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![]() ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Order it the Kindle edition Order it the Nook Edition Order the ebook Order from iBooks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ISBN: 978-1-44-062232-8 Romantic
Times Magazine K.I.S.S. award for Nominated for
RT's Reviewers' Choice Award |
Knights of the Round Table: Geraint Sir Geraint is one of King
Arthur's ablest knights but is considered impulsive by his father, the
king of Cornwall. When he rashly marries Enid, a beautiful and
mysterious swordswoman, Geraint's decision sparks questions about
whether the love that's captured his heart so suddenly is a blessing-or
a curse...
Used to the gentle ladies of Camelot, Geraint is at once infatuated with and suspicious of his bride, a strong and independent warrior woman, gifted with magic powers by the Lady of the Lake. Enid has come to Camelot to secretly learn the fighting techniques that may help her small, peaceful tribe resist a rumored invasion. When she realizes that Geraint may not trust her, Enid is torn between fierce loyalty to her people and a powerful love for her husband that no magic can cure. Fearing that Enid has been deceiving him, Geraint takes her on a dangerous journey that will not only test her true feelings but determine whether the differences that attracted them will fuse into a real, long-lasting love-or tear them apart and ignite a senseless war between their two kingdoms...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt (Story
Setup: Enid of the Donella tribe has been granted magical gifts
by the Lady of the Lake, to go out in the world and learn the defenses
of King Arthur's mounted knights.
She's attacked by ruffians in the woods, and is seen by Geraint, Prince
of Cornwall, who is struck by her beauty and sword-fighting talent. He
takes care of her wounds, and she agrees to return to Camelot with him,
not telling him she'll be spying on behalf of her people.. )
In the morning, Albern left them, and
Geraint watched Enid wish him a farewell with the respect she'd obviously been
taught for her elders. Someone had
molded compassion and kindness into a woman with the body of a warrior, making
her intriguing. More than intriguing—her very
differentness jolted him once again. As
he filled his water skins in the stream, she began to disrobe a little way down
the bank. Her beautiful face was serene,
unperturbed that he watched. Was she
giving herself to him? Did she think his
offer of escort came with a price? From
his knees, he gaped up at her, but he couldn't speak, couldn't protest—and felt
like the very worst sort of man because of it.
Just like the men who'd abused her. She pulled the jerkin over her head,
leaving only a thin shirt without sleeves.
It hung low to her thighs, rippled in smooth folds across her hips. And then she pulled it off, and she wore
braies about her hips, a man's low-slung undergarment. And above it— He dropped the horn he'd been filling
into the shallows. Her breasts were full and rounded,
glowing in the early morning sunlight, with pink tips that hardened with the
dawn chill. When she lifted her arms to
release her hair, he barely held back a groan.
The fall of yellow curls swept along her shoulders and obscured her
breasts from his hungry view. She waded into the water, splashing
herself and shivering. He realized she
was taking a morning bath, and he didn't like himself for the disappointment
that swept through him. But his cock certainly
didn't care, for it pulsed with a hard, continuous ache. But how could he remain disappointed
when he had such a glorious sight to behold?
And in what tribe was it permitted for men and women to bathe so openly? When the water reached her thighs, she
bent over to reach below the surface. He
choked trying to swallow. She came up
with a handful of sand and began to rub it into her skin, shivering all the
while. He openly watched while she
cleaned her body, felt his mouth fall open when she submerged herself to clean
more intimate places. At last she turned toward the
shallows, her wet hair streaming down her shoulders. Geraint looked away, fumbling for the horn
he'd forgotten just as it had begun to float away. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her
don a clean shirt over her wet skin. It
clung to her. He turned away, trying to
control a shudder as he used every bit of willpower not to take what seemed offered
to him. But she was not of his people; she
didn't know what she did to him. Or did she? "Sir Geraint?" He glanced over his shoulder at her;
she had not donned her leather jerkin yet.
She was tying back her hair, arms upraised, her shirt riding just high
enough that he could see the edge of her wet braies peeking out. "You seem…shocked by my
bathing," she said hesitantly, letting her arms fall to her sides. "Do your people bathe
infrequently?" He gave a shaky laugh. "Nay, it is not that. In my kingdom, men and women do not usually
bathe so freely before each other." Her lips parted in dismay. "I have…embarrassed myself before
you?" She reached for her jerkin
and couldn't seem to find the opening in her haste. Geraint rose to his feet and went to
her, taking her hands to still them. She
looked up at him in distress, drops of water falling from her hairline to merge
with her wet shirt. "You could never embarrass
yourself before me," he murmured, reaching to cup her face. He knew he shouldn't have touched her,
but once he did, he was lost. Her skin
was soft as the finest silk. He let his
thumb brush her lips; they were moist and full and trembling. Her eyelids fluttered, and she swayed. He wanted to gather her into his arms, to
hold her close, to protect and keep her safe. Instead he bent down and kissed her
lightly on the lips. Her eyes went wide,
and they stared at each other, mouths separated by but a breath. "Stop me, Enid," he
whispered. "I should not—" But she put her hand behind his head
and pulled her to him. She did not kiss
like a shy maiden; her mouth was open to him, and her tongue darted between his
lips with a boldness that shocked and aroused him. With her body she caressed him, fitting
herself against him until he desperately wished he were without garments. They kissed and licked and clung to each
other. It took every inch of his control
not to thrust himself against her for relief. He broke the kiss, gasping. "Ah, Enid, you are wondrous. You should marry me." She laughed at him, and he gave a
shaky laugh in return as they parted.
But what had him so confused was that in that moment, he meant it. He wanted to spend his life learning
everything about her, because she would be the adventure of a lifetime. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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