If you listen you will hear the heartbeat of the Earth…
Roz Hill is a woman unafraid of her passion. So when she meets a man who gives her a visceral reaction, she doesn’t ignore it. One night leads to more… The discovery of her mate and finding her artifact.
Altair Sagal has his own code. Roz intrigues him in ways no one has for years. As they learn to be mates, they get tossed into situations that very well may kill them both before their life together even begins.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of torture and violence.
Publisher's Note: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series.
General Release Date: 6th February 2015
Rosamund ‘Roz’ Hill forced a smile on her lips while she turned to face the man behind her. The briefcase she held glanced off her left leg as she spun.
“Trent,” she commented. “What a surprise to find you in here… This courtroom where you weren’t in. The hospital finally kick you out for poaching their clients?”
His grin—more of a leer—turned her stomach. “Ha ha.” He flicked a piece of lint from the right shoulder of his suit. “I wanted to take you out for a celebratory dinner.”
His smugness had her itching to smack him. Repeatedly.
She blinked a few times, flummoxed. “A celebratory dinner? What the frack could we possibly have to celebrate?”
“My dear. This is the day you agreed to date me.”
That was it. Her blood pressure had surely skyrocketed through the roof. She lifted her chin to glare down her nose at the much taller, arrogant prick watching her. She longed to lash out at him, despite the fact she remained in a rapidly emptying courtroom. Soon, it would just be the two of them.
“I’ve tried being nice to you, but you are apparently unable to get a fuck-blasted clue. I will again make this as clear as I can for you. We aren’t dating. We will never date and I—”
He peered over his shoulder to wave at someone and she caught a glimpse of a small tattoo positioned behind his left ear. It froze her blood.
The New Order’s symbol.
How did I not know about him being part of that faction?
He returned his baby blues to her face. “What were you saying?”
Like you don’t know, bastard. “Stay away from me, Trent.” With squared shoulders, she was ready for any sudden movement he might make. She flexed her fingers around the handle of her briefcase. “Keep away. Far away.”
She whirled around and tramped off before she did something stupid and attacked Trent.
Sure, jail time. That’s just what I need. Wonder how Lian would like me to call him with that bit of news.
“Bitch,” he snarled behind her. “What are you, a fucking lesbo? You act all holier than thou but you’re just a piece of pussy.”
Let it go, Roz. Be bigger than that tiny little excuse for a man who must assume that because you don’t want him, you must be a lesbian. I mean, what woman wouldn’t want him? Right? Oh, that’s right. Me. I don’t like slime.
She forced herself to continue toward the large double doors—all that remained between her and freedom.
“Probably can’t even please a man. I was trying to do you a favor, you whore.”
Nope, she couldn’t. Roz pivoted back toward him and marched up. “Pick one or the other, you pathetic waste of sperm. I couldn’t be a whore if I didn’t know how to please men or women. No need to be so jealous. No one will touch you with a ten-foot pole. You just don’t have it.”
His face, normally composed and collected, morphed into something ugly and cruel. Instantly her sign awoke, sensing her increased concern and irritation. Power danced along her skin as she instinctively readied for battle.
“You little cu—”
“Do not finish that sentence if you care to see tomorrow.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I know who you are. You should take care not to piss me off. Had you been nice to me, I may have put in a good word for you. You didn’t. Do you know who I am?”
Roz stepped forward until the open toes of her stilettos brushed against his dress shoes. “You’re a scum of The New Order.”
“Then perhaps you should be nicer.”
“Why? I deal with the big players. Gravett, Hara, Haley, Uma.” She sneered at him. “Not Trent.”
“You bitch.”
“Yawn. Got anything important to say?”
“You think you’re so smart. You don’t stand a chance against us.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Us? What us? You are an expendable body to them. Nothing more.” Contempt dripped like acid from her words.
“I’m important.”
“In your own mind, I’m sure. Stay away from me, Trent. Don’t make me regret my decision.”
“What decision is that?”
“Walking away.”
Roz had pulled a one-eighty and taken a step when his hand curled around her. She closed her eyes and counted. One, two. How do I do this without looking to the cameras as if I’m killing him? And enjoying it? Or am the instigator. Thirteen. Better question, should I care? Fifty-five… Oh fuck it. I’ll take my punishment.
She growled low in her throat and began facing Trent when a deep voice cut in, “You need to let the woman go.”
The timbre brought to mind long, drugging nights of sex, toe-curling orgasms and a whole other set of thoughts she didn’t need to be thinking currently. Forgetting Trent, she turned in the other direction.
Oh hell. Where he’d come from, she hadn’t any clue. She knew damn sure the man hadn’t been in during the court session. She wouldn’t have forgotten him. Thick black hair was in a shorter clip, one that exaggerated his steely onyx eyes. His dark complexion boasted of his Middle Eastern blood. He moved with purpose across the floor, the fit of his jeans dragging her gaze to his crotch.
Focus!
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by six Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on Facebook or Twitter: @AliyahBurke96. And Pinterest.
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