posted on July 26, 2021 by Lisa Kessler

A Peek at Pirate’s Promise

Hi everyone –

It’s great to be back on the Writerspace blog! In my new book, PIRATE’S PROMISE, we head back to Savannah Georgia, for another adventure with the immortal pirate crew of the Sea Dog! This time our hero is Greyson, the crew’s weapons expert, and the heroine is Agent Aura Henderson from Department 13, a top secret division of the United States government. They’re the team that protect Americans from paranormal threats.

I love writing this series because the adventures are epic, the love stories are passionate and the idea of living forever and how you would endure eternity fascinates me. This is a short scene with the two weapons experts. Aura isn’t happy when she discovers she’ll be going undercover with an immortal pirate who blew her last cover, but they have so much chemistry, it’s hard for even her to ignore…

Thanks for coming by and I hope you’ll check out the new book! One person who comments will win a $5 Amazon gift card.

Lisa

EXCERPT:

Greyson balanced the empty bottles on the railing at the stern of the ship.

He shouldn’t let her get under his skin, but it was too late. He couldn’t get her condescending smile out of his head. He’d outshoot her, and maybe then she’d loosen up and he could enjoy the trip to Glasgow Harbor.

Maybe.

“I’m ready if you are.”

He turned around at the sound of her voice, his lips curving into a grin in spite of his annoyance with her. “I’m always ready.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just tell me where we’re standing.”

He crossed to her side, glancing over at the bottles. “This is a good warm up. Twenty-five feet?”

“Works for me.” She lifted her Glock, parting her legs into a solid stance.

She sized up the target, adjusting for the wind, and squeezed the trigger. The shot echoed through the night and the bottle exploded. She turned toward him with a smile that stole his breath and his bravado.

This was Aura. This was the woman she buried under all that hardass bullshit. She was more than a light. She was a beacon.

And just like that, it was gone. She holstered her Glock and raised a brow. “Happy?”

He nodded with a shrug. “Not bad.” He lifted his gun one-handed, his gaze sliding down the barrel to the center of the bottle, and fired. Glass shattered, disappearing from the railing, and from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of her smile again.

His fucking heart lurched. What the hell?

He straightened. “Further back?”

She nodded, backing up a few more paces. Her feet moved apart, her knees bent, naturally compensating for the swells rocking the Sea Dog beneath them.

The wind tugged at her dark hair as she raised her weapon, her eyes focused on the target. Her lips parted slightly, her nostrils flaring. He could almost see her instinctively adjusting her aim for the gust of wind.

This wasn’t just someone who was well-trained at a gun range. She was one with her weapon. Part of her soul would guide the bullet to its target.

Or that’s how it seemed when he fired.

She pulled the trigger and the bottle exploded. There was that smile again. Before he could say anything, she bottled up the unbridled joy, all business again.

“Your turn.”

He inspected his gun and holstered it. “How about we make this interesting?”

“How so?”

“I have a couple of flintlock pistols in the armory. They’re not as precise as a Glock. You’ve probably never…”

The moonlight danced in her dark eyes. “I have, actually.”

He raised a brow, unable to hide his admiration. “Yer toyin’ with me.”

“No.” She shook her head, crossing her arms, but her lips were barely holding back a grin. “I’m trained in historic and mythical weaponry.”

“I’m impressed.” He pointed to a barrel near the railing. “Set up a few more bottles, I’ll be right back.”

He returned to the weapons room and took down a pair of flintlock pistols, then grabbed a pouch of steel pellets, gunpowder, and packing supplies, then went back to the stern.

Aura leaned against the railing, staring up at the moon. The cool glow of moonlight softened her features, offering him a glimpse of the woman behind her Agent Henderson shield.

She was beautiful and deadly. His favorite combination.

Too bad she hated him.

Definitely for the best.

He cleared his throat and waited for her to turn. “Ready?”

“Yes.” She took one of the revolvers, determination glinting in her eyes. “Did you load them already?”

He chuckled. “Nah, that’s half the fun, lass.” He shook his head before she could correct him. “Agent Henderson.” He raised a brow. “I didn’t mean any offense.”

“You’re just saying that because I’m armed.” She grinned.

Was she actually teasing him? She opened the pouch and started packing the barrel of the pistol. She was fucking glorious.

“Cut an old pirate some slack.” He chuckled, pouring in the powder. He glanced her way as he wrapped the steel ball in the small patch of fabric and dropped it inside the barrel of the pistol. She was keeping up with him, obviously experienced with the weapon. He tamped it all down with the ramrod and lifted the revolver.

“You don’t look old to me.” She packed the load in her barrel down and looked over at him. “How old are you really?”

His gaze locked on hers. “Don’t you have that in your files?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I did.” She set aside the gunpowder and gripped the revolver, gauging the weight in her hand. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.”

“I’m old enough to know better than to try firing these old dogs into the wind.”

A sly smile curved her lips. “Afraid you might miss the target?”

“No.” He lifted his gun, focusing all his attention down the barrel, to the center of the bottle on the railing. “Afraid you might miss and damage the ship.”

He pulled the trigger, absorbing the recoil as the loud shot rang in his ears. The bottle exploded and he lowered his still-smoking gun. “Your turn.”

She looked over at him with raised brows. “Impressive.”

In a fluid movement, she lifted the heavy revolver to shoulder height, her knees bent, and her aim slightly north of the bottle. Without hesitation, she squeezed the trigger. The crack of thunder didn’t even make her flinch. The bottle was obliterated.

Laughter bubbled from his throat. “You are fucking amazing with a weapon.”

“Thanks.” She pursed her lips, blowing across the smoking barrel.

A raw jolt of desire slid through his veins, leaving his voice ragged and rough as he took a step toward her. “You’re a natural.”

And in that moment, the light in her eyes vanished. She handed him the gun. “Thanks for the target practice. We’re going to make a solid team.”

He watched her walk away, his jaw slack and his brain full of questions. He replayed the conversation and frowned. Had he said something wrong? He’d complimented her.

But that wasn’t going to make her forget the mission he’d fucked up for her back in Savannah. She disappeared around the corner and he reminded himself that he didn’t want her forgiveness anyway.

And he shouldn’t want to make her smile again either.

 

 

Lisa Kessler

Lisa Kessler

Lisa Kessler is an Amazon Best Selling and award winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.

http://www.authorlisakessler.com/

10 thoughts on “A Peek at Pirate’s Promise”

  1. Rachel Flesher (aka Raonaid Luckwell) says:

    I love the sound of the premise! It sounds so different and unique!

    1. Thanks! I hope you’ll give the immortal pirate crew a try! 🙂

  2. Colleen C. says:

    Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading… loving that cover too!

    1. Right??? Greyson looks FAB on that cover! LOL 😀

      Lisa

  3. bn100 says:

    nice excerpt

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt!

  4. Pam Rushen says:

    I am intrigued and can’t wait to read this. Love this excerpt. 😍

    1. Can’t wait for you to read it! 😀

  5. GB says:

    That is a fun excerpt! I love it when I get to read such capable characters. And it is something to wonder about, how someone would spend one’s time if that person were immortal.

    1. Hope you’ll give the series a try!

      Lisa 🙂

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