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EXCERPT: The Wager
The very essence of Amorica
filled his head.
She turned to him, smiling,
then gazed toward the fire once again. For a moment, he watched the flames
dance in the grate. Her hair smelled of roses. His gut tightened. He swore
softly beneath his breath, suddenly realizing this would be the longest night
of his life.
Amorica leaned into him. His
hands followed the comb's path. She sighed, and he was sure she had no idea
what she did and how her slightest gesture affected him. Her eyes closed. Dark
lashes swept across alabaster flesh. The storm had not been planned, and yet
the isolation, the night alone, all served the sinister purpose he was destined
to fulfill. Silence her. Bind her so thoroughly to him she could never leave.
After tonight, no matter what he did or did not do, she was his. She would be
ostracized by those with influence--and shamed.
His heart wrenched into two
pieces.
Her cheek touched upon his
chest. Her hand rested on his abdomen.
He sucked air.
She pushed away from him,
her eyes open now and shining with trust.
Her innocence and courage
always unmanned him.
"You have so many
secrets," she said. "And I have the feeling you distrust me."
Trust was so very elusive.
Now, he trusted her to
betray him.
"I trust few people."
He pulled her close, letting her rest against him and reveling in the feel of
her so close, yet so very distant. He could not have her, he reminded himself.
Because he did not want to
hurt her.
Bloody hell, he had already
hurt her irreparably. She would have to go home.
Unless he wed her.
He could not. He could never
put her in danger or condemn her to a life of misery with a man she loathed.
Damaging her reputation was nothing compared to her life--which would be in
jeopardy everyday if they wed.
Her fingertips lightly
traced his collarbone. His body shuddered at the sensation. She followed her
fingertips with her lips, kissing him lightly.
She set a blaze within him,
her every touch mercuric. She seduced him with every gesture, every look. Her
hands ran across his chest, touching him everywhere.
"Amorica," his
voice rasped. He could barely breathe, could not think. "This is not wise."
She stopped, her fingertip
resting on his chest and gazed at him wide eyed. Then she touched him--with her
lips--her tongue.
With one finger, he touched
her beneath her chin, lifting her face gently. He needed to see into her eyes.
Then he framed her face with his hands. For the longest time, he watched her.
"Do you have any idea
how beautiful you are?" How very treacherous you would be if you knew the
truth of my mission.
She started to shake her
head, but his lips met hers, melded sweetly with her warmth. He traced the seam
of her lips, and she opened for him.
Her nails bit into his skin.
She made a low sound in the back of her throat.
Her urgency amazed him.
"Did you know you
appear the braw handsome highlander?" she asked in return, pushing away
from him then moistening her lips, her eyes wide, the centers dark with
passion.
He kissed her again and
pushed her back on the fur in front of the fire.
Embers crackled and then he
heard nothing but the roar of his blood pounding in his veins.
He rolled so she lay atop
him, straddling his hips. "You should tell me to stop."
She settled her hair behind
her. "I don't want you to stop," she sighed, her smile lighting his
heart.
"It does not matter.
Tell me to act the gentleman and walk away."
"I like you the way you
are." She bent low, her breasts softly pushing against his chest, her lips
seeking his own.
He groaned, knowing he was
damned.
Lord, but he could not stop
himself and she made no effort to tell him no. He kissed her again, running his
hands down her legs. They were long and soft. He turned her again, his leg
resting between her thighs, his hands smoothing her cascading hair from her
face. One fingertip traced the seam of her lips. His mind fantasized in
directions it should not wander.
He had to stop.
Excerpt: The Wager
Coast of England 1816
"It's a bloody cursed day."
Damian Andrews swept the child into his arms and waded through the pounding
surf to the beach. He braced himself against the out-going current then sloshed
through the crashing waves. Salt spray clung to the wind, stinging his
nostrils.
Damian turned. Beneath his ribs, his heart
pounded the cadence hard and fast. He swore again as he watched the captain
shout orders to his crew. The French brandy that was supposed to have arrived
this night would have to wait.
Standing in the longboat, the captain of
the ship that brought the brandy as well as the political refugees from the
Germanies held a torch aloft--the only light in the vast darkness. "Hurry,
laddie. We have human cargo tonight and the tide is changing."
A little girl whimpered.
Damian pulled her into his arms, bent on
protecting her at all cost.
"It's all right. You will all be
together soon." The smuggling of French brandy was a cover for the cause
that meant so much to him. Religious and political refugees--at times it seemed
they came in droves. All were seeking a better life. A life of freedom.
