This is a play on favorite lines. We’ll just take it a little further today. Whether from one of your writings, a movie or a book, post your favorite excerpt. Here is mine from my MS “Lady Caro’s Accidental Marriage.” Lord Huntley left England to avoid being married and Lady Caro was brutally attacked and cannot bear a man’s touch. They are now being chased by an evil Italian marquis to wants to marry Caro. This is the scene where the false betrothal they were thrown into by Lady Caro’s godmother is threatening to turn into a marriage to be performed by Lord Huntley’s cousin.
The next moment, pounding hooves and shouts destroyed the relative silence of the room. Caro’s eyes widened in fright, and she clutched his hand. “He’s here. I recognize his voice.”
Huntley brought her to her feet and held her tightly against him. “Caro, you’re safe. He cannot hurt you. I won’t let him.”
“Nor will I, my dear,” his cousin said as he patted her back.
She trembled like a blancmange, and he was afraid her legs might give way. At least she didn’t look as if she’d swoon. “Follow my lead and try to calm yourself. I will not allow him to harm you. Look at me.”
She glanced up, and he captured her gaze. “I’m here to protect you. Tell me you understand.”
Caro swallowed and hung her head. “Yes, I understand.”
He shifted slightly so that his back was to the door, and she was shielded from sight. Bending towards her, he tilted up her chin. An angry voice reached them, and he whispered, “He’ll be here in a moment. I’m going to place my lips very close to yours, but I won’t kiss you.”
Now she paled. He was afraid she’d faint. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
It was so quietly, he may not have actually heard it.
The door swung open and crashed against the wall and bounced back. “Where is Lady Caroline?”
Huntley turned and before he could open his mouth to reply, his cousin drew himself up, and, with all the authority of a bishop of the English church, said, “I suppose you are referring to the Countess of Huntley.”
Caro’s knees buckled and Huntley grabbed her waist.
Everard sidled close to them and pressed a ring against Huntley’s hand. He took it and Caro’s left hand, sliding it on her finger. “I’m sorry.”
ellaquinnauthor
Ella Quinn ~ Author 
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! What a moving scene! Brava.
Huntley!!! As you always know, I simply love this story, love Huntley in particular. There’s something about him, noble, yet still completely caring and sensual. Such a great hero! I can’t wait to see it on the shelves and get my personal signed autograph naturally.
Here’s a current fav excerpt from my own book “Godric” Book 1 of the League of Rogues
“I thought I advised against running, Miss Parr.” Godric’s green eyes danced with shadowy merriment, as though the two played some game.
It infuriated her. This was her life, her freedom!
“Let me go! You have no right to keep me here!” Emily kicked at his hand with her free foot, but he caught her left ankle, and then slid her along the floor on her stomach until she lay beneath his crouched body.
A doe in the glen catching scent of man, Emily lay still, listening to Godric breathe. When he spoke, she ignored him and focused instead on her counter attack. She tensed and flipped onto her back, backhanding him with a sharp crack across the face.
The fingers around her ankles tightened as he growled low in his throat. “The time you spend here can be civil or not. I shall leave it up to you, but know that for every act of defiance I will demand something of you in return.” He exhaled, deeply. She felt it even in her ankle, the move of his body above her. “You may not like the price.”
His face loomed above hers with all the beauty of a vengeful god. With aching slowness he caged her in using his body to trap her. Hers shuddered at the heavy contact as his limbs matched hers. Ice warred with fire along her skin as she fought tremors of excitement. It was as though she faced a lion—raw beauty, extreme power, and a posed threat—yet she couldn’t look away, and wanted to taste his full lips again.
Reality struck her sharply, reminding her to fight him. She tensed, testing her strength. His chest was a wall of steel, immovable as a mountain. Left gasping after her efforts, Emily’s eyes burned with childish tears. She couldn’t free herself, not from him, not from this place. And worst of all, she couldn’t escape her own desire. It was torture to want her abductor to coax her lips apart and teach her how to kiss so divinely.
Godric cupped her cheek with one hand, rubbing the pad of his thumb lightly over the curve of her lower lip. The warmth of his breath and the hint of his scent tangled her senses and rationality until she was a jumbled mess inside. Fear sparked within her, like flashes of lights hidden behind black clouds.
