Saturday's Excerpt from Stolen Desire by Tina Donahue

Here’s a blurb and an excerpt from Stolen Desire…

Blurb:

Her freedom depends on one man. A criminal to his realm…

Outlawed Realm, Book 4

One minute, Paige Ross is outside a Seattle bar, grieving a failed engagement. The next, she jerks awake in a weird, candlelit room with velvet walls, black silk sheets, and a man who motions for silence.

Paige has little choice but to trust the powerful stranger who promises a way out of what looks like Satan’s brothel. And pray his promise to keep her safe is as real as the heat burning in his eyes.

Banished from E2’s ruling elite for supposed crimes against the realm, Zekin risks everything to rescue those brought to E5 for the guards’ carnal pleasure. Paige will be leaving this inhospitable realm of fire and ice—if he can somehow forget the way her trembling body melts in his arms.

Safe—temporarily—in an underwater world populated by strange creatures, Paige’s sexual awakening explodes into an unquenchable need that consumes them both. But the guards will be looking for her. And Zekin’s plan to send her home is a dangerous journey she cannot—will not—take without him.

Warning: Scorching-hot sex and loads of aching tenderness between a drool-worthy hunk who’s determined to do the right thing and a woman who’s not about to give him up.

Excerpt:

“Don’t make any noise,” he whispered, “or the others will come.”

Others? There was more than one maniac to worry about? What about him? His thick accent sounded Greek or Middle-Eastern. Even if he did look really good, Paige didn’t know him.

“Who are—”

“Who I am doesn’t matter.”

The hell it didn’t. “Why are you here?”

“Do you want to go home?” he asked.

“Are you kidding? Of course, I do.” Big freaking time.

“Then you’ll have to trust me.” He offered her his hand.

For the first few seconds, she couldn’t move. And then she realized she could either go with him or stay here and wait for the unknown maniac. They couldn’t be one in the same.

Paige forced herself to take his hand. His palm felt dry, nicely warm. Gently, he curled his fingers around hers. Hardly the touch of a lunatic.

“I’ll do all I can to bring you back to E1,” he said.

“What? Where?”

He didn’t answer. After pulling open the door, he led her into a candlelit hall.

At a tapping sound to the side of them, Paige stiffened. Footfalls? The others? They were coming? Following? She turned, ready to scream, bolt, do both, but only let out her held breath.

The hall was empty. A good thing, given the utter weirdness of this place. The ceiling was low and claustrophobic, the walls and floors constructed of the same stone as the room she’d been in. As though this was an ancient monastery…or possibly Seattle Underground, a subterranean tourist attraction only a few miles from Rozie’s.

Was that where she was?

Her guess evaporated at the wall ahead. Shackles and whips hung from hooks, ready for a Dom to use on a submissive in a twisted BDSM fantasy.

Oh holy shit. Was she in a brothel? Was she even in Seattle any longer?

Paige’s throat tightened on a cry she didn’t dare let out, not knowing who the noise might bring. She shivered, wanting to run. Didn’t matter where. She just needed to take off and keep going until she couldn’t anymore. And then what? Paige didn’t know, a deeper, primal terror making her thoughts and movements sluggish. Haltingly, she took another step as though she’d just learned to walk.

The man squeezed her fingers as though he needed her to move more quickly.

Paige couldn’t.

He glanced over at her.

Candlelight deepened the richness of his complexion and shadow of beard. Several strands of his hair had fallen forward to skim his forehead, complementing his masculine features. Handsome didn’t begin to describe his male allure, his raw sensuality. Again, she noted his camouflage gear. The kind military people wear during rescues.

If that was what this was.

“Please don’t hurt me,” she blurted.

He regarded her quivering mouth, the tears filling her eyes. When she yanked her hand from his, he didn’t try to stop her. He murmured, “Hurt you?”

He leaned closer. Paige forced herself not to edge back, uncertain what he’d do. His clothing smelled crisp and clean, the scent of air on a wintry day.

“Never,” he whispered.

In spite of his unnatural composure—given the weird situation they were in—he was obviously frustrated that she wasn’t following him blindly. Indignation crossed his face. It was in the way he glanced at her hand but didn’t take it, as though he wanted her permission. What rapist or lunatic did that?

“If you don’t come with me,” he warned, “the guards will hurt you.”

Guards? This was a prison? Where? Mexico? Afghanistan? Iraq? None of this made sense. How could she have been taken so far away? The candles’ flames flickered. Threads of dirt trickled from shallow fissures in the ceiling, making this place even mustier. The dust tickled her nose and the back of her throat.

She swallowed repeatedly to suppress her cough, her body tense with the effort.

“You have to trust me,” he repeated.

Her legs grew watery with doubt and apprehension. Her head felt as if it might explode with her headache’s punishing pain. Steeling herself, Paige slipped her hand back into his. Although she was about to fall apart, he didn’t appear upset in the least. That had to mean he was a member of some elite military unit. Right?

Not having the courage to ask, she followed him, her naked feet slapping the stone floor.

Of all the things to be missing, why her shoes and pantyhose? Wait. Her watch and engagement ring were also gone. Stolen by whom? A sexual sadist who liked jewelry…or took them as a trophy?

The thought made her want to gag.

They’d reached the far wall and the stuff hanging on it. Numerous pairs of shackles glinted in the gauzy candlelight. Next to them were metal collars, each sporting long, menacing chains.

Paige averted her gaze from the sex toys and spotted a large room a few yards ahead, its double doors opened. Candlelight flickered inside. From where she was, she saw movement, what appeared to be people. Startled, she stopped.

The man pulled her forward. Maybe coming upon someone at this point didn’t make a bit of difference because they were already unbelievably screwed.

Paige still tried to hold back, but he was stronger. “What are you doing?” she whispered, fighting him. “Don’t you see those people up ahead?”

“They’re not real,” he said.