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Ann Major: Babies, Weddings, and Cowboys: A Few of My Favorite Things
Monday, August 22nd, 2016

am1I recently celebrated a significant birthday. However, people seem to think I should now behave like a grown up and be serious, right?

Some have gone so far as to ask: “Why don’t you write a real book for a change?” “Why don’t you write something that matters?”

Translation: Why do you still write romance?

Well, hello!

I believe romance readers want love stories because they are believers in the power of love to reshape their lives in miraculous ways.

In today’s world with so many ethnic groups taught to hate and with so many public figures encouraging hate along with an us-versus-them mentality, the need to express love for others and to be kind is more important than ever. I try to take every opportunity to celebrate my favorite forms of love: weddings and babies. There is always such hope and love with those events, and they only get better when there’s a cowboy involved!

Since I’m from Texas, it may be only natural that the two series I’m currently publishing are about cowboys! And, of course about the women they love and their babies, and weddings too! These novels celebrate all love from the tender caresses of a baby, to romantic wedding celebrations that include extended family and community, to the steamy, passionate nights under the wild Texas moon.

My latest series is called Lone Star Dynasty, and it focuses on the wealthy and powerful Starks, with their legendary ranch, and their loves and triumphs over challenges in South Texas.

To introduce the series, Book 1, Love With An Imperfect Cowboy is on sale for $1.99 (regular price $3.99) from August 24 until September 1.

LOVE WITH AN IMPERFECT COWBOY

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She’s a runaway bride looking for love in all the wrong places

Desperate to escape her cheating bridegroom, Hannah Lewis heads to the one place nobody will ever think to look for her–Texas, where she’d planned to go on her honeymoon.

An Impossible Attraction

Grieving widower, rancher Liam Stark knows better than to get involved with the big-eyed, naïve-looking dazzler who walks into his bar lost and alone casting haunted glances his way, practically begging him to kiss her. When she puts herself in harm’s way, he saves her. He doesn’t do love, but maybe he can give her what she wants… if for one night only.

Get your copy and follow Liam and Hannah’s story as they explore the possibility of finding love where they least expect it:

iBook | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Texas: Children of Destiny

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The second series I’m currently publishing is my Texas: Children of Destiny series, which was written a while back, but revised and republished in ebook format. This series is set in Texas and across the globe as members of the powerful Jackson family loved and lost but are given a second chance. Will they take advantage of their opportunity to win love back or will their pride force them to risk it all?

Best of all, as a gift to my fans and an incentive to new readers, Passion’s Child (Book 1) is free.

Passion’s Child is the story of an estranged, married couple, who meet again when their beloved son’s life is threatened. When Nick tries to claim his wife and child, they discover that their passion for each other still burns as hotly as ever, despite Amy’s terrible secret.

Is it too late for them? Will his sins and her secrets destroy their second chance at love? Or can love triumph over all?

Order your copies of Ann Major’s Texas: Children of Destiny series and discover the terrible secrets kept and the risk they must take to rediscover the power of love.

am4About the Author

ANN MAJOR lives in Texas with her husband of many years.  She has three grown children and several grandchildren. She has a master’s degree from Texas A&M at Kingsville, Texas and is a former English teacher. A founding board member of the Romance Writers of America, she is a frequent speaker at writers’ groups.

Besides her writing, Ann loves to hike in the mountains, sail, kayak, travel, and play the piano. Most of all she enjoys her friends and family, and lastly, but not least, her cat.

 

 

Diana Cosby: Forbidden Legacy
Sunday, August 21st, 2016

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After hundreds of years numerous questions remain concerning where the Knights Templars fled, what treasure they took, and how were so many valiant knights able to disappear without a trace.  In Forbidden Legacy, book #1 of The Forbidden Series, I enjoyed weaving Stephan and Katherine’s story, along with my speculation as to where their fleet and many of the Brotherhood could have escaped to prior to the arrests beginning in France on the 13th of October, 1307.

