Days of Desire
Book Two - Pirate's Prize
Available for Pre-order - Ready to Read July 4
Blurb:
In a pirate’s
lair, nothing is as it seems . . .
Shipwrecked! When Royce
Hastings is found washed up on the shore of a verdant tropical island, he tells
the natives he is a merchant headed for Mozambique. The truth, however, is far
more mercenary. Noble by birth, the once favored Royce has lost his fortune and
family; now he is a hired henchman on the trail of an elusive pirate. His
“shipwreck” was a fake. He’ll stop at nothing to infiltrate the island and
capture his prey. His mother and sisters’ lives depend on it.
The last thing Royce
expects is to be captured himself. But the lovely young woman who tends to his
wounds in the tropics quickly takes hold of his heart. Simone is the island’s
healer, and her skilled ministrations not only awaken his soul but disturb his
conscience. His path has been predetermined; his identity must remain concealed
at all costs. Yet the passion he feels in Simone’s sultry, loving arms cannot
be denied. With his loyalties torn, Royce must make an agonizing, unthinkable
choice. . . .
“The
story is brimming with risqué retorts and searing sex scenes.”
—Publishers Weekly on Passionate Pursuit
Excerpt:
Of
all the people to discover him, Royce hadn’t expected such a beautiful young
woman. Simone the other native had said.
She
couldn’t have been older than twenty. Her light brown skin complemented her
dark hair. The ends grazed her waist. He detected a bit of European in her
exotic features, and island custom in what little she wore. Simply a red silk
cloth tied about her hips. Her breasts were full and lush, begging for a man’s
touch.
Wary
that she might scream, he’d released her quickly and had expected her to run.
She
checked his arms, hands, and head. He supposed for injuries.
At
last, she finished and peeked at him.
Cautiously,
he pushed up, hoping she wouldn’t bolt.
She
sat back on her heels.
Needing
an ally here, he tried a smile.
Hers
was wondrous, broad and carefree, no deception or caution in her soft brown
eyes.
His
arrival would eventually change that. No better way to destroy a woman’s trust
and happiness than wresting her from an island Eden to imprisonment, lifelong
slavery, repeated rape, and birthing children only to have them torn away.
Guilt
and shame churned in his gut. Fear for his family competed with the other
emotions. “Are you the only one here?” Besides, Tristan, his crew, and the
other island woman. Their conversation had mentioned Tristan, but not Diana or
Peter.
Simone
tilted her head. A tress fell across her breast. Confusion swept her lovely
face.
Royce
had deliberately spoken English so she wouldn’t know he’d heard her speak
French earlier when he’d feigned unconsciousness. He next tried Portuguese and
received her same bewildered reaction. At last, he used her language.
Her
eyes lit up. “My people live here. Once we have you in the stone house, I can
see to your injury.” She touched his thigh. “Does it hurt?”
Not
as much as when he’d arrived on this shore. “My head is worse.”
She
brushed back his hair, her touch as light as an angel’s.
Despite
his callous intent here, and what prudence demanded, his lids slid down, his
heart pounding as hard as it had when she’d stroked his ribs.
She
explored his wound carefully. “I can make a potion to take your pain away. As
soon as the men arrive I—”
Voices
and footfalls interrupted.
Tristan
led the way, his manner and appearance precisely as rumor had described: tall,
golden skin, blond hair, and light eyes that offered naught except challenge
and possibly death if anyone dared threatened him or those he loved. Following
him was an equally tall man with long red hair, his face and chest freckled.
Had to be James Sullivan, Tristan’s friend and former quartermaster during
their piracy.
An
adolescent boy, fifteen or so, brought up the rear. Gangly, as youth were prone
to be, he had long dark hair streaked with blond, his skin brown from days
outdoors. Diana’s brother, Peter. His features matched Bishop’s depiction.
Tristan,
James, Peter, and island men trained their pistols on Royce.
The
land to their side jutted out, rocky and reddish as those found in Madagascar.
A white woman stood there, wind whipping her dark hair and simple sheath-like gown
in violet silk. Her slightly rounded belly didn’t prove pregnancy, though Royce
would have staked his life on it. She wore a choker about her throat, the
diamonds glittering in the light.
Royce’s pulse pounded. Diana was here, as Bishop had predicted. Along
with too many armed men, as Royce had feared, though all islanders, not
pirates.
Tina is an Amazon and international
bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance
for traditional publishers and indie.
Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic
Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three
of her erotic novels were Readers'
Choice Award winners. Another three were named finalists in the EPIC
competition. One of her erotic contemporary romances was chosen Book of the
Year at the French review site Blue Moon reviews. The Golden Nib Award at Miz
Love Loves Books was created specifically for one of her erotic romances. Two
of her titles received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. Another two won second place in the NEC RWA contest
(different years). Tina is featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s
Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production
company in Story Direction.
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