Contemporary Romance Ebook - Setting Him Free by Alexandra Marell

Setting Him Free

by Alexandra Marell

Summary

As Quality Control Manager for Exotic Resorts Inc., Danielle Radcliffe’s life is one long round of sun, sea and sand. Unfortunately, it also involves airplanes – and Danielle hates flying with a passion. When her worst fears are realised, and her plane crashes in a tropical rainforest, there are only two survivors. Danielle and the enigmatic man in black who’d held her hand as the plane went down. A man who’d been sitting handcuffed between two armed guards.

Taylor Bradford is a broken man. Tired of running, he’s glad that the end is near. That is until he catches Danielle’s eye on the plane. A moment of instant connection awakens feelings he thought long dead. When the plane goes down, he reaches for her hand.

The sole survivors of the crash, Taylor and Danielle find themselves forming a deepening bond which boils over into a night of passion. Danielle knows she needs to let him go before help arrives, even though there’s a chance that she might never see him again. But when the time comes, will she be able to? And, more importantly, will Taylor keep his promise to come back and find her one day?

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genre: contemporary romance

length: 31700 / novella

rating: sensual

publisher: Alinar Publishing

released: January 2007

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EXCERPT

WARNING

Some of the books on this site contain material of a sexual nature or graphic violence and are only suitable for adults. By reading the excerpt below you release me as the author of any responsibility.

He’d moved like lightning, and pinned her to the seat without even a pause. All with one arm. Avoiding his gaze, Danielle chewed on her sandwich. Whatever he was, he’d done that before and whatever he told her wasn’t going to include teddy bears and pressed flowers, that was for sure. Do I really want to know this? she asked herself.

The canned drink fizzed when she popped the tab. She took a swig and passed it over to him. How to start? What did she say? By the way, are you a serial killer? And what if he said yes? .

“I enjoy myself for a living,” she began. “Must have the best job on earth.” The only downside is that I’m afraid of flying, which you probably noticed. I always thought the plane would crash, and I was right, wasn’t I?” That got a small smile from him. “Do you like flying?” .

“Never really bothered me.” Taylor took the can and tipped his head back for a drink. The gun still lay on the floor where it had landed. She suspected he hadn’t forgotten about it. .

Why didn’t he kiss me? She closed her eyes, cringing inwardly at the way she’d grabbed him. He must have known I wanted him to. .

Opening her eyes, she avoided his gaze and concentrated on her sandwich. For a few moments they ate in silence. He wasn’t picking it up, and she was usually so good at this. Getting people to open up was her job. He’s English, She thought. So ask him where he’s from. That’s always a good one. .

Before she could voice the question, he spoke. .

“I used to kill people for the British Government.” .

No emotion. Just words. He continued eating, as if he’d simply made a comment about the weather. .

“Oh.” It was all she could think of to say, and she was never stuck for words. But then, no-one had ever told her anything like that before. Before she could stop herself she replied automatically. “Did you enjoy it?” .

His sharp laugh made her jump. Hell, what a stupid thing to say, she thought, and closed her eyes again. When she opened them he was looking directly at her, his gaze unwavering. .

“What would you say if the answer was yes?” .

Danielle went very still. Carefully, she placed her sandwich down on the tray. This was the very last thing she’d wanted to hear. “I’d say how could you?” .

Was that why he hadn’t kissed her? Because he knew that when she found out what he was, she’d regret it. Feel contaminated by it. Wish that she hadn’t. .

“It was easy. Yes, I enjoyed it, at first. They picked me out while I was in the army. Said I had potential. Hell, I proved them right.” He shook his head, as if remembering, and his mouth curved into a dry smile. “Not that different from soldiering. Just a bit more personal, that’s all.” .

“At first?” Danielle reached for her sandwich, although she wasn’t hungry any more. A knot of tension twisted in her stomach, making her feel slightly queasy. Part of her had clung to the hope that his crime had been something safe, like embezzlement or tax evasion. She hadn’t expected to hear this. And yet, looking at him now, what he was saying wasn’t really surprising at all. .

Somewhere inside the broken shell of a man she’d glimpsed before the crash was the hard man he’d undoubtedly been. Anyone who did what he’d done must have a heart as cold as ice. And yet it didn’t square with the man who’d looked at her with such concern and touched her so tenderly. .

“You said, ‘at first’,” she prompted. .

“Yeah, I was a regular 007. Licensed to kill, and all that. Adventure. Glamorous women. That’s how I met my wife.” .

Wife? Something else she hadn’t been expecting. She felt an irrational twinge of jealousy. .

He acknowledged her look of surprise. “Yes, wife. Didn’t last long though. She’s dead. That’s what this is all about.” .

“You killed her?” Her voice came out as a bare whisper. Please don’t say you killed her.

“No. They say I did. But I didn’t. Do you believe me?” .