With an alpha hero, I knew my heroine needed to be strong, and Lady Katherine Calbraith, a fierce, independent woman, was born.  Forced into a marriage to reclaim her home, Katherine is unprepared for Sir Stephan MacQuistan, a complex and stubborn man who unbeknownst to her holds an explosive secret that could tear their fragile bond apart.

I hope you enjoy Stephan and Katherine’s journey where throughout their danger-ridden adventure they secure the Templar treasures from prying eyes, and in the end find love.   Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,

Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
AGC(AW) USN, Ret.
www.dianacosby.com
Author of: 
The Oath Trilogy
MacGruder Brother Series
Forbidden Series:  Forbidden Legacy-#1/Forbidden Knight-TBA

About the Author

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense.  Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series are translated in five languages.  Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.

After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world.  After the release of the bestselling MacGruder Brothers series, The Oath Trilogy, and Forbidden Legacy, book #1 of The Forbidden Series, she is now working on book #2, Forbidden Knight.

Diana looks forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.

www.dianacosby.com

Ready for the weekend? (Contest)
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Ready for something hot and quick to read this weekend? I have just the thing—a sexy little story about a woman who purchases an estate that comes with a butler she didn’t know she needed…

Enjoy stepping inside Kendall’s world as the butler teaches her the true meaning of service

The Butler is just $0.99! And if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can pick up a copy for free!

Plus, if you tell me your Saturday plans, whether it’s kicking back with a sexy story or grocery shopping, you’ll be entered to win a small Amazon gift card!

The Butler

The Butle 600r

Yes, the butler did it!

When a newly wealthy woman purchases a remote estate in Virginia, a butler comes with the contract. His subtle manipulations fuel a desire she never expected.

Purchase at Amazon!

Read an excerpt from The Butler below!

~~~~~~~

Thanks for making this story a bestseller!

SOWithHisSEALTeam 600

An Amazon #1 bestselling short story!

When Sara’s stepbrother surprises her with an early return from a mission, he brings two of his Navy SEAL teammates along…

Get your copy here!

~~~~~~~

Coming next Tuesday!

SweetSuccubus 600

Have you pre-ordered your copy?

Melanie Bradshaw is driven to desperation by her torrid dreams. When she finally acts on her desires, things go horribly wrong, and she witnesses the murder of an overly amorous lounge lizard–whose body disintegrates before her eyes.

Detective Moses Brown isn’t thrilled to get another “full-moon case”…until he meets the delectable Melanie, who took a walk on the wild side straight into vampire territory. Moses doesn’t know why vamps are interested in her, but until he can discover the reason, he’s going to stick to her like glue, doing his best to ignore their instant attraction.

But pretty little Melanie has designs on his body. Her hunger for sex is voracious, even downright insatiable. As the mystery surrounding her begins to unravel, keeping her safe–hell, keeping himself safe from her–presents some interesting complications…

