| Sample
Chapter For LITTLE RED by Emma Sinclair
Once upon a time…
Scarlet Hood was miserable.
She was wet, she was hungry, and she was cranky. She was
also very lost.
“Stupid forest,” she muttered under her breath
as her brand new red suede pumps sunk deeper into the mud.
As if the gods were conspiring against her, it rained
even harder.
Why had it seemed like such a good idea when she got out
of her car to walk? The woods were nice. They were peaceful. She’d
always loved the wilderness.
She hiked her bag a little bit higher up on her shoulder
and slogged forward.
She cursed her stupid ex-boyfriend and her stupid ex-roommate
with every step she took. Anger was good. Anger was much better than the
tears she was afraid would fall once she stopped moving.
Lightning flashed and thunder crackled directly overhead.
She jumped and spun around, as if she’d somehow be able to defend
herself against a thousand volts of electricity. Instead, she ended up
on her ass in a big puddle of mud.
“Damn it,” she yelled to the world. “Damn
it, damn it, damn it.”
She accompanied each curse with a slap of her hands directly
into the mud puddle. Obviously that didn’t do much to help her appearance.
As if being wet weren’t bad enough, now she was wet and covered
with mud.
And she still didn’t have a freaking clue where
in the hell she was.
“Hey there.”
The voice startled her and she yelped. Women who lived
in New York City until four hours ago did not yelp.
“What are you doing here? Who are you?”
She could barely make out the shape of a man standing
at the edge of the woods, not quite on the path. When the lightning flashed,
she saw that he was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed in front
of his chest, and one foot crossed in front of the other. He was so…feral.
And she was pretty sure that he was laughing at her.
She hated him on sight, even if he was the only other
person in these Godforsaken woods.
She rolled over, mentally calculating the cost of her
now ruined outfit and got to her feet. She only slipped a few times in
the process.
“Need any help?”
“Don’t you have anything better to do with
your time than harass women in the middle of a storm?”
Lightning flashed again just as she looked his way. She
almost found herself flat on her ass in the mud once again.
The corner of his mouth was hitched up in a wry smile.
She had no doubts about it now. He was definitely laughing at her.
His hair was dark, and he wore nothing more than jeans
and a white tee shirt that was completely soaked, doing nothing to hide
the sculpted muscles underneath.
In short, he was gorgeous.
Scarlet found herself hating him even more.
She tried her best to look appropriately haughty as she
turned to once again trudge on her way, but as soon as she took one step
forward, she realized she had a problem. Her shoe hadn’t come with
her.
Once again, she found herself on the ground. This time,
face down in the mud.
The rumble of laughter that followed her completely unbecoming
swan dive didn’t even anger her. She was so beyond angry, she did
the only thing she could.
She burst into tears.
* * * *
Oh shit.
Now she was crying. Tyler Carver hated crying women. And
he felt like the world’s biggest ass for making her cry.
“Hey, are you all right?”
He still had to work a little bit to keep the laughter
out of his voice. The thought of her nose so high in the air, he had to
wonder how she wasn’t getting rainwater up it; slapping head first
into the mud was a sight he wasn’t going to forget for quite a long
time.
She didn’t answer him, just continued with her sniffling
and bawling. Then she started to talk to herself.
“Like my day couldn’t get any worse. What
did I do to deserve this? Huh? Please tell me?”
He didn’t know if she was actually asking him but
he felt it best not to answer. He approached her from the side, carefully,
like he’d approach a skittish animal.
“Was I a horrible person in a past life? Did I do
somebody wrong?”
He still didn’t answer her, but he almost jumped
backwards when she turned her head his way.
She sniffled and used her forearm to swipe away her tears.
If she looked unattractive and bedraggled before, when she swiped her
hand across her face and left a big trail of mud, she became downright
scary.
What he thought was her red hair, was stringy and hung
limply past her shoulders. Her eyes, which were surrounded with black
makeup dripping down her face, were now also red and puffy. She reminded
him a bit of a character out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
But he couldn’t leave her to suffer, no matter how
homely she might be.
When another streak of lightning flashed, followed by
a rumble of thunder close on its heels, he decided it was time for them
to get out of there.
“Come on,” he said, leaning down and picking
her up like she weighed nothing, which in fact, she did, “we need
to get you inside before you get sick.”
