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CATCHING SHADOWS
By
Jewel Adams
CHARITY BECKER’S lover kisses her lips with
searing passion and melts away as the morning light
strikes her bedroom window. She steps through the
fine line that separates the present from the past.
Waiting for her on the other side is JACOB KINGSMAN,
a man claiming her as his wife. Can Charity’s
passion to discover the truth regarding the real
Mrs. Kingsman free Jacob of his guilt?
Together they scorch time with a hot, erotic passion
in CATCHING SHADOWS.
Gothic Erotic Romance
ISBN: 978-1-935048-01-5
1-935048-01-5
Words: 39,148
EBook $6.49
Trade Paperback
$14.49 plus shipping.
REVIEWS
What They Are Saying about—Catching Shadows
Love Romances reviewer Gina says…
Known for her
compelling and highly romantic time travels, Ms.
Adams stretches her talents to write a magnificent
gothic romance…
As with all of Ms. Adams’ books this reviewer has
read I was sad when the story ended. The characters
become living beings in the pages of her stories,
becoming like friends or…the lover we would like to
have. As summer draws near, do pick up Catching
Shadows and savor it as you crawl into your bed at
night…but do leave a light on! Reviewed by Gina
5 hearts
Fallen Angel’s Reviewer Michelle
says…
Jewel Adams writes an action-packed and
powerful story that had me on the edge of my seat.
Her characters are well-developed and realistic, and
her grasp of the gamut of human emotions is dead-on.
Catching Shadows -
4 Angels!
EXCERPT
CATCHING SHADOWS
By
Jewel Adams
CHAPTER 1 - Sand
Castles
here it was again, another glimmer of a
figure near the window. Charity thought she might be
going mad. She waited for another glimpse, but none
came, they never did when she looked for them. It
took a minute to release the breath she held. The
rush of fresh air felt light in her lungs, but it
couldn’t take the apprehension away.
“I wish it would leave.”
But no, her head shook to defy the
declaration. She wanted to know what it was…more
who it could be and if the feelings touching her
were real. Even now the sensation lingered, as if
she were being caressed. Like in her dreams, ones
that left her breathless in unfulfilled passion,
before slipping back into the night when the sun
began to wake the day.
“What a silly idea.” She actually stamped
her foot for emphasis. Or did she expect to scare it
out of hiding?
“What’s silly Charity?
She gave her nephew a quick glance, then a
smile to ease the serious look he maintained on her.
“Nothing, nothing at all Pauly.”
“Can we go to the beach?”
“Sure, when should we go?”
“Now, oh please?”
Right now any excuse she could find to get
out of the house sounded good to her. Why her sister
insisted on staying in this relic for the summer
still bothered her. Of course, Lynda’s boyfriend did
own the place. She should be here, not Charity!
“Okay, run and get your suit on, I’ll get
the towels.”
“Can I bring my bucket?”
“Yes, and the shovel, don’t forget the
shovel.” His whoop of excitement acknowledged he
heard her.
Charity lost her thoughts to getting
everything ready for the beach and to pack some
treats and drinks for the two of them. “It is a
beautiful day for the beach.”
The prospect of the beach couldn’t steal
her thoughts away from the problem. She sighed and
wondered why this was happening. “I swear I need a
vacation!”
Ah, but wasn’t she suppose to be on one? Of
course she still minded the house and chores, as
well as watching Pauly. If given a choice she would
have preferred to stay behind while everyone came
here. “That certainly wouldn’t have worked for
anyone but me.”
Charity really hated feeling sorry for
herself, it wasn’t a very positive attitude. Then
things haven’t been in the best of light for her.
“And YOU, whoever you might be, aren’t helping any!”
Her little tirade didn’t even stir the dust
balls, let alone earn her an answer. Yet she almost
wished someone would retaliate, yell back, “…be
real?”
Were shadows real? “Now that is the million
dollar question. And no, I don’t expect anyone to
step forward and give a valid answer.”
Yet ever since arriving here the question
became extremely important to her. They, the
encounters, started that first week and kept getting
stronger with each passing day.
Charity saw shadows!
Not just any shadow, no she couldn’t be
lucky enough to see a shadow of a chair or the sun
coming through the lace curtains at the window. What
seemed to plague her were shadows of one
particular…man!
“Yes, it is a man. I can feel his
presence…even now, in the daylight.”
But was he real? Was she just imagining all
this?
Pauly’s sliding entrance into the kitchen
ended the questions she kept asking herself.
