next installment Danielle. :)
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Take your time. Tell your sister that I hope she feels better. Sleep is good after a surgery. I know.
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You are welcome.
I will hopefully post my next installment up later on tonight.
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I have a new installment up from the weekend. I thought that I would have my next installment up tonight, but I won't. I'll probably write some to the new installment, but I will do some reading tonight.
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Thanks. I will.
Hope your sister is doing better, Danielle. :-)I love how Alexei is so tempted to give into Karina and Karina finds him appealing yet dangerous. I don't blame her. ;-)
message 141:
by
Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal
(last edited Apr 18, 2010 08:26PM)
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Karina reluctantly emerged from the bathroom and entered the kitchen. It was situated so that it was flooded with the early morning light. The effect of it shining around Alexei was almost eerie. His hair was so dark, it shone with blue highlights, and the light seemed to bend around him. Karina blinked.
Alexei’s gaze settled on her, checking out her newly clean and neat appearance. His eyes lingered on her hair. She resisted the urge to pat it self-consciously. “What color was your hair before?” he asked, motioning to the table set with a hearty breakfast.
The question threw her for a loop. She took a seat. “What different does that make?”
Alexei came over and poured her orange juice. “I’m fatally curious. Humor me.”
Karina played with her napkin to keep her hands busy. She tossed around the merits of revealing that information. In the end, she figured it wasn’t a national secret. “It was black, like yours.”
Alexei walked behind her, and she felt his hands smooth over her hair. They came up under the ends of her hair, brushing her nape. She shivered at the feel of his slightly calloused hands. “Probably not straight, I imagine.”
Karina took a sip of her orange juice, trying not to choke on it, as his hands lingered on her neck. “I had to change my appearance somehow.”
“It’s not necessary anymore. I’m here to protect you.” His hands fell away and he stalked over to his chair. He smiled ferally. “I’m the one you should be afraid of now.”
The look that Karina shot at him had enough heat to melt him on the spot. She was fed up with his power games. He knew that he scared her like nothing else. “You need to quit threatening me. If you’re going to hurt me, just do it. Stop playing your sick games.”
Alexei was unmoved by the caustic tone of voice she used. He took up his fork and knife and started eating, but said nothing. His body language was utterly relaxed.
Karina let out the breath she was holding. It was not in her nature to be combative. She was strong in the way that she didn’t give up on what she wanted. She was willing to work for the things that mattered to her. But, in the past, she was the type who would walk away from most conflicts. There’d been little reason to fight. But something about this man, he brought out the fighter in her. She wasn’t stupid enough to try to run from him. He’d catch her. That was certain. But the words and the looks came out to make sure he knew how she felt about him. Even though her cautious side urged her to keep quiet. “You’re not going to say anything.”
Alexei shook his head. He took another bite of his food. Then he pointed at her full plate. “You need to eat. We have a long day ahead of us.”
Karina stared at him. She’d called him out, and all he could do was tell her to eat. Her eyes landed on a beautifully arranged plate. It wasn’t the typical le petit déjeuner that Karina had gotten used to living in Paris. Alexei had served French country bread, liberally smeared with butter, with a crock of jam nearby. But he also served up fluffy scrambled eggs à l'américaine, basically served with grilled slices of tomato and smoked bacon. Alongside the hearty egg dish was a smaller dish of fresh fruit salad. Her stomach told her that antagonizing Alexei was no longer the first priority. Before she knew it, she was eating the food.
Karina washed down the delicious breakfest with rich hot chocolate. She moaned at the warm, creamy feel of it going down her throat. Although she was carefully focusing on her food, she didn’t miss Alexei’s chuckle at her reaction to the chocolate. She didn’t care if he was amused. She’d always loved her food, although being on the run had caused her to lose a lot of weight, between nerves and a lack of appetite at times. Her mother and father had been avid foodies, and she’d grown up with a sophisticated appreciation for good food.