Get your copy here!

~~~~~~~

Read an excerpt from The Butler!

Grant stepped into the doorway, one of his small smiles curving his perfect, firm lips. “I was passing by, is there anything I can do for you?”

He rarely asked anymore. Was simply there, with whatever I needed. Hearing his voice, so deep and even, I was filled with the almost overwhelming urge to ask him to give me an orgasm.

Instead, I moved to make sure the computer screen, filled with a smutty love scene, was hidden behind me. “Do you like this room, Grant?”

He arched a brow, wariness entering his expression until his neutral mask fell into place. “Is there something that doesn’t please you? Do you need a lamp at your desk?”

Pursing my lips and narrowing my eyes, I stared. It had been a while since I’d been engaged in another of his manipulations over furnishings. The thought of engaging in one now made my nipples prickle. “There are too many books,” I said, and then grinned. I couldn’t help it. An edgy horniness was willing me to misbehave.

“It is a library, ma’am,” he said, his tone dry.

“Kendall, Grant. We share a house. You can use my name.”

“I’m in your service, ma’am.”

I blew out a breath and wished instantly that I’d bothered to slick my lips with something more dramatic than a pale gloss.

His head tilted to the side, those intelligent green eyes narrowing. “Ma’am, are you bored?”

“And if I am?”

“There are horses in the stable…”

I gave a long dramatic sigh. “It’s cold outside.”

“I could build you a fire in the hearth, bring you a brandy.”

A warm fire, brandy, him naked on a soft, sheepskin rug… I straightened and shook my head to clear the image. I didn’t dare let my thoughts stray any further. “A fire and a glass of brandy would be nice. Maybe you could choose something for me to read,” I murmured. “Something without too many big words.”

His lips pressed together, but then he chuckled. “All right then, a fire, a brandy, and a good book…without too many big words. Ma’am.”

I grinned back at him, feeling comfortable with his amusement and attention for the first time. “This house was too much for me, wasn’t it? I don’t know why I bought it.”

“You have good taste,” he said, rubbing his hands together and entering the room. He strode for the fireplace, set three logs in the stand at the center of the large hearth, and placed kindling beneath it. Minutes later flame licked at the bottoms of the logs.

Moving toward a walnut sideboard, he poured a snifter of brandy, swirling it as he cupped the base to warm the liquid. “Would you like to move to the couch?”

I stood, my body feeling fluid, my hips swaying as I approached him. Our gazes locked, and then his flicked downward to the glass he held.

“Why not pour one for yourself?” I said softly. “Join me.”

Again, his gaze narrowed, but he gave a slow nod. “If it pleases you.”

“It does.”

Together, we settled on the dark leather, on opposite ends, me with my knees drawn up and sitting sideways to stare at him, while Grant sat, one arm draped on the back, the other holding his glass, his gaze studying me.

Suddenly, I was uncomfortable. Didn’t the man know how to make polite conversation? Or did he really want to be somewhere else? Irritated, I said, “You should ask me how the writing is going?”

He arched a brow. “How is the writing going?”

I nodded my approval. “Slowly. I thought I’d be able to write with the peace and quiet in the country.”

“But you’re bored.”

“Not precisely…”

“Not precisely bored…?”

“I keep thinking about your butler’s buttons,” I blurted, letting my gaze drift away as a blush warmed my cheeks.

“As a clue or a thread in your story?”

I shook my head. “I guess the problem is that for the most part we’re alone in this house. You off in your quarters. Me, alone, in mine.”

His head rose then slowly dipped. “I see.”

Did he really?

“You haven’t used the buttons. Not once.”

Why, oh why, had I mentioned the damn buttons? It was as though I’d released the floodgate holding back my words. The next sentence escaped before I could hit the edit button. “Because I’m afraid I’ll be tempted to use them for more than the…customary services.”

“As you’ve said,” he murmured. “We’re alone in this house. And I am here to serve…”

Victoria Pinder: Secret Crush (Free Read!)
Friday, August 19th, 2016

Dear Reader,

I have always loved stories with big families where lots of dramatic things happen to them. I am a huge prime time fan, and I can get sucked into an English-translated telenovela fast. I have always wanted to write stories that implemented high drama with larger than life personalities. I’ve been working on the Morgan  family for over a year. I had to figure out this family and wondered what could happen next that would keep me surprised and interfere with the characters’ love lives.

First, I had to come up with the family and their background. The major villain in all the stories is the guy who died in chapter one of the first book, Mitch Morgan. He was the patriarch of this family.  What could a father do that made all the children happy that he finally died?

