Challenge! It's contest time again!

[Freyja]

From my first project (in progress); Little Wild Thing

“Oh my, that didn’t take long,” a muffled comment filters through the chaos of my sobs. The words sound distant and distorted, and I startle when Ryan suddenly hollers, “Wulf!”
Somewhere on the border of my consciousness, I hear the sound of rapid thumping.
“What?!”
Great, now he will also know about my emotional breakdown.
“Oh my, Wulf! I will never get that sight out of my eyes!”
The surprise and shock of the outburst make me look over my shoulder. Wulf stands at the base of the stairs, stark-naked and carrying a nasty-looking sword.
Ryan waves his arms wildly. “Cover yourself! Elisa doesn’t have to see your hairy ass. You beta balls of testosterone! You can’t solve the issue at hand with either of your swords. Not everything is solved with violence or sex.”
Wulf looks a bit abashed.
“Well, you cried, Wulf.”
“Don’t try to be funny now!”

 

[Emma Fischer]

“I know it sounds improbable, but what else can we do?”

Jasmine leaned back, placing her palms flat on the mats. “We could just do nothing.” She looked away from Nicholas to the rest of the room. “Live our lives and let the end of the world come.”

Nicholas looked at her for a moment. “I have never been so tempted to kick someone before in my entire life.”

Jasmine laughed, and she reached out a hand toward him. “I’m only kidding. I already dropped out of college and am being hunted every day by assassins and gods from other dimensions, so I’m kind of stuck with your plan to save the world.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to standing. “Good.” He grinned, pleased. “I don’t have to kick you in the face.”

 

[Tini Wider]

From my WIP: Steam Magic:

Maxim stepped fully into the light and Rosabelle tried hard not to stare into the dark and handsome features. Something inside her brain automatically started to search, like a little steam-magic powered machine checking inventory lists. Dark amber eyes that sparked with danger and a thousand unanswered questions, trouble written into every line on his face and a mouth that edged upward at the corners, triggering memories from a time bearing fewer sorrows and a brighter future ahead.

"You’re just jealous of me. I have magic and you don’t."

"I don’t need magic."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don’t. Just silly boys need magic. I’m smart."

No, that wasn’t possible. He’d vanished like the morning mist, extinguished like a steam-magic lamp with no magic. Dead. And now he stood there. Very much alive, tall and so … handsome.

 

[Janelle Fila]

From my WIP (a YA contemporary fantasy):

“Keep your voice down,” Daphne snarls. She glances wildly around, her eyes settling on the middle of camp where Blaze has taken her spot for a private talk with Julian. The conversation appears one-sided based on Julian’s pursed mouth and Blaze’s hand gesturing. The words “familiar” and “trouble” waft in our direction.

“Did you see his chest?”

Daphne clicks her tongue. “Julian is good looking, isn’t he?”

“What? No.” My teeth grind together. “His necklace. Did you see the tooth?”

“Blaze? He probably thought it would bring him good luck, like a rabbit’s foot or something. He seems kind of like a poser, don’t you think? All bark and no bite.”

 

[LindaLaird]

from Quest for Tink

“Hey monster,” said Dooley after an explosive belch, “Just what kind of monster are you?”

Pete thought for a moment, then replied, “I’m a lawyer.”

“Is that a terrible type of monster?” asked Fred.

“I guess that depends on whom you ask,” said Pete. “To some, lawyers are horrible monsters that punish them for misbehaving. To other people, lawyers seem good because they protect the rights and things of good people. They generally do whatever the person who hired them paid them to do, be it right or wrong.”

“What’s a right?” Dooley asked as Fred kicked him.

“You dummy. Rights are the opposite of wrongs. Right?” he asked, looking at Pete.

 

[nickzverloff]

Untitled WIP (Fantasy)

King Palu approached. “How did you discover the necromoss?”

“Come closer.” Blaire clutched her knife. “I’ll whisper it.”

“Do you take me for an imbecile?”

Blaire pursed her lips and stifled a smile.

 

[Peyton Garland]

From my WIP, PRINT ME A LIE:

“You know what, Mean Jeanine?” Wren yelled. “I hope you choke on your tea! Make your face purple to match that there ugly smock you got on!”

Jeanine Sanders’ left eye twitched, and her brow furrowed into rows of deep ripples. “How dare you say that, you little—!”

Before Jeanine Sanders could finish the unimaginable name-calling, Maeve shoved her to the ground. Jeanine Sanders’ purple frock was upside down, smothering her face.

“And in case you wanna pick on my friend or call anybody else a name, I’ll make sure you hush up!” Together, Maeve and Wren used their knees to pin Jeanine Sanders to the ground. All her nasty little friends shrieked as Wren grabbed her bandages and synched the purple frock over Jeanine Sanders’ writhing face, wrapping layers of the thick cloth around her mouth.

 

[EditorBurns]

From my current WIP, Rescue Me (A First Responder Romance book one):

“You really are a tool,” Gwen said then, and turned to Tag. “I’m so sorry for you.”

“Hey!” Finn protested.

“And sorry for you, too,” she told Brendan. Then she lifted the basket from the hood of her car. “Please. I sincerely apologize, and I hope we can put this behind us. I’d like to purchase these items now.” She shot Finn a meaningful glance before turning back to their cousin. “Shall we go inside?”

Brendan’s face pinked under his beard. His blue eyes twinkling as he shot Tag and Finn a delighted grin, he gave Gwen a little bow and held out his elbow to her like some old-time gentleman. She threaded her arm through his and together they sauntered back into the store like a couple in one of those black and white movies where people randomly start singing and tap dancing.
Tag and Finn stood and watched them go.

Once the market’s doors had slid shut, Finn turned and looked down at Tag. “You should marry that girl. I like her.”

“Shut up.” Tag shifted on his feet. He did too, but he knew he shouldn’t.

Finn chuckled and put his hands on his hips, an authoritative and especially annoying posture. His duty belt, heavy with cop-related items, jingled ominously. “Well. I guess I’m done here.” He turned to Tag. “Stop harassing people, will you? I’m getting tired of bailing you out, hoser.”

 

[RJ Garside]

Fantastic entries!!! This contest is now closed and we will be posting the entries for voting in the near future.

Thanks for participating!

RJ

 

[JTurbeville]

From my WIP

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”

“I thought you’d be happy to see me, Rey. I certainly enjoyed the sight of myself in the mirror before I left.” She twirled her finger through the chain on the pendant.

He snarled at her, “You’ll wind up hanged for this.”

“There’s the pleasantness I’ve been missing.” She smiled. “I never thought I’d miss that silver tongue of yours.” She reached up, as if she were going to ruffle his hair, and she flinched.

“What happened?”

She waved him off. His eyes swept over her, noting the slight rise along her rib cage.

“Why is your side bandaged?” He growled.

She fingered the material of her dress. “Commander Shazard,” was the only answer she gave him.

Anger flared inside him. If he so much as… His thoughts faded away. He couldn’t do anything. He wasn’t there. He couldn’t keep the commander away from her.