“You’re a great cook,” she told him reluctantly.
“A single man has to learn such things,” he said. “And my French grandmother would not allow any different.”
Karina looked around the beautifully rustic, sundrenched kitchen. “Was this her house?”
Alexei nodded. “She left it to me after she passed away.”
Curiosity overcame her. “So how is that you have a Russian accent and name, but you’re a Frenchman?”
He took a bite of bread slathered with butter and strawberry jam, chewing it and swallowing it, before answering her. “My father was Russian. I was raised both in Russia and France, growing up. I’d spend the summers with my grand-mère.”
“Hence the excellent cooking skills, and exquisite French.”
Alexei nodded. “Well that and my French mother.”
Karina shot him a covert look. His expression was carved from stone. Apparently he didn’t like talking about his mother. Did he have hidden pain in his past when it came to his mother? Was that his one soft spot? She told herself she didn’t care, but part of her was intrigued with this man who was holding her captive. “Well, I thank your grand-mère for making such a good cook out of you.”
“I have many good skills.” Karina’s gaze shot up at the provocative tone of voice he employed. “Some of them, you’ll be soon to see.”
She firmed her mettle at his tone. He was trying to scare her again. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he had revealed aspects of himself to her. It was ironic that he wanted to pick and probe at her sore spots, but didn’t want her doing the same to him. Not that she cared. If she was the devious sort, she could try to use that against him. But sabotage and backstabbing had never been skills of hers. She was forthright, almost to her detriment. Which was a major reason why she avoided close relationships. Being an honest but peaceful person tended to make you a target. She’d have to watch herself around this man. He had no problem with finding her weak spots, although he had been distressingly honest. The combination left her weary as to how to protect herself from him.
She focused herself back on her food. It was so good that it wasn’t a hardship. Even with this man unnerving her so.
Soon breakfast was finished. Raised to be polite, even though this situation probably didn’t call for it, she offered to help clean up. He waved her away. Karina watched Alexei as he quickly washed up from their breakfast. Her gaze was continually drawn to the lithe movements of his body. Looking at him wasn’t a chore, despite knowing what he was. He didn’t speak as he worked, but she could hear him humming a tune under his breath. The strains of the melody caught her memory. It was, “Ah Mon Beau Chateau!" A French nursery song she had learned in her first French language classes. With his deep voice, it should have sounded incongruous for him to hum such an innocent tune. But, it sounded seductively beautiful.
Her brow furrowed as Karina tried to understand her captor. He was cold, almost cruel at times. And in others, he was gentle and almost sweetly caring. She bit her lip. It was all a game, Karina decided. He was trying to draw her in. Fooling her into trusting him. But she wouldn’t fall for it. Not after what she’d lost. Perhaps he’d carved up someone’s parents. He seemed more than comfortable with a knife. No, he wasn’t the hand behind her parent’s deaths. But he might as well be. Don’t trust him, she told herself.
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Alexei finished the washing, and then he came to sit down again. “More chocolate or orange juice?” he inquired.
Karina shook her head. Suddenly her stomach was acting like it wanted to give back the breakfast she’d consumed.
“Well, let’s talk.” He sat down, his stare pinning her down.“Where’s Sullivan based?” Alexei asked.
Karina swallowed nervously. “He went back to Ireland after the funeral. My father and I were business partners, but my father decided to go freelance as consultant. I don’t think Sullivan was happy about their partnership being dissolved. But he was good friends with my father, and they made up about it.”
“You said you haven’t seen him since your parents died.”
Karina nodded. “I haven’t. But I did contact him after the funeral. I never told him where I was. He seemed so upset. And when I attended my parent’s funeral, I was incognito. But I saw him there. He was upset.”
Alexei’s expression didn’t change. He watched her, listening to her words carefully. He made her nervous, and the words spilled out.
