VIPER’S NEST

ISBN: pending
Publisher:
Genre: Action/Romance (mildly erotic)
Available:
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One night is all they have now, his orders have come in, he is shipping out to Afghanistan in less than 48 hours. Eugenio Marino is a soldier dedicated to his career, but also very much in love. Carissa Wallace was visiting Italy when she’d met the handsome paratrooper, the last thing she’d expected was to fall madly in love with him. Knowing what he did changed nothing, she’d fallen hard and fast... and now the reality was she might never have the future she’d tried to deny wanting. They have one night left to face their feelings and their commitment to each other, but can it possibly be enough? 

Excerpt:

Carissa’s smile lingered as the memory reflected reality, and Eugenio guided the car into the late afternoon congestion of traffic.

“Where are we going?”

“I’ve made a reservation at the Hotel Maja,” he told her with a smile. “The view is incredible. I think you’ll like it.”

Her small flat was in a different area of Pescara, but she’d seen the Maja a number of times. It was one of the best hotels in the area, and she knew it would be beautiful.

“Do you do this often, soldier?” She asked, laughter creeping into her tone when he grinned.

“Only for special women,” he replied with mock seriousness. “I think you’re the first.”

“But will I be the last,” she returned with a smile. She knew the answer, and he flashed her a quick smile as he made a turn that would have had her heart in her throat if she’d been paying attention to traffic and not looking at him.

“Solo tu, tesoro mio...”

“Ti amo, sempre,” she answered softly. The Italian for “I love you” had come easily and naturally to her. Eugenio had patiently taught her a great number of things about the lyrical and romantic language she adored. In return, she had helped him with his use of English. They often had conversations that slipped from one language to the other with a smooth flow that delighted them both.

He took her hand, turned it so he could kiss the palm, then placed her hand on his thigh. She resisted the urge to stroke the hard muscle beneath her fingers knowing well how quickly they distracted each other and was content to lean back in her seat and relax.

A short while later they’d checked in, and he took her by the hand. “Would you like to have dinner in the restaurant, or in our room?”

“I want to spend every minute I can with you, no one else,” she replied, and he drew her close, then headed for the elevator. A few minutes later they were in the softly lit suite he’d reserved.

“Cara?”

She turned and stared at him, cold and shaken somehow.

“I want to understand this, Eugenio,” she whispered. “I need to know why you’re doing this.”

“I leave the day after tomorrow, this will be the last time I have free before then. I have to be back on the base by noon,” he replied after a second of hesitation.

She gasped, unable to stop the sense of being punched in the stomach. “Tomorrow,” she repeated, her voice a choked sputter of sound. “How long have you known?” Despite her shock, there was accusation in her words and he winced in response.

“How was I supposed to tell you, Carissa?” The misery in his eyes was real pain. “I know how afraid you’ve been of me getting my orders.”

She couldn’t deny it, or be angry that he’d tried to protect her for as long as possible. She struggled for some reply, found none, and gazed at him. When the bleakness deepened in his brilliant green eyes she pushed her body into motion and went to him, wrapping her arms around him, clinging to him.

“We have tonight,” she finally said, voice rough with emotion, “let’s live it without fear between us, tesoro.”

“This was all so simple a few months ago,” he whispered.

She looked up at him. “Before me?”

He nodded.

“I do understand that this is who you are, Eugenio.”

“E capisco la tua paura, bella,” he replied softly.

“My fear is that I will lose the most precious gift my life has ever known,” she answered, her voice pitched to a quiet intensity that made it almost breathless in quality. “But this is what you do, I accepted that when we met. I would never ask you to change for me.”

He stared down at her, his sharp eyes boring into her, measuring the truth of her understanding in a way mere words would never speak...