She didn’t protest when he lifted her into his arms,
but much to his dismay, she didn’t shut up either.
“That’s okay. You don’t need to take
care of me. You can just leave me out here in the rain and the mud. I’m
okay suffering the same fate as my suitcase.”
Oh God, he so didn’t want to ask, but he just couldn’t
help himself.
With a resigned sigh, he asked, “What happened to
your suitcase?”
If possible, her voice raised several octaves and she
started bawling even more.
“It got eaten by a bear.”
At that pronouncement, she broke down completely, sobbing
uncontrollably into his already soaking wet tee shirt.
He just had to have the urge to go running in the rain,
didn’t he? It’d been a favorite pastime of his since the change,
turning into his wolf form and running through the rain.
But never in his years of doing so had he come upon a sight like the one
that greeted him tonight. A hysterical woman stuck in the mud in the middle
of an enchanted forest. No, that was something that definitely didn’t
happen every day.
At least he was close to home.
He passed a large oak tree and turned left. Only a few
more steps and his cottage came into view.
“I have to go to my grandma’s house.”
He hadn’t really noticed that the woman in his arms
had stilled.
“What?”
“I was on my way to my grandmother’s house.”
Okay, there was no doubt about it now. The girl was delusional.
He knew everyone in these woods and there was no one who had a granddaughter.
He briefly considered dropping her off in the middle of
the woods. She could be trouble, but she was such a slip of a girl that
he knew he wouldn’t have any trouble protecting himself.
He had to take her home with him.
“Please, I need my grandmother.”
“Okay, it’s dark and this storm is about to
get a whole hell of a lot worse. We’ll find her for you tomorrow,
all right?”
He didn’t really give her a chance to answer. He
climbed the steps to his cabin and went inside.
He dropped her to her feet just inside the front door.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
* * * *
Scarlet watched her savior dash from the room. Oh no,
what had she done? She was lost God knows where with no one in the world
knowing where she was.
Well, not that anyone would miss her even if she did disappear
off the face of the earth. She hadn’t even bothered telling her
grandmother she was coming to visit so how long would it take for Gram
to notice? If that wasn’t a most pathetic thought, she didn’t
know what was.
“You’re dripping all over my floor.”
He’d come back with a handful of towels.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
This was the first time she’d really had a chance
to look at him. He was absolutely breathtaking. He wasn’t the most
handsome man she’d ever seen. She’d seen plenty of good-looking
guys while living in New York, but none of them had the impact deep in
her gut as the man in front of her right now.
She stepped around but didn’t manage to do anything
but spread the puddle of cold, muddy water. And make her feet really cold
when she stepped into back into it.
“Here you go. Dry yourself off a bit, then you can
take a shower.”
“Thanks.”
He handed over the towels. She was mortified when she
rubbed the soft terrycloth over her face and held the towel away. The
crisp white was now a muddy brown.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. They wash.”
She dried herself off, but started shivering uncontrollably.
“Come on.”
He took her by the hand and led her through the living
room. It was a large room with lots of wood and masculine décor.
But it still seemed comfortable.
He led her up the stairs and down a short hallway. There
was one door on the left and two on the right. He paused in front of the
first door on the right.
“Here’s the guest bathroom. Take a long, hot
shower.” He shoved a bundle of fabric into her hands. “Here
are some clothes for you to put on when you’re finished.”
He opened the door and pushed her inside. She stumbled
slightly but he was already on his way back down the stairs.
“Wait,” she called.
He paused but he didn’t turn around.
“What’s your name?”
“Tyler.”
“I’m Scarlet.”
He nodded without looking at her and padded back downstairs.
Scarlet headed into the bathroom and shrugged off her
wet clothes. She’d be quite happy to never see the black pants or
sweater again, but she was a bit disappointed about ruining her new red
cloak.
When she looked in the mirror she had to contain the shriek
that was ready to explode.
To say that she looked like a drowned rat was an understatement.
And of course she had to look this way in front of the
most breathtaking man that she’d ever seen.
Not that it mattered, she quickly reminded herself. She’d
already decided to hate him. Even if he did help her and get her in from
the cold and wet, even if he did let her use his bathroom and give her
dry clothes. He laughed at her, and in Scarlet’s eyes that was a
no-no.
