Just got home a little while ago. Stayed at daughter’s because we got back from the concert so late. Woke up at 6:00 with the 5-year-old poking me to ask, “Hey, Nina, you awake?” Have some catchup to do (my desk is a mess) and a book to finish revising, but I have some pics—not very good ones, as you can see from this. But I’ll share more later!
In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite scenes from a book I’ve written. It’s from The Pleasure Bot, which released in June 2004. Romantic Time Magazine gave it a TOP PICK and said this about the story: “…Hot sex, sidesplitting humor and an out-of-this-world story set this erotica apart from the rest!”
This scene happens after Priss rented a pleasure bot for a weekend of hot sex, but fell in love with it. Now’s she’s desperate to save him from being turned in and having his memory wiped clean of their relationship. This scene picks up with Declan, who pretended to be her bot because he’s a pirate on the run from authorities. He’s rejoined his band of pirates and is heading back to his ship. Agnes is Priss’s AI computer, who’s meddling to make sure Priss gets what she needs…
“You haven’t said a word, since we picked you up.” Reiver executed a left turn onto the main thoroughfare; the next exit would take them to the docks.
“I’m just tired,” Declan said, staring out the window watching the dusty brown landscape rush past. He’d never noticed how dingy the air was in South Texas. Not a healthy place for Priss to raise a family.
“Not curious how we found the cargo Customs lifted from our hold?” Reiver asked.
“Sure.” Declan decided to try to get back into the swing of things and not look back. He could make himself crazy with regrets. He sighed and turned to his First Mate.
Reiver hadn’t been changed a jot by his adventure. The bloody sod was smiling!
“It’s quite a story. Your friend Agnes told us where the warehouse was—just so happens it belongs to McEwen.”
Declan grunted. He didn’t give a damn about that bastard McEwen or any stinking cargo. He’d just left his heart behind him in La Barria Prima with a certain little redhead who thought she was a lioness. Oh, she roared like one, even purred sometimes, but underneath she was soft and vulnerable as a kitten.
“—and little green Arkanthans were guarding the crates.”
“Huh?” Declan only caught the last of what Reiver said. Then he heard the men seated behind them snickering. He leveled a glare over his shoulder. “Unless you want to swab the upper deck, you’d better shut your yaps.” He rounded on Reiver, “What’s this you said about Arkanthans?”
Reiver didn’t reply. His gaze was on the rearview mirror. By the worried look in his eyes, Declan could tell he didn’t like what he saw.
He glanced over his shoulder, down the center aisle of their stolen hovervan. “We’ve got a tail. Lose it!” Declan said, feeling the welcome rush of adrenaline pump through his veins. If they wanted a fight…
“Captain, do Customs agents drive pink hovercars?” Nate asked.
“I think it’s more of a mauve,” Danny said.
Declan turned back again, just in time to see the car pass them at a high rate of speed—just long enough to catch a glimpse of a small white face above the steering wheel and a cap of red curls. “That little idiot! Is she trying to get herself killed?”
Priscilla pulled her car into the lane in front of them and her rear lights flashed red.
“Hit the brakes,” he bellowed.
The cars had barely skidded to a halt when he flung the door upward.
“I take it you know this person?” Reiver asked, laughter in his voice.
Declan stuck his head back inside. “Not one bloody word out of you.” When smothered laughter rang in the back of the van, he cast them a glare that should have singed.
As he stomped to Priscilla’s car, he heard Reiver say, “Guess we know what has him so grumpy.”
Declan reached the car, just as she lifted her door. “Oh, thank God, I found you in time!” She hurled herself into his arms and Declan took a step back to absorb the impact. “I thought I might be too late.” She hugged him hard around the middle, but never stopped her nervous babble. “First, I couldn’t find the right suitcase, then I didn’t know what to pack.” She pushed herself away from his chest, and her hands cupped his face. “I thought I might never see you again.”
For a moment, Declan’s heart was fiercely glad to see her. But then he realized what she’d just said. He pushed her away. “You’re not coming with me,” he shouted.
“No, I’m not.” She smiled, not caring his frown would make most men run for cover. “You’re coming with me. We’re escaping. Agnes has it all arranged. I even have a ship. She’s not the latest model of cruiser or very elegant, but she’s sturdy. You’ll love her!”
“You bought a ship?”
“No, silly! We’re stealing one.”
“We’re stealing a ship?” he parroted, dumbfounded by her audacity.
She looked beyond his shoulder, and her eyes widened. “Oh my God! There’s a whole vanload of Pleasure Bots!”
Read another excerpt…
Today’s horoscope. “You are finding it harder than usual to cope with the outside world—so it’s a good thing your home life is so good for you! Embrace the hearth and get back in the real world in a few days.” I can only do that today, because tomorrow I will be in Little Rock at my RWA chapter meeting.
