Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Branded By Fire Excerpt

I'm back from Conscription 2009 (great con - post on it later this week), and as promised, here's another excerpt from Branded By Fire.

Mercy and Riley have been in a meeting with Lucas and Hawke as this begins.
___________

Riley stirred beside her. “You need us the rest of the day?”

It was Lucas who answered. “No. Go . . . play.”

Hawke’s grim look turned wolf-wicked as Mercy narrowed her eyes at her alpha and left the room. She felt Riley exit beside her, though he didn’t say a word until they were back in the main corridors. “I guess the secret’s out.”

“What’re you talking about?” she said, the devil in her taking over. Seeing that bloody, broken body had been the final straw—she needed to decompress. And what better way than by teasing Riley?

“You,” he said, his voice dropping as she stopped and turned to face him, “and me.”

Her nipples hardened to aching points, but she made her expression dismissive. “Don’t flatter yourself.” She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and rocked back on her heels, decision made. Excitement was a taut bow inside her as she said, “I had an itch. You scratched it. End of story.”

A low growl that made her thighs clench. But she smiled and wiggled her fingers. “See ya later, wolfie.”

Riley was about to stalk after her when be belatedly realized he was no longer alone. Scenting the air, he found out how the intruder had snuck in under his defenses. His wolf didn’t consider his younger sister any kind of a threat. “Bren, don’t say a word.”

Brenna took one look at Riley’s face and bit back a laugh. Not fast enough. Her oldest brother turned to her with that look. The one that made everyone behave. But this time, she was laughing too hard to hold it in any longer.

Riley just waited until she’d gotten it out of her system before raising an eyebrow.

“You and Mercy. I love it!”

Silence.

She sniggered. “You wanted Little Miss Submissive and you got a DarkRiver sentinel.” Her giggles started again, deep in her throat.

“Brenna, I’m still your eldest brother.”

“And I’m mated to a big, bad Psy.” She put on her best annoying little-sister voice. “Plus you know you love me.”

“I know that right now, I wish I had some duct tape to put over your mouth.”

Oooh, that was interesting. Nobody really ever got to Riley. She knew he loved her to pieces, but even she had to prod and poke at him for a really long time before she got a reaction. “Mercy and Riley in a tree. K-i-s-s-i—” She shrieked as he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and strode toward her quarters.

Her laughter came unbidden. She was giddy with delight. Riley had always been mature, contained, but he’d also had a sense of quiet humor. He was the kind of man children loved because he was both patient and open. But he’d changed after her abduction, withdrawn all that warmth, become so hard that nothing seemed to reach him. She hated that. And she loved Mercy for refusing to allow Riley to be this stranger he’d turned into.

Her nostrils flared at the familiar scent of ice laced with something that was uniquely Judd. “I assume you have a reason for manhandling my mate?” Cool words but his amusement was apparent.

“Riley likes Mercy,” she stage-whispered, trying to twist around to look at her mate. “But she told him that h—oomph.” Riley set her on her feet without warning.

She swayed, but Judd’s hands on her hips kept her upright. Pushing her hair off her face, she leaned into her sexy Psy mate and smirked at Riley. “Sooooo . . .”

“Judd.” Riley ignored her. “You’re obviously not interesting enough for my sister—she’s got way too much time to poke her nose into other people’s business.”

Judd wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin on her hair. “I’m more interested in you and Mercy.”

Growling—Riley actually growled—her big brother turned on his heel and left.
_________

Hmm, wonder where Riley's heading off to???

47 comments :

Willa said...

A cold shower??


Great excerpt - can't wait for the book!

T said...

Wow!
Great excerpt, is this near the beginning of the book? Only about 1 month left...

Tina

jenyc said...

oh boy! Thanks for the excerpt, this is getting me extra amped for the book!

Anonymous said...

'Hmm, wonder where Riley's heading off to???'

Making his way to me *sighs*

I vote June be officially removed from the calendar. Then next month would be July!!!

Asha

e_booklover said...

Wow! Is it July yet?!?! Great excerpt. Thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

Awesome excerpt! Thanks so much for that great little tidbit. I love the fun everyone is having with this relationship. July - so close, yet so far.

Anonymous said...

eeeeeee!!!!!!!!! you little book tease. I love it, love it , love it!!!!!!! it's july 7th tomorrow right? cause i can't wait to read branded by fire. *jumps up and down*
~Jessica

orannia said...

I don't know which line I liked the best, there were so many that had me chuckling!

*checks calendar*

*self-combusts*

TOO LONG! Oh, and my best friend was at the Con Nalini and she said you spoke very well :)

Una said...

