Tempered Dreams (book 2 in series)
by Pamela S. Thibodeaux
Blurb: Dr. Scott Hensley (introduced in Tempered Hearts) has built a wall around his heart since the death of his wife and parents. Katrina Simmons is recovering from scars inflicted on her as a battered wife. Can dreams be renewed and faith strengthened? Can they find joy and peace in God’s love and in love for one another?
Excerpt:
“Right,” she snorted. “I’m so beautiful. My legs are too short, my breasts are too small, and my hips are too big. And you think I’m beautiful. You, doctor, need your head examined. Or your eyes.”
Scott glared at her, irritated beyond belief at what he was hearing. “That low-life son-of-a-bitch really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
Trina gasped, surprised and shocked at his anger. “I was just joking.”
“Well, it’s not funny. You’re constantly putting yourself down, and I’m sick of it!” Lunging from the couch, he carried her into the bedroom and stood her in front of the full-length mirror.
“Look at yourself,” he insisted, urging her chin up with his hand, determined she see herself as he saw her.
“Your skin is like silk, all peachy and soft.” He brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “Your hair is like satin, thick and shiny, makes me think of…” he hesitated. How could he describe the rich gold shot with equal proportions of red? he wondered, running his fingers through it, pulling her head back against his chest and placing a kiss on it.
“Makes me think of a fiery sunset. And those eyes,” he groaned, forcing himself not to turn her around to face him. “Big and luminous and incredibly rich. Like two huge chocolate drops in a bowl of fresh peaches and cream. Those lips,” he traced them with his thumb, “soft and full, beg to be kissed.”
His fingers trailed down her throat and over her shoulders until he cupped her breasts in his hands. “Feel perfect to me,” he breathed, giving them an intimate squeeze. Releasing the tempting flesh, he continued, running his hands over her torso to cup her waist. “Beautiful,” he assured her, his voice thick and husky. “So tiny. I can almost clasp my hands together, you’re so tiny.”
His hands continued their torturous journey, cupping her hips. With a gentle tug, he pulled her firmly against his body. “Flared just right,” he hummed. “Baby-making hips. Watching you walk, with that subtle sway of yours, drives me crazy,” he confessed.
“And those legs,” he rolled his eyes with a satisfied grunt. Turning her around, he picked her up, and wrapped them around his waist.
“Not long, true. But incredibly slender and well toned. The sexiest pair of legs I’ve seen in a long time. And I see plenty of them in my profession,” he admitted, stroking her thigh.
“You have an abundance of energy, and depths of untapped passion which shows in the way you carry yourself, the glow you radiate, and the way you laugh and cry, with all of your emotions. That in itself is a turn on. Knowing when you love, you’ll love with all of your being, that you’ll hold nothing back, and you’ll give yourself freely and completely. I know you haven’t been loved like that before, and it’s hard for you to trust you ever will, or can. But I love you, Katrina. I love you like that,” he whispered.
With a soft moan, he kissed the tear which slipped from her eye. “I love you, Kitten. I think you’re beautiful and it hurts me when you brush off a compliment or put yourself down.”
Purchase Links:
Kindle http://amzn.to/1vJEqjk
Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/1q4Q8hV
B&N Print: http://bit.ly/13l0LK4
Smashwords http://bit.ly/173ypSN
Character Interview: Katrina Simmons
- Nickname: Well most people call me Trina (short for Katrina) but Scott calls me ‘kitten.’
- Favorite place to visit: Honestly I’d never been anywhere but my hometown of Lafayette until I met Scott. We’ve visited New Orleans which is lovely but my favorite place is Bandera, TX where our friends, Craig and Tamera Harris and their children live on the Rockin’ H ranch.
- Significant other: Dr. Scott Hensley – we met after my (now ex) husband were in an automobile accident and he quickly became my hero then significant other and now we’re married.
- Worst fear or nightmare: My worst fear or nightmare had been real up until I met Scott. You see, I come from an abusive background as a battered woman. Now that Scott and I are together, I guess my biggest fear is that I’ll never have a baby. I lost one in that auto accident with my now-ex-husband, Jack.
- What would you do if you won the lottery? I would support women’s shelters locally, nationally and globally, making sure no abused woman or her children ever have to go back into that situation.
Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”
Links:
Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com
Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com
Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pamelasthibodea/
Thanks Janie for having me and participating in the Eggcerpt Exchange!
PamT
What a lovely, lovely excerpt!
What a sweet excerpt! He sounds like a great hero. Enjoyed the interview!
Thanks Alicia and Marissa!
PamT
Aww! That one got me! It is amazing what someone can do to bring you down, and what someone else can do to raise you up. I love stories where someone who is so worthy of love finally gets it. This sounds great!
Thanks MJ…it was a very difficult but beautiful story to write.
PamT