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Rackety Kate and the Pirates

Chapter 16

Feint and Return

The story so far:
The orgiastic battle of wills is virtually a dead-heat, Kate wins by a gasp, but she and Jack discover their strong, possessive feelings are mutual. Everyone finds satisfaction in their own way, such a considerable achievement that Kate passes out in gratitude.

You can read all of Kate here – http://www.deniserossetti.com/kate.html

Someone was stroking Kate’s hair, very gently. A woman’s voice said, “I think she’s coming `round.”

“No,” whispered Kate. “Not yet. Please.”

The woman went on talking, but another voice rode over the top of her, drowning her out – a deep, burnished baritone with a beguiling lilt to it. “C’mon, pretty Kate, open your eyes.”

Kate shot upright with a gasp – and nearly tipped herself ass over elbow out of the hammock.

“Whoa!” Jack caught her shoulders and held her steady. “Welcome back, sweetheart.” His tiger eyes danced, but he wasn’t smiling. He looked almost…sad. He was seated in a throne-like chair, woven out of golden cane.

Kate gripped his arm, feeling the heat of muscled flesh through the thin fabric of his shirt. “I nearly…” She swallowed. “I don’t know how much longer I have left.”

When Jack smoothed a hand over her hair, the sensation felt both beloved and familiar, as if he’d been doing it for some time. Kate found herself leaning into his touch, like a cat begging for a caress. He pressed his lips lightly to hers. Then he kissed her eyelids, the tip of her nose. “Look at me.”

She stared into his burning gaze, drowning. A flush stained his cheeks above the trim beard. “What I said, before at the pool…” He came to a dead halt, clearing his throat.

Kate could barely speak. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Hormone Harlots, perched on the railing of what she realized now was the shady verandah of a palm-thatched bungalow. They appeared to be holding their breath, their wings barely stirring in the balmy air. She knew how they felt.

“Yes?” Her lips formed the word, but no sound came out.

“I’ve never said that to any woman, ever. Never wanted to.”

“Did you mean it?”

Some of the old arrogance resurfaced. His eyes flashed. “Bloody Jack Cavanagh doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.”

Kate pressed closer. “Then say it again.”

Jack balked. “You first.”

“No, you.”

They glared at each other, the air vibrating with tension.

***

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Seeing I don’t have any interesting pics of ARRC09 (well, not yet), I feel a bit guilty. I’m hoping you’ll forgive me, so I’m sending you all a group hug.

No matter how bad your day has been….there is nothing like a group hug to brighten your day. Since someone chose to brighten mine, I have decided to return the favour! Thanks Juliean!

Got your breath back? Heh heh.

What I want to know is - who the hell are these guys? I’m sooo curious! And what are they doing standing on a rock stark naked? Apart from posing, I mean.

Don’t think they’re a sports team, like footballers. The body types are all too similar. (No sacrifice is too great for my readers. I’ve studied this photo until my eyes hurt.) Are they male models? Probably. Which is a bit depressing, because the chances are most of them are gay. *sigh*

 What do you think? Let’s have wild speculation! Who are they? And what are they doing there? Are they gay or straight? And would you like to be in a little boat out to sea? With binoculars.

I’m off to Melbourne early tomorrow morning - so early, that my sister (who possesses a particularly elegant turn of phrase) refers to it as being up at “sparrow fart”.  I agree, which gives you some idea of how good I am at mornings.

But it’s all in a GOOD CAUSE!

I’m going to the very first Australian Romance Readers Convention! Yeehah! Like a Down Under version of the Romantic Times Convention. I’ve linked the logo below to the website if you’d like to take a look. Sherrilyn Kenyon, Stephanie Laurens, MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant and, and… I’m moderating a panel with Susan Grant and Keri Arthur on it, how’s that for cool?

With so many famous, fabulous authors there, I kind of feel I’ll get lost in the rush, but I’m sure there’ll be someone around to talk fantasy and hot alien sex with. I have wild dreams of being mobbed by adoring fangirls who have all bought my books, but somehow I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Never mind, next time. Heh heh. Right. To be totally accurate, it’ll be me doing the fangirl squeee.  I’ll have to practise getting my tongue untangled and removing my foot from my mouth, red shoes and all.

Anyhow, I have my camera, so I’ll be back posting in a few days, armed with the incriminating evidence. Oh boy, I can hardly wait!

UNLACED won a CAPA Award from the Romance Studio! For Erotic Anthology of the Year. Isn’t that great? *beams* It totally made my day. Just goes to show what happens when you team up with a group of fabulous authors like the J-girls.

And we get this pretty logo graphic thingie to show off.  I suspect that’s Psyche and Eros getting it on there. Very appropriate, I must say!

Of course, Jaci Burton and Joey W. Hill also won awards for Dare to Love and  A Mermaid’s Kiss, respectively. Mega-congrats to them.

