Snippet Saturday: Defining Moment

It’s our first Snippet Saturday! Kickin’ it off with massive thanks to Lauren Dane for organizing this.  Every Saturday we’re going to post a snippet from a current or upcoming release to share.  But not just any snippet!  Along with the other participating authors we’re picking very specific scenes, scenes that tie into a shared theme.  Today’s theme?  Defining Moments.

There are a couple defining moments in Sanctuary Lost, but a few of them are connected to some rather massive spoilers.  After a few moments thought we came up with this one, which is pretty representative of Joe & Brynn.  Give them advice to take things slowly and…well, that’s not always a great idea. 

* * *

If there’s one thing that Brynn Adler hates, it’s feeling helpless and vulnerable in unfamiliar territory. Three weeks ago, life tossed her into a just such a world. A world of werewolves she never knew existed-until she found out her sister is one of them.

The pack seems determined to hurry her back to the normal world of humans. But after everything she’s witnessed, she’s not sure she wants to go-especially if it means leaving not only her sister behind, but the one man who makes her forget her life is falling apart.

Now all she has to do is convince him to agree to a plan to force the pack to let her stay.

Joe Mitchell has been battling his protective instincts since he rescued Brynn from her kidnapper. Getting involved with her is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. She’s on shaky emotional ground, and a supernatural war is no place for a human woman. He’s not about to let her make a hasty decision, one that will only bring her pain and regret.

Now all he has to do is let her go.

* * *

“Damn it, Abby, what am I supposed to do? I could stay away from him…” Liar.

Her sister shrugged. “Just take it slow. You’ve got so much crap going on right now, anyway. Just don’t forget that he’s…intrigued.”

She opened her mouth to demand a more explicit definition of “intrigued”, but Abby tilted her head and glanced toward the door in a way Brynn had already grown to recognize. Keith was home. Which meant Joe was here.

Which meant she was out of time, and starting to feel a little warm from the two generous shots of whiskey. Brilliant, Brynn. This is all amazingly brilliant.

The front door swung open, and Abby smiled as Keith walked in. “How did it go?”

The look he gave Abby was the kind of thing people wrote poetry about. He looked tired and worn, but his eyes warmed as they found Abby and his smile was just for her. “About as expected. You okay?”

“Mmm. We busted out the booze.” She held the bottle aloft and shook it. “Want some?”

“Shit, yes.” The answer came from Joe as he stepped through the door. His gaze slid immediately to Brynn, and then away again. “Make mine a double.”

The knowledge that every person in the room could hear the way her heart skipped a beat was too much. Brynn rose to her feet and forced a smile as she backed toward the kitchen. “I’ll get more glasses.”

“I’ll help.” Joe followed her, and that made it ten times worse. She felt his presence like a tangible warmth against her skin as she crossed to the cupboard and yanked it open. She stared at the glasses and tried to think of something besides how badly she wanted him to cross the room and stand behind her, wrap his arms around her and nuzzle his face against her neck…

It’s all casual. You keep telling yourself that, Brynn.

He did step up behind her, reaching past her to the topmost shelf and the row of tumblers there. “Did you talk to Abby?”

Her body moved without her permission, leaning back just enough to press against his chest. “Yeah. She took it better than I’d expected.”

He laid a hand on her shoulder, and his voice deepened. “I guess she knows you and your reasons better than I do, then. I’m glad she’s not upset with you.”

“Joe?”

His lips brushed her temple. “Yeah?”

Her heart hammered so hard she could hear it. “I don’t think I can drink anymore, or I’ll be trying to climb into your pants. I’m actually sort of seriously considering it now.”

She couldn’t see his face, but he choked out a noise that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a groan. “You’re going to get me killed, honey.” He lowered his lips to her ear. “Are you staying here tonight?”

Brynn wasn’t staying here for five more minutes, not if Joe would take her home and take her to his bed. She closed her eyes and rubbed her ass against him, and there was no doubt that he wanted her. “If I go home with you, you’re not sleeping on the couch.”

His hand slid around her stomach and edged under her shirt to stroke her belly. “Not sleeping on the couch,” he rasped. “Let’s go have a drink, and then get the hell out of here.”

It was the best damn idea she’d heard in months.

* * *

Want more defining moments?  The following authors are posting about them today on their blogs too: Lauren Dane, Cynthia Eden, Vivi Anna , SJ Day , Moira Rogers , Leah Braemel, Mandy Roth, Anya Bast , Viv Arend, Juliana Stone, Savannah Foley , Beth Williamson, Elisabeth Naughton , Michelle Pillow , Jaci Burton, Taige Crenshaw, McKenna Jeffries, Sasha White