Withstanding the Enemy by T.L. Mahrt
Publication date: January 31st, 2020
Synopsis:
Emma Andrews was orphaned at a young age with no family to turn to. Tired of the broken foster-care system, and believing it was her only option, she runs to a multi-millionaire with a reputation of hiring young women. It is only then that she learns what real monsters look like...
Emma uses her overactive imagination to help her get through the toughest of days. By daydreaming a life full of love and freewill, she manages her colorless prison, but even in her wildest dreams, she would have never imagined it could become a reality. That is, until she meets Chance, a man willing to lay his life down to save hers.
But what Emma doesn't expect is to fight her own personal demons--her heart.
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Excerpt
Two tree-trunk arms fold around my waist and I am briskly swept up. A faceless man carries me four or five powerful strides before coming to an abrupt stop. With my hands still blocking my vision, my senses heighten, causing the smell of clean linen to waft around me. His solid chest vibrates as his unfamiliar voice tickles my ear.
"Are you all right?"
My chest rises and falls as I labor to control my breathing. It isn't fear that has my body reacting--I know fear all too well. This is something I'm not familiar with. I can feel the energy between us--it's powerful and dangerous like fear, but I am not afraid. This is something else entirely. As my body reacts to this new energy, it grows hotter--feverish even.
The energy intensifies as our bodies merge and he sets me down. My feet land on the icy marble floor, cooling the growing heat of my body. I hear a raspy grumble as the faceless man clears his throat and lets go of me. The warmth of his body dissipates with his release.
"Miss, are you all right?"
Cowardly, I nod my head while still hiding my flushed face in my palms.
Two firm yet gentle hands encircle my wrists, tugging to show my face. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, desperately wishing I could disappear.
A chuckle echoes in the hallway--of what I assume to be the foyer, judging from the direction he carried me. I open my eyes to the black T-shirt, this time focusing on the hard lines of his chest. He towers over me and a pulsing sensation sizzles through the air lightning, licking my bare skin. I stumble backward as I try to look up at him.
"Ummm," I manage to mumble and quickly look away.
My eyes dart to the staircase in the foyer which leads to the second floor--my bedroom. The one place I can always run to. Taking another step back, I bump into an unforgivingly hard statue and lose my balance. I tumble toward the floor.
"Easy, I got you." He catches me effortlessly. "Your name's not Grace, is it?" He laughs as he steadies me on my feet.
"Umm, sorry... I..." My chest tightens.
"Hey, easy..." His tone reminds me of someone who is trying to calm a wild animal.
His voice eases my nerves and builds confidence within me. My eyes search for his, needing to see the kindness and tranquility I hear in his voice--something I haven't seen for some time.
His blue-green eyes suck me into their depths, as if dragging me into the ocean with no hope of escaping. I have an overwhelming sense that the man who possesses these magnificent eyes will turn my world inside out...
There it is--fear--kicking off my fight-or-flight reaction. As if in slow motion, I twist out of his arms and bolt for the staircase. Taking two steps at a time, which is impressive with my short stature, I clear it in record time. I scurry around the corner in the direction of my safe haven without so much as a glance over my shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
My chest rises and falls as I labor to control my breathing. It isn't fear that has my body reacting--I know fear all too well. This is something I'm not familiar with. I can feel the energy between us--it's powerful and dangerous like fear, but I am not afraid. This is something else entirely. As my body reacts to this new energy, it grows hotter--feverish even.
The energy intensifies as our bodies merge and he sets me down. My feet land on the icy marble floor, cooling the growing heat of my body. I hear a raspy grumble as the faceless man clears his throat and lets go of me. The warmth of his body dissipates with his release.
"Miss, are you all right?"
Cowardly, I nod my head while still hiding my flushed face in my palms.
Two firm yet gentle hands encircle my wrists, tugging to show my face. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, desperately wishing I could disappear.
A chuckle echoes in the hallway--of what I assume to be the foyer, judging from the direction he carried me. I open my eyes to the black T-shirt, this time focusing on the hard lines of his chest. He towers over me and a pulsing sensation sizzles through the air lightning, licking my bare skin. I stumble backward as I try to look up at him.
"Ummm," I manage to mumble and quickly look away.
My eyes dart to the staircase in the foyer which leads to the second floor--my bedroom. The one place I can always run to. Taking another step back, I bump into an unforgivingly hard statue and lose my balance. I tumble toward the floor.
"Easy, I got you." He catches me effortlessly. "Your name's not Grace, is it?" He laughs as he steadies me on my feet.
"Umm, sorry... I..." My chest tightens.
"Hey, easy..." His tone reminds me of someone who is trying to calm a wild animal.
His voice eases my nerves and builds confidence within me. My eyes search for his, needing to see the kindness and tranquility I hear in his voice--something I haven't seen for some time.
His blue-green eyes suck me into their depths, as if dragging me into the ocean with no hope of escaping. I have an overwhelming sense that the man who possesses these magnificent eyes will turn my world inside out...
There it is--fear--kicking off my fight-or-flight reaction. As if in slow motion, I twist out of his arms and bolt for the staircase. Taking two steps at a time, which is impressive with my short stature, I clear it in record time. I scurry around the corner in the direction of my safe haven without so much as a glance over my shoulder.
About the Author:
T.L. Mahrt is a former business owner, where she utilized her education in cosmetology, barbering and massage therapy for several years. She was raised on and is currently living on a farm in Nebraska, where you can find her running barefoot in the country side with her loving husband and inspiring children and massive dogs.
After having her son, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, she made the life altering decision to stay home to care for her two children and pursue her love for writing. She has a love for romance and poetry where, her overactive imagination, along with her adventures and up beat lifestyle drives her inspiration for her writing.
T.L. Mahrt has a thirst for knowledge, and is currently working on her Bachelor of Applied Science in Communication Studies degree.
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