Who doesn't love a cowboy! My new release from Ellora's Cave is about a mountain cowboy and is lady from the big city. When they get together there's a whole lot of heat steamy enough to melt the snowy peaks. had a lot of fun writing Chet and Jenna's story and I'm excited that a quickie sequel to it has also been contracted by Ellora's Cave, titled Rock-Hard Heat.
I hope you enjoy the excerpt.
An Excerpt From: ELEMENTAL HEAT
Copyright © CRISTAL RYDER, 2012
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.
“I can’t believe the stars.”
“Magnificent isn’t it?”
“Totally.”
“I dare you to pick a star and wish my name on it.”
She giggled. “That’s not a dare.” Jenna inhaled the wonderful
scent of wood smoke, night air and barbequing meat. For the first time in a
long time a sense of well-being filled her. She reclined on the lounger,
pulled the blanket to her chin and searched the sky for the perfect star.
“I found one.”
“Where?”
Chet put the lid down on the grill and came to sit at
her feet, holding her ankle gently with his big hand. She trembled at his
touch, and loved the wave of arousal that swept up her leg to settle
between her thighs. She wanted his touching to be so much more. Time for
that later. Jenna pointed to a bright star a little bit off to the right.
“See? The large one there.”
He glanced up and right at that moment a shooting star
streaked across the sky and right over top of the star she just picked.
“Holy shit! Did you see that?” Jenna bolted upright and
watched the fiery trail the meteor left behind. “What are the odds of that
happening?”
“Yes, I saw.” She heard the smile in his voice.
“What does that tell you?” Jenna asked him.
“I think the important thing is what it means to you.”
His voice was soft and she switched her gaze from the sky to his face.
“To me? Well, a sign.”
“What kind of sign?”
She hesitated a moment, quite struck by the shooting
star. What were the odds that just as she chose a star a meteor would
streak over the one she picked? There was a whole big sky up there, a great
vastness and yet the celestial streak happened in her minuscule portion of
it where she picked a star to wish his name on. It told her volumes, but
she couldn’t really express it without feeling ridiculous.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, feeling embarrassed to
almost voice thoughts she normally would never let enter her mind. “Maybe
that our visit was written in the stars…”
Chet squeezed her ankle gently. “I hope you made a wish on
it.”
“I didn’t!” Was it too late? Jenna squeezed her eyes
shut and wished. Wished with all her might that maybe, just maybe she was
wrong and that she could find true love. Her birthday was this week, while
she was here with a very sexy cowboy. One who seemed almost too good to be true.
If it seems too
good to be true it usually is.
Jenna opened her eyes and glanced at Chet. Was he hiding
any secrets?
“I hope it was a good one.” Chet’s deep voice reached
her through the dark.
She pulled the blanket tighter. “Time will tell. There’s
been lots of wishing upon stars over the years and I think only one has
ever come to fruition.”
“Which one was that?”
Jenna laughed. “A horse. When I was little I would go
outside every night and search for the first evening star and wish
desperately for a horse. I finally got my wish when I was twenty. But I had
to wait an awful long time.” She glanced at his now achingly familiar face,
his rugged features softened by the bonfire. “I hope I don’t have to wait
as long for this wish.”
“Sounds to me like you don’t have a whole lot of
patience. Remember, all good things come to those who wait.” He winked at
her and stood.
Jenna watched him walk to the barbeque. He was all fluid
grace. For such a big man he wasn’t awkward at all and she couldn’t wait to
see him in the saddle. He’d promised they’d go riding tomorrow. But there
was a lot of time between now and then. She watched him flip the steaks and
take a sip of wine from his glass, then hold the spatula aloft. The image
was ingrained in her mind and she swore she would never forget this moment.
Before she knew what she was doing or could change her
mind, Jenna swung her legs off the lounge and stood. Chet turned and
watched her approach, the dark dreaminess of his
eyes drew her. She needed to taste him, to feel his lips under hers and if
he wasn’t going to make the first move then she would.
The blanket slipped down her back and she clutched the
edges below her breasts.
He put the spatula down without looking where he placed
it and it clattered to the patio stones. She stood before him and wound her
arms around his neck, holding the corners of the blanket, wrapping them in
the warmth of the wool. Her fingers pressed against his neck and the
strength in his muscles made her feel truly feminine.
Almost at eye level, she had to look up only slightly to
meet his gaze. All her senses tuned in to him, his essence permeated her
and she let it. The long-distance teasing they had done the past few months
came to a head and Jenna trembled with desire. She tipped her head back and
pulled him to her. The hesitation when their lips were a hairsbreadth apart
was exquisite. Energy crackled between them in the moment of anticipation
before fulfillment.
Chet’s vigor and arousal radiated from him in pulsing
waves. The whisper of air between their bodies vanished when he snaked his
arms around her waist and brought her hard against him. Jenna sucked in a
breath and a little “oh” popped from between her lips.
“This is where I’ve wanted you all day, woman.”
I love to hear from my readers. You can find me at
cristal.ryder@gmail.com
www.cristalryder.com
www.cristalryder.blogspot.com
Ooh, fabulous excerpt, Cristal! Thanks for the intro, Ann!
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