Monday Musings--Tall, Dark and Handsome vs. Golden Boy

My latest blog endeavor, Drive By Interviews on Authors Who Rock (http://authorswhorock.blogspot.com/) has inspired me to ask the question--Tall, Dark and Handsome or Golden Boy? Personally I love them both, but if I had to pick one, it'd definitely be Tall, Dark and Handsome. Where do you fall in this delicious debate?

Exhibit Tall Dark and Handsome:
Benjamin Bratt, Hugh Jackman, Shemar Moore


Exhibit Golden Boy:
Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, Chris Hemsworth


Really, with either choice, you can't go wrong ;)

Cheers,
Cindy

WIP Wednesday--SILK AND STEEL part 3

My tale of love and passion in a fictional medieval setting continues. Hope you enjoy today's excerpt. I'm having a lot of fun playing with the fashion and social attitudes of the time and at the same time building a world of my very own.

Today's hunky knight is Gerard Butler from TIMELINE. *drool*

Chapter One

Two years later

Struggling against the smile that tugged at his lips, Ahron watched the lady-thief mill about amongst the commoners. Her burlap robe with hood up, unwashed hair and face devoid of makeup helped with her charade, but the shoes were a dead giveaway. Her cloak was long enough that her satin and wooden chopines barely peeked out from underneath and no one else had seemed to notice, but little escaped Ahron’s watchful eye.

He came most mornings to the marketplace to observe the guards who worked for him, but also to catch the latest gossip from the townsfolk. They were more valuable than gold when it came to information gathering. Three mornings ago, he’d noticed the thief. Not only because she wasn’t terribly skilled at her new trade, but also because—despite her best efforts—he recognized her. Most thieves he would throw in the castle dungeon without a second thought, but he knew why she was stealing and his heart went out to her. Now he came each day to keep an eye on her. Inevitably, a vendor or guard would catch her.

Shout from the owner of a fruit cart proved him right. One of his men trotted toward the unrest, hand on sword, but Ahron intercepted him, stepping out of the shadow of an awning.

“Allow me, Pelot,” said Ahron.

Surprise registered on the man’s face. “Yes, sire. I had no idea you were here.”

“You’ve reacted swiftly to the crisis. I shall make note your fine performance.”

“I am most grateful.” The young knight dropped Ahron’s gaze and backed away.

Sauntering over to the site of the quarrel, Ahron shook his head. The thief wore an expression of utter indignation, declaring her innocence.

“Unhand me!” she insisted, twisting in the wiry merchant’s grasp.

“Not until you unhand my apples.” The man with a pockmarked face tried to reach beneath her robes. The thief squealed like a trapped animal.

“What’s all this about?” Ahron demanded.

“Lord High Constable.” The man released the thief and dropped to one knee. “This girl stole from me. I want to search her robes and skirts, if it pleases ye.”

“Is what this man says true?” Ahron walked around the young woman.

“I have no idea what he’s talking about and I’ll die before I let him use this false accusation as an excuse to violate me.”

“Your speech is much finer than your clothing,” replied Ahron. “Are you of nobility?”

“No.” The woman hesitated, seeming to choose her words carefully. “But I was educated in the castle.”

“My apples, sire?” asked the man.

“Yes, of course.” Ahron noticed the vendor still genuflect and added hastily, “You may rise.”

The man struggled to his feet.

Ahron let his gaze wander over the woman’s form. “I shall search the lady in question.”

“I must object—” she started to complain, but Ahron silenced her with a look.

Turning her away from the merchant, Ahron instructed her to open her robes, then ran his hands over her skirts. Though he struggled to keep base impulses under control at all times, he couldn’t help but notice the swell of her hips and breasts. She jiggled ever so slightly as he put on a show of frisking her.

“Alas, there is no fruit in her dress. At least none that shouldn’t be there.” Ahron winked at the man who gave a forced laugh. Fishing two copper cugats from his money pouch, he tossed them to the vendor. 

“Someone else must have absconded with them. Here’s recompense for your loss.”

“Th-thank you, sire.” The vendor dropped to his knees and snatched the coins from the dirt.

The woman, face scarlet with either embarrassment or ire, began to storm away, but Ahron caught her by her arm. “Walk with me.”

“I’d rather not.”

Dropping his voice, he spoke through clenched teeth, his lips a hairsbreadth away from her ear. “It was not a request.”

My Favorite Aussies!

It's no secret that Australian actors are becoming more and more prominent in American TV and films. So I thought I'd dedicate this blog entry to those lovable men from Down Under!

Chris Hemsworth

Simon Baker

Alex O'Laughlin

Ryan Kwanten

Jesse Spencer

Don't they just wanna make you holler, "G'day mate!"? Please feel free to add to the list :)

Cheers!

Cindy Jacks

WIP Wednesday - SILK AND STEEL part 2

Hope you enjoy the second installment of SILK AND STEEL, my medieval erotic romance that is still in progress. I've written 10,000 words and I'm still going strong!

This week's inspiration? Clive Owen from the movie KING ARTHUR. Yowza!


Prologue - Scene 2

The guards stormed the courtesan’s suite of rooms. Merewyn shrieked at the sudden intrusion.

“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded, struggling against the men restraining her. Her black hair hung loose around her porcelain shoulders, a dressing gown barely covering her curvaceous form. Ahron felt a twinge of shame at catching the lady in such an informal state.

“That won’t be necessary,” Ahron told his men who promptly released her.

“Mistress Merewyn, I regret to inform you that you have fifteen minutes to gather your belongings and then we shall escort you from the castle grounds.”

“On whose authority?” She pulled her frightened children closer to her—a boy of six-years old and a girl of eight. The eldest boy stepped between Ahron and his mother, the chiseled features of the boy’s father evident even in his pre-pubescent face. He displayed the same bravery as well.

“Don’t touch her.” Anger flashed in his ice blue eyes—the one feature he inherited from his mother.

Ahron lay a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You show valor beyond your years, but this is not a fight you can win, son. The queen herself has ordered the exile of your mother and siblings.”

“Exile? That can’t be. The castle is our home.” Merewyn spoke to Ahron, but nudged her son, Owain, to join the others. Two guards caught the boy by his wrists.

“Owain is to stay here,” Ahron met Merewyn’s gaze. Her eyes widened as his full meaning dawned on her.

“No,” she pleaded, clutching at his hand. “No, you can’t take my son.”

“Milady, I have no choice.”

Two more guards restrained her as Owain was escorted from the room. The boy put up a fight, as did his mother, but the efforts proved futile. Merewyn collapsed to the floor, screaming and sobbing. “She can’t do this.”

Ahron knelt down and stroked the woman’s perfumed hair. “She can do anything she likes. She’s the monarch de facto until the king’s will is unsealed. Most likely she will be named to act as regent until Owain comes of age.”

Wild-eyed and shaking, she looked up at her oldest boy. “What will be his fate?”

“I cannot speak to that.” Ahron nudged her to her feet. “But I swear you this—I will protect him as much as I can.”

Merewyn shook her head. “I will not accept this.”

“You must.” Ahron gripped her arm, leading her toward the door. “We must go.”

Dragging the boy from the room, the guards disappeared down the hall, Owain’s objections echoing for all to hear.

Tears streamed down his mother’s face and the other children hid sobbing in her skirts.

Ahron produced a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to Merewyn. “I’ll give you a moment to collect yourself and then, milady, we really must go.”

As he led the shattered family from their suites, he hardened his heart against the woman’s pleas. The cries of the children were slightly harder to ignore.

_____________________

Tune in next Wednesday for the first scene from chapter one!