My Wednesday snippet this week is coming from my next Evernight release, TANNER'S WAR. It's all unedited, so I apologise in advance for any silly mistakes! Read on for a quick glimpse at my first MC romance...
“Are you hurt?” he asked more gently. It was impossible to speak quietly if he wanted to be heard over the raging wind, but he guessed he didn’t have to scream at her either. She didn’t respond though, just kept staring. Big blue eyes, filled with tears, and sweet soft lips that trembled almost invitingly. “Lady, are you hurt?” He crouched down, putting his six-three frame closer to her. She whimpered and scrambled back, but Tanner grabbed her by the arm and held her in place. “Listen, if you’re hurt…”
“I’m fine. Let me go.” She tugged but couldn’t free herself. The terror on her face intensified and she glanced back the way she’d come. “Please let me go!”
This wasn’t just the rush of fear from her near-miss, he could sense that. “Okay. Chill out.” He released her and stood slowly, hands raised to show he meant no harm. “Can you stand?”
She did, keeping a careful distance between them. Whatever she was running from, she was badly prepared for it. She only wore a thin t-shirt and ragged jeans. Her sneakers were dirty with age, the laces falling apart. He took it all in in a flash, recognizing the signs from the worn clothes to the wary look on her face. Soaked to the skin and shivering hard, she looked pathetic, but he’d bet if she was bone-dry and reclining in silks and satin she’d still look hunted, haunted. Someone had hurt this girl. A fresh wave of rage filled him.
He forced it down. Don’t borrow trouble, he told himself. But damn, he wanted to protect her. It was a primal impulsive, triggered by her obvious fear and her sweet face. He hated to see a woman cry. “Uh…Do you need a ride somewhere?” he asked. “Least I can do, when I nearly mowed you down.” He tried a smile, aware that with his unkempt hair and five o’clock shadow, not to mention the MC club patches, he didn’t look entirely reassuring.
“I’m fine. Let me go.” She tugged but couldn’t free herself. The terror on her face intensified and she glanced back the way she’d come. “Please let me go!”
This wasn’t just the rush of fear from her near-miss, he could sense that. “Okay. Chill out.” He released her and stood slowly, hands raised to show he meant no harm. “Can you stand?”
She did, keeping a careful distance between them. Whatever she was running from, she was badly prepared for it. She only wore a thin t-shirt and ragged jeans. Her sneakers were dirty with age, the laces falling apart. He took it all in in a flash, recognizing the signs from the worn clothes to the wary look on her face. Soaked to the skin and shivering hard, she looked pathetic, but he’d bet if she was bone-dry and reclining in silks and satin she’d still look hunted, haunted. Someone had hurt this girl. A fresh wave of rage filled him.
He forced it down. Don’t borrow trouble, he told himself. But damn, he wanted to protect her. It was a primal impulsive, triggered by her obvious fear and her sweet face. He hated to see a woman cry. “Uh…Do you need a ride somewhere?” he asked. “Least I can do, when I nearly mowed you down.” He tried a smile, aware that with his unkempt hair and five o’clock shadow, not to mention the MC club patches, he didn’t look entirely reassuring.
