Hello, beautiful readers!
This month I’m celebrating the release of the fourth book in the Realm of Honor series, A Knight Like No Other. It’s available now!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Today will be the last teaser from the book but I hope you’ll come by to see what else I have in store. There are a lot of things I have coming up in the future, including two new releases (a contemporary and the final book in the Realm of Honor series).
And now without further ado…
Drake joined the Elven royals for the evening feast, as he said he would. The king gave him less than a warm reception. He was quite cold. But Drake didn’t care. All that mattered was getting a moment with Sobriel.
The king, however, must have guessed Drake would try anything to get the girl alone. He kept her by his side all evening, never letting her out of his sight. All the two could do was exchange a glance every now and then. And even that was scrutinized by the king.
When dessert was served Sobriel feigned a headache and excused herself from her father’s presence. She gave Drake one last passing glance before she disappeared out of the great hall.
After she’d been long gone Eldrin leaned toward him and pushed a small piece of parchment in his hand. The ranger said nothing. Merely gave him a nod as he rose from the table and left the feast.
With his hands hidden under the table, Drake unfolded the small parchment. Written in a careful script were directions to meet Lord Eldrin in the grove by the loch at full moonrise. He said nothing of meeting the princess. But he hoped the ranger had made good on his promise to bring her to him.
Drake waited until the musicians started playing and dancers took the floor. With the king and crown prince distracted, Drake slipped out of the great hall and found his way to the long, winding staircase that led to the ground.
At the foot of the staircase, he paused and wondered which way to the grove with the loch. A fire pixy flittered in the darkness toward him, then buzzed around his face and circled his head. He could barely make out the little pixy’s features. She had a delicate face and beckoned him after her, waiting for him to follow.
He pursued the streaming little light, heedless of his surroundings. He didn’t want to lose sight of her as he stumbled along. When the glittering loch came into view, the fire pixy disappeared. He halted, looking out at the peaceful water with the moonlight reflecting upon the surface.
A moment later the princess stepped out from behind an overgrown rosebush. Her hair was like a halo in the silvery light. Delicate shadows played upon her beautiful face. He could see the outline of her rose-red lips, the slant of her high cheekbones, the curve of her perfect, pert nose.
She smiled sweetly, fluttered her lashes down, and dipped a quick curtsey in greeting.
The small gesture sent his heart into a tailspin. His body reacted as a vaguely sensual light passed between them. And he knew he had to feel her in his arms. He hurried toward her. The smile never left her lips.
“Sir Drake, I—”
But that was as far as she got when he took her in his arms, pulling her close, feeling her small body curve against his. Enough waiting. He’d waited long enough to hold her. To feel her. To taste her. Her breath caught in her throat as his head dipped toward hers. And before their lips met, her breath shuddered out.
He paused, inhaling her sweet nectar scent. It was sultry and heady and nearly made him lose his mind. He could stand it no longer. His mouth closed over her lips, at long last sampling her taste. His tongue delved deep into the sweet recesses of her mouth. She tasted like honeysuckle wine on a warm summer night. She tasted like heaven. She tasted like forever.
To his delight, she kissed him back. Her arms slid around his neck as she pressed closer. So close he could feel every curve of her little body against him. Her small, round breasts. Her narrow waist. The curve of her hips.
Her tongue bumped against his as they savored each other, branding their first kiss in his mind. She kissed as though she’d always known how. As though she had been born to kiss him and no other. He was reluctant to break apart from her but wanted to see her face and memorize it. He wanted to store it away so he may recall it anytime he wished. Because he knew tonight would be the final night they would have together.
As he pulled away, he could see the color high in her cheeks and the pink in the tips of her pointed ears. Her lips were still damp from his onslaught and to make matters worse, she ran her tongue over them. As though remembering the last remnants of his mouth on hers. Her pulse fluttered wildly in the long column of her pale throat. She labored to breathe, as though she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I should not have taken such liberties.” He kissed her forehead and a little mewl escaped her. It nearly sent him over the edge.
Control, though. He must control his reaction. When all he wanted to truly do was tear the gown from her sweet body and make love to her until the dawn. Here on the edge of the loch amid the soft grass. Yet that would not be appropriate. He was a knight. He had honor and dignity. And he would not ruin her reputation with one selfish act. An act he could never take back. She was pure, untouched bliss. He would not destroy that. Yet he couldn’t stop kissing her.
