The Bride and the Brute (12 page)

Then his tongue touched her lips, gently sliding along the length of her mouth, caressing, coaxing. She felt a jolt igniting its way through her entire body from the tips of her hair to the edges of her toes. She gasped against his lips and he dropped his hands to the small of her back, pulling her closer to him as he delved into the recesses of her mouth.

Jordan felt herself being swept away by the emotions raging through her. Her world was spinning on its axis, and she had to cling to Fox as if he were the only thing keeping her from falling. But the tighter she clung, the greater the waters seemed to swirl about her.

“I won’t let you go, Jordan,” he whispered against her lips. “Not this time.”

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A Knight of Honor - Excerpt

“Stand here,” Taylor instructed, pulling him in front of her like a shield.

At least that would protect her, Slane thought.

But suddenly, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Slane would have tumbled backward, had he not braced himself by splaying his hands on the sides of the doorway. He opened his mouth to reprimand her, but she quickly pressed her lips, and her body, against his.

Stunned into immobility, Slane gaped as she slid her lips across his, as she pressed her tiny body to his quickly hardening one. He jerked and tried to pull away, but her embrace held him tightly to her chest.

Slane managed to slide his lips off of hers and exclaim, “What in God’s blood are you doing, woman? Have you lost your senses?”

“Unless you want to lose more than your senses, you’ll return my affection and make it good,” she warned in a whisper, nibbling his ear.

Jolts of pleasure shot through Slane’s body. His mind told him to resist her, but his body was already succumbing to her seduction. Then his quickly fogging mind focused enough to realize what she was doing. A desperate disguise: a harlot and her customer.

She slid her mouth across his jaw and pressed her lips against his again, running her hands through his hair, clinging to him as if his lips were the only thing that could save her. Slane wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, wanting to reassure her. He knew it had to look convincing or they were done for.

He ran his tongue lightly across her lips, coaxing her to open to him. He felt her quiver beneath him as she parted her lips. She was either a very talented actress or...

Distantly, Slane heard footsteps march closer in the street, and he pulled her tighter against him. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. A soft groan escaped her parted lips. A groan that sent his world tumbling end over end.

The curves of her body fit snugly against the ridges in his; her full breasts pressed heavily against the battle-hewn muscles in his chest. Tingles followed the trail her fingers left along his skin; prickles of heat inflamed his soul. The essence of her seemed to take on solid form, enclosing him in a swirling cloak of passion. He no longer heard the footsteps in the streets, no longer cared if they were caught; he only wanted this moment to go on forever.

Then a man cleared his throat behind Slane. Even as Taylor’s kiss warmed his body, the threat of danger pierced the moment like a dagger. He almost reached for his sword.

Taylor’s hands moved over his waist and down to his buttocks. He battled with control as she gently squeezed, running her hands over the firm rounded portion.

He pulled back slightly to gaze deeply into the green pools of her eyes. What did she want of him? Did she truly do this for disguise? Or did she dare to challenge him so blatantly? He ran his fingers through the long locks of her glorious hair, loosening it from that accursed braid.

He almost growled with the passion she had aroused within him. Then he claimed her lips again with a fierce painful lashing. If she were toying with him, he would teach her what it was like to enrage his lust so powerfully.

She matched his kiss, his intense need with a longing of her own. He felt her tremble beneath the onslaught of his kiss. He wanted her as he had never wanted anything in his life. He wanted to see what her body looked like beneath the leather armor she wore. He wanted to kiss her breasts and her stomach and...

Suddenly, she tore away from him. Slane stared at her for a long moment, trying desperately to regain control of his heated body. She stood before him like a vanquishing hero, her chin raised, her eyes glittering with --

With what? Was that passion in her eyes? Or was it mockery?

Slane felt a chill seep through his clothes to his heated skin as the cold reality of what had just happened set in. What had he been doing? What had he been thinking?

“You made it good,” she said. “Damn good. Very convincing. Even to me. But the soldiers are gone.”

And indeed, they were gone. Long gone. The streets were empty.