The possibilities were endless. Then what happened to the mother of the children? How would adult children in this super billionaire family be if the father was as awful as I realized Mitch was? In the first book, John Morgan had joined the FBI simply to find evidence that might put his father in jail. How would he act when he failed at this mission?

I had to know, and I had to learn who all the Morgans were, and I hope all my readers find this family as fascinating as I do.

Inside the House of Morgan, anything might happen…

Secret Crush: The House of Morgan

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For some, joining the FBI is a long-term goal. For billionaire John Morgan, joining the Bureau is a stepping stone to proving his father is culpable for his sister’s death. After his estranged father dies, John is forced to return home and face the ghosts of his past. That proves to be more difficult than he could have ever imagined.

Alice Collins lives a peaceful life. As a farmer’s daughter, she knows what it’s like to work hard for what you want. After losing her best friend under inexplicable circumstances, her world viewpoint shifted until her small town sensibilities convinced her to attend Mr. Morgan’s funeral.

Soon, the past and the present collide, and Alice is caught in the crosshairs. John comes to her aid, complicating matters for both of them.

Can a handsome billionaire on a vendetta truly fall for a small town girl, or does he have something else in mind? Can a small town girl, if she gives her heart to him, ever fit into the House of Morgan?

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/HfCdG_xtlfY

Pre-Order Here: 
https://amzn.to/2aIojRn
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1124368213;jsessionid=5E7ACAEC7E89E02B4910DD5D78F6659F.prodny_store01-atgap10?ean=2940153343761
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1144255112
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/secret-crush-6

Excerpt

John leaned against the wall and let the throngs of people pass.

Alice followed suit, standing next to him as she sipped her wine. “I assumed he was taking over. Did you want that job?”

John’s entire body jumped as if she’d slapped him. “Hell, no.”

She gulped her sip fast. She kept saying the wrong thing. Inside his blue eyes was a kaleidoscope of emotion. Alice remembered that he used to be kind. She rubbed her lips together. “Then who cares?”

He drank his wine and scanned the room. After making the rounds with his gaze, he took in her entire figure with an intensity that made her knees weak. “What is it you do, Alice?”

“Collins Organic Farm.” She brushed her brown bob behind her ear. “I work for my family. What is it you do?”

Again, his blue eyes flashed as if lightning was in his stare.

She watched him, hypnotized.

“I work in real estate.”

“Liar.” She tilted her head. He definitely didn’t work in real estate. She crossed her arms around her chest. Without another word, she waited for the fallout of her remark.

His eyebrows quirked in shock. Then his dimples appeared. “What do you think I do?”

She met his smile with her own. “Professional bad boy and poker player. It’s what I always thought.”

He chuckled. “I played football.”

She nodded. A moment of silence clung in the air as she sipped her drink. Then she said, “I went to your games in high school, but I also remember how you set up more than a few poker games. You always read people correctly.” His sexy smile lit the room, and her skin melted, literally fused into itself.

“I remember that. You cheered with my sister, and I played you, too.”

*~*~*

About the Author

vpvictoria with heart on street-1Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, after passing many tests proving how easy Math came to her. Then hating her life at the age of twenty four, she decided to go to law school. Four years later, after passing the bar and practicing very little, she realized that she hates the practice of law. She refused to one day turn 50 and realize she had nothing but her career and hours at a desk. After realizing she needed change, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is rewarding, but writing is a passion.

During all this time, she always wrote stories to entertain herself or calm down. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, and Victoria spent too many years living other people’s dreams, but when she sat down to see what skill she had that matched what she enjoyed doing, writing became so obvious. The middle school year book when someone wrote in it that one day she’d be a writer made sense when she turned thirty.

She’s always been determined. She is amazing, adventurous and assured on a regular basis. Her website is  www.victoriapinder.com .

