Storm on the Horizon (Fated For Love) (24 page)

“
Oh, no you don’t.”

He rolled her beneath him, and before she could draw breath to protest, he sheathed himself inside her
, and they both cried out in pleasure. He took his time savoring the feel of her clamped around him and then began to move. He thrust deeply and powerfully, thankful that she was not a virgin on this night. They could play all night now, experimenting, and loving to their hearts content.

“
Colton,” she cried. She said his name like a prayer.

He obliged her, taking her to one of the many peaks she would reach in
their bed tonight. We went faster, her urgent moans driving him on. He clung to her, wrapping his arms around her, bringing her legs around his waist so that there was nothing between them but skin, nothing between them but their love. He groaned a powerful release the same time she screamed his name. His climax over took him, taking him to the abyss of the sky and keeping him there in the stars, her body tightly wrapped around him, until he gently fell back to earth.

Olivia could feel his heart beating in his chest and the pulse of it between her legs. She felt connected to him on the most primal of levels, joined to him as one body. Her breathing
returned to normal but her heart thudded heavily. She felt so many emotions inside she thought she might cry, but she didn’t. Instead, she just smiled.

Colton moved to her side and held her to him. He saw the smile and smiled in return before kissing her lips and burying his face in her hair.
“This is heaven. I love you.”

“
And I love you.”

She felt pleased. The icing had been a rather bold idea, but with
Colton, she was never afraid. She could be herself, be adventurous—as long as danger wasn’t involved. With Colton she was everything she was and everything she wanted to be. This was heaven—a romantic, rosy, perfect heaven just for her.

The End

To Love, Honor, and Obey...

The sun was high as Obedience made her way through
the wheat fields that ran along the western boarder of the grand estate of his grace, The Duke of Maltravers. Obedience had known the Armstrong family all her life. Her father, Baron Clive, had been the local magistrate, and a frequent guest of his grace’s hunting parties. Obedience had frequently swam with Chance, the dukes only child and heir, as children. In fact, it was Chance who taught her how to swim.

As she dre
w near, she could hear the quiet bubbling of water against rocks. The creek ran through a small ravine, breaking into small waterfalls that dumped into pools ground out by time. The surroundings were lush and green. Oaks and willows lined the banks creating a thick canopy that trapped the warmth of the afternoon sun.

She picked her way down a well-worn path. It brought her to the bank overlooking the largest of the falls that emptied into the largest pool. She looked down, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she saw the lean back and muscular arms cleaving the water. He was swimming away from her, but if she took a ru
nning leap, she could land beside him.

Never one to waste an opportunity, Obedience quickly undressed and stepped back a few steps.

“Tally ho!” she shouted as she ran toward the edge and her feet left the earth. The drop was not far, and she balled her legs under her for optimal splash.

She only had time to see Chances startled glance just before she hit the water—a little too close to him.

Chance had only enough time for a quick inhale of breath before a pair of feminine legs filled his vision. She broke the surface of the water, landing on his chest, knocking the breath from his lungs. It felt like minutes had passed before he could find the surface. She popped up at the same time, laughing delightedly, while he coughed and sputtered.

“
Oh, Teddy, did I hurt you?” She giggled.

“
You nearly did me in, you—” He froze, his eyes felt like they were bulging from their sockets.

“
What is it? Did I really hurt you?” she asked in alarm. She grabbed his arm and tugged him towards the bank. He followed her, and when they reached the bank, she turned to him.

“
Where are you hurt? Oh, please, don’t be hurt, I was only—”

“
Obedience?” he said dumbly.

Tears pooled in her eyes.
“Oh god, it’s your head! I knocked your senses right out of you. It’s me, don’t you remember me?” she said hysterically and hugged him.

Chance stared
down at her in amazement. He was dumbstruck by the vision before him who slightly resembled the girl who was his constant shadow only years ago. She had been an aspiring hellion then, and by all indications had succeeded, but what left him at a loss for words was her startling beauty.

Chance nearly groaned
aloud. She was unabashedly pressing her body against him, and while his body was appreciative of such attention, his brain was still frozen on her identity. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Miss Obedience Marie Wickenham, all grown up. Belatedly, Chance pulled out of her embrace and put her at arm’s length lest he embarrass himself and thoroughly shock her. His body was all too aware of how grown up she was now.

