Six paragraphs from VALL'S WILL, a sensuously erotic sci-fi romance novel.
1. Lacing her fingers through his, she led Vall
out of the landing bay, with the rest of the crew in tow. The rescued man
remained silent, but he examined every aspect of the ship along the route. Each
door panel, corridor offshoot, and crew member who walked by and acknowledged
their captain in passing, were all given the same short but intense scrutiny.
Will noticed how he continued to walk hunched over. In the brighter light, his
filthy appearance stood out. For the first time, further evidence of his
imprisonment was clear to see, including the prominent ribs, the lack of
muscular strength and coordination, and the almost death-white skin stretched
over his shoulders and collarbones. A quick glance behind him verified what she
had felt earlier. He had been brutalized. Vall glanced over at her. His obvious
trust in her tugged at her heart.
2. Will stopped
abruptly and stared up at Vall swaying slightly. He appeared to be confused or
disoriented. He was no longer naked. A pair of off-duty slacks hung off his
bony hips, but he had shed the pullover top. His wrists were bound in medicated
wraps, and she could see similar adhesive patches around his ribs and
shoulders. His face lit up at the sight of her. His gritty thick hair had been
pulled into a single rope behind his back. For a moment, Will blinked at the
sight of his chest. His male nipples were heart-shaped. When he moved in her
direction, she glanced back up at him.
3. Outside, the
stars sped by. Planets spun overhead, then disappeared behind them. Whole
galaxies whirled in brilliantly lit glory as the ship passed them by.
Gradually, Vall's breathing slowed as he drifted off to sleep. Oddly enough,
Will felt herself becoming equally drowsy. She was warm. She was comfortable.
And for some reason she couldn't fathom, she felt protected. Safe. Wanted. It
was an odd sensation, given the fact that he didn't possess a natural shield
like she did. She fell asleep within his embrace, and the dreams she thought
would haunt her never appeared. Or, if they did, she didn't remember.
4. "She's a
captain of a Nion warship. In the whole fleet of nearly eighty, she's only one
of six women capable enough to handle the job. And she's only one of three
still actively on duty." Killjorn laid a hand on the young man's arm. She
was mildly surprised when he didn't flinch or draw back. "She's also a
young woman with a need to be loved. But she has to be careful. She can't take
reckless chances, not if she's to maintain her captaincy. And that means she
has to deliver you over to someone else, and have them take you to Regency
Base."
5. The figure
behind her almost appeared to expand in a rush of darkness and shadow. Vall
descended upon him like a silent wraith. Instinctively, Plymon threw up his shields
to protect himself against whatever the young man intended. To his horror, Vall
plunged a hand through the aura and grabbed him by the neck. Incredibly strong
fingers dug into his windpipe, nearly closing off his air. Plymon tried to
struggle, but the grip was too powerful.
6. Why am I
crying? Because I know this isn't over. Vall may be gone, but he'll be back.
He'll come back for Willis because there is a power inside him, or a being, or
something so rare and unknown that few have ever faced one. And that creature,
or being, or whatever it is inhabiting him, needs Willis. He needs her because,
without her, that power can overcome him. It will make him do things that would
ultimately make him suffer. In the end, it could destroy him...if he doesn't have
her with him.
