Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

Below is a random bit I dreamed up at work one day…enjoy!

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Callie stared at the mesmerizing man across the crowded ballroom. Who was he? Height was relative to her, as she had long since grown accustomed to towering over most men of her acquaintance. However, this man was tall, even by her standards. Dark chocolate pools drew her in and had her crossing the sea of people before she had any clue what she might say. Whatever it was, it would be inappropriate. The things she said were always inappropriate, but affecting her own introduction to a strange man was taking her behavior to an all-new level of outrageousness.

He watched her progress. She could feel his gaze on her, caught a glimpse of his lips twitching in amusement at her obvious approach. Perhaps five feet from her goal a breeze of cool night air wafted over her, jerking her back to reality. Her face burned in embarrassment as she realized what she was about to do to her reputation. Fate intervened, saving her from herself when two gentlemen approached the dark, engaging stranger. She veered left toward the open doors to the rear gardens. The pungent scent of Gardenias hung heavy in the air she gorged on as she struggled to regain her composure.

The soft strains of a waltz floated from the ballroom soothing her ragged nerves. Absorbed in her own introspection, she missed the approach of the person who joined her on the dark balcony.

“Is it not dangerous for you to be out here alone?” The deep bass of a strange accent reverberated through her.

She gasped and spun around in a swirl of pale blue silk. “You scared me. Don’t you know it is rude to sneak up on people?” She ignored the pounding of her heart.

“I did not sneak anywhere. You were distracted. By who, I wonder?” He let a slow sensuous smile draw his full firm lips up at the corners.

“Certainly not you.” Her eyes widened in surprise that she had revealed so much.

Tall, dark, and devastating chuckled. “I believe you had something to say to me inside before my friends joined me.”

“You would be mistaken.” Callie turned around, shocked by his blunt words and the truth they bore.

He stepped up behind her, crowded her with his chest inches from her back and his legs tangled in her skirts. “I don’t know who you are, but you felt the same pull I did. The need to know who the stranger across the room was drew you to me, just as I was drawn to go to you.”

His breath whispered past her ear, caressing her skin and causing prickles of awareness to spring up across her body. She wanted to deny him, but he knew the truth as surely as she did. Facing him again, she found herself pressed to his length. Her breath hitched. “I have never experienced anything like that before.”

“Neither have I, but I have seen too many oddities in the world to question such good fortune.” He leaned in letting his hands slip up and around her waist.

Drawn tight against him, he pressed his lips to hers. Excitement spiked through her body, pooling low in her belly, a warm puddle of achiness. His warmth invaded her night-chilled frame as his tongue slipped past her lips. He tasted of spices, wine, and warmth. Callie melded closer to him as his exploration of her mouth grew more ardent. Tentatively, she sought out his tongue with her own and mimicked his actions. He groaned and tightened his hold on her.

Pulling back slowly, he nibbled her lips. The loss of his heat was immediately noticeable as her already pebbled nipples ached from the cool rush of air. Desire pounded through her and for the first time she understood how easy it would be to allow a man to take liberties. She just had.

“Bella, you are more than the fates had promised.” He caressed her cheek letting his fingertips trail down her neck to her shoulder. Lost in his spell, reality crashed down in its normally rude fashion.

“There he is! Stop that thief!” A nasally voice boomed from the door of the ballroom.

In the blink of an eye, her nameless stranger was gone, having bound over the railing to flee into the night.

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Links to other Excerpt Monday writers

Jo Ramsey, YA Urban Fantasy (PG 13)
Leslie Wright, YA Fantasy (PG 13)
Kendal Corbitt, Contemporary Erotic (R)
Juniper Bell, Contemporary Erotica/Menage/BDSM (NC 17)
J.K. Coi, Paranormal Romance/Romantic Fantasy (NC 17)

Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.