“I’m ready!”
“I can see you are and so am I. Our lunch
is packed and I think I’ve got everything.”
“I have my bucket and the shovel!”
It would be nice to be a child once again,
no worries beyond the day. Charity pushed her
troubled thoughts away and ruffled Pauly’s hair.
“Good, you can build me a giant sand castle.”
It didn’t take them long to start down the
path to the shore. For a second she hesitated and
fought the need to look back at the house. The pull
on her senses became too strong and she
turned…there, at her bedroom window. She felt her
stomach drop. The figure of a man stood
there…watching her.
“Come on Charity!”
Pauly’s call shook her out of the stunned
trance she’d fallen into. “You’re not real.”
She turned away, almost daring him
to refute her declaration!
* * * *
Charity carried the sleepy Pauly up to his
bed. Poor boy nearly fell asleep eating his dinner.
She shouldn’t have kept them at the beach as long as
she did, but she couldn’t make herself come back
here. To hope it would be gone on their return
turned into a useless wish on her part.
Even now, as she tucked Pauly in, she felt
as if someone watched her. She tried not to let the
feelings invade her, but every day it grew stronger
and she could no longer ignore the presence. Her
skin actually tingled whenever it came near her. She
swore she could feel the heat from his body, the
whisper touch of his fingers as they brushed over
her cheek.
As she left her nephew’s room she tried to
concentrate on the problem and not the presence
following her. She hesitated by her bedroom door
then walked past it, knowing she didn’t want to
chance what might happen, again, if she went to bed.
The heat flooded her cheeks over the memory of last
night’s visit. Just thinking about the memory made
the lazy warmth move through her. Strange as this
all appeared to be, she never in her life felt so
alive as when he made love to her. But, they hadn’t
really finished the act and the emptiness left in
his wake felt like a deep well, one she could drown
in should he not return.
Her hands clasped the banister over the
heaviness in her legs. “No…I won’t let you control
me this way!”
The air near her grew chilly as if she’d
slapped him. Maybe she could control this, what ever
it might be. She made sure her footsteps were secure
before taking the next step. The sensual weakness
lessened, but remained too near the surface for her
to relax. Charity didn’t relax until she stepped off
the last step.
Would he really hurt her? She wished she
hadn’t thought to ask such a question. But once it
came, she couldn’t help but shiver over the possible
answers. Charity knew all she ever felt from him was
passion, strong, vibrant and yes…dangerous passion.
The blush sweeping up her throat didn’t stop her
from remembering what he made her feel. She closed
her eyes for just a second to savor the desire,
before forcing it back into the darkness. “If only…”
* * * *
“Damn you!” Jacob’s fist hit the door. As
he rolled his back against the heavy wood, he
searched the room to see if her image remained. The
anger vibrated through his body, tensing the breadth
of his powerful frame.
He let his head fall back, needing to feel
the solid presence of the house, wondering how he
would ever survive her treachery; for Jacob feared
his own sanity at this moment. “I held you in my
very hands, and yet you vanish before my eyes. Where
do you hide?” The question made his eyes close as he
groaned over the absurdity. “I talk to air and
expect answers!”
There, a quick glimpse by the stairs. Jacob
pushed off the door to follow what he feared would
be another dead end. His steps slowed as he neared
the stairwell, she stood at the top of the stairs.
He wanted to reach out and touch her, pull her to
him, but something kept him from acting on his
desire.
He followed her down the stairs, she looked
worried tonight. The darkness under her eyes made
him wonder if she too lost a night’s sleep. It would
be her own fault for the games she played with him…
“In my own house!”
Nary a length of her beautiful hair moved
from his outburst. He did so love to touch her hair,
she would put the finest fur to shame, for its
softness was like none he’d ever felt. The memory
made him think on their night together, just the
thought made him instantly hard in desire. He
possessed a ravenous hunger for this woman. The way
her breast rested in his palm before he would wrap
his fingers about the ample globe. His tongue came
out as if to taste the ripe, swollen nipple that he
brought to life. Ahh, the sweetness of a woman in
heat…
She moved too quickly off the last step!
Jacob cursed his musing for he knew she wouldn’t be
there. As he feared she escaped from his sight once
again. Nearly two weeks hath passed since they
started playing this cat and mouse game of hers.
“I know not where you go Charity, but by
all that is holy you will not leave us! If I need to
take this house apart, board and stone, I will find
your hiding place and we shall end this foolish game
of yours!”
“You are mine Charity. My wife, forever!”
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