Free Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) by Craig Gerttula Page A

trained pout, exposed as false by her teasing
eyes.
    “As you wish, Your Grace,” Sir Seb'Losh
responded with the utmost dignity, while politely opening the
door.
    She started through when she caught what
appeared to be a wink from Sir Seb'Losh, causing her to whirl about
just in time to witness Tiana returning said wink. She glared at
Sir Seb'Losh.
    “We will be having words, Sir Seb'Losh! We
will be having words!” she stamped her foot, staring daggers at her
lady-in-waiting, who stuck out her tongue playfully, before turning
and walking briskly towards her new life, unable to hold back a
cringe at the thought of having to deal not only with the ever
playful Tiana...but her own Guard Captain, Sir Seb’Losh.
     
*********
     
    An oppressive radiance streamed into his
tiny, studio apartment, barely diffused by the rose colored shades
covering the lone, wall sized window. Trent moaned, burying his
head in his pillow, trying to block the hateful sunlight. But even
with his sight smothered, it relentlessly beat down upon him,
matching the pounding within his skull, a remnant of his latest
late night of heavy drinking.
    “You win...” he muttered, it sounding like he
swallowed a frog.
    He rolled over, reaching for his MCD where he
always left it upon the wooden nightstand. But something was odd.
The nightstand’s surface, normally cool and hard to the touch, was
soft, warm, and pleasant, with two lumps on its surface. He found
himself unconsciously caressing the lumps, thinking them something
else, before realizing, at that moment, exactly how lonely he had
become since he’d learned of Samantha’s betrayal.
    “Mmm...” a faint, feminine moan rose from the
nightstand, “you’re feisty this morning,” followed by a gentle
whisper and roaming hands. Beyond confused at the fact his
nightstand had, apparently, come alive; he forced his eyes to
focus, finding an unexpected face lying between him and the
mysterious nightstand.
    It was Samantha, eyes closed, breathing
lightly, and appearing as gorgeous as he remembered in the bright
morning light. His brain ticked like a frozen clock trying to
start, but finding a gear jammed.
    This is definitely wrong , his
instincts screamed, but the waves of pain seeping from his muddled
mind kept any semblance of rational thought from forming. He slowly
slid away from Samantha and out of bed, trying not to wake her
fully, and made his way to the bathroom.
    He touched the light activation plate on the
wall by the door, splashing the refreshingly cool water over his
face that waited in the wash basin, then swallowed a handful of the
anti-hangover pills that were standard fair for any corporate
worker. When the reflection in the mirror cleared, he found the man
staring back at him oddly unfamiliar, clean and shaven, the
bloodshot eyes the only feature that felt genuine.
    “I shouldn't be here,” he whispered as his
mind began to clear and the memories of the last few months started
flooding back.
    “Why shouldn't you be here, love?” a yawning
Samantha asked as she appeared beside him, as if out of thin air,
forcing her body close so she could lean over the basin. She
splashed the fresh water over her perfectly sculpted features,
Trent finding himself frozen in place. He could only stare, wide
eyed in confusion, as she seductively flipped her long, brown hair
over her shoulder before it could slip into the pooling water.
    Her movements drew his gaze to her exposed
flesh, her thin nightgown having fallen open, providing a clear
view of what lay hidden beneath. Samantha notice his hungry gaze,
providing him a playful wink while further exposing her bosom. But
the lust the sight called forth was muffled, like it existed beyond
a frosted wall that instantly cooled the heat of passion before it
could take control of his mind.
    This is wrong , the words echoed in his
mind as he view her in the clear, artificial light. Though no
matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t grasp exactly why he