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Deep Encounter by Mikala Ash
A kilometer beneath the surface, in the cold, dark ocean depths, world renowned exo-biologist Samantha Price and ex-lover Mike Leigh, pilot of a deep-sea submersible, come face to face with the Mimetai, a creature that knows nothing of humanity.
Hurled to the sea bottom, their submersible incapacitated by the Mimetai and with air running out, Samantha and Mike rekindle their love and by doing so, give themselves an unexpected chance at happiness and maybe even survival.
The Way to Olympia by Amanda Carrell
Two wounded hearts, one ancient mystery, and a love that’s more powerful than tragedy.
After the tragic murders of her entire family, Olympia Abbott vows to continue their generations-long search for The Statue of Zeus. There are only two problems standing in her way—she’s run out of money, and she’s lost the willpower to deny her feelings for her long-term research partner, Lucas Cole.
Lucas Cole is no stranger to vows. When his best friend, Troy Abbott, was brutally murdered, he had to swear to keep his hands off Troy’s sister. There’s only one problem with that—he can’t seem to fight his feelings for her any longer. He’s wanted her for too long, has loved her even longer.
With the discovery of the Statue of Zeus drawing near, they’re both running out of time. Who will make the first move, and what will it cost?
Selkie Skin by Yolanda Sfetsos
Sometimes, an attraction to a stranger can awaken a secret spark deep inside.
When Marisa stumbles on an injured man near the Sydney Opera House, she doesn't count on the instant attraction she feels towards him. She's drawn to him on a level she's never felt with any other man, but there's so much more than attraction between them. She doesn't want to believe what Dylan is telling her about himself, but she can't deny the effect of his presence in her life. He touches her deeply...and makes her realize who she really is.
Dylan doesn't expect Marisa to believe his claims about what he really is, but it's simply a way of life for him. The disbelief never bothered him before, but this time is different. Marisa is different.
But is their connection strong enough to combat their differences?
Transcended by Maggie Wylder
Abigail has been dreaming about a dark-eyed man for years. Actually, yearning for him would be a better word. In the dark of night she felt his touch, sensed him, but she could never see his face. A surprise trip to a dig in Egypt to explore the Great Pyramid of Giza brings her face to face with the man who could have walked straight out of her dream.
Khadur had been sentenced to a deep, magical sleep by his father thousands of years ago to save his life—condemned to spend eternity in slumber unless awakened by his soulmate. A blinding ray of light awakens him to the startling realization that she's standing in front of him—the one woman who is meant to be his. The only trouble is, she doesn't believe him.
Can Khadur convince her their love has been written in the sands before a murderous colleague takes away his chance?
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Excerpt:
DEEP ENCOUNTER
We fell for an hour before either of us spoke, to each other, that is.
Mike, of course, was in constant contact with our controllers a thousand meters or so topside, speaking in the unintelligible techno-speak that pilots and astronauts adore.
Sitting beside him in the co-pilot’s seat, I was trying to figure out why the hell I was there.
“Well, is it a spaceship?” I asked eventually.
“What?”
“Is that why I’m here?”
He looked at me with that cute, puzzled hound dog expression I used to adore. Still do, truth be told.
I turned away to gaze out my port at the darkness through which we were plummeting. The black scene was lit by countless flashes of bio-luminescence from tiny, and not so tiny, undersea creatures hunting and being hunted in the dark killing field of the deep Pacific Ocean.
“A movie from last century,” I explained. “A spaceship is found at the bottom of the sea, the military calls in the scientists to study it. It turns out disastrously, of course, but that’s Hollywood for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
I was babbling. I blamed it on jet lag, not having breakfast and on the pheromones Mike was pumping into the confined atmosphere of the submersible.
When I’d first seen him leaning against the bright yellow sub, my heart had leapt into my throat. It hadn’t occurred to me he’d be there. I’d thought he was still in Antarctica exploring underneath what was left of the polar ice shelf.
“No spaceship,” he said.
“Then why am I here?”
“I asked for you especially.”
It was just as I’d thought. “Listen, Mike—”
He held up his hand. “Sssh. It’s not what you think.”
I glared at him. “And what do I think?”
