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Book & Author Details:
Contrition by Lee Strauss
(Perception #3) Publication date: September 26th 2013 Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult |
Synopsis:Zoe, Noah and the other plane crash survivors are stranded in the Arizona desert.
They all have secrets,
and reasons to hide.
But they’re not alone.
Cyborg soldiers.
War.
Humans and humanoids.
Who can be trusted?
Zoe’s life is in danger.
Noah must make an impossible choice.
Will their love survive their brokenness?
Will the world as they know it end before they can find out?
Goodreads:
A Sneak Peek Inside
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| Excerpt |
I allowed myself to fall into his
arms. He held me for a moment, an embrace, and I didn’t pull back. I felt
lightheaded and weak. The strength of his arms around me, his body to support
me, was a comfort I needed. I quivered, and his hold tightened.
He stroked my hair. “You’ve had
quite a night,” he whispered.
I pinched my eyes to hold back the
emotion. I’d been hunted, shot, chased, and now I’d survived a plane crash, all
in one evening. Too many kinds of fear and terror, all twisted into a morbid
bow in my gut. I was safe now, but I couldn’t’ release the horror.
I wanted to be in Noah’s arms. He
was the one I wanted comfort from, but it was Taylor who offered it. I’d take
it from anyone.
I lathered my body, and ducked
under the stream to rinse off. I broke the surface and wiped my face dry with
my hands. As I reached overhead to twist my hair free of excess water, a shadow
moved in the light of the entrance. I stilled. Noah was standing there,
staring, a tortured look on his face.
“Excuse me,” he said. “I didn’t
know anyone was here.”
Time seemed to stop as we watched
each other. Even though he’d seen me in my underwear many times before, I felt
exposed and embarrassed. My heart raced and I choked out, “I’m almost done.”
“It’s okay. Take your time.” He
turned sharply and left.
I swallowed, and told myself it was
no big deal. Like nothing had just happened between us. Again.
But Taylor wasn’t an idiot. He
moved to catch my eyes. “It’s lonely here, Zoe. Mary’s hot and all, especially
with her badass gig going on—you know, when she’s not laid out with busted
ribs—but she’s not like us.”
Not like us. Taylor was the only other GAP here. His parents had had him
genetically altered before they’d died in a car crash. Before they’d had a
chance to have the procedure done to his sister. Before he and Hannah had been
adopted by cult relatives.
“I think we need more than just
that in common to make something work,” I said. I’d had a GAP boyfriend before,
and that relationship had been a disaster on so many levels.
“Okay, like what?” Taylor smirked.
“Physical attraction? Check. Intelligence compatibility? Check. Marooned on a
desert rock? Check.”
I smiled. Taylor was right about
all those things. I did find him attractive and intelligent. It was what had
gotten me into trouble at the commune. All that and his charisma had charmed me
into kissing him.
It was the kiss of death for my
tenuous relationship with Noah. I’d apologized a million times since and had
done everything short of begging Noah to let me back in. Actually, I had
begged. He’d stubbornly insisted that his lack of GAP status was reason enough
for us to stay apart.
That and the fact that he no longer
trusted me. Or trusted in my memories of him. Memories lost prior to our stint
at the commune, thanks to dear ol’ Grandpa V, who’d stolen them from me.
Taylor wasn’t wrong, though.
Sharing GAP status did mean something. I wouldn’t have to worry about him
cutting out on me because of that, using it as an excuse to leave. To stay
away. I longed for a commitment that went beyond just looking out for my
physical safety. And he was charming and cute.
But I couldn’t deny what my heart
wanted and right now it wanted Noah Brody.
Taylor could read the conflict on
my face. “Come on, Zoe. Don’t waste time waiting for him. He’s moved on.”
My heart stopped when he said that.
The truth hurt. He might or might not have moved on to Mary, but it was pretty
obvious he wanted to move on from me. I pinched my eyes shut, but a lone tear
escaped. Taylor’s finger ran along my cheek, scooping it up. I gasped at his
gentle touch. I might be pining for Noah, but I couldn’t deny that I also had
feelings for Taylor Blake.
Taylor’s mouth moved to my ear, and
I trembled when his hot breath caressed my neck.
“He’s not worth it.”
Noah’s voice chimed in. “Am I
interrupting?”
“What was Tucson, like?” I asked.
It was code for were there pictures of my
face?
Noah stared at the ground. “It was
busy, just like any other city. Lots of people. Traffic. Noise.”
“And…”
His eyes caught mine. “And lots of
billboards. They’re still after us, Zoe. The reward for your return has been
upped to two million.”
My heart whooshed. “And you?”
“The same. But the president
doesn’t care if I’m brought in alive.”
Fear gripped my throat. “You can’t
go into Tucson, anymore, Noah.”
He brushed it off. “Ah, the picture
of me makes me look like I’m a twelve year-old boy. I didn’t get a second
glance.”
“It’s true,” Taylor said. “Your
photos look hot, but his, meh.”
I laughed at Taylor, and he grinned
back at me before disappearing into the tech cave. I watched Noah as he
unloaded the last of the items from the buggy. He caught me staring, and I
glanced away. My shoes were suddenly very interesting. I dug at the sand with
my toe. I casually looked up again from under my lashes. Noah’s eyes were on me
now. I stayed locked on his gaze. What is
he thinking? Did he feel the pull of attraction I felt? Did the longing for
something more make his soul ache like mine did?
And if so, would he ever give into
it again?
Sweat dripped between my breasts
and down my spine. I felt dizzy and slid to the ground with a thump.
Thankfully, the others were all busy focused on other things and didn’t notice.
I held my chest, willing my heart to slow.
Something was wrong with me.
I didn’t know what, but I should be
stronger. I should actually be the healthiest. Well, along with Taylor, though
technically I’d been a GAP for longer.
When my heart calmed, I reached
into my bag for a “clean” shirt and mentioned to Hannah that I was going to the
stream to freshen up. The sun was low on the horizon, and I wanted to make it
back before it got dark.
I’d collected the soap and shampoo
on my way out of the cave looking forward to the shock of cold water. My hair
hung in greasy strands, long enough now to tie back at least. I removed the
tie, along with my clothes, and slipped in.
The water was strangely warm.
Something was weird, but I wasn’t going to complain just yet. I’d tell Taylor
when I got back. I made good use of the soap and was about to reach for the
shampoo when I heard movement.
“Knock, knock.”
I startled at the voice. “Noah?”
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were
here.”
So,
now you do. Why are you just standing there, staring? I was fully aware
that, though submerged, I was naked. Noah’s eyes zeroed on mine, and I could
sense the debate going on in his head. He wanted
to stay.
Suddenly, all the oxygen felt like
it was sucked out of the cave.
I took a chance. “Would you… like
to join me?”
“Yes,” he said, “against my better
judgment.”
“If it helps, I want you to.”
“It helps.”
Previous books in the series: (Book 1 is currently FREE at amazon Here and B&N Here
AUTHOR BIO
Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/elle_strauss to find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com
Author Links:
Website: http://ellestraussbooks.blogspot.ca/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elle_strauss
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