Member of Florida Romance Writers, Contemporary Romance, Celtic Hearts and Savvy Authors.

Get a FREE Novella as a Thank you Gift here:
https://victoriapinder.com/returningforvalentineshorttimeoffer

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A. Catherine Noon: Lost and Found
Thursday, August 18th, 2016

acnCharmWhen some friends in my Nice Girls Writing Naughty group started talking about the idea of an anthology, the idea intrigued me.  We were to write a story that was a standalone, but linked to the others by an object – a piece of jewelry or an artifact.  We decided to use a bracelet, and thus The Charmed Bracelet was born.  Four romance stories where boy meets girl, but with a twist:  in the beginning of the story, our characters find the bracelet and it brings them together.  At the end of the story, they lose the bracelet, so it can be found by the next pair.

Rachel Wilder and I, who write as Noon & Wilder, wrote “Lost and Found,” about a computer programmer named Shannon who works for a large multinational firm in Chicago.  Since she works with the European desk, she’s up and at ’em at three in the morning.  Not much goes on at that time of day, until she witnesses a murder.  The bracelet catches her eye, dropped behind a trash bin, and when she bends down to retrieve it, the bin shields her from the view of the murderer.  There’s only one problem.

He finds out about her.

Enter our hero, Del, who realizes the danger she’s in.  They don’t have any solid evidence of a murderous stalker, so he takes it on himself to provide protection. All that’s well and good, but not if the murderer figures out where Shannon is.

The Charmed Bracelet is available now at your favorite etailer.  I hope you enjoy!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple | ARe

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
– E.E. Cummings

My links: Blog | Books | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | LinkedIn | Pandora

Knoontime Knitting:  Blog | Twitter | Ravelry
Noon and Wilder links: Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Join my Writers Group, The Writer Zen Garden:  Blog | Website | Forum | FB Group | Twitter | Meetup

Join my Readers Group, Nice Girls Writing Naughty:  Blog | Website | FB Group | Twitter

National Novel Writing Month: NaNoWriMo | ChiWriMo | Blog | FB Group | Twitter

Sabrina York: It’s Cowboy Month!
Wednesday, August 17th, 2016

syA puppy

Squirrel!

Hello my darlings! I am thrilled to be here with Delilah today to chat about my ADD and why it makes my job so much fun.

I’m sure in some worlds, the inclination to jump from topic to topic could be a detriment, but as an author, it keeps me from getting in a rut. Do you know what I mean?

For example, last month I was focusing on Regency Romances. I re-edited and re-released my Noble Passions Series, helped promote the Ever My Love Collection (my story was Call of the Wild Wind, a Waterloo Heroes romance) and finished up promotions on the final book in my Untamed Highlander series, Lana and the Laird.

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Each one of those releases included a Facebook party, blogs and giveaways, all geared to Regency readers.

Oh, and I also wrote a sexy, snappy Highlander romance for James Patterson’s Bookshots. Bedding the Highlander will be coming out in March. Bookshots are AWESOME for people with ADD, because all the stories are fast and satisfying reads.

Pretty exciting stuff, but I must admit, as much as I love writing and promoting historical romance, I get to the point when I’m ready for something different. Think of it this way:

I love cheesecake, but if I had to eat it for every meal, before long, I’d be craving broccoli.

Okay. Who am I kidding? I would never crave broccoli.

But I would crave, say, bacon.

How awesome is it then that this month, I am on to bacon!

And by bacon, I mean cowboys!!!

Boy howdy!

So August is Cowboy Month for Sabrina York.

sygun-shy-thumbnailI am thrilled that I was invited to participate in Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah! Cowboy Kindle World. My book, Gun Shy, tells the tale of a Navy SEAL, returning to his hometown to handle his abusive father’s estate after the old man’s death. The last thing he expects to find on his first day home, is a reason to stay. What a pity that Melissa is just out of a bad relationship, and has no interest in another looming, intimidating man.

The other exciting release this month is Stud for Hire, which is the first book in the Stripped Down Cowboys series (that takes place on the Stud Ranch you may remember from The Real McCoy, Come Hell or High Water and Protect and Serve).

In Stud for Hire, Hannah meets a man who fascinates her…at her bachelorette party! Craving the kind of passion she’s never known, and having mistaken him as a stud for hire, she makes him an offer he cannot refuse. Imagine her chagrin when she realizes the truth about him. And the fact that Logan has been in love with her since high school.

