Clytie and the Minoans

Clytie, my erotic novella released last month by eXtasy Books, puts the ancient sport of bull leaping into a modern context. This story line gave me a chance to re-explore one of my favorite eras of antiquity.

            The Minoan civilization on the island of Crete vanished 3,500 years ago. They left us little to know them by. Among the few artifacts found by archeologists are frescos, sculptures, and medallions glorifying their sport of bull leaping.  An athlete— woman or man—grasped the horns of a charging bull and vaulted over its back.

           Some doubt bull leaping ever happened. They call it too deadly and too difficult. Yet the hearts of the Minoans beat like ours. Who can say their hardiest young daredevils would not have taken the risk, if the rewards were enough?            In Clytie, the ancient sport has been revived at a secret resort on a private island. Two fearless bull leapers, Paris and Cytie, learn that love demands a different kind of courage. But can they find a way to overcome the power of the wealthy masters who would keep them apart?

Here's an excerpt from one of the bull leaping scenes:

      The crowd chants her name. “Cly-tie, Cly-tie, Cly-tie.”

 The bull, Triton, stops his prancing and bellowing. His narrow eyes see his rival. He circles her. She turns on her heel to face him. The crowd claps in rhythm.

      Triton lowers his head, rips the dirt with his horns, gouges the ground with his hooves, and bellows. The novice bends her neck, puts her hands aside her head like horns, and kicks the dirt.
      The Godlike cheer.
      The JumboTron centers on her face. Her wide forehead, high cheekbones, and narrow chin make her dusky eyes huge. I search those eyes for fear, and find amusement.
      Triton bellows his loudest. She sticks out her tongue at him. The Godlike roar. Triton charges. She runs toward him.