Thursday, February 25, 2010

Whisper of Sin Excerpt

I'm working on copy edits for Bonds of Justice at the moment, and really enjoying reading the manuscript again after having turned it in a few months ago. :-)

The copy edits for Whisper of Sin (novella featuring Ria in the Burning Up anthology) will most likely arrive soon, too. Which reminds me that I haven't shared an excerpt from the novella yet. So, here it is! I hope you enjoy!

Unedited advance excerpt from Whisper of Sin

(Ria and her hero have been sparring in a basement gym in this scene.)

“How did I do?” she asked.

He glanced at his forearm. “I didn’t teach you the biting.” It was a snarl.

Or maybe he hadn’t been playing the whole time. “I decided to add it on my own,” she said, though in truth, it had been an instinctive response to his arrogant provocation. Her eyes went to the marks she’d made. Deep and red and perfectly formed. Guilt invaded. “I didn’t mean to bite you that hard. But…I’m not sorry.”

“Oh?” He walked over, slow, so slow. This time, she backed up. It was one thing to play with a predator who was keeping his claws sheathed, quite another to know you were prey. He kept coming. She knew the door out of the basement was only about a foot away. Making a quick move, she went to dart left.

Too late.

He was there before her and somehow, she found herself pasted up against the closed door, very aware that she was all alone with a big, dangerous leopard in human skin. Except instead of fear, it was a vivid excitement that beat in her blood as he placed his hands palms-down on either side of her head and bent until their breaths mingled. “Boo.”

She jumped, then wanted to slap herself for it. “Stop acting the big bad cat.”

A blink and when he raised his lashes, the eyes that looked back at her were in no way human. “Mmm, I smell a pretty little human in my territory.” A soft whisper against her lips, bright green-gold eyes daring her to respond.

Her breasts brushed his chest as he pressed closer, her breath coming in jagged pants. “You’re behaving very badly.” It was a husky reproach.

“You bit me.” He angled his head a little to the left and though she couldn’t see those amazing eyes except for a glint through his lashes, she knew he was looking at her lips. “Say sorry.”

She didn’t know what made her do it. Parting her lips, she said, “No.”

Copyright (c) 2010 by Nalini Singh

34 comments :

INCiDeNT (Kayleigh) said...

LOVE it!! ;) When is this anthology due to release?

Thanks for sharing.

Juli2311 said...

Can't wait to read the whole story, has it really been just three weeks since archangel's kiss was released?
I'm already in a nalini-singh-withdrawal...

MinnChica said...

SOOO excited! Love it!! =D

Nalini Singh said...

Release date: August 3rd :)

robsad79 said...

Can't wait to read it :)

Christina said...

August can't come soon enough! I love the guild hunters, but I miss the psy/changeling world, too. I can't wait to get my hands on Bonds of Justice!

I know we have seen Ria, but have we seen her mate? Can you tell us his name?

Maria said...

Love this excerpt! Can't wait for this to release!

Tiona said...

Cool! Ooohhh, this makes me want to read it NOW! Keep up the good work, Nalini!

Victoria said...

Is that all??? Far too short!!! More pretty please!!! :)

Claire said...

Who is Ria again? I thought Ria was a cat?

KJsGrrl said...

That was soo good! And you're so bad for teasing us and leaving us hanging at the good part! LOL Cant wait.

aj

Jenny Schwartzberg said...

Groan. How can I wait until July for Bonds of Justice and August for Whisper of Sin???? I want them both now!!! Whimper....

Barbarita V said...

Hmm, sounds good!

Shannon said...

Oh yeah! I'm definitely excited about this Novella! Loved that scene and can't wait to read the story!

Macey said...

Okay, I'll bite. Who's Ria's hero - his name, rank? I hope there's more excerpts to come!

Can't wait till August...

Louise said...

Wow!!
I'm so excited!!August seems so far away...
So if I got it right is gonna be Max's book in july, Ria's in august and Indigo's in november?
(BTW I'm having a Psy/Changeling book marathon!!!)

Wic said...

amazing.
love it.
greetings from germany

Nalini Singh said...

Claire, Ria is Lucas's human administrative assistant.

Louise - yes.

You haven't met Ria's mate, Emmett, but he's been mentioned before, in BRANDED BY FIRE.

Unknown said...

Looks brilliant, can't wait for it to come out

Willa said...

That was mean . . . just mean. You really enjoy teasing us don't you? Lol!

Great excerpt .. . . is it hot in here?? Lol

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this teaser!

Can`t await to read Bonds of Justice. I`m already curious how you`ll implement the serial-killer-thought-thing...

Anneela said...

Wow! That excerpt was smoking hot and a real teaser! Can't wait for it to come out.

Roxanne said...

Looking forward to the story!! That excerpt was smoking! Thanks for sharing.

orannia said...

*picks self off floor*

Nalini - you SO know how to write tension! OMG! And I just love this line:

It was one thing to play with a predator who was keeping his claws sheathed, quite another to know you were prey.

August is too far away. I've been hanging out for Ria's story and I'm so thrilled you've written it - THANK YOU! (((Nalini)))

Heather said...

remind me to shake you at RomCon for teasing me like this. Now I am glad that the Kiwis lost to Samoa in the USA 7's. You don't play fair.

Madhura said...

Love it. When can I have it? :D

Edna said...

As great as usual! Love your stories! :D

Anna said...

Wow! That was hot! Can't wait!

alanajoli said...

Awesome! I'm delighted that so much Psy/Changeling goodness is coming up this year... :)

Maria said...

I have a definite love/hate relationship with the authors that I blog stalk. I love the sneak peaks but I hate how it makes it harder to wait for the book. I feel like a kid again, counting down the days to Christmas... only 156 more days til August 3rd! I now know why my Mom went crazy when I started counting so soon.

alwaysromance said...

ahhh, whisper...thanks for the snipet.(more, more)..I love these books and I can't wait. I am like a little kid anticipatinggggg.

Nalini, this is cruel and inhuman punishment...LOL

Anonymous said...

that will be a hard time to endure til august ...

corinna said...

Lovely and intense. I can't wait!

This is a look into the past similar to Beat of Temptation, right? Since I'm pretty sure Ria talked with the heroine of another book (Talin, I believe) and mentioned blowing out her hero's eardrums. It was a whole discussion about accommodated for hypersensitive partners and their partners accommodating for human strength.

Anonymous said...

I'm very excited can't wait till i can buy this book. I have just recently started reading you about a month ago and cant get enough....i can never put the books down till i finish them!