Teaser Tuesday

Karen says it's Teaser Tuesday. So *gulp* here we go. An excerpt from one of my favorite scenes in The Gatherer:


"So, how many questions do I get?"

"Well, let's see." His expression changes, grows more serious as he reaches across the table and takes my hand. He turns it over and rests it, palm up, in his left hand while his right gently folds my fingers into a loose fist.

"You grew up in an orphanage and later you spent three years living with a pack. That's two." He extends my index and middle fingers.

"You love working with people. That's three." He extends my ring finger, lingering to trace circles around the pad with his fingertip. The sensation makes me catch my breath.

"You enjoy traveling. That's four." He traces a path down my fingers and across my palm, curling around my little finger and unfolding it as he sweeps the feverish heat of his skin back up my hand.

One side of his mouth slides up in a wicked grin. "You love chocolate." He slides his hand down mine again. As he slips beneath my thumb he splays his fingers, fully opening my hand. "That's five."

My open hand gives him full access to my palm where his clever fingers are tracing swirling patterns that are practically making me writhe in my chair. My eyelids slip closed and in the darkness of my mind I imagine he is scribing words in some ancient language of desire directly onto my flesh.

His fingers drift away from my palm and wander over the edge of my wrist. I open my eyes to find him watching me, heat in his eyes.

"I seem to have run out of fingers," he says, voice low and husky. "But I also learned that you love my laugh."

"Six, then." My voice is small and breathy, almost a whisper. I have no idea what to ask for my six questions. The attention of every cell in my body is focused solely on my hand, our hands, the connection being made between our skin. The power within me stirs, yearning for a wild form to pour itself into.