He could ruin her. He hadn’t really assured her safety, and now Emily realized her mistake. Godric could very easily take her, brutally and completely, and she had no way to defend herself. She had to say something, something to placate him and protect herself.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—” she expelled in a rush, but his lips took hers hard and fast, in an intoxicating rush of sensations and tastes. She whimpered as he fisted a hand in her hair, pulling her head back to expose her throat. Being so exposed sparked an explosive thrill. Her breasts strained against the fabric of her gown and heat pooled between her legs. It made little sense, this breathless yearning to be powerless beneath him, the desire to surrender to his sensual assault. The whispering graze of his teeth against her skin restlessly stirred her body.
When he returned his mouth to hers, she quivered with anticipation. The glide of his tongue between her lips was all about domination. She could feel it in the press of his chest against her breasts. The decision to submit countered everything in her body and mind, but she finally did.
He stilled atop her then, lips half-parted over hers, and with a soft sigh he drew his head back. His tongue licked his lips and regret flickered in his gaze. Emily wondered how far he would have taken her seductive punishment if she hadn’t acquiesced to him so quickly. He eased off her and helped her to her feet. Emily despaired at the loss of contact and she hated herself for admitting it.
“Shall we try this again?” His voice was low and husky. Did he have to be so tall and…and intense? Her instincts still screamed for her to run, but a good part of her wanted to step closer, to agree to anything he said. No man should have such power over her, but Godric was starting to, and that scared her far more than the intoxicating seduction of his kisses.
Dazed, Emily managed a shaky nod.
“Would you like to accompany me to breakfast, Miss Parr?”
Lauren, what a wonderful scene. Great job!!
Awesome excerpts! Great idea too, Ella! Here’s one of my favorite excerpts from my ms titled Murphy’s Law:
Sara lifted her eyes to meet Murphys and her throat went dry when she saw heat smoldering there. Combined with the scar he looked rugged and untamed and her body answered the call. For a moment they stayed like that, chests rising and falling in unison, just staring at each other. Sara saw the battle Murphy fought and hoped that he lost because she didn’t think she could walk away from him tonight.
“I’m not the man you’re looking for,” Murphy growled as he gripped the nape of her neck with one hand and crushed his mouth to hers. His lips were hard and demanding as they moved over hers, the battle raging still.
That was fun! Thanks, Ella!
Jennifer, wonderful excerpt. Thanks so much for commenting.
I love the excerpts. Here’s mine from my novella, A Wife By Christmas:
He sat on the windowsill, slid his legs over, and with some maneuvering, ended up hanging from the ledge by his hands. Then dropped. He hit the ground, knees bent, and went down on his rear. He stood, brushed off his pants, and called to her in a loud whisper. “Okay, your turn, just do what I did.”
She stuck her head out and whispered back. “Are you crazy? I can’t do what you did. It’s like you were a monkey.”
“You have no choice. Do it, or you’ll miss your curfew.”
Awkwardly, she put her knees on the windowsill, turned, and ended up leaning on the sill with both elbows, her legs hanging above his head.
“All right, drop,” he whispered.
“No.”
“Yes.”
She twisted her neck and regarded him. “Stop looking up my skirts.”
“What!”
“Shh! I said, stop looking up my skirts.”
“I’m not looking up your skirts.”
“Yes, you are. I’m hanging here in my skirts, and you’re looking up at me.”
“I have to look up if I’m going to catch you.”
“Close your eyes.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If I close my eyes, I’ll miss catching you.” He barely finished his sentence when she let go, arms flaying. Her bottom hit him in the chest, and they both went down in a heap. She sat on his neck.
“Get up, you’re choking me.” He gasped.
She rolled over just as the front door of the house opened. “Who’s out there?” Mrs. Davis stood on the porch, broom in one hand, a heavy black skillet in the other.
“It’s just me, Mrs. Davis. I decided to take a walk before bed.” He straightened his clothes and walked toward her.
“Mr. Colbert? I didn’t even see you leave the house.”
“You were busy with your tea. I’ll be in shortly.”
“All right. Good night again.”
Callie, that was great. I loved it.Thank you for commenting.
Wonderful excerpt, Ella! I have so many that I regularly post to loops, I can’t pick a favorite, but I’ll post the fight scene between the hero and the villain from my January release, Cassidy’s War.
He propped her against the wall, removed his hat, and lowered his mouth to hers. Before she could utter a protest, his tongue pressed against her lips, trying to push them apart.
She shoved with all her strength. “Dr. Madison! I must insist you take me home. Now!” She struggled to keep her breath even as she watched his smoldering expression grow cold.
He leaned away from her, pushing his hand through his hair, then settled his bowler back on his head. “You must forgive me, Miss Stuart. I should never have taken such liberties. But your beauty has mesmerized me.”
