Some say putting your faith in love is blindly foolish. But isn’t love blind? And without trust, how can a relationship grow, even one so . . . unusual as that between reforming mob enforcer/shapeshifter Max Savoie and NOPD police detective Charlotte Caissie. In this excerpt from CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT, the third book in my “By Moonlight” series.
“I’ve done terrible things, Charlotte, things I will never, ever share with you. Then you touched my face, my other face, the face of the beast, and you looked at me as if you saw something beautiful.”
He turned to her, eyes glittering in the darkness, confessing, “I put that look of helplessness and terror into the eyes of others because I was like them—those men who kidnapped you and Mary Kate. Jimmy never told me I could be more than that, that there was more to me than the monster who’d forgotten what it was like to feel . . . until you, Charlotte.”
“You were never like them, Max,” she told him softly.
If he heard her, he didn’t believe what she was saying as he continued, “You were my chance, Charlotte, my chance to do something good, something right, my chance to remember where I’d hidden away my soul when I was just a child, and I swore that day I would never do anything to put that look back in your eyes, that you would never, ever have reason to fear me.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Max, because I’ve always known I was safe with you.”
He gripped her wrists so suddenly, she gasped as he leaned close to warn, “You’re not safe now, Charlotte, I’m not safe. I’ve always been able to control the other part of me, but now there’s something loose inside me, something without a heart, without a soul, and without a care for what happens to you . . . I’m afraid of what I might do.”
“I trust you.”
CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT focuses on those seemingly insurmountable differences, particularly one they’re about to explore – the need for a shapeshifter male to bond with his mate, which will push our heroine’s trust to its breaking point in one of my favorite books of the series.
I’m already neck deep in holiday merriment with my oldest sister and b-i-l dropping in yesterday for the start of a 4-day weekend of gifts and nibbles. The festivities conclude next weekend when my younger son and his family arrive (leaving gifts AND my grandguy to visit for a week. HoHoHo!). I’ll be sharing from BOUND BY MOONIGHT before beginning with the “Shadows” portion of the series in the New Year.
Wishing everyone warm and wonderful celebrations!
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From the beginning of this series, I admired CeCe for going after what she wanted...Max. His confession is heartbreaking, warning her. Yet she stays. What a beginning to a fabulous courtship. Have a great time with your family over the holidays. Spending time with grandchildren is the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Di!! You have fun, too! Visited with my oldest sister and her hubby and now the wait 'til next weekend for the rest. . .
DeleteI admire her trust in him and hope he stops talking for a minute and listens to her! Great snippet...
ReplyDeletePontification can't overcome biology!
DeleteWill that trust be enough to keep his animal side in check?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful snippet. Trust is without a doubt essential to love. It's a bit worrisome that he doesn't trust himself.
ReplyDeleteHe's right not to, in this case.But true love will prevail, a bit tattered but still true.
DeleteShe trusts him, but he doesn't trust himself, which can be very scary. I hope her trust is not misplaced when the situation arises. Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica! Yes, it's kind of a scary place they're in.
DeleteGreat line - my chance to remember where I’d hidden away my soul when I was just a child.
ReplyDeleteTweeted.
Thanks!!!
DeleteWow, she has a lot of faith in him. Hope he can live up to it!
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah!
DeleteI really enjoyed the excerpt. Good writing. Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elaine! To you as well!!
DeleteIt is touching (and scary) that she trusts him so much. I certainly hope that trust is not misplaced. He's got to bring his A game from now on. Great snippet! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteHis A-game is pretty dang impressive!
DeleteHe doesn't trust himself and that is sad and scary. I hope her faith in him will change that. Enjoyed the snippet!
ReplyDeleteIt's the support he's always lacked and he'll do great things with it.
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