Below is the original opening scene from Untouchable Lover. This gives you a bit more backstory into Melissa's life. Enjoy...
Portland, Oregon
Present day
Melissa picked her target. He carried himself with an air of confidence, and she liked that about him. He stopped, mid-stride, next to the produce. The glare from the fluorescent lights lit up the display of back-to-school lunch pails strategically placed next to the apples, as if that would help get the right kind of food into a kid’s diet. The man passed the Red Delicious, Honey Crisps, and Galas without a glance.
He halted next to the tomatoes and selected a stem with four, ripe, round globes, glistening with fresh-sprayed water to keep them moist and appealing. The soft flesh dimpled under his thumb, and he raised the now-bruised fruit to his nose. He closed his eyes, and his nostrils flared. Nodding his satisfaction, he placed the tomatoes in his basket next to the angel hair pasta and garlic bread.
He wasn’t the right one, but it didn’t matter. No one could replace William. Her heart still ached for her lost mate, even after all these months. She needed this male, though, more than ever. She needed his red blood cells to stave off the hunger and power her shield. She needed—to feed.
This is disgraceful. He’s human. She tried to swallow but choked on her own self-loathing. Target in sight, she followed him.
On the run for two weeks, the late summer sun had kept her from making much progress, but she’d come as far as Portland, Oregon, and that would have to do. She didn’t know where she was going, but the farther away from Denver, the better.
Tracking the man down the aisle, she waited for her opportunity. She didn’t have to wait long.
His back was to her, and she had a good view of his broad shoulders. They displayed his strength. Her hunger grew.
She bumped into the young man. “Oh, excuse me.”
His hazel eyes reminded her of William and that was the reason she had selected him. Tall and well built, he still wore the delivery uniform from his day’s work.
“No problem.” He glanced at her full bosom and the corner of his mouth dimpled with a slight smile. “You like tomatoes?”
“Yes, tomatoes still on the vine are my favorite.” She moistened her lips, enticing her prey with their soft appeal. With an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach, she peered around, making sure they weren’t being watched by other shoppers. Don’t chicken out, Mel. Do it before he gets away.
Melissa stiffened. She rummaged through her half-filled basket, pushing shampoo bottles and toothpaste around like checker pieces in a game.
Her eyes widened. “It’s not here.” She shot a glance at the man, her lips and chin trembling. Sweat coated her skin, and his hot breath tickled the fine hair on her arms.
His brows wrinkled together, and he reached toward her for support. “Is something wrong?”
“I—I—think I left my wallet in the car.”
He looked over her shoulder, toward the exit. Melissa glimpsed behind her. The tall windows reflected the checkout stands, all lone sentinels except for one, which was manned by a woman with bottle-red hair and too much makeup.
As his gaze returned to her, his heavy brow furrowed over soft hazel eyes. “It’s black out there. A pretty woman shouldn’t be walking around a parking lot in the dark. I’ll go with you, if you want, make sure you’re safe.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“My pleasure.” He hit her with a warm smile.
Her face tingled and flushed with heat. He set his basket on the counter at one of the empty tills and she followed suit. She clasped his arm for support as they walked toward the doors.
She led him toward the edge of the dim parking lot. The rain had ended not long ago, and the air still smelled fresh. Her breath caught in her throat, her hands sweaty. “My car is this way.”
“Hey, there’s nothing over here. What the hell’s going on?” He stopped and planted his feet in the gravel. His eyes narrowed on her, intense and angry.
She didn’t waste time. Wrapping her arms around him in a firm embrace, she placed her face right in front of his. “I need your help.”
He couldn’t move, caught in her mesmerizing stare. She peered at the vein in his neck, which pulsed from his shock and anxiety.
She locked her gaze back to his face. “You won’t remember me, or why you came outside. When we are done, go back into the store and finish shopping.”
It had been far too long since she’d fed from a male, and she shook from need. She bared her fangs. He stiffened and tried to back away, but her vise-like grip kept him in place. A soft cry escaped his lips. His human frailty reflected in his eyes, and she remembered her own life as a human, before her transformation into a Dren.
“Gods, I can’t do this.” She let him go, and he stumbled back, his hands raised in front of his face.
She turned and fled into the night. Adrenaline pumped through her body, and she used the energy to propel herself away from him, away from any reminder of William. She ran down the empty streets and back alleys, but as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t outrun herself.
*****
Exhausted, her body shaking, Melissa stopped to rest near an old brick building. Overturned trashcans, like vanquished sentinels, lined the street. She placed her hands on her knees and breathed in deep. The stench of burger wrappers and greasy pizza boxes filled her nose, making her cough and choke.
This was the older, industrial area of Portland. Not much happened down here at night, at least she hoped that was the case.