My vote is either cold shower or Mercy.

Oooo, thank you so much Nalini - it was a fantastic little taste! I just love romantic banter/tension...it makes the HEA so much more!

dancechica said...

Oh, I am so looking forward to this book!

Kyesha said...

I can't wait for the book, ugh, why is july still a month away.

Shaymless Aymless said...

Wooooohooooo!

Thanks. Needed a little pick me up and this certainly was it!

As to where Riley is headed...
well...
1. Looking for duct tape.
2. KB's DIK cabana for solace (she picked him on the latest round of the hero draft).

Shaymless Aymless said...

Ooops. Correction MaryKate picked up Riley!

Tabitha said...

Ooh, can't wait til read the book!

Bridget Locke said...

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!!!

Nalini-I so cannot wait. *taps foot impatiently* Argh!

Unknown said...

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Nalini Singh said...

You guys are cracking me up!

Orannia - that's good to hear. I had a blast :)

Tina - yep, it's toward the start.

Anonymous said...

Yay, thanks for the exerpt! It makes the waiting a little easier. =)

:Candice: said...

lol awesome, I'm glad to see Brenna teasing her brother

and uh.. wolfie, tsk tsk Mercy, I'm sure she's gonna pay for that.


Loved it :)

Mandi said...

Thanks for the excerpt!! I can't wait for this book!!

Courtney said...

That was awesome! I love it when everyone is all playful like that. Especially the formerly cold Judd, but I did notice that he had Brenna between him and the wolf he was razzing. LOLOL

I want it to be July! We need to make it July NOW. We'll start a letter-writing campaign ar something.

Una said...

Courtney - I am so with you! It just NEEDS to be July now. Not that we WANT it to be, but it NEEDS to be!

Thanks again Nalini! I came back to read it again. =)

Rianne said...

Love it, love it, love it!

I pre-ordered the book this weekend, can't wait til it arrives.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Rianne! I ordered my e-copy late last week. Now just to find some non-existent patience until I can download it.

The excerpts have been wonderful. Thanks for sharing, Nalini!

Tracy

Jenny Schwartzberg said...

SIGH! I want it to be July 7th right now! I love this excerpt and I can't wait to read the book. Thank you Nalini!!!

Michelle said...

Well, now I know what I'm more excited about in July - definetly your 'Branded by fire'. I loved the first excerpt but this one is great, too. Is it July yet?

Greetings,

Michelle

Unknown said...

oh my gosh i love it!

Anonymous said...

This book might even top Caressed by Ice!!!!!

Heather B. said...

I am simply dying for this book. Is it time for it to come out yet?? Please, Please!!!!!

Unknown said...

Ok when is this book out? Tina, I hope its near the beginning. I want a long fun book. I like Nalini's books cuz althought they are intense they always make me laugh.

Christina said...

OMG! I can NOT wait for the book to come out!

I love seeing Brenna's interaction with her brother and with Judd. I hope since we are back in the wolf den we also see more of sienna ^_^

Unknown said...

I wonder if Nalini giggled as much writing this as I did reading it. :D

orannia said...

I want it to be July! We need to make it July NOW.*bows to Courtney* That is an excellent idea! If we made it July then Branded by Fire would be released on...Sunday! WOOHOOO! Now, how to convince the world that it is July....

Tammy said...

This month starts with a "J" isn't that close enough to July?

::whimpering I want my book now::

KitKat said...

This sounds like it's going to be such a fun book. One month seems so far away! I can barely stand the wait...

Athena said...

Squeeeeeeealll! Love it! Love it! Love it!

Heather said...

I am on pins and needles for this book...July can't come soon enough for me.

Midnight said...

oh my, I can't wait. Why did you have to pick july instead of now.

I am just going to have to keep reading it until it comes out

:winks:

Stephanie*magic* said...

Wow, that was great!!
Thanks Na|ini!
Sooooooooooo cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

geri said...

great excerpt!!!! grining the whole time reading. time sure will drag till release date. thanks sooo much

Unknown said...

Release day can't come soon enough! Great excerpt! Jen :)

Marisa said...

OMG...i can't wait to read this book. It's going to be so funny...

Blackie said...

Trailing Mercy? Or maybe Willa's right... He's gonna make a beeline to the nearest cold shower?
Can't resist! Gotta have that book!!!

flowerlady said...

I am getting delivered in the next five days(singing), can't wait!
Woohooo!

Diane Sadler said...

I am so looking forward to this book

Elaine said...

Is it tomorrow yet? I can't wait!!!

Anonymous said...

It just came out last week. I'm so excited to read it. I know it was worth the wait.

Thanks