Not to mention her recent realization that men were horrible,
disgusting, slime ball pigs with whom she wanted nothing to do.
She reached in and wrenched on the faucet, turning it
far to the hot side. When the temperature was to her desire, she turned
on the shower and stepped in.
The hot water felt amazing sluicing over her frigid skin.
Steam rose and quickly filled the small enclosure as she scrubbed her
skin practically raw.
Mud ran down her body, turning the white porcelain brown.
She watched it swirl down the drain like she was watching a hypnotist’s
dial.
When the water ran completely clear, she rinsed herself
one last time and turned off the water. She stood in the shower stall
letting the water drip off her body, enjoying the feeling of being clean.
When she got out, she snooped through the medicine cabinet,
finding an unopened toothbrush, toothpaste, and a comb. She put all three
to good use before dressing in the clothes Tyler had given her.
Her bra and panties were still soaked, so after rinsing
them in hot water and hanging them over the shower stall, she dressed
without wearing anything underneath.
The sweatpants were huge, obviously his. She cinched the
waist tightly and rolled up the legs. The sweatshirt was equally as large,
but it kept her warm so she didn’t really care.
Now, she had to take care of her feet.
She left the bathroom and walked across the hall. She
opened the door careful not to make any noise.
“Bingo,” she whispered.
It was Tyler’s room. Now she just had to figure
out where he’d keep his socks.
This room, too, was definitely a man’s. The bed
was enormous with wooden head and footboards. The dresser and highboy
were made of the same wood. They were all beautiful pieces of furniture.
There were two doors, one a closet and the other another bathroom, she
assumed.
Walking over to the low dresser, she ran her fingers over
the smooth grain of the wood. It was cool and soft to the touch.
“What are you doing?”
* * * *
Okay, maybe he should have made it a little bit more obvious
that he was in the room, but when he’d walked out of his bathroom
to find her in his bedroom, politeness wasn’t the first emotion
that came to mind.
But when she spun around, her foot getting caught on the
throw rug in front of the dresser, and landing with a rather loud thump
smack dab on her butt, he felt a little guilty.
She remained sitting on the ground, just staring at him.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded and swallowed hard.
Tyler suddenly became quite aware of what he was wearing,
or not wearing as the case may be.
He’d just gotten out of the shower when he heard
her in the attached bedroom. He toweled himself off quickly and wrapped
the towel around his waist.
“Scarlet?”
She still didn’t answer but he could feel her gaze
burning a path down his chest following a small droplet of water.
“Red?”
That one got her attention.
“Don’t call me that.”
The answer was practically automatic. She struggled to
her feet, and once she was standing, it was Tyler that almost got knocked
to his butt.
While he thought her mousy and almost ugly while covered
with rain and mud, she was actually quite breathtaking.
Her hair was red, but now that it was clean and drying,
he could see that it was more than that, it was a beautiful auburn with
soft curls framing her face.
Her eyes were a bright blue and her face had the complexion
of ripe peaches, with a light dusting of freckles over the bridge of her
nose.
Suddenly, he became very aware that the towel slung low
on his hips was not enough coverage.
“Wha…what do you want?” Damn it, he
had to pause and clear his throat. He hoped she didn’t notice it.
“My feet were cold. I just wanted to borrow a pair
of socks.”
He looked down at her feet. When did he develop a foot
fetish?
He’d never found them particularly attractive before,
but hers were just perfect. They were tiny, with cute little toes and
red-tipped toenails.
“Go downstairs. I’ll be down in a minute.”
“But…”
“I’ll bring socks with me.”
“Okay.”
Her voice was so quiet that if it weren’t for his
oversensitive hearing, he probably wouldn’t have heard her.
She turned and walked out of the room. He listened as
she walked down the stairs and briefly walked around the living room before
it became quiet.
“Damn.”
He hadn’t had a reaction that strong to a woman
in a long time.
He could still feel his heart pounding in his chest and
he felt like he might need another shower, only this time a very cold
one.
He ripped off the towel and tossed it on the bed before
rifling through his drawers to find a pair of jeans and a black long sleeved
tee shirt. He dressed, then picked out two pairs of socks from his sock
drawer.
When he walked out of his bedroom, he once again felt
like the breath was knocked out of him.
A pair of lacy white panties and a matching bra were hanging
over the shower rod in the guest bathroom.
