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May’s 1st Encounter: the Finalists

Hey guys, wasn’t that little writing exercise fun? Admit it, it got your juices flowing, right? I received so many really great entries this month that I’ve decided to pick four finalists instead of three (yes, that’s what I did last month, so why I don’t I just pick four each time, huh? Well, if I mean to pick four, I’ll end up picking five… and so on and so forth). You guys know the song and dance… the entry that garners the most vote wins. Good luck, finalists!

This first contestant… blows me away. Constantly. So good. So… dreamy.

Tumperkin

I can’t say they didn’t warn me about Will. But my God, he was crazy-fucking-beautiful. And on one of those manic highs of his, I swear he could have seduced anyone.

I met him at my wedding. It started right then and I can’t accept responsibility. No-one could have resisted him that day.

I was standing in the line-up, welcoming the guests, and Will was my best friend’s date. When he arrived in front of me, I found myself looking at the most beautiful male face I had ever seen. Girlish almost, with a cupid’s bow mouth and extravagantly long eyelashes. Silver eyes, like a husky.

He stared at me with incredible concentration. For one moment, the world shrank to the two of us; a moment when he leaned forward and whispered in my ear: ‘I think I’ve fallen in love with you’. I almost laughed, but when I drew back and looked into those mercury eyes again, I just - believed him. And I know that he did mean it, right at that moment. That was what was so hypnotic about Will. He was always completely sincere.

Only just for a moment.


And this next one… for some reason, the character of Hugh reminded me of Wesley from the Princess Bride.

Carrie Lofty

Only when his opponent fell to the earthen road, lifeless, did Hugh look at the woman. She knelt, eyes downcast. The worn, saffron-colored cowl draped to her shoulders, framing long features and wide, thin lips.

He reached for her.

Flinching and screaming again, she pitched against his knees. The unexpected assault upset Hugh’s balance. He toppled him to the ground, breath erupting from his lungs in a hard exhale. The woman landed astride his chest and slammed a fist into his ear. He grunted in pain, then roared when another fist connected with his shoulder wound. Enraged and suffering, he flipped her away.

The miniature drama of their struggle gained an audience. Braddock’s shouts to his remaining forces burned Hugh’s brain, banished thought. Only instinct remained.

Claiming the woman’s wrists, he dragged her to the horse. The agonizing ache of his injury made him clumsy, but dread pumped strength into every movement. He propelled his charge and her entangling skirts into the saddle and mounted behind her.

“Leave me go!”

Curled, dark hair poked from the cowl, tickling his nose. She smelled of dry leaves, sunshine…and vinegar?

He clamped her to his chest. “Without lies, I mean you no harm.”

This one’s sexy…

Bettie

In another time and place, they would have been lovers. If they’d met on the street or in a smoky bar some Saturday night, Arden wouldn’t have hesitated to lock his gaze, lick her lips, and move in for the metaphorical kill. But tonight, the kill was all too literal.

He was asleep, but his eyes snapped open when she tightened her garrote. God and the Devil, what a beautiful man! Coal black hair; ice blue eyes; firm lips that she longed to taste before the life went out of him. He even struggled beautifully.

“I’m sorry.” She’d never apologized to a kill before. “I wish things were different.”

His last breath came with a sputter of blood. She kissed his parted lips. He tasted of coppery cold blood, of smoke and whiskey. His heart was motionless beneath her hand, but Arden imagined she felt it beat. She closed her eyes.

And then she was on her back, pinned by the muscled weight of his body. Below his square jaw, the mark of her garrote had healed to a thin pink scar that curved upward toward his ears; a gruesome parallel of the smile that curved his blood-flecked lips.

And this one had me smiling and awwww-ing.

CJ

Three hours into my garage sale he brings up my shoebox of CDs. “You’re getting rid of these?” His dark hair curls over his ears, and his gem-like hazel eyes give him a harsh masculine beauty I’d imagine a Renaissance painter might love to capture.

“Everything must go.” I say sadly, looking at his curvy shoulders in the sunlight. That skin would be hot to the touch. And smooth.

He pulls out one of my favorites. “I used to love this one and I lost it. And this!”

“Five bucks for the box.” I sigh. “Your lucky day.”

“I’ll play them for my date tonight.” He pulls out a fun one. “This when she walks in.” He looks at me and whispers, “She’s beautiful.” He selects an obscure one. “A little dinner music.”

“Nice choice.”

He takes out another. “Foot massage.”

I laugh. “The whole CD?”

“Oh yeah.”

I swallow. At least somebody’s having fun tonight. I flip through the box. “Then this.”

“Oooh. Slow. Sweet. A little wild.”

My face reddens. I’ve revealed my favorite music for sex to a perfect stranger.

He looks at me—it’s like he can see right into me. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

… so there you have it. Your vote decides which of these literary wizards will win this month’s contest and awarded a $30 gift certificate to Amazon or B&N. I will announce the winner on Friday morning. Happy voting!

Good luck, babies!

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 at 6:02 am and is filed under Contests and Free Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

39 Responses to “May’s 1st Encounter: the Finalists”

  1. Ann(ie)
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 6:17 am
    1

    You didn’t ask me this time, but those are the four I would’ve picked too. Damn, the voting is hard. Lemme think about it.

  2. kate r
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 6:20 am
    2

    I’m voting for Bettie’s but only because I have a thing for female assassins.

