Praise for the writing ofMaryJanice Davidson Beggarman, Thief Beggarman, Thiefis the perfect example of Ms. Davidson's style. She writes original plots; combining humor, occasional intrigue, and explosive attraction between the characters. This blend makes for a fiery story that never disappoints. If you haven't read Ms. Davidson's work yet, don't wait any longer. She is not to be missed. --Ansley ,Romance Junkies Praise for the writing of Melissa Schroeder Federation CTD: Voices Carry I found myself literally glued to every page of this futuristic romance, enthralled by the very engaging characters and an interesting and quick paced plot...VoicesCarry is a wonderful addition to my library and Ms. Schroeder's name now belongs in my authorautobuy list. --MireyaOrsini ,Just Erotic Romance Reviews Praise for the writing of Camille Anthony Light on her Toes Camille Anthony does an excellent job creating a story and characters that are bound to draw readers in. I look forward to reading more of her work. -- Claudia,Fallen Angel Reviews Beggarman, Thief, Federation CTD: Voices CarryandLight on her Toes are now available from Loose Id. CHARMING THE SNAKE MaryJaniceDavidson Melissa Schroeder! Camille Anthony www.loose-id.com Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers. ***** This book is rated: For explicit sexual content and graphic language. Charming the Snake MaryJaniceDavidson, Melissa Schroeder, & Camille Anthony This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-29 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com "Savage Scavenge," Copyright ? March 2005 byMaryJanice Davidson "Seducing the Saint," Copyright ? March 2005 by Melissa Schroeder "Carte Blanche," Copyright ? March 2005 by Camille Anthony All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. ISBN 1-59632-049-4 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML,MobiPocket , and MS Reader Printed in the United States of America Editor: Raven McKnight, LindaKusiolek &MaryamSalim Cover Artist: April Martinez www.loose-id.com SAVAGE SCAVENGE MaryJaniceDavidson Dedication For the readers who wanted to know more about Mutes. This story takes place three months after the events inBeggarman, Thief. Prologue Summer 2072 Minneapolis, Minnesota A-Block Midnight Jamie Day, blushing bride-to-be, stretched, scratched, and yawned. "Grace, thy name is Jamie," her fianc? observed. "Off my case, metal man.It's not my fault you've worn me out again." "Well, it certainly isn't mine," Mitchell said wryly. He pulled her close for a sweaty snuggle and stroked her hair. "One of my PR people was up here again today," he reminded her. "So?" "So, I think it's time I announced my intention to make an honest woman of you." "Why? Why can't we just get married downstairs -- or in here, even? And not make a big deal out of it? Be honest -- like a judge wouldn't come up here if you asked?If Mr. Mitchell Big Dick Zillionaire asked for a favor?" "Leave my dick out of it." "I'm just saying, why make a big thing of it? Why tell anybody, never mind your PR people?" "Because I want the world to know you're mine," he said simply. "Dammit! See, there you go. You say something like that and I just melt. How can I argue with that?" she griped. "Easy: I can't." "Excellent." "Oh, excellent, shut up with your excellent.I'm only letting you win this one because you said such a nice thing." "Darling, I always win them; sometimes it takes a bit longer, that's all. And Jamie, I have to ask... isn't there anyone you wish to tell?To share our day with?" "No." "Because you could invite whomever you wish. The ballroom accommodates five thousand, but if you need more, we can get married uptown. We --" "There's no one." "Ah... I know you were an orphan, but surely you have some friends?" "No." "That's ridiculous. Anyone as charming and, uh, gifted as you must have loads of friends." "You're the only one who thinks I'm charming. And thieves aren't well-liked in C-Block. It's hard enough getting stuff without worrying about somebody snatching it out from under you. We all pretty much kept to ourselves." "That's horrible." "It was a living, is all. Growing up, I had either allies or enemies. It wasn't really a friend-type environment." "Oh." "It's no big deal." "I disagree." "Maybe there's one woman I could ask,"she continued thoughtfully, "but she wouldn't come." "Really?Who is she?" "Never mind.Like I said, she wouldn't come anyway. She's really busy all the time, kind of digs into her work." "Is she gifted like you?" "It'sokay, Mitch, you can say it: mute. No, she's not. But she's one of those people on the fringe... if a mute got hurt, you could go to her and she'd fix you up, and she wouldn't tell the government about you. There's a whole bunch of underground doctors and clinics. She's the best one. But I wouldn't say she's a friend, exactly. Like Isaid, more an ally than a pal." "I'd like to meet her." "Never happen. She never leaves B-Block." "West St. Paul?" "Right.We come to her to get fixed; it's not the other way around." "It makes me feel bad," he admitted, "that you have no one to attend our wedding." "Well," she pointed out, "now I'm one of those annoying women whose entire life revolves around her boyfriend." "Husband," he reminded her, with a light kiss. "Right, right." Chapter One Minneapolis, Minnesota B-Block 8:35 a.m. Dr. GladysLoder glanced up from her cornflakes when she heard Jamie's name, and waved a hand in front of the feed. A picture popped up, accompanying the news story. "...announced her engagement to billionaire developer Mitchell Hunter, recently known for donating the Moon Rock to the Minneapolis Science Institute. Ms. Day is from South St. Paul." "South St. Paul!" Gladys snorted, nearly sneezing into her cereal. "Call it what it is, you feel-good morons." "The couple has plans for a European honeymoon." Gladys raised her eyebrows until she thought they'd fall off her head.European honeymoon? Jamie Day? That blue-haired, sticky-fingered, sharp-tongued mute? The girl was an absolute magnet for trouble; Gladys had lost track of the number of times she'd set an arm or leg for the charming crook. And now she was marrying Mitchell Hunter?The country's most eligible bachelor? How hadthat happened? The last Gladys knew,Jamie was still lifting pretties for Brennan. Now she had gone straight (ha!) and was getting married to no less than Mitchell Hunter. The man's breeding was impeccable; he could trace his family back to Ellis Island. Jamie, of course, couldn't trace her family back even one generation. Did he know? Would she tell him? Gladys scraped the last of the skim milk out of her cereal bowl. It wasn't her business, either way. Jamie was a good kid; she deservedevery happiness . If Mr. Hunter knew his bride-to-be had special gifts, it wasn't her problem, or her business. And if he didn't, that wasn't her problem, either. She wondered if they would try to have a baby. Chapter Two Twelve hours later, pleasantly exhausted from the clinic, Gladys went out to the small patio and picked three grapefruits from the dwarf tree she had been coddling. Unlike the fruit she saw on TV or in the store, the skin on these fruits was an ugly greenish-brown; from the pollution, she knew. They didn't look pretty, but they tasted great and were better for her... was there a message in that? The fruit in the stores was bleached and prettied up, and that's what everybody wanted. Hmm. She studied the tree and made a mental note to buy more fertilizer, pretending that lugging it to the eighth floor wouldn't be agiganto pain in the cheeks. The things she did for the stupid tree! Notthat such things neededthat much work these days, not once the botanists got done with them. Steady watering, some fertilizer, watch the roots, take it inside if it was going to get below freezing. It was hard to believe the Minnesota winters used to be so cold, tropical fruits wouldn't grow. She glanced out and saw the distant silver gleam of the river. Four years ago, she'd rented the two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath apartment because it was convenient to work; the view (the veryvery veryvery faint view) of the Mississippi River was a bonus.A four-hundred-dollar-a-month bonus. Now Gladys was sorry she hadn't taken the cheaper apartment on the third floor; she almost never noticed the view, and never appreciated it. She went back inside, juiced the fruit, and pulled the latest pill-pakout of her purse. She sat down at her small ki...
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