Stud For Hire is the first of three novels I wrote for Berkley InterMix and will be followed by Cowboy to Command (about a wounded warrior looking for a place to call home) and Spurred On (where the playboy of the series, Cody Silver, gets his comeuppance). They are all a lot of fun and sexy as hell.

systudforhire_eb (2)

Squirrel!

CowbouonCommand3.inddI am also editing a WWII novel about a POW (based on a true story) and working on an epic space opera launching in 2017. (Both under different pen names.) Book one of the sci fi trilogy, the Viridian Conflict, is like the Guardians of the Galaxy meets the Godfather and takes place on a prison moon where the convicts are aliens…who want to eat you.

Did I mention I have ADD?

So here’s my question for you!

Do you have reader ADD? Do you like to jump from genre to genre? Or do you cleave to one genre and one only?

Because inquiring minds want to know!

Want to know more about Sabrina York’s ADD? Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Join the newsletter for updates and exclusive giveaways: https://eepurl.com/bj8tKb.

About Sabrina York

sySabrina_head_logoHer Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & snarky to scorching romance.

Bookshelf! https://sabrinayork.com/books/
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Warrior’s Conquest is here!
Tuesday, August 16th, 2016

Dear Readers and Friends,

First, thanks to everyone who purchased Stepbrothers Stepping Out: With His SEAL Team! The story is still #1 on Amazon in short reads! And thanks for letting me know you want more of Hunter’s and Sara’s adventures!

Ready for a much longer sort of read? Do you love medieval stories? How about a story about a very modern girl thrust into a warrior’s camp in 1136 AD? Jacq’s story is near and dear to my and my sister’s hearts. We wrote this adventure story together. And now, we’d love to share it with you! Enjoy the excerpt! Let me know what you think!

Warrior’s Conquest

Warrior sConquest 600

A Medieval Timetravel Romance!

With proportions that would make Xena weep, Jacqueline Frazier despairs of ever finding a lover she can’t intimidate. Until the day she ignores a warning regarding use of a family heirloom, and finds herself swept off her feet by a knight in not so shining armor, back to the twelfth century. Forced to accept the protection of an overbearing, beast of a man, Rufus of Rathburn, Jacq struggles to find her place in the past while seeking a way back to the future. In the meantime, she aids Rufus’s war cause with a little 21st century ingenuity, shaking up the warlord with lessons in bomb-making, guerilla tactics, and the joys of sex.

At first unwilling, and ungrateful, Rufus begins to see merit in Jacq’s odd ways. Through Jacq’s eccentricities and willfulness, Rufus learns she is a woman to be reckoned with, as well as a lusty handful in bed. Will his admiration of her cunning, strength and uninhibited sexuality grow into a love that breaks the barriers of time? And will their love be strong enough for Jacq to plot a different future in the past?

Get your copy here!

Read an excerpt!

“Damnation!”

Rufus landed on his rear at the entrance of his tent. He saw the silvery glint of stars for a moment before realizing the flashing metal was the water ewer bouncing away. Instinct saved him a second knot on his forehead as he threw up his arm to deflect the next object lobbed at his head. He rolled to his knees and lunged upwards to face his angry adversary.

His breath caught. She was magnificent! Her hair was in disarray around her shoulders, and her chest heaved with fury. Bright blotches of color stained her cheeks, and the determined set of her chin and narrowed eyes warned him this would not be an easy conquest.

And she had prepared well. His two war chests stood stacked one on top of the other, and he saw a number of objects on the ground beside her feet—ammunition for the battle to come. The chests stood as a shield between them.

“I take it you’re upset,” he said mildly.

Her lips curled back in a feral smile as she hefted the copper water basin.

Aware of her intent, he feinted to the left.

Jacq modified her aim before the bowl left her hand.

The copper vessel spun through the air and caught Rufus directly at his midsection. “Oomph!” He rubbed his stomach. She certainly didn’t throw like a girl. “You were placed under guard in this tent for your own protection,” he began, hoping to reason her out of her present course of action. He could easily overpower her but didn’t want to cause her harm, and he hoped the physical venting would aid both their libidos.

Her left hand balanced his helmet.

“Now, see here,” he protested. “I haven’t a smith with me to repair that.”

Her arm came back, and the helmet flew at his shoulder.