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Midnight Shadow - Excerpt

Terran seized her shoulders and slammed her up against the blacksmith’s shop. “Enough!”

he roared. “Enough of your insults. I have endured them from your father and grandfather, even from Dysen. But I will not tolerate them from you.”

Bria’s mouth dropped open for only a moment before her shock vanished, replaced by fury.

She opened her mouth to reply, but Terran slammed his open palms on the wall on either side of her.

“I said enough!”

For a long moment, Bria could do nothing but stare at him. And slowly, a realization came to her. She was alone with him. And he was close --- very close. His hands were on either side of her, effectively trapping her. His lips were but inches from hers. Her eyes scanned his face, his rugged square jaw, his sensual lips, his dark eyes. Lightning lit the sky above, but Bria barely noticed except for the reflection in his eyes. Was that remorse in them? Or was she imagining it?

He leaned closer to her until his face was beside hers, almost cheek to cheek. Bria stiffened.

What was he doing? But she didn’t protest. His hair brushed and mingled with hers. “I didn’t mean to kill him, Bria.”

She felt a soft wave of hot breath on her neck, but his words were so soft Bria wasn’t sure he’d spoken them at all. She turned her head to try to see him, and he shifted his gaze to look into hers with eyes that seemed a little lost.

In the next moment, he was brushing his lips against hers, seeking, exploring. She was unsure of what to do and found herself frozen, half wanting him to kiss her, half wanting to flee.

His touch was gentle, almost soothing. Not at all what she had expected.

He pulled slightly back to look into her eyes, studying them as if waiting for her to deny him.

But she couldn’t. She didn’t want to.

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The Lady and the Falconer - Excerpt

“Who are you?” she asked softly.

“Logan,” he replied.

Solace’s heart pounded, her eyes captivated by the way his lips caressed the word. “Logan,”

she repeated dully through the haze of fog that had enveloped her. Her gaze shifted to his silver eyes, eyes the color of glinted steel. She could smell the thick scent of leather and something musky and… masculine. Even though their bodies weren’t touching, she could feel the strength emanating from him, the power. She wanted him to touch her, wanted to feel his fingers on her skin, his lips on hers. The thought frightened her, and she pulled away with such force that her head smacked the plate armor behind her. Even with Logan’s hand on it, it swung backward.

Suddenly, she was swept into his arms, and he turned his back to the suit of mail as it lurched forward, clutching her in his embrace and hunching his shoulders to protect her.

The suit of armor toppled around them, crashing to the floor. Solace hid behind Logan for a long moment after the noise had ceased. Then, realizing what had happened, she lifted her head.

His arms were still around her, a fact that was strangely reassuring. But it was in his eyes she found true comfort. There was something tender and caring deep within his orbs, and for a moment Solace thought it was worry as his gaze swept her face, looking for something. So intensely did they search that she believed he could see into her very soul, see the reason why she still clung to him, see the reason for the ease with which her body lay against his.

Embarrassed, she looked away. The scattered pieces of plate mail on the floor caught her attention, and she lowered her eyes to the fallen shield. Blue and gold reflected up at her in the sun’s bright light. There was a crest upon the shield, but before she could look at it, Logan’s hand was at the nape of her neck, turning her head toward his. His lips descended over hers, desperately, warming hers with his, igniting a fire so hot that it threatened to consume her. She clung to him as if he were her only hope at salvation. She tilted her head to his in an innocent mixture of curiosity and relinquishment. His desperation turned into a slow seduction as he gently coaxed her mouth to open to him with gentle touches of his lips and tongue against her soft skin.

She tentatively parted her lips for him, and he urged them wider, entering her mouth with his tongue, exploring the soft recesses. A groan escaped her lips, and she leaned fully against his strong, hard body.

Logan broke the kiss, pulling back slightly. “You shouldn’t be here alone,” he repeated.

His body was pressed against hers, and his arms were still securely around her, binding her to him. Solace stared at him through half-opened eyes. She felt she was floating, caught in a foggy dream.

“It’s dangerous,” he whispered.

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Immortal Death - Excerpt

"Is that how the story ends?” Jade whispered, hesitantly. “Does Rosaline die?”