“Please take me home. Now.”
Madison tightened his grip on her wrist. Movement outside the alley drew her startled gasp.
George raced to her side and yanked Madison’s hand from her arm. “Take your hands off her, you filthy scum!”
Madison’s eyes widened. “See here!”
Before he could utter another word, George raised his fist and slammed it into the doctor’s face.
“George, don’t!” Cassidy cried.
George paid no attention. Madison growled and swung at George. He ducked and the doctor swung again, this time connecting with George’s jaw and knocking them both to the ground.
The two wrestled and grunted, rolling around in the dirt.
Cassidy stepped to the edge of the alley, her heart thudding. No pedestrians strolled by. Wringing her hands, she turned back. She had to stop this herself.
“Will you please stop acting like school boys or common ruffians?” She glared at them, hands fisted on her hips.
“I won’t let you hurt Cassie, you pompous ass,” George ground out.
“Looks to me like you already have,” Madison spat.
George swung and connected with the doctor’s nose.
A loud crunch drew a gasp from Cassidy.
George glanced up, his lip curled upward. He rose to his feet, breathing hard.
Dr. Madison lay flat on his back, cradling his bloodied nose in both hands.
“George Masters!” Cassidy glared into his dark eyes. “Just what are you doing?”
“He—I…” George arched a brow. “He had you alone in a dark alley. What am I supposed to think?”
She lifted her fisted hands to rest on her hips. “So you punched him?”
“Well…he hit me, too.” He rubbed his jaw.
I love funny endings. That was great!!
I love your invitations to post excerpts–that way I get a taste of what everyone’s writing. Mine comes from my Gilded Age novel, Return to Ravish:
“What do you see?” he asked.
She peered over the side, looking into the water which was clear in the still cove. Below the water was a line of wood, gilded to white, that had been the fence from that long-ago tryst.
“It can’t be,” she breathed, recognizing the place where they once lay together. Now it lay in a watery grave, like their love, never to be resurrected. She could not look away from the terrible sight, and nearly lost her balance.
He gripped her waist just in time, steadying her as she sank down onto the seat beside him.
“Why did you bring me here, to this place?” she asked, miserably.
Angelyn. How hauntingly sad. Wonderful excerpt. Thanks for commenting.
I’m having a great time reading everyone’s excerpts!
Sheri, Thanks for coming by.
Nice, nice, nice!
This is from A Cowboy To Keep, my current release…
Desperation clouding her mind, Laney tried to think. The prod was only making the bull madder. She waved at him. “Look at me!”
When the mighty Angus glanced her direction, she ran at him and slapped his nose with her bare hand, then danced back a few steps. He pawed with both front feet, filling the air with dirt. Laney’s eyes stung, but she refused to blink.
“Come on, come on.” She waved her arms, daring the animal to charge. Her heart pumped so fast she couldn’t tell the beats apart. She had to get him away from Wyatt. Now. “You dirty, filthy beast. Try to get me.”
Like a Mexican bull fighter, she leapt forward and poked his nose with her prod. Enraged, the bull lunged forward. Turning and running, with him hot on her heels, she sped into a small holding pen and catapulted over the back fence. Tearing around the backside, she slammed the gate shut and threw the latch. Dropping the hot-shot, she ran for Wyatt screaming his name.
She fell to her knees beside him and tugged him over. “Oh, God, Wyatt. Don’t you dare die on me.”
I love her. She’s fearless. Great job!!
These are some excellent excerpts, Ladies!
Mine is from my soon-to-be-released novel Only Scandal Will Do
“I assure you, there was never a night like that before.” Lord Dalbury spoke quietly, and Katarina sensed a tension in him. “I had never done such a thing before. Never participated in such an auction. Never tried to take a woman unwillingly to my bed.” He stopped speaking. Just stopped. Then his breath hissed as though he’d slowly released it.
“I cannot find the words to tell you how deeply I regret I was not a better man that night.” He paused, and she held still and waited. “What I tried to do was madness, without thought, without honor. I do not even have an excuse other than my base desires, and that your abundant charms overwhelmed me.” His face was shadowy in the scarce light of the sickle moon, but he sounded contrite. “I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. I have no right to expect it. But I would ask you to allow me to attempt to remedy the situation.”
