Excerpt from Death by Ploot Ploot
Excerpt 1
"The Growers Guild is trying to speed up the ripening of the gharta fruits." Krue supplied the answer to the hot weather. “They were granted a two day heat spell by the High Guild."
"Ah, it is so much cooler up here." Suleila sank down and sprawled across a comfy limb near the waterfall. A leafy branch began to lazily fan her. "Oh, that feels so nice."
Krue watched his wife appreciatively, his head slanted to the side. The Familiar woman was still incredibly beautiful; even her most mundane movements were charged with sensuality. A wild spark almost came into his keen eyes, but he quashed it as he turned to his errant sons.
His meet and greet to them was his usual stern frown.
"Have you learned nothing? Do you shame my line with this behavior? You will pay heed to Yaniff and be grateful he is willing to impart knowledge to any one of you."
Dutifully, Lorgin responded first. "Yes, father."
"Mmmmm." Rejar mumbled what sounded almost like a concession as he stared at the tree trunk.
Silence from Traed.
Krue arched his brow. Waiting.
A pulse ticked in Traed’s jaw. "If that is your wish, Krue," he finally spit out. It was still difficult for the taciturn Aviaran to give in but he was learning well to 'defer' to his new father-of-the-line.
Yaniff beamed and took a slurping sip of his juice. Wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand, he said, "Good. I want you three to seat yourselves by this waterfall. You will contemplate it for a while. I shall join in your task."
Deana’s eyes rounded. Why, that old faker! He just wants to rest in the shade where it’s cooler.
Yaniff winked at her. He had heard her thoughts.
He held up his goblet for a refill. When she bent over him, he whispered, "It is much too hot for this old wizard to teach." He glanced slyly at Rejar. “But it is never to hot for him to learn.”
She snorted.
The three brothers sat down cross-legged by the pool.
"How long do we have to contemplate running water, old man?" Always impatient, Rejar wanted parameters to his torture.
"Is that all you see?" Yaniff countered with his usual dose of wizardly mystique, certainly implying there was much more to be seen.
Rejar rolled his eyes. {He does not fool me, Adeeann. He is hoping I will 'discover' something thus giving credence to his afternoon nap.}
Yaniff shook his head, exasperated. "The first lesson in this for you, Rejar, is that you forgot to shield that thought from me. Careless and impudent."
Rejar lips parted slightly as he realized his mistake.
Yaniff's eyes, darker than the darkest night, twinkled with what could only be called "old wizard's glee".
"Second," the ancient maze continued on, unfazed, "if all you are seeing is water you are missing something. It is called a reflection. Your own. I suggest you begin studying it in a more serious manner lest you go through life ignoring a dimension or two!" He banged his staff for emphasis.
Ouch. Score another one for the older mage's team. Deana caught her husband's eye. As expected, the sheer satisfaction of the moment was indicated on his expression. He was inordinately pleased with his younger brother's set-down, as befitted an older brother.
Apparently with these Aviarans one never ceased to be elevated in mood when the other received a beat down.
"You will study that water, Rejar, for as long as it takes." Krue responded sharply. He took a seat next to his wife on the comfy hammock-like limb.
Rejar’s head sagged forward in defeat. Now that his father was here, there would be no sneaking off when Yaniff fell into a nap.
Deana trailed her hand in the water. "So, I take it you're all staying for the evening meal, aren't you?" She flicked her wet fingers at Rejar who grinned.
Excerpt 2
The pulse beat.
He covered it with his mouth, drawing on the fluttering spot as he pressed his hot tongue directly over the beating skin.
Her breath hitched.
It was the sign he was waiting for.
Taking her into his arms, he covered her mouth in a deep kiss, seizing her lips with loving command.
Deana's hands automatically reached around his shoulders and tangled in his long hair as she sleepily returned his passionate embrace.
Lorgin?
Her mind was slow to return under the sensual onslaught. Her eyes drifted open to the gorgeous sight of her husband leaning over her.
Her golden naked husband.
Her breath caught at the sheer beauty of his masculine form. His strong forehead, straight nose, perfectly chiseled lips. The stubborn chin with its cleft. The natural tan that covered his incredible body. The long, silky golden hair–
Did they even make real men that looked like this on Earth?
Possibly. But she’d never seen one.