Book Excerpts

**Under Construction!**

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~Phoenix Rising~
The First Novel in the Probed Saga

Written by: Skye Falcon

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or any means (electronic, recording, photocopying, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner, and the above publisher of this book.

Publisher’s Thoughts:
I hope you enjoy our first major work of fiction. Please know that the names, characters, places, or situations within this book are fictitious, or a product of the Author’s imagination. Any resemblance found to any current situations, or person’s living is entirely in the reader’s mind. The publisher of this book does not control what other’s post, or what is on third party web sites regarding this book.

The scanning, distribution, and uploading of this book via the Internet or any other means without permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

All my love & lustful thoughts to you, my main squeeze. This one’s for you.

Acknowledgments.
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BIG thanks to my KIDS…for allowing me the bits of peace I needed to get this done!! I love you three!! Noodle, thanks for easing up on the drama long enough to always get my sentences finished. Hopers, your lovey’s always helped the long days. Nickel, I can’t wait until you find your creativity outlet… because whatever you finally settle on, you’re going to ROCK at. Now, SHHHH!!!!! 🙂

Many HUGS and THANKS to my group of pre-readers…. Without your texts of excitement for more, some nights would’ve sucked. THANK YOU for the encouragement, and THANKS for letting me be me. J Special thanks to Mom & Dad, and all my nearest & dearest for helping me with this!!

(grandma, if you’re reading this….sorry about all the bad words and sex scenes..)

“I love you,” were the last words that I forced out as I climbed out of the big truck, and went into work this Tuesday night. The past few hours of my day I had spent with him, doing exactly what he wanted to do. He rarely ever asked what I wanted to do anymore, not like it was when we first got together. No, these days it seemed to be his way, or the highway. I looked back at him as I climbed out of the truck, and his expression was vacant.
Eight months ago he would’ve fumbled out of the truck, around the whole damn thing, and opened my door for me. Seven months ago he would’ve leaned and kissed me goodbye. Six months ago he would, at least, hug me when I left. Five months ago he started to demand that I lean over, and kiss him “goodbye” when I got out of the truck. Four months ago, when I started college, he got so angry that I was excluding him from my life, that I dropped out. Not that you were really having a great time going, Janie. Three months ago, he became enraged that I took a management position, and started working more at the Phoenix. And that is precisely when things went to shit.. Two months ago, our sex life became very rough, and very physical. But if I went with it, his mood always improved, so I didn’t question it. Yet.
“Please listen! Sean and I were just sitting and talking! Waiting for you!! He’s your friend, for crying out loud!” Nothing I had said all day had gotten through. Now I was angry from trying so hard.
“Just don’t Janie,” he sighed. “Just get out of here. I can’t believe you. You’re disgusting.” he looked at me one last time, as I shut the truck door. No sooner did the door close, and he slammed on the gas and sped away. I took my time collecting myself enough to walk across the parking lot, which seemed to go on forever at this point. One foot in front of the other, honey. This is going to get worked out. Just don’t give up..
I was so upset that he had called me ‘disgusting,’ yet again. Just one of the many new words in his vocabulary for me. It was so hard to hear these things from him. Often so believable. One month ago, he first forced himself on me for the first time, and since then I’ve been desperately searching for.. something. He would always get these random things stuck in his head, dwell on them, and then annihilate anyone who came near. This time, he was angry that I was waiting for him at the restaurant this morning with his best friend, Sean. I have been paying for this mistake all day.
I had only worked at the Phoenix a short time, and had found my place with some people that I really was beginning to trust. Before I went into the doors, I had to turn and make sure that he was gone. I brushed my long blonde hair out of my face, and adjusted my clothing to ensure I was covered, and that there were no visible signs showing. The handprint bruises on my upper arms were dead giveaways, and I wasn’t ready to confront this head on. Yet. I felt a shudder run through me, I exhaled, and went through the door.
* * * * *