Demetrius pressed his lips together and looked away from her, nodding.

"I don’t want my story to end that way,” Jade said, her voice thick. “My Demetrius would be…destroyed. He would…”

Demetrius looked at her and was shocked to find glistening tears ringing her eyes.

"He’d be devastated.” Jade looked at him, her eyes tormented with anguish.

He reached out to her, taking her face in his hands. His fingers stroked soothing circles over her temples. “He would not have wanted to go on,” he said gently. He didn’t like to see her tears. He didn’t like her sadness. It made his own anguish worse. He pulled her close to him, holding her. “Don’t be sad. It happened a long time ago.”

"But he’s my Demetrius. If I can’t make him happy, who can?”

Her words shocked him, confused him. His gaze dropped to her lips. She was so beautiful.

So very mesmerizing. It was so dangerous to be this close to any mortal, yet alone Jade. So dangerous. He couldn’t help how he was leaning in toward her. Just one taste. Just one touch of her warm skin. He had been so cold since Rosaline’s death.

"Rosaline would have wanted him to be happy,” Jade said softly.

Her words halted him a mere inch from her lips. “Happy?” he whispered bitterly. “Without her? It wasn’t possible. She was so vibrant and so full of life. When she died, she took his life with her. His heart died when that dagger was plunged through hers.” He stopped cold, but did not pull away from her. Her eyes were like a sea of blue, consuming, compassionate. And he needed that retribution. Absolution for not being able to protect Rosaline.

"She couldn’t help it,” Jade whispered. “She would have stayed with him if she could. She would never have left him. But there was betrayal. And–”

"Betrayal?” Demetrius demanded, his gaze sweeping her face. “What do you mean by betrayal?”

"Didn’t you tell me that? Someone close to her…” Her hand brushed across his arm. “I don’t know. I feel like it was someone she trusted.”

"Trusted?” he echoed, disbelievingly. It had been a Malachite. There was no way Rosaline would have trusted one of those monsters. No way. Maybe Jade didn’t know the story as well as he thought she did, as well as she pretended. Her hot breath fanned over his face and the story became less and less important. All that was important was the feel of her in his arms, the need to have her lips against his.

"Sometimes, I feel the story,” she whispered. “Not the way I want it to be, but the way that feels right.”

Demetrius stared down into her eyes and then moved his gaze languorously to her lips. She was so lovely. So enticing. A longing and need rose in him like he hadn’t felt in all the years since Rosaline.

The first touch of their lips was tentative, testing, as if he were giving her a chance to escape. But she didn’t pull back. A taste, he reminded himself. Her lips were hot, not just warm. It wasn’t enough. He wanted a larger taste. More. Demetrius pressed his lips to hers, fully. With a gentle stroke of his tongue across her mouth, her lips parted. And he couldn’t help himself. He was lost. He swept his tongue into her mouth, pulling her against him.

For the first time in centuries, he hardened. It was sweet, sweet ecstasy to feel her against him, to touch her face, her lips. Lord, he’d forgotten how absolutely breathtaking it was. She pressed her tongue to his and he almost exploded. He wanted her. He leaned into her, pushing her back against the bed. She was so small beneath him and he felt a sudden need to protect her.

His emotions…yes, emotions, churned. He had been dead for so long he barely recognized the passion. But now, now it was as if he were given a second chance, a bolt of powerful desire shot through him and he crushed her to him.

She tasted of coffee and strawberry ice cream. Demetrius knew this was wrong. She was a mortal! She was not like him. And yet, he could not stop. He didn’t want to. He wanted to feel her. All of her. He wanted to touch her. She warmed him, touched him inside, made him feel alive again.

Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1 - Excerpt

Christian paced before the line of trains. For the first time, he realized he was in a train yard, maybe a freight yard. An empty train stood before him. Such rage and anger at what he had become, what Aurora had proclaimed, scorched through him. He grabbed the train car and with an inhuman roar of rage and betrayal and hurt, he tilted it, pushing it over onto its side. It landed with a loud thud and a puff of dust spewed out from all sides.