“That I’m rekindling an old flame.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” The edge in my voice was colder than the sea water outside. I hadn’t meant to sound like that and instantly regretted it. He grinned and, damn-it-all, a little flutter started somewhere just below my breastbone and skittered its way through my belly and collided with the juncture of my thighs.
“You’re here because you, My Love, are the world’s top exo-biologist.”
“Flattery will get you absolutely nowhere.”
“I wouldn’t dream of hitting on a married woman.”
The little gasp I gave at that point was because in six, or was it seven hours from now, I wouldn’t be married any longer. I checked my watch; a novelty cartoon watch Mike had bought me many years ago to celebrate our first month anniversary. For some reason I’d never gotten around to throwing it away. The second hand no longer moved, but the others did just fine.
To be exact, I had six and a half hours of married life yet to endure. Rico, my soon to be ex-husband, had promised to deliver the duly signed paperwork to my lawyers. I’d phoned him after threatening to do bodily harm to the Naval officers who’d been hustling me out of the Capital Building. Nothing was going to stop me from getting divorced, not even being kidnapped by the military. I was sure Rico would deliver the papers early, so eager he was to be shed of me.
I glanced at Mike. He was busy with the controls, testing the manipulators that stretched out in front of our sub like thin skeletal arms; with elbows, hands and two clasping metallic fingers.
Mike couldn’t know about my impending divorce, I was sure. His reference to marriage had just been a throwaway line.
THE WAY TO OLYMPIA
“No, no, I understand. We’re all under a lot of stress right now. No big deal.” She turned and started rearranging the tablet pieces. For the most part, it was something to do with her hands that didn’t include throwing Luc to the ground and having her way with him. But she also hoped this time she might catch something she’d missed.
Then it hit her.
“Lined up this way, these are almost reminiscent of the Rosetta Stone. There’s this first language which none of us recognize and then we have these other two here and here—” She touched one piece of stone, while turning another on a ninety degree angle. “This one’s definitely Mycenaean, but not true Mycenaean. It’s almost like the mother language.”
Lucas picked up the last stone and brushed away a bit of dust. “Well even I know this is ancient Greek and everything looks Greek to me.”
Olympia laughed at his lame attempt at a joke, but then inspiration hit her. She shuffled the bits of rock around and let out a whoop of excitement. “That’s it! This is the ancient Greek version of the Rosetta Stone. The same text, translated in three languages, so each can be a key to understanding the others. Do you know what this means? We can finally translate those maps my parents found”
In her joy, she threw her arms around Lucas and felt her feet leave the ground as he pulled her close, twirling her around. When her feet touched the ground again, Olympia did an impromptu jig, not caring that she looked like the biggest idiot in the world. She’d never been so happy in her life.
Lucas threw his head back and laughed. My God, he was even more beautiful when he was happy. Before she could register what was happening, Lucas had grabbed her by the shoulders. Pulling her to him fast and rough, his lips were on hers. His tongue thrust into her mouth, licking and tasting every inch he could.
It was even more amazing than she’d imagined. A jolt of desire coursed through her body, so fierce she almost fell to her knees. She had to wrap her arms around his waist to keep from fainting dead away.
Then, just as quickly as the kiss had begun, it was over. She opened her eyes, expecting to see her desire mirrored in his face, but all she saw was Lucas walking away, his boots kicking up a wake of dust in his path. She’d been so caught up in the moment she hadn’t even felt him pull away.
Olympia collapsed against the truck. Sliding down, she wrapped her arms around her knees. What the hell just happened? As soon as she could walk again, she was for damn sure going to find out.
SELKIE SKIN
“I’m sorry, did I scare you?”
She stared at the cotton wool at her feet and nodded. Luckily she was still holding onto the bottle of disinfectant.
“I’m so sorry.” He picked up the cotton wool and placed it on the counter. “I just wanted to tell you that there’s no need for any first aid, as you call it. I’m completely healed.”
Her eyes wandered down to the dry blood along his left side. “No one completely heals from a shark attack so quickly.” How could it happen so quickly? “What happened to you out there anyway?”
“Sharks like to prey on seals. It’s one of their favorite meals.” Dylan shrugged.
“Oh, right, I’ve heard about that.”