Walking through the doors of worked allowed me to breathe, and return to the normal almost twenty-one year old girl that I was. One that was carefree, and loved wholly. One who won races, had the fastest times, and ribbons lining the walls. One that knew right from wrong, and love from hate. One who could do things without being under his thumb. He was so suffocating. He was Michael Comaro. My oldest childhood friend, turned boyfriend, turned lover. For a little while, he was everything. A tall, muscular, wild eyed, blonde haired musician. For the first few months, it was all flowers, and everything he did was for me. Reminders daily, all around us, of our fun times growing up. And then it all changed. It was about the three month mark where things started to turn dark, and that was five months ago. My escapes were now work, friends, and swimming. I headed straight for the bathroom to breathe for a minute before facing the customers.
Once I heard the click of the lock, I sighed loudly. Looking in the mirror, all I saw was a pale, tormented face. My green eyes had black circles, and I was so exhausted. I pulled out the makeup I kept in my purse to hide the black bags, and applied it quickly. There was a small smile creeping on to my face, and I knew exactly why. I adjusted my tank top, and put on my polo.
While heading out to check the schedule, I turned the corner, and ran smack into him. Gabriel’s expression told me that this run in was not necessarily a chance encounter. Looking in his eyes gave me so much possibility, that I almost had to will myself to look away. I fell into the depths of his blue eyes regularly, and relished each chance I had to trip and fall into them at any time. During work, we would talk for hours, sometimes getting nothing done. There was some chatter at work about our status, if there really was one, between me and Gabriel, but no one could seem to confirm their suspicions. As I backed up from Gabriel, I smiled, he squeezed my hand, and we both went back to work. As I walked to the front to check the planner, the only thought running through my head was the one problem that could prevent Gabriel from being mine, age and our situations. He was almost twenty-five, rumored to have a girlfriend, and I was weeks away from twenty-one. My thoughts were then interrupted by my manager, Bill.
“Hey Janie! How’re you doing today? How was your last meet?” Bill asked, while he rifled through the office paperwork.
“I’m doing pretty well, and the last meet was great! I swam the 400 in one minute under my fastest time! Won the heat, and got the trophy!” I smiled as big as ever. Swimming was something that I loved, and had for a long time. It was therapy to me, as many of my genius ideas and schemes come to me while I was going back and forth in the swimming pool.
“That’s great Janie!” he noticed I was looking through the planner, and added, “you’re out with Gabriel in the yard today. We just got a huge shipment of one and two gallons in. Hope that’s ok with you!” He smiled very big. Bill was one who knew that something was going on, and I knew it.
“Oh Bill, you’re so very sly. And that’s why I love you.” I smiled sweetly, and headed for the outdoor delivery bay. When I made it to the doors and they opened, I was hit in the face with the cool, fall air. And simultaneously saw Gabriel staring at me enjoying the breeze. I happily walked over to him, and we started working together, prepping the outdoors for the upcoming display. At 8 o’clock, Bill came out to check progress.
“Gabriel, do you think you can finish this in the next few hours?” Bill asked, hopeful.
“Yeah, that should be no problem. There’s only two isles left to do, then the cleanup. I’ll just have Janie stay, and we’ll knock it out in no time.” Gabriel said, and smirked at me. This comment, and the look on his face made my heart beat faster.
“That’s fine,” and Bill added, “just make sure to set the codes when you leave. They really want this project done, so this will make the big-wigs very pleased. Thanks, guys.” Bill grabbed his briefcase, and headed out the door. The instant that the doors were locked, I ran and cranked the radio up. Gabriel turned off all of the lights for the store, leaving only some on for where we were working. I headed back out to the wet house to wait for Gabriel.
Out of nowhere, Gabriel’s big body came from the right and embraced me in a full frontal hug. I loved feeling him on my body. He leaned forward so his breath ended in my ear, and he began to whisper. “Janie, so many months of this idle chit chat, and these brief and simple touches…I want more.” His lips brushed by my neck, “and I know you want more, too.”
His lips on my neck were making more of the sparks that I had missed. It had been a few weeks since we had exchanged touches, and I had dreamt of this moment. “You are right, and I do want you..” I trailed off, and hesitated. “I’m just afraid I want..” He cut me off, and hugged me hard.
“Don’t worry about all that. It will all work out if it’s supposed to. Let’s just have fun now.” He smiled, and swatted my butt. Off to work we went, peacefully, for the next few hours. The wet room was finished, and decorated for the displays right on time. As we were leaving work that night, we held each other’s fingers out to our cars. I blew him a kiss, and promised to see him tomorrow. My drive home was too fast, because I couldn’t wait until my head hit the pillow tonight. So many thoughts, and tomorrow morning I would have to face Michael early…

Don’t forget to buy a copy for your bookshelf!! Thanks for reading!! XO, Skye

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