Why did she think she could drink from a human male? She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. Given a chance to catch her breath, her heartbeat slowed to a more normal level.
Tink. Something hit one of the garbage cans. Melissa tensed. With a slow turn, she looked down the alley. Nothing moved. The cool breeze lifted the hair on her exposed arms.
Memories of the Gossum flashed through her head—long tongues with a brutal stinger on the end, sharp teeth, and pointed claws were forever ingrained in her mind.
The war with the Gossum had raged for centuries, long before Melissa came to know about these vile creatures. A lover scorned, a spat between two gods from the planet Lemuria started the conflict here on Earth. She didn’t know if the gods were real, but the Gossum sure were.
A pair of solid black eyes, then another, and another shone out of the gloom. Her worst nightmare advanced out of the shadows. She stifled a scream.
The leader of the pack moved forward, his powerful legs flexing with every step. He sniffed the air, his big nostrils expanding as he breathed in her scent. The holes in his jeans showed his white, hairless skin. His thin frame and gaunt face accentuated his large, bulbous nose. He wore a cap, the lip of the brim turned around so it covered the back of his neck. Usually concealed behind sunglasses, the Gossum’s black eyes bore into her.
The leader’s tongue snapped out of his mouth and the stinger extended to its full length of six feet. “She’s Lemurian.” Other Gossum moved up behind him, their excitement palpable in the night air.
In her weakened condition, she couldn’t outrun them. She backed up, pulling energy to her hands. “You are so not what I needed to deal with tonight.”
Down the alley was an open door, offering hope. If she could get there, she might lose them in the warehouse and buy herself some time. She ran, her sneakers pounding the wet blacktop. They pursued her, their excited grunts urging her on.
Water puddles reflected the meager light. She didn’t see the pothole until it was too late. Her foot caught with a sharp twist, stopping her flight. Falling hard, her jeans ripped. Her knees skidded on the rough surface, shards of glass and pebbles scraping her tender flesh.
A sharp pain blossomed in her right shoulder and she cried out. The Gossum’s stinger hit its mark. As the venom worked its way into her system, her arm numbed.
“Got her now, didn’t we?” The leader advanced around in front of her. The remaining two Gossum closed the circle, cutting off any further thoughts of escape.
A scream threatened to slip from her lips. She lifted her good arm, and pulled the energy from the center of her being.
“Shield!” A soft glow pulsed around her, fading in and out.
“Take her down,” the leader commanded.
The Gossum on her right struck out with his tongue to administer another dose of venom. It connected with her shield and the force of the energy rebounded back onto him. He screamed, landed in a heap and remained still.
“Let me try, Ram,” the other Gossum said.
“If you think you can do better, go ahead.”
She bared her fangs at the vile creature. “You better leave while you still can.”
Her shield pulsed around her. Unsure how long it would last, she had to defeat them quickly.
The Gossum raised himself to his full height of six and a half feet. Drool dripped from his mouth, his razor sharp teeth snapping in unison with his guttural grunts. He lowered his head and ran at her.
She regained her footing and dodged him. He sailed past and stumbled into the nearby brick wall. His breath left in an audible rush. A low snarl erupted from his throat and the low rumble reverberated down the alley. He came at her again. This time, he connected with her shield, ricocheted off and landed in a heap next to his kin.
“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” The one called Ram shook his head, his frown causing his chin to crease. He circled her, his cold eyes calculating, watching her every move.
Her energy waned. Despite the adrenaline rushing through her system, she was tired and weak. A tendril of fear snaked its way into her mind. Her stomach clenched as if the Gossum in front of her had squeezed it in his palm.
She pulled harder from within to power what remained of her shield. She faced her last opponent, eye to eye.
His nostrils flared. The Gossum’s breath was visible in the bitter night air.
“Such a sweet smell.” The sound of his voice made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. He circled her, assessing her from head to toe. “You smell Lemurian, but different. What are you?”
“One you’ll wish you hadn’t met.” Melissa tried to focus on tracking his movements, but it took so much energy to maintain her shield. She glanced at the door—just a few yards away.
He advanced toward her, his leg muscles bulging with each step. Serrated teeth gleamed through his evil smile. Her pulse beat faster as he drew near. She backed up, inching toward the door and safety. Her energy dwindled and her shield gave out. “Noooo!”
Her attacker moved in for the final blow. His tongue hit her left arm, destroying any hope of rejuvenating the shield. The paralysis took hold and he tackled her to the ground, pinning her beneath him.
She struggled, kicking out, but to no avail. He bit her on the back of the neck, administering the final dose of venom. Unconsciousness descended. Her last thought was of William holding their child.