Ty’s brain could only wrap itself around one thing.
If Scarlet’s underwear was hanging in his bathroom, then she was
going commando.
Reviews For
LITTLE RED by Emma Sinclair
" Emma Sinclair has done a great job at taking one
a favorite fairy tale, throwing in a shape-shifting man, adding some erotic
fun, and coming out with an imaginative tale. There will be readers out
there wishing they had a grandmother’s house to visit via some enchanted
woods. 4 Angels!"
Reviewed by: Shayley 4 Angels Fallen Angel Reviews
"LITTLE RED is not your average
fairy tale and definitely not the simple Mother Goose story. Tyler is
sexy and hot from his head to his toes with a sensuality that just emanates
from every pore. Scarlet is having a really bad day, but it gets a lot
better when she meets Tyler. The love scenes are so hot and steamy they
will fog up the screens and burn out your circuits. Emma Sinclair has
put a creative and erotic twist on the classic children’s tale and
readers will want to keep this one for their own personal bedtime story."
Angel Romance Junkies Blue Ribbon Rating: 4
"Little Red is enticingly pleasure filled tale of
characters from the classic fairytale Little Red Riding Hood and the Big
Bad Wolf, only this time, Little Red is grown up and she is hungry for
some attention. I completely adored this version of the old fairytale,
nothing like a little loving and hot enthralling sex to set the mood.
Scarlet and Tyler are two characters I fell in love with, their whole
demeanors' were fantastic, but I really adored Mollie, I do not think
I laughed as much as I did when I read about a bear stealing someone's
luggage. Little Red had me holding my sides because I was laughing so
much; at times I just wanted to keep on reading. Emma Sinclair has done
a great job in writing this wonderful story, so if you want a book that
will make you laugh until you cry and has fantastic erotic scenes that
will make you blood boil then get your copy of Little Red and experience
this for yourself."
Sheryl 4 Stars Ecataromance
"Little Red is a funny and erotic twist to the classic
fairy tale. The irony and the chuckles started from the very first pages,
when I read about Scarlet’s red shoes and suitcase. She’s
been through a lot the past few days, so the stress of everything seems
to have finally gotten to her. Why else would she go home with a strange
albeit sexy man? Totally unlike her but it seems so perfect. For the first
time in a while, she could concentrate on her needs. Their awkwardness
towards each other reminded me of a couple’s first "sleepover".
It was sweet and sexy. Tyler is a man who is comfortable in his own skin.
He likes that he’s a shifter and likes Scarlet too. However, he
knows that a relationship with her will depend on if she can accept that
he is a shifter. They certainly have that sexual heat and chemistry that
made me think about a cold drink even in this cold weather. The eroticism
of the story and the interactions between Scarlet and Tyler kept me in
my seat until the end. Little Red has the perfect sexy twist that makes
me think of this classic story in a totally different light. Who said
being bad isn’t a good thing?"
Ann Lee Rating: 4 Stars Heat level: H, Just Erotic Romance
Reviews
"Emma Sinclair has written an enchanting, entertaining
and erotic spin on the Little Red Riding Hood tale. Scarlet has had the
worst luck imaginable and has decided to change her life by moving out
and going to grandmother’s house. Tyler is lonely but quite content
with his solitary life until he meets Scarlet. When they meet, Scarlet
and Tyler can’t seem to function correctly when they’re in
close proximity. The insatiable Tyler and the brazen Scarlet are such
a perfect match. The sex scenes will definitely have you reaching for
whichever is closer, your partner or the toy chest. I liked how Scarlet
and Tyler’s attraction was instantaneous, but trying to decipher
what they mean to each other had this reader anticipating the outcome.
I love how Scarlet and Tyler interacted with each other. From their witty
comments to their train of thought had me giggling one moment then sighing
the next. I enjoyed how the storyline included the facts about both characters’
past. I found that I got a better understanding of how each character
perceive and react to things that made me fell more in love with Scarlet
and Tyler. I also love the tenderness that both of these characters had
for each even though at times I wasn’t sure that they were going
to have a happy ending. An enjoyable tale worthy of occupying my bed side
table. I look forward to reading more stories from Ms. Sinclair."
Tallyn Porter Rating: 4 Stars Heat Level: O, Just Erotic
Romance Reviews
|
