Excerpt from The Guardian's Witch

Her eyes fluttered open. She stood at the lodge door. The mist was everywhere, low and heavy. He stepped toward her out of the forest. His stride was sure and strong. His gray eyes sparkled like lightning.

He drew closer, never taking his eyes from hers. Closer. She could see his strong soft lips. Closer. She reached out-her hand itching to touch him.

He gently took her hand and tucked it through his arm. They strolled the shrouded grounds amidst the swirling autumn leaves. The bare branches were in stark contrast to the one tree which still held late fall blossoms. They stopped under the canopy of blossoms.  

He reached up and picked a bloom and tucked it behind her ear. His hand stoked the side of her face. His eyes never left her mouth. He gently ran his thumb over her lower lip. Her breath caught and she moaned. He eased close to her and encircled her in his arms. A sense of urgency drove her and her body ached for his touch. She leveled her head and was captured by the longing in his eyes. The very thought made her chest tighten.

The blossoms in the tree swayed in the light evening breeze sending a light perfume in the air.

He bent his head closer and tenderly kissed her forehead. He raised her head and captured her lips. Liquid heat roared through her veins. Every nerve was alive. Every touch of his lips made her dizzy with delight. He took her moan into his mouth and completed it with his own.

He kissed her cheek lightly. He worked his way to her earlobe and gave it a gentle nip until he took it into his mouth. His warm breath in her ear sent chills of delight cascading through her. She sank further into his arm. He trailed velvety warm kisses down her neck. Another moan, more guttural than the first, escaped her lips.

The urgency of the wind disturbed the blossoms sending a light dusting of delicate petals raining down on them. The rising wind matched the swirling desire deep inside her.

He pressed his manhood against her leg while his lips seared a path down her neck. She gasped at the sensations and held him tighter lest he disappear. The top of her gown around her waist, his hand covered her breast and she thought she would die from the exquisite joy. His mouth advanced in a warm steady march across her collar bone and down the soft incline of her breast. He hesitated, a thoughtful expression spread across his face. She panicked he would stop. He looked into her eyes. She noted something deep and primal in his. A sense of urgency drove her. She attempted half-heartedly to control the dizzying current racing through her. He dipped his head. His mouth found the softness of her breast. He slowly licked her hardened nipple.

Her soft curves molded into the hard planes of his body. He raised his head and gazed into his passion filled eyes. She closed her eyes as he bent to her neck. His hot breath against her ear whispered, Mine. She listened to the tinkling of the hard shell of her resistance shatter into a million pieces. How would she ever be the same? Her hands raked his back. She threw her head back to give him more room. His long low groan made her hot and wet.

The wind picked up – slowly at first. The white blossoms danced and floated in the air. The faster her heart beat, the wilder the wind blew, the more insistent she became, until the blossoms pelted them angrily.

Trapped between the tree and Alex, Lisbeth was lost and didn’t care. Safe, the horror and guilt were gray shadows. She could conquer them with Alex.

One last gust of wind and the blossoms were gone. Alex pulled away his eyes glistening with unspent desire. He tucked her head against his chest. “Mine,” he whispered. He kissed the top of her head.

She let out a soft sigh. “Forever,” she said softly. The strong steady beat of his heart lulled her to sleep.