Instead of ducking, Rufus reached out to catch the heavy armor. While fumbling with both hands to keep the helmet from crashing to the floor. He felt another painful thud against his back and saw a stone roll away.

“Enough!” he roared. His patience quickly dwindled as the bruises to his skin and pride accumulated. He leapt toward the barricade.

The tantalizing tempest circled, remaining just out of reach.

With a powerful swipe of his arm, he connected with the upper chest, flinging it across the tent. He jumped over the remaining one only to stumble to his knees when her foot connected with his ankle. His curses blistered the air.

Then she had the nerve to laugh out loud, spinning out of reach.

A voice called from outside the tent. “Rufus, do you need aid?”

“Stay out of this, Donald.” He heard muffled guffaws and felt his face grow hot. He’d been tolerant long enough. “Cease, woman.” He rose to his feet, expecting another impact.

Instead, she faced him with his own sword held between her two hands.

“Don’t be foolish. If you choose to use that, you will not take two steps outside this tent without being cut down.”

She faced him calmly, her breath slowing as her hands moved on the pommel of the sword. Despite her bravado, her upper arms trembled with the effort of holding the weapon aloft.

“You will explain to me why you have made a shambles of my tent, and why you attacked me,” he demanded.

“You put that beast on me as a guard,” she yelled back.

He was relieved she at last broke her silence. Her quiet determination had begun to unnerve him. “I placed Beast there for your protection.” He needed to keep her talking while his mind sought a solution to this present coil.

“That’s his name?” She looked appalled then she shook herself. “He never left me.”

Irritated she didn’t seem to appreciate his care, he gritted out, “Those were my orders.”

“You ordered him to stay with me, even when I relieved myself?” Her voice rose toward the end.

Ahhh…he understood now. Her woman’s sensibilities had been offended. “His orders were to keep you in his sight at all times.”

“Well, your protection stinks. I don’t accept it any longer. You’ll provide me with a horse and weapons. I’m leaving.”

“You may leave when you tell me who you are and what you were doing on that battlefield yesterday. That is your only choice.” He stiffened his stance. “And do not think I will let you ride out of here without escort.”

Her eyes narrowed and her hands tightened around the pommel. “Then you’d best be prepared for a battle, because I don’t accept the terms under which you hold me captive.”

“Woman, did this morning not teach you a lesson?” he asked, frustration pounding at his temple. “You need my protection. Or did you enjoy cavorting naked before a company of men?”

“Augh!” At last, her anger made her careless. Lunging toward him with his upright sword, she managed a creditable swipe of the blade. He dodged it and stepped around the tent to keep outside her reach.

“Rufus, what is going on in there?” Donald’s worried face appeared at the opening.
Jacq turned toward the sound.

Rufus took advantage of her distraction to edge farther along the circumference of the tent. “Not now, Donald. As you can see, I am busy.”

She swung back, her gaze narrowing, her hands shifting on the hilt.

Donald’s eyebrows rose as his glance fell on the woman. “Well, Rufus, I will leave you to your game. Shout, if you need assistance.”

“Go!” Rufus ordered.

Donald disappeared behind the canvas, his laughter ringing out clearly in the early evening air.

Odds were, the whole camp would know in minutes that a woman held him at bay—with his own sword! “It seems, lady, we are at an impasse.”

“No, you’ll agree to my terms, or I’ll run you through.”

Her face appeared set, and he wondered if she truly had the courage to try. “Donald,” he yelled.

“Yes, Rufus?” came his answer through the tent walls.

“If you see the woman walk out of this tent first, you will not allow her to leave this camp.”

“If that woman walks out of the tent on her own two feet, I’ll wed her myself and breed sons on her.” Donald’s voice held amusement.

Rufus’s gaze never left hers, but he allowed an eyebrow to quirk upward.

Jacq’s face reddened, and her eyes betrayed a hint of moisture. “I can do this.”

“Madam, you have the advantage at the moment, but only because I allow it.”

“You allow it? I hold your sword.” Her voice shook along with the hands drooping under the continuous strain of holding the heavy weapon.

“You have one more chance to put down my sword and talk to me about this, or I will take it from you.”

“I dare you to try—”

That was all the encouragement Rufus needed. He lunged.

Jacq stepped backward, only to catch the backs of her knees on the overturned chest directly behind her. She flailed her arms outwards, choosing to lose the sword rather than risk impaling herself.

The weapon thudded against the canvas and hard-packed earth.

But Jacq never hit the ground.

Rufus caught her and pulled her up tightly against his chest.

