When Diamonds Weren’t a Girl’s Best FriendBrilliant white diamonds that glitter with refracted light – what woman doesn’t covet at least one? Thanks to DeBeers’ very effective “Diamonds are Forever” marketing campaign, a diamond engagement ring has become de rigueur. Yet few know the provenance of that fine gem on their fingers. Before cutting and polishing creates light-reflecting facets, a rough diamond is an unassuming dull pebble. The mining and processing of a diamond from encasement in hard rock to luxury item is perhaps only fascinating to people like me with a passion for gems and crystals! However, what if a beautiful geologist found herself trapped at a remote mine with murderous smugglers who were making a desperate grab for those rough diamonds? I had the premise for Diamond Lust.
Seth Cooper, an undercover cop with the Diamond Protection Unit, is pretending to be Petra’s boyfriend in order to stay overnight at the mine site. He’s the only protection the geologist has from becoming the next victim, so she reluctantly agrees to share her dormitory room. Given the already complicated and dangerous situation, Petra tries really hard to resist her physical attraction to the cop. Here’s an excerpt.
Shortly after midnight, Seth quietly let himself into Petra’s room with his key card. Soft rhythmic breathing emanated from a mound under the bedding he could barely
discern in the dimness. She’d closed the curtains to block the daylight. In mid-July this far north the sun barely kissed the horizon to mark the transition from one day to the next. He advanced in the gloom and cursed as he tripped over the duffel bag he’d left just inside the door.
The mound erupted. “Who’s there?”
“Seth,” he said in a normal tone, moving to part the curtains a crack. “Time to get
up.”
Petra levered herself into a sitting position and clutched the blanket to the neck of
her white thermal underwear. “What are you doing here?” Sleepiness fuzzed the edge
of her words.
A grin tipped the corners of his mouth. She apparently shopped for lingerie at
Work Warehouse. “This is my room too, remember?” Seth dropped heavily onto the
edge of the bed to remove his boots.
“What are you doing?”
He quirked a brow. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m preparing for some shuteye.”
“Oh no. Not yet! I mean, let me get dressed and out of here first.”
“Don’t panic.” Seth patted the two lumps that were knees drawn up to her chest.
“I’m so beat I can barely keep my eyes open. Besides, you’re sporting long underwear
like ever-lovin’ armor. It’s hardly a turn-on.”
“These are my p.j.’s.”
“Right. Well, I don’t wear any.” He shucked his T-shirt and tossed it on top of theleather jacket draped over the back of the chair.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” came the mutter from the other end of the bed.
“Pardon me?”
“Nothing.”
“Nobody’s forcing you to watch.” He unbuckled his leather belt and unzipped his
fly to the accompaniment of a muffled moan.
“Where’s your gun?”
“I’m undercover, remember? A gun sure woulda triggered the security alarms.”
“Get undressed in the bathroom. Please,” she pleaded, her voice pitched high.
“Too late.” Seth, naked but for boxer briefs, yanked at the blanket she clutched in a
death grip. “Move over, darlin’.”
For more, see Chapter 1 on the Cerridwen Press web site.
Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest blogger – my first guest post as a published author!
Thank you for being with us, Madelle! Readers, do you have any questions for Madelle? Here's a question for you: are diamonds your best friend?
