Every so often, I go digging through my archives and surface something special: a lost page from the Lunaverse.
Whether you’re a longtime reader or brand new to my stories, I hope you’ll enjoy this glimpse into my creative process. This scene is from an unfinished project, one I might revisit someday. It features an unusual deal, a mission, and of course, some snark.
The minor swells in the Gulf made the deck of the yacht rise and fall beneath my bare feet. I placed both hands on the V of the mahogany railing at the bow, inhaling deeply. Salt, fish, clean air. A few stolen minutes of Zen before the mission.
Leo’s footsteps told me he was coming up behind me. He slid in close, pressing his chest against my back, his hands covering mine on the railing.
“I’m the king of the world,” he whispered in my ear.
I twisted just enough for him to see my fangs lengthen. “Leo, if you don’t back up two inches, I’m throwing you overboard.”
Leo stepped back. “Two inches? Surely you jest.”
I turned fully, my glare killing any humor in his expression. “I’m not in the mood for jesting.”
“O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?”
“Leo, quit quoting movie lines. You’re not a Wall Street Wolf, and I’m a married woman with children.”
“Well,” he said, flashing a grin, “usually when a woman stands at the bow like that, she’s hinting she wants me to run lines with her.”
“No lines for me. I’m here for my mission.”
“So, you’re just using me for my yacht?”
“That was always the deal.”
The shadows stretched longer across the water. The sun would be gone soon. I studied Leo, and after a second, he took another step back.
Then I pulled off my bikini top. A beat later, I slid off the bottoms and tossed them at him.
Leo caught them on instinct. His mouth dropped open. “You’re naked!” Then, with a smirk: “And no tan lines.”
“I’m going for a swim,” I replied. “I always swim like this.” I flicked my wrist, pointing to the scrunchie tied there. “And technically, I’m not naked. I have my hair tie.”
Leo’s eyes widened further when I pulled my hair into a ponytail and secured it with the scrunchie.
“We’re five miles from shore!”
“We’re exactly where we agreed to be. Your part in this deal is over.”
Leo rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, raising an eyebrow.
I spun on my toes, using the motion to slip a hand into my invisible handbag. When I faced Leo again, a golden Full Moon coin gleamed between my fingers. I tossed it to him.
Leo caught the coin midair. “Ahh, still warm. Where did you pull this from?”
“Leo, stop trying. That is never going to happen.”
“Don’t you need a cell phone to transfer the coin?”
“It’s already done. Scan it.”
For an actor, Leo was a damn good businessman. His phone was out in seconds, the scanner app open. A satisfying cash register ka-ching confirmed the transfer.
“Don’t you trust me, Leo?”
“You’re about to take a one-way swim into Costa Rica at night,” he said. “Just wanted to make sure everything was settled before you left.”
Over his shoulder, the rest of the yacht’s guests and crew were clustered at the stern, giving the famous actor and his guest some privacy.
At the very back of the group, Mike stood peeling off his striped crew shirt, revealing a short-sleeved wetsuit underneath. I flashed him an open palm: five fingers for five minutes. He nodded, then popped a snorkel into his mouth and slipped down the ladder to the diver’s platform. Everyone was too busy watching Leo and me to notice.
Leo turned back to me. “Are you satisfied with the deal?”
“Are you?”
“Can I ask for something extra?”
I shot him a sharp look. “Leonardo,” I said, using his full name for emphasis, “I’m not included in the deal.”
What do you think? Should I finish this book? Would you want to see more of this world? Let me know.
Warmly,
Veronica
P.S. New to the Lunaverse? The book that started it all, Lycan Legacy – Prey, is free on Amazon.