“
Obedience, I’m fine, I was just... shocked by how much you’ve changed.” He looked down at her, his gaze taking in her curling black hair, wet shift cloying to her body—thankfully, not transparent, and wide, glittering blue eyes.

Chance quickly looked away and backed up into the cool water until he was waist deep.

“I’m sorry, Chance, I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to surprise you.” She was timid, but she followed him back into the water. “Did I hurt you?”

“
No.” He laughed nervously. “Just surprised me... really surprised me.”

“
I was so glad to hear you were home, and then I saw you here and well... I wanted to make a big entrance.” She smiled.

“
That you did.” His eyes darted to her again and looked away. “It’s been some time, Porcupette.”

“
Ugh.” Obedience rolled her eyes. “Please don’t call me that, Teddy. I hate it, you know I do.”

“
I know, but your name does not suite you.” He laughed, trying to relax enough to leave the water.

“
I heartily agree, but it is the only name I have, and I am much too old to be called a baby porcupine.” She sighed. Why did it still sound so endearing coming from him?

“
All right then. Now that you are all grown up, I shouldn’t address you so informally.”

Obedience narrowed her eyes at him.
“Don’t start that. I will forever call you Teddy. That will never change.”

Chance winced. He hated his nickname as much as she loathed hers.
“All right, but I beg you, keep it between us, never in front of others.”

“
Agreed.” Obedience playfully flicked water at him and then dived away.

“
Still so young,” Chance murmured, but he smiled too. He used the opportunity to return to shore and dress.

“
Your leaving already?” Obedience waded towards him.

“
Yes. I returned at my father’s request. His health is declining, and he needs me.”

“
Yes... I know.” She looked down at the water, her happiness fading. “Tell him I will visit today and bring him strawberry jam. He loves my jam.” She smiled brightly again.

Chance nodded and finished dressing.

She waved as he turned up the path, dancing in the water like a playful sprite. Chance stopped above the waterfall and looked down at her. He still couldn’t believe his eyes. She was one and twenty now, if his memory served him right. It had been five years since he last set eyes on her, five years since he had ventured back to Willowton Park, his ancestral home. Things had certainly changed, and it left him feeling... out of sorts.

He shook his head and continued up the path. He needed to focus on his father now, on preparations for his eventual passing. It was a heartbreaking and tedious task that would be nearly impossible if Obedience was there to distract him, and distract him she would. That was also unsettling. He didn’t have time to be distracted by a woma
n, let alone a woman he shouldn’t be having such thoughts about. She had been a childhood friend and nothing more...

So why couldn’t
he stop picturing her in his mind in a wet shift?

Coming February 2014

To the readers who wanted more of my writing. Without you, I am nothing but that fifteen-year-old girl secretly writing stories in her room. You gave me the courage to stand tall and be a real author, to reveal a side of myself that I kept hidden well into adulthood. Without you, I would not be my true self.

Storm on the Horizon

©copyright 2013 Ella J. Quince

www.ejqbooks.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission with the exception of brief quotations for use in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the product of this author’s imagination and being used fictitiously.

Thank you for reading
Storm on the Horizon!
I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please help other readers find this book:

1. Help other readers find this book by writing a review.

2. Friend me on
Facebook
and like my
author page
.

3. Join the Regency
Romance Authors and Readers Facebook group
. It’s tons of fun!

4. Join the EJQ Readers list to receive updates about new releases by signing up
here.

5. Look for Chance’s story, To Love, Honor, and Obey, coming February 2014

I have been obsessively reading romance novels since I was fourteen. Every few months, my aunt would send a box of books to my older sister, who was not nearly as interested in reading, and I would sneak out the romance novels. I started writing my own stories to appease my imagination, until I had the means and transportation to buy my own books. I have given oral reports on them in school, and I have been in trouble plenty of times for reading during lectures. I live in Southern California with my husband, my son, and our fur babies. It is my dream to be at home with my son, and to write love stories that I can share with readers like me.
Mine, All Mine
was my beginning, and there is so much more to come!

The Fated for Love Series

Mine, All Mine
: Lilly and Dominic must overcome the scandal of treason to find their happily ever after.

Sweet Torture
: Lydia and Devon walk the fine line between love and hate.

Storm on the Horizon
: Olivia and Colton will finally face what was always between them.

To Love, Honor, and
Obey…
: Chance will meet the woman who will finally bring him to his knees.

Visit me at
http://www.ejqbooks.com
for upcoming news and excerpts.