Excerpt/Giveaway: Silent Orchids by Morgan Wylie

Today, I’m hosting Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) by Morgan Wylie. Check out the excerpt below and then enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter.

Excerpt for Silent Orchids: The Age of Alandria~Book One 

“It’s all right, don’t think about it anymore tonight. If it’s important it will come back to you when you need it to,” Finn said with a sigh, trying to comfort her as he rested his hands on top of hers to try to stop her shaking. She noticed an odd expression flash across his face, but it was gone before she could define it. Strange.

Kaeleigh nodded at Finn and took a deep breath, trying to relax, wishing his hands had the same calming effect as the imaginary guy that was in her flashes. Yeah, because that’s not crazy. She looked up at Finn to find that he was still looking at her with a concerned, yet softer look on his face until her eyes met his, and then she realized that his hand was still on top of hers. Kaeleigh suddenly felt awkward at their close proximity on the bed—her bed. She pulled her hands out from under his to pull the hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ears, hoping for a smooth transition, trying not to make him feel bad; after all, he had come to check on her. Finn suddenly got up from the bed and walked out the door without another word.

Crap! I made him feel bad. I can’t believe he would leave without saying goodbye. What’s his deal? Twice now a guy has just walked away from me. Kaeleigh made to move from the bed, not remembering what she went to bed wearing (or not wearing). She looked under the covers to make sure that she was decent in her tank top and pajama pants. Good thing I left the bottoms on before I fell asleep this time, that could have been awkward.

“Finn, where did you go?” she shouted as she walked toward her bedroom door. “Are you leaving?… Oh, thanks,” she said a bit shyly after she practically bumped into Finn as he walked back into the room, handing her a glass of water he got from the kitchen. She took several drinks, hoping to wash down whatever awkwardness that was suddenly between them. Finn was one of her best friends; she wasn’t sure why suddenly things felt a bit different. She decided not to let it be weird any longer as she rolled her shoulders to shake it off.

Finn grabbed one of Kaeleigh’s several “unnecessary pillows” as he thought of them and grabbed an extra blanket out of the closet. She called them “decorative throw pillows,” but he didn’t get the point of them.

“What are you doing, Finn?”

“Go to bed, Kae, I’ll sleep on the couch to keep you company in case you have another bad dream or need anything,” Finn said and headed back to the couch.

Kaeleigh got into her bed, feeling slightly guilty that one of her best friends, who had been so great to her tonight when she needed a friend, was going to sleep on her springy and not-so-comfortable-for-sleeping couch. After all, things seemed back to normal and Finn had spent the night before and it was no big deal, although Chel was usually there too. He’ll be fine out there on the couch. The couch squeaked as Finn plopped himself down and made himself comfortable, or at least tried. Every time he turned over or adjusted his position on the couch, it squeaked.  Ughh! I’ll never get any sleep with all that racket out there.

“Finn, you don’t have to stay out there.” Kaeleigh’s shout sounded muffled from under her comforter.

“I’m fine, I’m not leaving you tonight. You’re still a bit shaken up, I’ll stay the night… or what’s left of it,” Finn replied in a tired voice.

“No, I mean you don’t have to sleep out there on the couch, there’s plenty of room in here,” Kaeleigh said, looking at her king-sized bed.

“Oh… well, your bed is more comfortable, but only if you’re sure. Don’t tell Chel we had a slumber party without her, she’ll never forgive us for that,” he said with a playful grin as he walked in her room.

“Tell me about it! She hates to feel like she’s missed anything. The other day when we had lunch without her she went on and on about it that whole day. It’s our secret,” she said, scooting over to the far side of the bed to give Finn space. Her room wasn’t that big but she and Chel had decided to share so they made the king bed fit. It always made them laugh when they reminisced about their acrobatic maneuvers trying to get it in the door and turned properly in the room. Smiling, she thought, See, totally normal, no big deal. Then she heard his belt buckle as he was taking it off and she quickly flipped over so she was looking at the opposite wall, blushing like a little girl at the thought of a boy in her room taking his clothes off. Her heart sped up. Why am I freaking out? Realizing Finn was laughing, she rolled slightly back toward him.

“What’s so funny?”

“You.” He looked in her eyes and took in her face with a humorous twinkle in his eyes, but also something else—something resembling desire, she thought with a panicky feeling—but then it melted away. “Don’t worry, I’m just taking off my belt. It’s uncomfortable, but everything else is staying on… unless you want it to come off, Kaeleigh,” saying that last part with a mockingly seductive voice that she knew he was teasing her with. At least she thought he was teasing.

“Shut up and go to sleep,” she said as she threw a pillow at him and rolled back over. She knew he’d be the perfect gentleman. “Good night, Finn, thanks for being here.”

“That’s what friends are for, right? Maybe my being here will keep the bad guy in your dreams away. Good night, Kae.”

© 2013 Morgan Wylie

Many thanks to Morgan and InkSlinger PR for having me as part of the Silent Orchids blog tour! Readers, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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