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Okay, so maybe my upcoming release is not as exciting as watching the news today. The storm that swept through here the night before, downing a tree in our back yard, really gained momentum as it ripped through the states to the east of us. My hearts go out to the folks in its path. Here’s a picture of the hackberry tree that fell across our fence behind the house. The picture doesn’t do it justice. The tree’s over 80 feet tall. That was our excitement. As soon as the sky turned green, we huddled in the basement and didn’t hear a thing.

Back to the book. It’s a time travel story, with soldiers sent into the distant past to retrieve part of an alien medallion that they believe is the center of the myth surrounding the Amazonian queen’s magical belt. The mission gets complicated when Fari and Caleb can’t ignore their growing attraction…

Caleb eased his back against the wall, eyeing the woman stretched on the cot. She hadn’t been kidding about making him sleep on the floor. And although the room was hot and stuffy, heated by warm air running in channels beneath the wooden floor, she’d removed only her tunic. She’d kept the sleeveless, thigh-length shift in place and her pants tied with a serious knot. Did she really think all those layers would keep what was happening between them contained?

He raised a knee and wrapped an arm around it, watching her sleep. Or pretend to.

Her breaths were too even.

“Stop looking at me,” she whispered.

“I can’t sleep.”

She groaned and turned toward him, sliding a hand beneath her cheek. Her eyes glittered in the moonlight spilling through the narrow window. “Floor that bad? As many years as you’ve been in the army, I’d have thought you could pretty much sleep anywhere.”

“Not used to sleeping with women.”

She chuckled, the sound warm and sexy.

He grunted at his own choice of words.

“You’re not sleeping with a woman,” she said slowly.

Caleb glanced away, his mouth twisting. “But I want to,” he growled.

“That’s the problem?” she said, amusement lightening her tone. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

“I like you plenty. That’s the trouble. Don’t want to worry about having to save your ass.”

“Worry about your own.”

“Can’t help the way I’m made. Women are supposed to be protected.”

She raised her head and leaned on an elbow. “How’d you manage to make it this long in the army without some female busting your chops about your chauvinism?”

“I’m not a chauvinist. Just a man. It’s something hard-wired. And it doesn’t help a bit that you’re…tiny.”

She sighed. “I’d tell you to get over it, but I’d be wasting my breath. Tell me the truth. Is your shoulder bothering you?”

The dull ache was so much a part of him now that he’d forgotten. But why had she asked? Was she looking for an excuse to let things move to the next level?

Caleb tried to rein in the excitement humming in his veins, but her position, propped on an elbow, exaggerated the deep indentation of her waist and the swell of her hip. Damn, he’d love to get closer.

He grunted, which Fari took as a yes. The closest the macho man would come to admitting he was human and hurting.

“Tell you what. There’s room for both of us—if we sleep on our sides.” She rolled to face the wall, and held her breath.

After a few moments, he moved tentatively onto the cot, sliding in behind her, his body pressed to hers. “Anything comes up, ignore it, ma’am.”

She smiled in the darkness, liking the low rumble of his voice.

His hand settled on her waist, and his knees bumped the backs of hers as he gently forced them into a closer embrace.

“Don’t go getting any ideas,” she whispered breathlessly.

“Too late,” he murmured, his breath gusting against her hair.

His face nuzzled her neck and his breathing deepened, then evened out.

Was he going to fall asleep that quickly? Because she was wide awake now. All her previous warnings to herself about keeping this strictly professional were losing their starch with tall, dark and brawny plastered to her backside .

“‘S nice,” he said sleepily.

Not the adjective she would have used. Not in a hundred years. She remembered the lazy slant of his eyes each time he’d challenged her.

Gradually, however, the warmth at her back, the feeling of complete safety, sheltered as she was in his arms, eased her toward sleep. Fari nestled closer, pushing her butt deeper against his groin and snuggling her head on the arm he’d slipped beneath her.

“Move again and I swear I won’t be responsible,” he muttered.

Her lips twitched. “Thought you were asleep.”

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

She’d just gotten used to being up close and personal, and now he was the one with complaints? “I was only trying to be nice.”

“You don’t feel nice.”

“Excuse me?”

“Rub that sweet butt against me one more time…” His hand tightened on her hip. “Babe, I’m holdin’ on by a thread.”

Something long and hard ground against her rear.

How had she missed that he was aroused? “I’m supposed to ignore that?”

Laughter gusted against her ear. And then her own body shook. Their laughter rose, and Fari turned in his arms to face him. “Looks like we’ve got a little problem.”

“Nothin’ little about it.” His arms tensed, but didn’t pull her any closer.

She knew he was fighting the urge to test her, to see whether she’d fold beneath the enforced intimacy. And if she was honest with herself, she’d have to admit she was tempted.

“This is strictly against protocol.” She said the words, but even she could hear the breathy tremor in her voice.

“Who’s gonna know?”

“You will. And tomorrow, you’ll have that cat that licked the cream look.” She shut her eyes, realizing how her words could be construed.

His chuckle vibrated against her. “Could I get that lucky?”

She didn’t answer, but opened her eyes, meeting his steady gaze.

He didn’t seem to expect an answer. He leaned toward her, and she angled her face to meet his kiss. It was surprisingly sweet, and over way too quickly.

“Stop me anytime now,” he warned.

You can read the opening scene here: Time Raiders: The Warrior’s Touch

Pre-order the book here: Buy Link