Hope you enjoyed the deleted scenes! If you haven't had a chance to check out Untouchable Lover, here's a link --> Click Here
Portland, Oregon
Present day
Melissa picked her target. He carried himself with an air of confidence, and she liked that about him. He stopped, mid-stride, next to the produce. The glare from the fluorescent lights lit up the display of back-to-school lunch pails strategically placed next to the apples, as if that would help get the right kind of food into a kid’s diet. The man passed the Red Delicious, Honey Crisps, and Galas without a glance.
He halted next to the tomatoes and selected a stem with four, ripe, round globes, glistening with fresh-sprayed water to keep them moist and appealing. The soft flesh dimpled under his thumb, and he raised the now-bruised fruit to his nose. He closed his eyes, and his nostrils flared. Nodding his satisfaction, he placed the tomatoes in his basket next to the angel hair pasta and garlic bread.
He wasn’t the right one, but it didn’t matter. No one could replace William. Her heart still ached for her lost mate, even after all these months. She needed this male, though, more than ever. She needed his red blood cells to stave off the hunger and power her shield. She needed—to feed.
This is disgraceful. He’s human. She tried to swallow but choked on her own self-loathing. Target in sight, she followed him.
On the run for two weeks, the late summer sun had kept her from making much progress, but she’d come as far as Portland, Oregon, and that would have to do. She didn’t know where she was going, but the farther away from Denver, the better.
Tracking the man down the aisle, she waited for her opportunity. She didn’t have to wait long.
His back was to her, and she had a good view of his broad shoulders. They displayed his strength. Her hunger grew.
She bumped into the young man. “Oh, excuse me.”
His hazel eyes reminded her of William and that was the reason she had selected him. Tall and well built, he still wore the delivery uniform from his day’s work.
“No problem.” He glanced at her full bosom and the corner of his mouth dimpled with a slight smile. “You like tomatoes?”
“Yes, tomatoes still on the vine are my favorite.” She moistened her lips, enticing her prey with their soft appeal. With an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach, she peered around, making sure they weren’t being watched by other shoppers. Don’t chicken out, Mel. Do it before he gets away.
Melissa stiffened. She rummaged through her half-filled basket, pushing shampoo bottles and toothpaste around like checker pieces in a game.
Her eyes widened. “It’s not here.” She shot a glance at the man, her lips and chin trembling. Sweat coated her skin, and his hot breath tickled the fine hair on her arms.
His brows wrinkled together, and he reached toward her for support. “Is something wrong?”
“I—I—think I left my wallet in the car.”
He looked over her shoulder, toward the exit. Melissa glimpsed behind her. The tall windows reflected the checkout stands, all lone sentinels except for one, which was manned by a woman with bottle-red hair and too much makeup.
As his gaze returned to her, his heavy brow furrowed over soft hazel eyes. “It’s black out there. A pretty woman shouldn’t be walking around a parking lot in the dark. I’ll go with you, if you want, make sure you’re safe.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“My pleasure.” He hit her with a warm smile.
Her face tingled and flushed with heat. He set his basket on the counter at one of the empty tills and she followed suit. She clasped his arm for support as they walked toward the doors.
She led him toward the edge of the dim parking lot. The rain had ended not long ago, and the air still smelled fresh. Her breath caught in her throat, her hands sweaty. “My car is this way.”
“Hey, there’s nothing over here. What the hell’s going on?” He stopped and planted his feet in the gravel. His eyes narrowed on her, intense and angry.
She didn’t waste time. Wrapping her arms around him in a firm embrace, she placed her face right in front of his. “I need your help.”
He couldn’t move, caught in her mesmerizing stare. She peered at the vein in his neck, which pulsed from his shock and anxiety.
She locked her gaze back to his face. “You won’t remember me, or why you came outside. When we are done, go back into the store and finish shopping.”
It had been far too long since she’d fed from a male, and she shook from need. She bared her fangs. He stiffened and tried to back away, but her vise-like grip kept him in place. A soft cry escaped his lips. His human frailty reflected in his eyes, and she remembered her own life as a human, before her transformation into a Dren.
“Gods, I can’t do this.” She let him go, and he stumbled back, his hands raised in front of his face.
She turned and fled into the night. Adrenaline pumped through her body, and she used the energy to propel herself away from him, away from any reminder of William. She ran down the empty streets and back alleys, but as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t outrun herself.
*****
Exhausted, her body shaking, Melissa stopped to rest near an old brick building. Overturned trashcans, like vanquished sentinels, lined the street. She placed her hands on her knees and breathed in deep. The stench of burger wrappers and greasy pizza boxes filled her nose, making her cough and choke.
This was the older, industrial area of Portland. Not much happened down here at night, at least she hoped that was the case.
