Mystery-Romance Author

Days Of The Dead

Excerpts

Excerpt #1...

Glassy dilated eyes. Moments ago those same pale blues had been captivated by the clarity of the golden-hued liquid, nectar of the gods, topped with a foamy froth. Its power was unique--giving a fool courage, inspiring witty repartee, transforming a mouse into a lion. At what point had it become the enemy, delivering a bitter message before its ultimate betrayal?

Expect the unexpected is a karate motto. I had expected a rowdy Friday-night crowd, going crazy drunk. Singles trying to get lucky. It was Oktoberfest here in Kitchener--one of the biggest beer festivals in the world. I was hosting a get-together for my tour group, strangers wanting an unusual vacation with an emphasis on the Days of the Dead. Soon, we'd be in Cozumel finding out how they celebrate death. But Death had decided not to wait, making an unexpected early appearance.

I was standing on a long wooden table demonstrating the sway and toast-your-beer method practiced at the Stuttgart Club. "Ein Prosit, ein Prosit zum Oktoberfest," rang out from every table in the place, But, I was here only in body.

My mind had wandered to the place dreams are made of - turbulent turquoise waves pounding on a powdery-white shore under a blue Caribbean sky. Beside me on the sand, a lean, powerful man meets my eyes - heavy-lidded sapphire pools, dark with lust, reflecting my own smoldering desire. Windblown unruly hair falls over his forehead and I brush it away, my fingers lingering in his thick locks. The fiery heat from his body radiates out to me like the tropical rays of the overhead sun. Under my roving hands, his abs feel firm and flat - his skin velvety smooth. "I have a truffle for you," I whisper to him.

"I like chocolate," he replies, his voice husky with testosterone. Soap and balmy ocean breeze assail my nostrils as his lips caress my neck and his arms wrap around me pulling me closer to him. The electricity of our kiss charges every fiber in me, molten lava surges down, filling my body with liquid heat until I think of nothing but him. From my ear to the hollow of my throat, his sensuous lips capture my skin - his tongue silken and hot, feathering lower to the rise of my breast. His hand grips the curve of my hip. His fingertips tighten...

"Wait." I push him away.

He lifts an eyebrow.

"Find the chocolate."

He surveys my bikini clad body stretched out before him. "I love treasure hunts..." he says softly, as his finger plays with my strap and the skin beneath before he pulls it off my shoulder. Warm hands stroke the length of my body and my nipples harden as his lips singe my neck with their fire.

"Hey, Adie!" My beer partner shouted, rudely jolting me out of my reverie. "Adie, it's time!" He climbed up on the table and shoved his beer stein out. I'd trained this chunky guy in leder-hosen. I yelled back, "Prosit!" and clicked his glass.

My tour group followed our lead and knocked their steins together but I wasn't prepared when the impact of my mug sent my beer partner careening off the table backwards, landing on the dirt floor of the canopied festhalle.

"George?" I yelled, alarmed. He had dressed the part but was not a beer drinker...or any kind of a drinker.

I jumped off the table and hurriedly circled around to the other side. He lay there stiffly, his legs straight out - his face deathly white.

Excerpt #2...

Sultry Adie Sturm has an issue with this SEA GOD.

He's creamy-rich and sinfully delicious...like chocolate.

Introducing the Sexy Sea God:

Lola sipped the icy brew, and then suddenly let her hand drop, spilling out beer as she sputtered and pointed, "Adie, look..."

My eyes followed her finger to the water's edge. Whoa! What was this? A tall tanned sleek man rose like Neptune from the sea. His shoulders were wide, his chest muscles clearly defined and his hips narrow. Pushing his mask back, he bent down to pull off his fins and made his way out of the water to the beach. He tugged off his mask and ran his fingers through his wet hair, gazing in our direction.

Lola stammered, "Adie, he's..." her eyes fixed on the Sea God, "eye candy!" She jumped up to get a better look.

Adie didn't want to see Wolf again or did she?

"Guess I'll go," George said reluctantly. He shifted his weight and glanced at my breasts.

In an effort to get rid of him and his unwanted attention, I said, "George, the sun is awfully strong in the tropics." I studied George's belly. "You're getting red."

"You too, Adie," he said, his eyes still focused on my body, "maybe we should both go back to the hotel."

Wolf followed his gaze. "Ah-hh...my apologies, Adie. I neglected some parts of you." He picked up his bag and mine with one hand. "Why don't we go inside?"

I grabbed my tank top and pulled it over my head. "Okay," I said, tugging on my shorts before I slipped into my flip-flops. "Nice meeting you, George. See you later," Wolf said as we walked off.

"Yeah," George grunted, watching us.

On entering the sliding doors, I swung around to see if George had followed us. Through the glass, I saw him ambling up, a towel rolled up under his arm. He was almost at the doors.

Bad memories like garbage rises to the surface. I turned to Wolf and said sharply, "I don't want to talk to you."

He smiled. "No? I'm glad. There are so many other things we could do."

I felt myself flush.

"We can't talk here, Adie, anyway. You'll feel better with a shower and some lunch."

True. Food does wonders for me but not after what he'd pulled on me. He must think I'm a real air-head to forgive him.