  3. kate r
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 6:21 am
    3

    and, um, duh, because it’s really good. They all are. When’s the book coming out?

  4. Shiloh Walker
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 6:22 am
    4

    Sorry, Bam. I can’t choose between Tumperkin and CJ!

  5. bam
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 6:27 am
    5

    um… those of you can’t choose… WHY ARE YOU HERE? ;)

  6. Caryle
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 am
    6

    Tumperkin’s blew me away when I first read it, and while I really like the others, I’m sticking with that gut reaction.

  7. Ann(ie)
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 7:02 am
    7

    You know, I must agree with Caryle’s logic.

    Tumperkin for the win.

  8. shuzluva
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 7:06 am
    8

    Okay, I’m kinda torn, but I know I’ve gotta pick one you bitch. Ya’ll make this hard.
    Bettie, I want to read the rest of this! I hope you’re busy writing…

  9. Shiloh Walker
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 7:10 am
    9

    um… those of you can’t choose… WHY ARE YOU HERE?

    Ummmmm….hmmmm… I know… to give you a reason to ask that question and to see your smiling face. :P

  10. Jessica
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 8:11 am
    10

    I’m going with Bettie, really piqued my interest….great job!!

  11. Sam
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 8:15 am
    11

    I pick door number one - er - Tumperkin!!

  12. Sarah
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 9:11 am
    12

    I’m torn… they’re all so good, but I’m especially loving Bettie, so I vote for her. :)

  13. Amie Stuart
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 9:20 am
    13

    I’m voting for CJ :)

  14. stephanie feagan
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 9:47 am
    14

    Can I vote, even though I entered?
    If so, I gotta go for Bettie - and I really, really want to read this book.
    Hard choice tho - they all rock.

  15. Samantha
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 10:08 am
    15

    Tumperkin - that kind of broke my heart…in a good, bittersweet way, I guess.

  16. web
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
    16

    I’m torn between #2 and #3, but since no one else has voted number 2, I’ll go with Bettie.

  17. Carrie Lofty
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 11:06 am
    17

    Wait, wait, no one else voted for me — so you won’t either?? :(

    That’s ok. I’m for Tumperkin too. Loved it.

    As for The Princess Bride comment, Bam, thank you! I actually used Westley as one of two influences for the character.

  18. Babz
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 am
    18

    It’s a hard one between no.3 & 4.. UGH.

    Ok number a, CJ, cos I am in the mood for some sweet romance and I’m being a bubblegum.

  19. Babz
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 11:20 am
    19

    I meant number 4! Sowwy *blush*

  20. kardis
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 11:54 am
    20

    Wow, those all blew me away (and made me glad I didn’t enter!) but I have to go with Tumperkin. Damn, that was hard to choose!

  21. Jess
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
    21

    I vote for Carrie Lofty cuz she made me. ;-)

  22. Laura
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
    22

    I’d whip out my debit card for any of ‘em, right now.
    But since a choice must be made, CJ.

  23. Meredith
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
    23

    Put me down for CJ. Love them all, though. All are better than some of the published stuff I’ve read lately.

  24. Jess
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm
    24

    I loved them all but I liked 4 the best.

  25. Camilla Bartley
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
    25

    Vote for Carrie! *g*

  26. Kat
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
    26

    CJ for me, too. So cheeky! :-)

  27. Rosie
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
    27

    It’s Bettie for me

  28. Shannon
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 4:20 pm
    28

    I loved Tumperkin’s and CJ’s, but I’m gonna have to go with Tumperkin.

  29. Kaitlin
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
    29

    Oh, this is hard! I loved 1 & 4 the most…um…sheesh…can I choose both of them? LOL! :) I say #1. Though I definitely want to read a story featuring the characters from #4…just sayin. :)

  30. k
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 5:14 pm
    30

    I’ve never voted before but these were all so good, seriously, they all deserve to win - I have to go with Tumperkin.

  31. AngelDionne
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
    31

    Definately # 1! So when can we read the rest of the story? Please tell me there will be a rest of the story…

  32. Catherine
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 6:58 pm
    32

    I vote for Bettie. The death kiss… that was hot.

  33. thirstygirl
    Posted: May 3rd, 2007 at 10:31 pm
    33

    They are all so good but I have to go with Tumperkin.

    CJ was a close second, mind you.

  34. Tracey
    Posted: May 4th, 2007 at 2:26 am
    34

    Such a hard decision! Ummmm, I’ll have to pick number four, but I loved all of them!

  35. Lorelie
    Posted: May 4th, 2007 at 3:24 am
    35

    I’m torn between #2 and #3, but since no one else has voted number 2, I’ll go with Bettie.

    Can I just say that this kind of logic is what’s wrong with America’s political system? I feel like going out and being political.

    Anyway, I vote for Carrie.

  36. Devon
    Posted: May 4th, 2007 at 4:32 am
    36

    Tumperkin. All three were awesome, though.

  37. Devon
    Posted: May 4th, 2007 at 4:34 am
    37

    I’m sorry, four. I’m still half asleep.

  38. Sarah F.
    Posted: May 4th, 2007 at 4:36 am
    38

    Definitely Bettie. Has the best possibility of being a fabulous novel after that meeting, as opposed to just a short story.

  39. TeddyPig
    Posted: May 4th, 2007 at 6:52 am
    39

    Bettie

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