"Your mother is coming as well as your baby brother. You will all be
safe."
Damian looked to the captain. "The father?"
he queried.
"He didn't come with his family. He
said he had one more thing to do. You must hurry."
The child leaned into Damian, her little
face nuzzling his shoulder, her silent sobs gut-wrenching. He pulled her
closer, cursing at the elements as well as mankind and wishing he could find a
way to shield the tiny child from all harm. He knew the feat to be impossible.
The little girl touched a place in his heart and for a moment filled that
broken space with light. Yes, the mother would be with her children, but why
had the father stayed where his life was in peril? He had learned long ago one
could come to regret rash actions. And he'd also learned one could lose all
chance at love in one instant.
Lord, but he'd lost his concentration and
in losing that, he could well lose his edge.
No secrets-- no lies. The thought haunted
him.
His life was a lie, but he would change
nothing until his penance was paid. A constant drizzle soaked him to the skin.
The wind sent goose bumps rising on his arms. He reached shore and handed the
girl over to Aric Lakeland, a trusted friend and accomplice in this night's
work, then turned and walked back to the longboat. Her baby brother as well as
her mother waited.
He had never meant to get involved. It was
the greatest of ironies that he was here now. He'd been a man who loved his
family and his home.
He'd been content but that seemed years
ago--a life time.
It felt like centuries.
The captain spoke, his voice hushed.
"Hurry, now, Master Damian.
It's the watch. They are due to ride by
here any time now. The patrols have doubled these last few weeks. I fear it's
not as safe as it used to be." The captain handed over the baby wrapped in
blankets. Damian stared at the child. The babe couldn't be a year old. The
child didn't make a sound, not even a whimper.
This was injustice, a travesty. He looked
at the mother. "Can you make it on your own?" He prayed the fragile
lady standing before him had more courage than she appeared to have. She nodded
and with the captain's help, she stepped into the ocean, struggling for
balance. Yet her shoulders were squared and her spine stiff.
As soon as the captain placed the babe in
Damian's arms and the three of them were headed for land, he gave orders. Two
sailors rowed out to sea, moving toward the black ship that rose and fell on
the distant waves.
On a cliff above, the dark silhouette of a
third man, Ryder McClaren, could be seen for a brief moment. He waved his arms
then disappeared into the shadows once more.
"Hurry," Damian bade the mother,
his hand resting on the small of her back, urging her forward.
ALSO BY CHRISTINE YOUNG
REVIEW: Allura's Secret
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne Reviewer
Email: RJChrissyDionne@yahoo.com
Christine Young’s ALLURA is a
delightful historical novel full of suspense, lovable characters, humor and a
budding romance between two characters determined not to fall in love. Allura
and Hunter’s stubborn, determined natures allowed for some interesting scenes
as they attempted to get one up on each other. As a modern day woman I felt bad
for Allura because technically her husband would dictate every aspect of her
life and the freedom she loves would be a thing of the past. Hunter is
unbending as far as to how he believes a wife should behave but falling in love
changes him and his perception of Allura. Hunter and Allura are the main focus
of this story but there are secondary characters whom I absolutely adored and
would love to revisit in future novels (hint, hint). Especially the youngest
sister Aiden and Hunter’s trusted friend Blade. He doesn’t believe in love and
she’s determined to do whatever’s necessary to get him to notice her. SNIPPET—
Allura has come to treasure her freedom and the adventures she shares with her
sisters and her cousins but her father’s decision to find her a husband
threatens that freedom. He’s placed an ad in the times in search of a man
strong and smart enough to discover where exactly it is that the girls venture
when they leave the safety of the castle.
-
BLURB: Allura's Secret
Allura
McClellan is horrified by her father’s decision to take out an ad in the Times
awarding her to the man strong enough and smart enough to win her hand and
uncover her secrets. She’s an intelligent young woman who
takes great delight in the freedom allotted to her by her father. She’s well
aware that marriage would effectively curtail the adventures she’s shared with
her sisters and cousins.
Hunter Gray is nothing like the other men who’ve arrived to vie for
Allura’s hand in marriage and everything that goes along with it. However, he
is the first to refuse to concede defeat and pursue her despite her attempts to
disguise her true appearance. It’s her temperament that is of more concern to
him than her looks. Hunter has worked all his life with the hope of someday
owning his own land. Now that it looks like there’s a very real possibility
that everything he’s ever wanted is within reach nothing is going to deter him
– including Miss Allura’s disagreeable disposition.
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