~~~

Before her mind could tell her she should resist, she’d been shoved against the square wooden beam that served as the tent’s center pole. She was trapped once more by his overwhelming strength. For a few moments, she struggled. Eventually, her puny attempts ceased, and she conceded, slumping wearily against him. She dragged air into her lungs and forced up her gaze to meet his, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing defeat stamped on her face.

He held her easily, subduing her.

She recognized the awesome power of his muscled arms and thighs. She’d never stood a chance.

“Rufus, talk to me. It’s too quiet in there. Is all well?” Donald asked.

“Yes, I have her now.”

“Well, then I’ll go on to dinner. Unless, that is, you need help…”

“No, I have everything well in hand,” he answered evenly.

His gaze remained on her, his face betraying no emotion. Jacq worried now the fire of her self-righteous anger was banked. What reprisal would he seek against her for the attack?

His breathing was even, and other than a slight flush across his cheeks, he appeared unaffected.

She wished she could say the same, but that odd combination of fear and excitement thrummed along her veins. Her breaths shortened and her body softened, yielding to his. Molten liquid dampened the juncture of her thighs, and she was helpless to stop the slight undulation of her hips.

As though he sensed her ripening arousal, his nostrils flared. When he leaned ever so slightly closer, her head fell back to grant him access to her mouth. Through half-closed eyes, she watched him stare at her mouth, and she wantonly slid her tongue in a circle to wet her lips. She heard his groan a moment before his lips slammed down on hers.

For an angry kiss, it was a doozy. She learned his taste while battling for control of this joining. They parried—mouths open, tongues stabbing.

Then something happened that shifted the kiss from another battle between steel-willed adversaries to a burning need to brand and possess each other.

His palms captured her cheeks and held her while his mouth ate hers, his lips dragging over hers in drugging circles.

Jacq mewled and tugged at his hair, her tongue sliding against his, lapping and sucking, until they were both breathless.

He ground his rigid cock against her lower belly, and she relented, widening her legs to make room for him to step between. His hands raked her skirt upward, then his knees dipped slightly, and her feet left the ground.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and lifted her legs to encircle his waist.

They both groaned into each other’s mouths as their bodies met with only the fabric of his braies separating their straining loins.

Held high against him, her body open to his, she rubbed her moistening pussy along his length, entering a rhythm matched by their circling mouths. Jacq’s world narrowed to that burning juncture where Rufus rutted against her, the fabric chafing her tender flesh.

Animalistic grunts and groans rose between them.

Mindless now, Jacq forgot why she shouldn’t be doing this with him. She forgot she didn’t even like him—her body adored him.

His hands cupped her buttocks, squeezed and released, over and over, encouraging her to rub frantically up and down against his cock.

Suddenly clothes were too confining, and she was desperate to feel the steel of his shaft inside her. She broke the kiss. “Please!” she gasped, even as her hips rolled again.

The muscles of his buttocks bunched beneath her heels as he straightened with her in his arms and walked the short steps to her pallet. He knelt, holding her pressed to him, and lay her down amid the furs.

She writhed against him and repeated in a long, keening wail, “Please, now, Rufus.”

He rose up on his knees and dragged her bliaut over her head. Then he rent the neck opening of her borrowed shirt to the waist, shoving the ragged edges aside to expose her breasts. Rufus leaned over her and nuzzled her breast. “Jacq,” he groaned, and his mouth opened over one straining crest. He sucked it hard into his mouth.

She nearly screamed from the pleasure. But still too many clothes were between them. She wanted to touch skin.

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