Thursday Threads: Love, Encoded by Sandra Harris
Love,
Encoded
Book 1 in the
Selected Evolution Series
Sandra Harris
Genre: Science
Fiction Romance
Heat Level: Sizzling
Website: http://www.sandraharrisauthor.com
Blurb:
Earth:
Near Future
Experience
has taught Sarah Rasmussen that hot guys don’t go for geeks like her. Their
retreat speed is usually proportional to the value of her IQ. However, for
every rule it seems there is an exception—or in her lucky case, two.
When
confronted with the disturbing fact she has been genetically manipulated in
order to save an alien race stranded on Earth for a thousand years, she needs
the strength of the men’s devotion to deal with the life-changing news. But
when she learns that the love of the two men she has come to care for deeply is
not quite as it appears, it could shatter her heart forever.
Nick
Bannister and Adam McKeoun will never stop fighting to convince Sarah she is
their world, no matter what the source of their emotion. They will let nothing
stand in their way of forging a happiness that will transcend any challenge,
especially not a calculating and determined enemy bent on Sarah’s destruction.
Excerpt:
Her feet pounded over
the uneven, dirt track and she pushed her body hard to keep the pace up a rise.
Through the thick, early morning mist the familiar stippled trunks of spotted
gum loomed like every nightmare she’d ever had. Her heart beat a frantic rhythm
against her ribcage and her ears strained to catch the slightest sound of her
pursuer.
She pulled to an
abrupt halt, heaving cold air into her starved lungs, then struggled against
her desperate need for oxygen to smother her gasping breath and listen. Through
the mist the echo of footsteps slowed, halted. Sickening apprehension
corkscrewed through her stomach. A shiver prickled her heated skin.
She tried to force
some semblance of calm over her panicking wits, but her instincts would not be
denied. The fact that initially an unseen runner seemed to play cat and mouse
with her had spooked her. They’d remained out of sight, had not responded to
any of the hails she sent into the mist. She’d even taken a small sidetrack to
try and throw them off.
The footsteps picked
up again and the possibility of what might happen if she were caught speared a
surge of black fear through her heart. Adrenaline charged through her body and
she took off, feet flying over the rough surface of the track. The sole of her
shoe landed heavily on a small rock. Her ankle collapsed and she lurched
sideways, straining every muscle to remain upright. Twisting, burning sensation
ripped through her right calf. She choked a cry as she tumbled to the hard
ground, her running shorts and sleeveless top providing little protection.
Every bone in her body jarred to the cruel impact.
A whimper of
frustration and dread escaped her lips as the strangling pain of cramp throbbed
through her leg. She made to stand. Agony tore through her lower limb and she
collapsed back to the hard dirt. Desperation and pain stole her strength and
for a moment she huddled on the ground in a limp mass. She dragged
determination from the depths of her soul and pulled herself together, raised a
shaking fist and pummelled it into the tight knot of her muscle. Again. Again.
Her weak punches had no effect.
Footsteps approached.
Terror twisted her nerves. Her skin felt like it wanted to crawl off somewhere
and hide. She’d love it to do just that, so long as it took her with it.
Maybe I’m just being
fanciful.
Her fears seemed to
think otherwise, coiling nausea through her stomach. She pushed herself to her
hands and knees. Sharp-edged pebbles and forest debris dug into her flesh as
she crawled off the track. She thrust her back to the wide girth of a big gum
tree and forced her breath into slow, deep inhalations. Heart faint and fingers
trembling, she pulled her cell phone from a pocket again. And again hope died
at the lack of coverage bars.
That shouldn’t
happen. Not here.
She closed her eyes
tight and bunched her fists against escalating terror.
Get a grip, Sarah.
Get a grip.
The cool air brushed
a clammy hand against her hot skin. A soft footfall and the rustle of clothing
drifted through the mist. She snapped her eyes open. Gravel crunched. Her heart
exploded into a wild gallop. Frantic, she scanned the ground for a weapon.
Anything. A rock . . . sand . . . broken glass left by a careless hiker . . .
anything. The smooth, pearl grey bark of a discarded ghost gum branch poked
through yellowing clumps of grass. She lunged for it, wrapped her fingers
around its width and lifted. The weight of the solid, four-foot piece of wood
eased a little confidence into her mind.
Yeah, and now I’m
being self-delusional.
Despite her doubts,
her resolve strengthened. Looming shadows snatched her attention to the edge of
the mist. Dark shapes moved towards her. Her heart leapt to her throat. She
struggled to her feet, put her back to the tree and hefted the branch across
her shoulder.
Two big, jeans and
T-shirt clad men stepped clearly into her vision.
Did you know that you can create short urls with AdFly and receive $$$ for every visitor to your shortened links.
ReplyDelete