It is the year 2070. Generations ago, the world was annihilated by catastrophic environmental events. The survivors were driven to live in big city centers ruled by the Company. To rebuild the world’s population, the oppressive Company had one rule: all homosexuals must be exterminated.
Commander Caspar Cannon has a stellar military reputation—and a life-threatening secret. When a revolution rips through the territories, Cannon is ordered to escort Company executive Nathaniel Rice to a secure location. For months, the commander has harbored illicit desire for Rice, knowing he cannot act on his attraction. Privileged, polished, and groomed to one day take over the Company, Rice is drawn to the rugged, military man. Yet Rice has his own mysterious agenda, and he knows their love can be as dangerous as the wasteland they must traverse.
Now leaving the besieged city behind, the two men embark on a journey that becomes a minefield of sabotage, betrayal – and forbidden passion. But when danger catches up to them, can Cannon trust the secretive man who holds his heart – and his fate?
My hands moved over his chest to his throat. “You better start thinking about protecting yourself right about now.”
I went for his neck and squeezed. I got some satisfaction when his eyes widened in shock then narrowed in hurt. The nimble fucker jerked his knee up between us, connecting with my stomach with such power my fingers released, giving him enough time to dodge aside and raise his hands, hands that were spread towards me when they should have been doubled up in fists. “Caspar,” he implored.
“Cannon,” I snarled, going at him. This time I got in a fast jab to his sternum that left him gasping.When he looked up at me, the hurt was gone, replaced by rage. Excellent. He flew at me, all feet, fists, kicks, and hits. I feinted, he followed. I threw off my jacket, whipped it around his arms care of that neat little lassoing trick Micah had so thoughtfully taught me back at the ranch.
Digging his heels in as I dragged him to me–his arms wrenched behind him–he tried twisting away but didn’t get far. I hauled Blondie to my chest and pulled back my fist. He was so furious his lips were a thin white gash.
I simply grinned and asked, “Still not talking?”
We stared each other down, our torsos billowing against each other. Suddenly it was too warm, as if it wasn’t the dead end of a frosty night. A drop of sweat rolled from his temple towards the corner of his mouth, the same way his flesh had teased me our first day on this goddamned mission.
“Fuck!” My fist that had been raised to pummel his goddamn gorgeous face opened and sank into his hair. “I swore I wouldn’t hurt you.” And I wouldn’t, not like this no matter what he had planned for me.
The angry adrenaline rush turned into such fierce arousal, I let him go, steadying him when he stumbled, and tackled the buttons of his pants, flinging the material aside. Blondie gasped. The pain, hurt, and the anger bled from his irises, until all that was left was the same hunger surging through me.
ABOUT RIE: 
A Yankee transplant via the UK and other wild journeys, Rie happily landed in Charleston, South Carolina, with her English artisan husband and their two small daughters–one an aspiring diva, the other a future punk rocker. After earning her degree in Fine Arts, Rie promptly gave up paintbrushes and canvas for paper and pen (because she decided being a writer was equally as good an idea as being an artist, of course it was). That was fifteen years ago, her writing career started! With a manuscript of super epic proportions! Safely stored under a lace doily in a filing cabinet. Possibly in England . . .
Since then she’s done this and that, here and there, usually in the nonprofit arena, until she returned to her dream of being a writer. Even though Rie basks in the glorious southern sunshine as often as she can, she’s mostly a nocturnal creature adjourning to her writer’s atelier (spare bedroom) in search of her next devious plot twist or delicious passionate tryst.
No matter what genre or gender pairing she’s writing, she combines a sexy southern edge with humor and heart–and a taste of darkness.
Recent Comments