If you click on the CAPA Award graphic, it will take you to the Romance Studio, where you can find yet more treasures to add to your TBA mountain, uh, pile. Heh heh. Ooh, I’m an evil wench. *cackle*

If you thought the “koala in the tub” photos were amazing, take a look at this piece of film of a koala drinking from a firefighter’s water bottle!

And there really is a happy ending to this one. I’ve seen a subsequent photo of the poor koala with her paws all bandaged. (It’s a female, BTW) She’s in a wildlife centre, being cared for - and a handsome male koala is very interested in our furry heroine. One of the nicest things, to my mind, is the delight in the voice of the CFA volunteer. He and his crew were obviously buoyed by being able to help the animal. Just as well, as they had to go fight another fire right after this film was taken.

But sadly, while there have been heartwarming stories of courage and miraculous escapes, the death toll stands at over 180, with more to come. The cost in despair and grief, not to mention the rebuilding, is pretty well incalculable. And it’s not over yet… The fires still burn.

If you would like to donate -

Go to either of these for humans:-

https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp or http://www.salvos.org.au/

For animals, go here - http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/news_bushfires.htm

I’ve been obsessed with Leonard Cohen for years. Now I’m even more obsessed - because, you see, I went to his concert. OMG, it was an experience I’ll never forget.

Leonard’s  back on the road because he’s in deep doo-doos financially. Not his fault, either.  He’s 74 and he was FABULOUS! Hope I’m that spry at that age. He was professional, dignified, wryly humorous and he gave and gave and gave. It was a magic night.

When he walked on, the entire crowd simply rose as one and clapped and cheered and screamed. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to receive a welcome like that. And I’m pretty sure he’s had the same reception at every single venue. The man is the definition of the cliche “living legend”.

Was so funny. I have never in my life seen so many men with graying beards and hair down to their shoulders all gathered in one place at one time. It was like a convention of old hippies crossed with bikers.  I bet there were a stack of Harleys in the car pack. And any young people (there were quite a few)  were skinny and pale with one lock of hair hanging in the eyes, regardless of gender.

Leonard’s been part of my life since I first left home. All the way through university, career, kids and then writing. I like his music, his incredible gravelly voice,  just as much now as I did then. Like pretty well everyone else, I sang along, but very softly. The words are amazing, deep, moving, clever, wry. I could go on and on. He’s a true poet. And a gentleman, in every sense of the word.

The only downside is that, at 74, it’s not likely I’ll see him again. *sigh* It lent the whole evening such poignancy. A real once-in-a lifetime thing.

This video was taken at one of the Sydney concerts last month. It’s quite long. He sings I’m Your Man (love that song!)  and at the end, he switches to poetry - A Thousand Kisses Deep - spoken in that wonderful, sonorous rumble. Ah… Shivers up the spine. It starts around the 6 minute mark.

Are there musicians who do that to you - make all the hair stand up on the back of your neck?  And yes, I know Leonard Cohen is a cultivated taste. *smile*

BTW, if you’ve been concerned about me and mine in the bushfires and the floods, don’t be. We’re a long way away from either. Send your thoughts and prayers to those battling Nature and for those who’ve lost their loved ones. *shudder* Heartbreaking, awful stuff. More later, when I can bear it.

You may know it’s been incredibly hot all through eastern Australia - as in INCREDIBLY hot! Temperatures of over 90F every single day. Blech!

These amazing photos have been doing the email rounds lately. The story goes that this little koala (it’s certainly not fully grown) wandered onto a back porch in South Australia looking for some heat relief. The householder filled up a bucket and this is what happened!

I must admit, I’m not very knowledgeable about koalas, so I’m happy to be corrected about any of this. They’re not bears, of course, they’re marsupials - the females nurture the young in a pouch. I’ve never heard of one drinking water like this. Normally, they get the moisture they need from the gum leaves they eat. This one must have been desperate, especially with humans so dangerously close.

They’re cute, all right, but you wouldn’t want to tangle with a mature koala - look at this little guy’s claws! And they make the most extraordinary, spine-chilling noises. Years ago, My Beloved and I were walking through bushland in country Victoria when we heard this long, drawn-out, banshee howl. I was convinced it was the legendary bunyip, coming to devour us. But no, high up in a gum tree was a big boy koala, head thrown back, mouth wide-open, bellowing his mating cry. He was so totally ready for lurve. I hope he found it!

And I’ve just remembered - years ago, when I was first writing, my daughter and I mucked around with an idea for a YA fun novel about vampire koalas. And it was all based on that terrifying cry out in the lonely Bush. Hmm, maybe I should write it. I have the first draft somewhere…

Got a good story about animals cooling down? Or just a koala comment? I’d love to hear it!