I brought my hand to my neck. The sea salt irritated my skin. And my hair? I fingered a strand. I must look like a sea witch having a bad hair day.

Glancing towards the glass doors, I saw George push them open. Forgetting everything, I squealed, "Let's go. Up-stairs, quick!"

Wolf grinned. "That's my woman."

"Come on!" I climbed the stairs two at a time. When we got to my door, I searched for my key, fumbling around nervously. George could appear any minute. If he knew where my room was, he'd start bothering me here. The situation could become even more awkward. Where the heck was it? Think, think, I kept telling myself. He could be here any second. In my side pocket, I felt a hard piece of plastic. I grabbed it, stuck it in the key slot and pushed the door open, stepping inside. "Don't just stand there," I said in a panic, "get in here!"

A bemused expression on his face, Wolf followed me in, swinging the door shut behind him. He dropped his snorkeling bag and reached out for me.

"Don't touch me."

"I'm sorry, Princess. I didn't realize it hurt already."

"Hurt! What are you talking about?"

Wolf glanced at my shoulders and cleavage. "Aloe vera should help your burn."

"I'm not burned. I always look a bit red at first. Besides, I didn't bring any."

Wolf smiled. "You're in luck then. I have some in my bag. Take a shower, Adie. I'll take one after."

"Really? I didn't think I gave you permission."

He grinned. "You wouldn't want me to take you out looking like this, would you?"

I glanced up at him. Bits of sand clung to his wet blond hair and salt had dried on his tanned skin. His eyes were as clear and blue as a deep, fresh-water stream. I ran the tip of my tongue along my lip. He looked delectable. I realized then that a cold shower might be just what I needed.

As I gathered a change of clothes and made my way to the bathroom, Wolf opened the patio door. Soft Latin music drifted up from the bar below. A woman sang something about pesos and queso. Money and cheese? But whatever she was all excited about, it sounded smoothly sexy.

Wolf stood looking out at the ocean, his hands resting on the balcony railing. Although he was lean, his shoulders were wide and his back was muscular. That pulsing was starting up - like a motor that had revved up and was ready to roar down the highway. The longer I stared it occurred to me that I should stay as far away from him as possible. My body wasn't to be trusted.

I clicked the bathroom door shut, stripped off my soggy things, and let them drop to the floor. I adjusted the water and stepped into the warm spray. Memories flooded back. He was so different from other men - so impulsive and exciting. He was under my skin.

I let my hands caress my body with shower gel, all the while thinking of how his hands had touched me, how his tongue had sent me into an indescribable state of ecstasy. But I couldn't just forgive and forget, could I?

The salt washed off and my hair began to feel soft and clean. When I dried myself it somehow seemed right to be putting on a dress.

He was sitting out on the balcony when I came out. My clingy blue dress had a v-neckline that showed cleavage. My sandals gave me those extra few inches that I needed when I was with a tall man like Wolf. I must be a glutton for punishment. Silently, I watched him.

At that moment he swiveled around. "Ah-h, Adie!" He stood up, his eyes taking me in. "Did I ever tell you how sexy you are?"

I could feel my cheeks flush. Quickly, I said, "You can take a shower now."

"Come here, Adie."

I'm an independent type of woman, but when he had that tone... I stepped up to him, more out of curiosity than obedience.

From the table he picked up a small bottle and poured some green liquid into his hand. "This is the best aloe vera you'll ever find. With a little of this, your skin should feel fine by tonight." Wolf smiled slowly. "We don't want you in pain, later, do we?" He pushed one of my straps down and gently spread the aloe vera lotion on my shoulders and down to the rise of my breasts. It felt cool and pleasant. His fingers stroked my skin lightly before he returned my strap to its original position, and then he slipped my other strap down and did the same.

"How's that?" He placed the bottle back on the table.

The aloe vera chilled my skin, pleasantly so. I sighed.

"That good? You're getting easier to please." His voice held a deep, velvety timbre and when his mouth came down on mine, his kiss jolted my body; the burning that started at my lips flashed like electricity, hotly igniting every nerve ending I had. He was a magnet and I was like a metal that couldn't resist. My mouth parted to taste him again. Slowly, his tongue slid over the inside of my lips, spreading liquid heat. Unexpectedly, he stopped. With one swift motion, he picked me up and carried me over to the bed where I was gently placed, my head resting on the pillow.

I closed my eyes, waiting for him to join me. Hot lips lightly brushed my throat, then his silken tongue feathered down to the hollow of my neck where he paused to kiss the pulsing spot there. My heart raced with his touch.

When his kisses moved to that fleshy sensitive area where my arm meets my chest, I moaned.

His turn. I wanted to give him something back. Nuzzling his neck and ear, I blew in and licked the ridges. A delicious salty flavor. Again. He groaned softly.

I'd pressed his button. Wolf pushed me down. His hand slipped under the halter. He explored over the delicate fabric of my bra, sliding over the swells of my breasts. His fingertips pushed under the lacy material and made contact with my skin.

"Soft, beautiful..."

I shuddered. Tingles worked their way down my body, and my sunburn was forgotten.

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Whiskey Creek Press