I won’t DENY that writing has been tough for awhile. And I’m probably in DENIAL about getting as many books written this year as I’d like, but hey, I can dream right? In the meantime, Twitter’s #1lineWed prompt has to do with denying denials. Or something like that. I pulled out this snippet from my current Nightrider WIP, NIGHT WISH. Things are not good in Wizard World. He’s waffling between douchehood and asshattery and poor Jen is getting whiplash. Theirs is a hard story and maybe that’s why I’m having trouble with it. Eventually, it will all come out. In the meantime, I won’t DENY you this snippet. Warning: Bad language ahead.
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Jen
I couldn’t deny my feelings any longer. And I could no longer deny that I’d been so stupid. And wrong. All the evidence was right there in front of me. I braced, knowing what was to come would be bad. After everything that had happened, how could it be anything but?

Wiz paced the length of the room, stopping when he reached the far side. Muscles rippled beneath his T-shirt as he flung out his arms. “What else do you want me to say?”

He sounded so angry and there was no warmth in his eyes as he glared at me. What did I want him to say? That he loved me? That I was his…mate? Wasn’t that what the other old ladies called themselves? I’d told him I loved him and this was his response.

“I don’t have time for this, babe.” He turned his back on me and stomped to the door.

Evidently, I wasn’t worth more than a few moments of his time.

I’d waited too long to respond, hadn’t thought fast enough on my feet. He’d surprised me earlier and I’d just blurted out the words that brought us to this impasse.

“Did you ever care?” The words came from the very darkest bottom of my soul. “Or was I just a pity fuck?”

His lips pressed so tightly together a white line appeared around them. I caught that red glint in his eyes. My time was up. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip, hoping the physical pain would keep my face from giving me away. Wizard’s chest rose and fell, his nostrils flaring as he breathed deeply. And there it was. The same look of disgust on his face that I’d seen on my brother’s.

“Jen.”

“No.” I backed away. “I get it. Totally. Sorry to have bothered you. I won’t again.”

I whirled and ran, ignoring his voice.

“Jen!”

I kept going until his hand on my arm jerked me to a stop, spinning me to face him. My hand came up and I delivered a slap to his cheek with all my considerable weight behind it. I didn’t stop to think, I just reacted. Not sure who was most stunned, I stared at him, my eyes so wide I thought they might pop out. I’d never slapped anyone in my life. Ever.

Wizard stared back, his eyes narrowed, his lips a thin line, disapproval radiating from every pore in his body.

“Fuck it,” he growled. “I didn’t sign up for this bullshit.”
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Poor Jen. She may decide that Wiz isn’t worth it when push comes to shove. And he will definitely need to work his butt off to redeem himself. I do so love to watch a bad boy grovel. *Bwahahahaha* Writers, any deny words to share? Readers, have you denied yourself anything lately?