“I don’t know.” Danielle searched his face for evidence of the truth. How did she know whether she could believe him or not? Just because she was attracted to him didn’t mean he was safe to be around. Some women formed obsessions with killers. Wrote them letters in prison. How did she know she wasn’t doing the same? He was attractive, sexy and strong. She wanted to believe him and, to give him his due, he hadn’t done anything to make her think otherwise. .

A hardened killer who went home at night to his wife and played ball with his kids in the park on Saturday morning? Could you be both? she wondered. .

“Why didn’t you let me kiss you just now, Taylor?” .

His eyes narrowed. “Danielle...” .

“Was it because you thought I’d regret it once I found out about you?” .

“I suppose so.” He picked up the drink can again and stared at it. “How would you have felt knowing you’d kissed a killer?” .

“I won’t know that until I try it.” .

He snapped his head up. “Danielle, what are you saying?” .

“I’m saying that if I have nothing to fear from you, then you can kiss me right? You didn’t kill your wife – prove it to me. You don’t like killing any more – show me. Make me know that I won’t have anything to regret.” .

It was insane logic for an insane situation. Trapped in the middle of nowhere with a killer and not feeling the slightest bit afraid of him? She bit back the hysterical laugh. I’m doing this for him, she told herself. To show I trust him. .

Hell, who am I kidding? she thought. Everything about him called to her in a way she’d never experienced before. Inside, she was still tingling with the anticipation of the nearly-kiss. Her emotions were in a tailspin. If he didn’t make a move soon she’d explode. .

She knelt up, and pushed the tray out of the way. “Well?” Her knees trembled slightly. Was this really going to prove anything other than that they were both horny as hell? .

A soft sigh escaped her when he made his decision and dipped his head towards hers. Danielle closed her eyes and grabbed his tee shirt, to steady herself as well as to hold him in place. At that moment he seemed to be hovering on the edge of something, and when she felt him hesitate she tightened her grip and willed him on with everything she had. .

It wasn’t anything like she’d expected. Instead of a dam-breaking, passionate torrent of a kiss, he gave her the sweetest, most heartbreaking kiss she’d ever experienced. A brief touch of his lips on hers, and the question “Do you trust me?” whispered so quietly against her cheek she thought she’d dreamed it. And when he sat back, and she opened her eyes, he looked drained – like a man who had nothing left to give and for whom nothing mattered, except the answer to his question. .

“Taylor…?” .

Hell, she’d got it so wrong. There was no black and white in this. Or any question of right or wrong, justification or condemnation. It was way more complicated than that. Leaning towards him, Danielle gathered him up. He sank his head against her shoulder, offering no resistance, and slipped his good arm around her back. He needed her strength more than she did his, and she’d been dumping it all on him. Expecting him to look after her, because he was a big strong man and she was a woman. .

He was tired, and not just physically. She could feel it in the way he held her. Almost like a child who needed silent reassurance that everything was going to be okay. She couldn’t give him that, with no idea of what the future held for him. She could only give him this. .

“I’d trust you with my life,” she told him. Her fingers threaded into his hair and she stroked through it, soothing and caressing. Taylor held on, giving no indication that he’d heard the words. .

“Rest,” she whispered. “That’s what you need. Just now there’s nothing to worry about.” Danielle sank back against the side of the seat, letting his weight fall on her. His hair tickled her cheek and she continued stroking through it, a little overawed at his trust in her. “None of it matters any more. It’s just you and me, and nothing else.” .

Ebook: $0.99

» Buy at Alinar Publishing

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Reviews

"This story is a gem, and will stay with the reader long after the final word is read. This is the first book this reviewer has read by Ms. Marell, and it certainly will not be the last." -- Dee, Love Romances -- 5 Heart Golden Rose Reviewers Pick

"Alexandra Marell has done a tremendous job creating a story worth spending an evening curled up in a comfy chair reading. Readers will be left rooting for Taylor to be strong and make the right decision while cheering Danielle for pursuing what she loves. Setting Him Free has earned 5 Angels!" -- Jessica, Fallen Angel Reviews -- 5 Stars

"The passion between these two leaps off the page, and makes you want to keep reading. Danielle and Taylor need to deal with the fact that they are the only two survivors after the plane crash, and with Taylor’s past as well. All seems lost when these two part, but in the end they do find a way to each other.

I found myself loving both characters and rooting for them to find happily ever after. The story is well told with vivid descriptions and believable characters. I highly recommend this e book." -- Regina Avalos, Romance Divas -- 5 kisses

" Taylor and Danielle are two of the most genuinely depicted people whom I have had the privilege to read about lately. There is sky high tension between this couple, not only from still being alive but also from their sexual awareness of each other. Whenever Taylor and Danielle talked, their scenes were so sincere and moving, and I was completely caught up in each moment they were together. SETTING HIM FREE shows the strength of a powerful couple and how love helped them be strong enough to never give up hope." -- Amelia, Ecataromance -- 5 Stars