He stared at her, appearing puzzled.
“You know, how they mistake humans for seals when they’re underneath the water? Anyway, let me take a look at your injuries.” She turned the tap on until the water was warm.
“It’s not necessary.”
“Nonsense.” She’d already stuck a wad of cotton wool under the running water and reached for his side.
Dylan awkwardly lifted his left arm out of the way as she dabbed at the blood. She needed to keep her thoughts straight so she didn’t concentrate on how smooth his skin looked this close, or how the smell of the ocean emanated off him. When she’d cleared away the blood, Marisa was stunned. It wasn’t possible.
“Where…where is your wound?”
“It’s already healed.”
Marisa ran her fingers along the smooth, hard expanse over his ribs and sighed. There was no bite. She’d cleared nothing but the dry blood.
She straightened, hand still at his side. Their eyes met and she spotted the flash of desire buried within his. He looked away, but it was too late. Marisa had already noticed.
To conceal her confusion, she glanced at his side again. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m a fast healer,” he whispered.
Marisa ran her palm up and down his skin. She didn’t want to break the connection. It played havoc with her emotions, had her feeling things which weren’t possible with a complete stranger. She could also see it affected him as much as her.
“No one heals this quickly.”
“Some species do.”
“But not humans…”
“I am more than human.” Dylan moved his face a little closer to hers, seemed to be testing the water.
She craned her neck a little, enough to feel his warm breath play along her face. Marisa closed her eyes as she stroked the ribs beneath the luscious skin. He was so perfect, she couldn’t stop touching him.
“Maybe you should have a shower to clear away the rest of the blood,” she whispered.
“Maybe you could join me.”
TRANSCENDED
She opened her eyes and looked up into the face of a handsome, dark-eyed man. Where do I know him from? He looked familiar. His eyes…it can’t be! Slowly the recognition of who he was dawned on her. “Oh, my God, you’re… the man from my dreams!” She scooted away from him quickly. “This is impossible! H...how can you be here? I’m awake! This can’t be real.”
“Why are you frightened? You know me. I am not a stranger.”
“I don’t know you.” Part of her wanted to believe this was real, but she knew better. Men just did not come out of dreams and into reality. Am I losing my mind? She frantically searched past him for her colleagues, but they appeared to be the only ones in the room. “Wh-Where am I? Where are Dr. Kameth and the rest of my team?”
“I know not the names of which you speak. How have you come here?”
She stood, brushing the dust from her khakis. Scanning the room, she saw there was no sign of Jason or the others. They were alone. It was then she noticed the room had undergone a change. It was the same, yet not. Everything looked new. All the dirt and grime that had accumulated over the years was gone, as were the cracks in the tombs. The burial pyre had disappeared, and the room empty. She must be dreaming. Heavy stone just didn’t disappear.
Pushing back the fear and confusion threatening to overtake her, Abby squared her shoulders and planned her next move. This man is not the lover from my dreams. She was more than capable of protecting herself, but she had to remain calm. For her own safety, she needed to get back to her team. This man had to be a local that had stumbled upon them—that was the only answer that made any sense. She cleared her throat and spoke up again. “I am Dr. Abigail Sayman, and I’m here on a research expedition. There were three others with me here inside the pyramid. You must have seen them. Do you know where they have gone?”
The man shook his head in reply, moving closer to her as he spoke. “I have seen no others, only you.” He offered little more than direct responses to her questions. “I know who you are. I have touched your body many times. But I do not understand how you have come here.”
Abby jumped back from him. The cold stone of the wall against her back chilled her to the bone. What does he mean he’s touched my body many times? I’d remember if I had been with a man that looked like him! The stranger’s intense stares made her nervous. His eyes devoured every inch of her. The longer she continued this verbal exchange, the more frustrated she became. “I have already told you…” She paused, inhaling deeply in attempt to calm herself. “I’m not sure who you are, but you have never touched my body. I demand to know your name!”
“I am Khadur, son of Mihtep.”
“Tha…that’s not possible.” She placed a hand to her head as the room started to spin. Her stomach lurched with fear. Khadur… the name she read from the inscription on the lid of the tomb. Disbelief overtook her, and she slid down the wall into the black void once again.
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