Why did she think she could drink from a human male? She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. Given a chance to catch her breath, her heartbeat slowed to a more normal level.
Tink. Something hit one of the garbage cans. Melissa tensed. With a slow turn, she looked down the alley. Nothing moved. The cool breeze lifted the hair on her exposed arms.
Memories of the Gossum flashed through her head—long tongues with a brutal stinger on the end, sharp teeth, and pointed claws were forever ingrained in her mind.
The war with the Gossum had raged for centuries, long before Melissa came to know about these vile creatures. A lover scorned, a spat between two gods from the planet Lemuria started the conflict here on Earth. She didn’t know if the gods were real, but the Gossum sure were.
A pair of solid black eyes, then another, and another shone out of the gloom. Her worst nightmare advanced out of the shadows. She stifled a scream.
The leader of the pack moved forward, his powerful legs flexing with every step. He sniffed the air, his big nostrils expanding as he breathed in her scent. The holes in his jeans showed his white, hairless skin. His thin frame and gaunt face accentuated his large, bulbous nose. He wore a cap, the lip of the brim turned around so it covered the back of his neck. Usually concealed behind sunglasses, the Gossum’s black eyes bore into her.
The leader’s tongue snapped out of his mouth and the stinger extended to its full length of six feet. “She’s Lemurian.” Other Gossum moved up behind him, their excitement palpable in the night air.
In her weakened condition, she couldn’t outrun them. She backed up, pulling energy to her hands. “You are so not what I needed to deal with tonight.”
Down the alley was an open door, offering hope. If she could get there, she might lose them in the warehouse and buy herself some time. She ran, her sneakers pounding the wet blacktop. They pursued her, their excited grunts urging her on.
Water puddles reflected the meager light. She didn’t see the pothole until it was too late. Her foot caught with a sharp twist, stopping her flight. Falling hard, her jeans ripped. Her knees skidded on the rough surface, shards of glass and pebbles scraping her tender flesh.
A sharp pain blossomed in her right shoulder and she cried out. The Gossum’s stinger hit its mark. As the venom worked its way into her system, her arm numbed.
“Got her now, didn’t we?” The leader advanced around in front of her. The remaining two Gossum closed the circle, cutting off any further thoughts of escape.
A scream threatened to slip from her lips. She lifted her good arm, and pulled the energy from the center of her being.
“Shield!” A soft glow pulsed around her, fading in and out.
“Take her down,” the leader commanded.
The Gossum on her right struck out with his tongue to administer another dose of venom. It connected with her shield and the force of the energy rebounded back onto him. He screamed, landed in a heap and remained still.
“Let me try, Ram,” the other Gossum said.
“If you think you can do better, go ahead.”
She bared her fangs at the vile creature. “You better leave while you still can.”
Her shield pulsed around her. Unsure how long it would last, she had to defeat them quickly.
The Gossum raised himself to his full height of six and a half feet. Drool dripped from his mouth, his razor sharp teeth snapping in unison with his guttural grunts. He lowered his head and ran at her.
She regained her footing and dodged him. He sailed past and stumbled into the nearby brick wall. His breath left in an audible rush. A low snarl erupted from his throat and the low rumble reverberated down the alley. He came at her again. This time, he connected with her shield, ricocheted off and landed in a heap next to his kin.
“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” The one called Ram shook his head, his frown causing his chin to crease. He circled her, his cold eyes calculating, watching her every move.
Her energy waned. Despite the adrenaline rushing through her system, she was tired and weak. A tendril of fear snaked its way into her mind. Her stomach clenched as if the Gossum in front of her had squeezed it in his palm.
She pulled harder from within to power what remained of her shield. She faced her last opponent, eye to eye.
His nostrils flared. The Gossum’s breath was visible in the bitter night air.
“Such a sweet smell.” The sound of his voice made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. He circled her, assessing her from head to toe. “You smell Lemurian, but different. What are you?”
“One you’ll wish you hadn’t met.” Melissa tried to focus on tracking his movements, but it took so much energy to maintain her shield. She glanced at the door—just a few yards away.
He advanced toward her, his leg muscles bulging with each step. Serrated teeth gleamed through his evil smile. Her pulse beat faster as he drew near. She backed up, inching toward the door and safety. Her energy dwindled and her shield gave out. “Noooo!”
Her attacker moved in for the final blow. His tongue hit her left arm, destroying any hope of rejuvenating the shield. The paralysis took hold and he tackled her to the ground, pinning her beneath him.
She struggled, kicking out, but to no avail. He bit her on the back of the neck, administering the final dose of venom. Unconsciousness descended. Her last thought was of William holding their child.
Hope you enjoyed the deleted scenes! If you haven't had a chance to check out Untouchable Lover, here's a link --> Click Here