“I called him, using a disposable phone. He asked me to phone him occasionally. I did, after that. I was always careful. And one of the times, he suggested…” Karina looked down at the table surface, scarred, yet shiny with age. “He told me that there was a way to avenge my parents.” And weak, lonely, crazed with grief, she’d seized on his idea. Hire a hitman. Kill Fleming, the man who had been an adversary to her father since near the beginning of his consultancy. He’d wanted her father’s technology, not for the greater good, as her father had planned. But for money.
“So Sullivan suggested you hire me to kill Fleming?”
She nodded. Karina looked up at him. She could feel the tears she was trying to hold back. She wouldn’t cry again. She had shown how weak she was too many times. But not now. “I said no, at first. I told him I wouldn’t consider it. That it was wrong.”
Alexei snorted at that. She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t continue and see the sarcastic disdain in his bottomlessly dark eyes. “My father and mother were good people. They wouldn’t have wanted that.” She rubbed the table, staring down at it, seeing the images from her past flicker across its surface like a slient movie. Except in vivid color. Things she didn’t want to remember. Things she couldn’t forget. “But I did want revenge. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t pray. I just wanted the man who was behind their deaths dead.”
She looked up at Alexei. If she was looking in a mirror then, she would have been afraid at who looked back at her. Her hazel eyes were dull and dead. “So, I called him back. And next thing you know, I was contacting you.”
“And why do you think Sullivan was so eager to help you eliminate Fleming from the equation?” he asked. His question was posed in the voice that surely Lucifer had used in the Garden. So guileless. So destructive.
“He cared about my parents. He was sad that they had been murdered. He had sources that told him Fleming had ordered the….murders..deaths,” she insisted. The urge to defend Sullivan was strong. Her father had never spoken ill of Liam Sullivan, even in the stressful days of the dissolution of their partnership. Sullivan clearly admired her father. Sullivan was the financial genius. Her father was the ideas person. Her mother had her father’s ear. She’d tell him if she didn’t like the manner in which his inventions were going to be used. Sometimes her opinions clashed with Sullivan.” And Karina remembered how Sullivan hadn’t liked that. The memory nagged at her a little. The occasional glimpses of annoyance in Sullivan’s eyes when he glanced at Maya Bridgestock. But then, they’d be gone. And affection and admiration would shine in his Irish blue eyes. The seeds of doubt had found root within Karina.
“Tell me, would Sullivan benefit from your parent’s deaths, Karina?” Alexei asked matter of factly.
Even with his calm tone, the question found its mark in Karina like the sharp tip of a dagger. Tearing through her and drawing blood.
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Karina reluctantly emerged from the bathroom and entered the kitchen. It was situated so that it was flooded with the early morning light. The effect of it shining a..."
Alexei has blue highlights? I didn't know that. Maybe, I have missed something in the previous installments.
He was curious about Karina's hair. He just wanted to touch her. :)
Karina is like Sanjar, she's tired of her kidnapper threatening her. "If you going to kill me, do it already!"
Of course, the kidnapper will not kill the captive. Only threaten her and want to get close to her.
I like when a hero knows how to cook. At least, Karina can get some good meals out of her kidnapper.
I like this installment. I'm heading to the next one.
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Alexei finished the washing, and then he came to sit down again. “More chocolate or orange juice?” he inquired.
Karina shook her head. Suddenly her stomach was acting li..."
Oh! Is Sullivan a good guy or bad guy? :)
I'll wait patiently to find out as the story reveal the answer.
message 145:
by
Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal
(last edited Apr 18, 2010 08:26PM)
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Keep reading, and you'll find out about Sullivan. Being a panster, stuff comes to me as I write.
Thanks for reading, Arch.
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Keep readinhg, and you'll find out about Sullivan. Being a panster, stuff comes to me as I write.
Thanks for reading, Arch."
Anytime Danielle. You know I love your stories. I just be patiently waiting for more.
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:)
Wow! Alexei really knows how to get to Karina. I'm wondering what the story is behind Sullivan also.Great chapter, Danielle!
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It's all good.