After an Asteroid slams into Earth sending it into a new ice age, what remains
of the human race survives in underground sanctuaries.
Two Hundred years in the future, Bethanie Greeneβs life has been planned out for her
since the age of thirteen. Beautiful and intelligent, sheβs spent the last twelve
years training to become the next leader of the underground nation of Oceania. And
in just six weeks, all of her hard work and dedication will come to fruition.
Howard Jamesβ life has been the polar opposite of Bethanieβs struggling to survive
in a world where those in power wished he didnβt exist. He never asked to be the
leader of those, outcast from society, but he will do the job to the best of his
ability. He never expects to find himself attracted to the pretty blonde woman who
is next in line for Matron of Oceania or to have to rescue her from his own men.
When Bethanie is kidnapped by rogue extremists just six weeks shy of taking office,
her world is turned upside down, and not just by the handsome stranger who rescues
her. Together with his unconventional family, Howard shows her a life she never knew
was possible, while at the same time opening her eyes the injustices perpetrated
upon the citizens of Oceania by the government she is meant to lead.
But can she trust him? And can a few days change everything she believes? Against
all odds, Bethanie must decide if love and duty can coexist.
Read the Excerpt
A yawn creeps up my throat and I suddenly feel like I havenβt slept in weeks. The
temptation to curl up and go to sleep is strong, but my body is telling me I need a
trip to the bathroom first.
I head down the hall to the door at the end. Itβs ajar, so I push the door openβand
freeze. The bathroom is not empty.
Howard stands at the sink, naked from the waist up, cleaning his teeth. Without
clothing, his shoulders look twice as wide as before and every curve and dip in his
muscles is clearly visible. Down the middle of his back is what looks like a big,
black T. I have this crazy inclination to trace it to see how it feels.
Howard clears his throat and my gaze shoots up to find him watching me in the
mirror. βDo you mind?β
He winks at me.
Oh crap!
βSorry.β I pull the door shut. Iβm mortified to have been caught staring. I also
have butterflies in my stomach again, stronger than ever, and my heart is pounding.
I fan my face with my hands in an attempt to calm myself down.
Before I can get everything under control, the door opens and a still-shirtless
Howard walks out.
βAll yours.β
βUh-huh.β
I mentally slap myself for such an inept reply, but the view of him from the front
is even better than the back. He has one of those washboard stomachs Iβve heard Gail
talk about. I never understood what she meant, but now I can see how apt the
description is. Once again, I find myself unable to stop staring.
βGood night, Bethanie,β Howard says strolling down the hallway.
βHoward? Whatβs the T on your back?β I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
He stops and half turns towards me. βItβs a tattoo, and it isnβt a T, itβs a
crucifix.β
βA crucifix?β
βYeah, itβs the cross Christ was nailed to. It is a symbol of the weight I bare in
the name of justice.β
βHuh. Iβm sorry, I donβt really know what youβre talking about. Itβs nice, though.β
βThanks,β he says, βbut I better get to bed if Iβm going to be up early to take you
to the post office.β
βNight,β I call after him.
βSweet dreams,β he calls back.
I smile. They might just be.
Melissa Kendall is a 39 year-old stay at home mum and part-time Software Support
Consultant. She lives in Perth Western Australia the second most isolated capital
city in the world with the nearest city over 2000km away.
She's always loved to read and write and spent most of her teens scribbling poetry
and short stories on any scrap of paper she could get her hands on. Over the years
as daily life pressures got in the way, she lost the passion for it. After her son
was born, she discovered e-books and her interest in writing was rekindled. It has
been a large part of her life ever since.
She writes a little bit of everything but contemporary erotic romance is her
favourite genre.
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