Kat shook her head slowly. “What on earth do you believe you could do, Lord Dalbury, that could even come close to a remedy for the terror and humiliation you put me through? Do you think now that I have met you, heard your feeble attempts at an apology, and rejected them, the memory of that night will magically disappear?” She fought to control her anger, though she yearned to blast him with it. “What magic potion would you have me take that would erase the memory of you pinning me to the bed? Because if you have such an elixir, then yes, I will gladly take it from you and obliterate you absolutely and irrevocably.”
He stood silent at her words, then said simply, “I have only myself to offer, my lady.”
“You would have me kill you, my lord? In that, too, I agree I would oblige you, but not at the cost of my own life. I understand the English law punishes those who do murder quite severely.” Kat was astonished when he lurched backward, as from a blow.
“No, my lady, I would not have you kill me,” he said, sounding grimly amused. “Though indeed that would probably give you most satisfaction. I meant I would have you marry me.”
His words surprised a laugh out of her. “Marry you?” The laughter grew. “I see, my lord, you think me both a whore and a fool.”
“I think you are neither, Lady Katarina.”
“Then you are the fool to believe I would put such a man as you in control of every aspect of my life.” That he thought she would even entertain the suggestion was insulting.
The pale moonlight shadowed his face, but she could read displeasure there just the same. “You judge me solely on one act that, I assure you, was grossly out of character for me. You cannot possibly know what kind of husband I would be.”
“And never will, Lord Dalbury. I can swear to you that I would not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”
He inclined his head toward her, a faint smile touching his lips. “I believe you made a similar claim about dancing with me, Lady Katarina. Yet we have indeed enjoyed a dance together despite your words.” His tone was soft, the sensuous, cajoling one he had used to seduce her that night in the House of Pleasure.
Kat trembled, recalling the incredible sensations of his hands, his mouth on her body. Damn. He could not do this to her again. Not just with his voice.
“Is there nothing that would entice you to leave your Hell for my Heaven?”
She struggled to answer, opened her lips to deny it, only to find her mouth completely sealed by his.
Thanks so much for the opportunity, Ella!
Jenna, I love that scene. I am so looking forward to your release.
Wonderful excerpt!!! Love, love it! Well done, Ella!
Jenn, thanks both for the compliment and for coming by.
Really love the excerpts! 🙂 Mine’s a very slow moving WIP. 😦 At any rate, so far, I really like this scene because it’s the first time the hero, Calum, pulls the heroine into his arms.
He handed the pouch of salve to her. “Be sure to put more on your feet. Call out for me once you’re finished and I’ll carry you back.”
Calum pivoted and made his way back to camp, giving her privacy, though he wanted to stay and see to her injuries himself. Fraser was right. She did need a protector. While he was the man for the task, he had a feeling the duty would be relentless.
As soon as he reached camp, he saddled his stallion and packed his bags. He struggled to push away his growing concern for her. Protecting people was his duty, and he was exceedingly defensive of his family and clan. Regardless of her lack of knowledge of the fact, she now fit into both groups. He had three days to acquaint her with said knowledge. Completely at a loss with how to broach the topic, he turned just as she rushed through the camp. His mouth fell open. What in the hell was the mad woman up to now?
He stomped to her side as she fiddled with her saddle bag. He gripped her arm and growled near her ear. “I told you to call for me.”
She raised her bold, fiery gaze to his and tartly replied, “I thank you for your concern, but my injuries are quite well today. Indeed, your salve does work wonders.”
Shaking off his hold, she returned to rummaging in her bag. He refused to be dismissed that easily. Didn’t she realize he only sought to protect her and see to her safety? Apparently, that included shielding her – from herself – the reckless, little termagant. He grabbed her arm and whirled her to face him.
“You need to understand the difference between a request and an order, Arabella. When I tell you to do something, you do it.”
Her chest heaved and those brilliant green eyes glittered with anger. As his long-dead lust emerged, she jerked her arm free. “I’m neither one of your men nor a child!”
He narrowed his eyes, reached out and snagged her around the waist. Hauling her against his chest, he stared down into her scorching eyes and tightened his hold, lifting her slightly. With the top of her head barely reaching his chin, and her ample bosom pressing against his chest, their fit was nothing short of perfection in his mind. He felt compelled to plant a fierce kiss on those succulent lips. Christ, she bewitched him.
Calum pulled a deep breath of cold air into his lungs to soothe the blood simmering in his veins. Within a hairsbreadth of her flushed face, he ground out his reply.
“You will not speak to me in that manner, especially in front of my men. If you have an issue, we can settle it without an audience. Pack your things. We need to get moving.”
Melissa, that was great!! Thanks for commenting.
Melissa,
Thank you. That was very good.