Let’s Get to Know...
Tina Donahue is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist in erotic,
paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Samhain
Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, Luminosity, Decadent,
and indie. She is featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s
Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production
company in Story Direction.
Deception
knows no limits. Passion knows no bounds.
On
a shuddering breath, Isabella searched the market for any means of escape and
found none. Too many people pressed close with no clear route from the area. If
only she could see what was behind her, she might find a way out.
A
quick glance showed even more people and cramped stalls, proving how trapped
she was. The eunuch’s high-pitched shout suddenly rose above the slaver’s angry
growl. Wanting away from them, she inched back. The eunuch dashed to her right,
blocking her. The slaver to her left and reached for her robe.
Piercing
wails filled the heated air.
Isabella
stiffened. The slaver’s hand fell from her. He and the eunuch turned toward the
sounds. Two dark-robed women pressed their hands to their veiled mouths.
Children had stopped playing, their youthful eyes widened in wonder or fear at
an aged man. His white beard trailed down his chest, and infirmity bent his
tall frame, forcing him to keep his face lowered. He wore a turban and full
robe, the voluminous fabric hiding the contours of his body.
Suddenly,
he thrust his hand into a fire used to cook some manner of food.
Many
in the crowd gasped. A young girl backed into a basket of olives, toppling it.
The fruit rolled across the ground until it reached a pool of spilled honey
where a black cat prowled.
The
aged man kept his hand in the fire without bellowing in pain. He chose three
smoking coals, tossing the hot embers from his right hand to his left much as
jugglers did at fairs with brightly colored balls.
This
was no fair nor was he a juggler, but a fakir,
a holy man.
Isabella
had heard tales of such beings who traveled the Arab territories. Fakirs had no
homes or commerce, begging for food as they roamed from place to place,
performing amazing feats to shock everyone, as he did now. Merchants, free
women, and children waited to see what the strange man would do next.
With
no one watching her, Isabella prepared to break into a run, to lose herself in
the throng.
The
fakir tilted his face and met her gaze.
Her
heart caught. His eyes were arresting and strangely beautiful, his gaze so
intent she stepped back. His expression changed. With a hard frown, he seemed
to warn her to remain where she was. He turned to the eunuch and slaver, crying
to them in Arabic, his voice reedy with age.
Her
stomach churned. Was he warning them of her intent to flee?
When
he looked back at her, raw power lit his expression, holding her to the spot.
Even
if she’d wanted to move, she couldn’t now. The eunuch and slaver stared at her.
The
air grew heavier than before and far too still. The slaver adjusted his weight
from foot to foot as he and the eunuch spoke to the fakir. The holy man
answered in kind, juggling the hot coals. He drew closer to them, his movements
inefficient and tottering, no different from a babe. The slaver stepped back.
The eunuch did not. His shrill voice rose in what sounded like an oath. The
fakir hobbled closer, the hot coals jumping more slowly between his hands. At
last he responded, his voice low.
The
eunuch scowled and shouted a string of foul-sounding words. The fakir grabbed
the eunuch’s throat, pressing the hot coals to it. Squealing in agony, the
eunuch fell to the ground, rocking and mewling.
Frightened
sounds rippled through the crowd. The holy man spoke to the spectators, who
exchanged glances with each other and shuffled back.
The
fakir grabbed more hot coals from another fire and staggered toward the slaver.
Unlike the eunuch, the slaver offered no retort as he stepped back quickly. The
fakir followed. It was a strange dance, the fakir plodding forward a step, the
slaver retreating the same distance as he focused on the newest coals.
Again,
Isabella realized no one noticed her. Before she could think to escape, the
fakir was at her side, clutching her hair in his free hand, shouting at the
others.
Again,
they backed away.
He
yanked Isabella toward him and whispered in Castilian, “When I release you,
grasp your throat and cry out. Your freedom and life depend upon it. Do you
understand?”
Her
heart hammered so wildly she could barely breathe, much less think. With no
time to consider why he would help her, she nodded.
The
fakir shouted something to the others then brought the coals close enough for
her to feel their heat. She clutched her throat and wailed.
The
slaver spoke hurriedly, his words seeming to beg for mercy.
The
fakir lifted the hot coals to his mouth and blew. Flames poured from his parted
lips. Screams tore through the crowd with more than a few bolting.
The
fakir gripped her wrist, his touch steel.
Again,
he lifted the coals to his lips. Flames shot out of his mouth, which he
directed to the black silk hanging on a stall. The cloth caught fire. He
bolted, pulling her with him.
She
struggled to keep up as they dashed through the narrow streets of the market,
past stalls and startled people. Behind them, men shouted. She glanced over.
Guards pursued them. The fakir ran faster, forcing her to follow. They darted
down one cramped street after another. He knocked over goods deliberately. Both
of them dodged buyers. Finally, he rushed into an unattended shop offering a variety
of baskets.
Before
she could question why this place was empty of a merchant or buyers, the fakir
pushed her toward a shadowed corner near the entrance and shielded her with his
body. She was so close to him her face and breasts pressed against his surprisingly
muscular back. He shifted his weight. An object beneath his robe tapped her
knee. She looked down at a long, thin outline hidden by the fabric. A sword?
Find Loving Lies at: Amazon: Amazon B&N Kobo iTunes
Find Tina at: http://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/
Tina is offering one winner her
(or his) choice of FIVE of her backlist ebooks from this list (25 choices):
16. Illicit
Intent – Four and a Half Stars – Sensual Reads
17. Deep
Within Me – Four Stars – Romantic Times
18. Seven
Sensuous Days – 4 Stars – Long & Short Reviews
19. Stolen
Desire – 4 Stars – Romantic Times
20. Taking Eve – What to
read after FSOG and Story of O
21. This Time When
We Touch – Erotic Paranormal
22. Carnal Takeover –
BDSM
23. Wicked Takeover –
Erotic Contemporary
Thank you, Tina, for being with me today and for showing you new book!
5 comments:
absolutely, Tina!!
I love Tina's books! Shared! :)
Thank you for sharing, Melissa!
"Deception knows no limits. Passion knows no bounds." -- catchy line!
The except sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing!
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