Sins of the Highlander (22 page)

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Lord of Fire and Ice

by Connie Mason with Mia Marlowe

Katla wished Brandr wouldn’t keep turning those deep, amber eyes on her. They made it hard for her to think.

“I’m not sure what you’re fit for,” she said, willing herself not to betray how his hard body affected her. The son of Ulf had the frame of a warrior, honed to lean fitness. His muscles stood out beneath smooth skin marred by only a few battle scars.

Katla’s bed had been cold for three years. She didn’t miss having a husband countermand her decisions, but she sorely missed the feel of a man’s body. Brandr Ulfson made her remember that longing in exquisite detail.

She set her mouth in a tight line. It was a man’s world. A woman had to be strong when dealing with a male, even one wearing the iron collar of a thrall, lest he run roughshod over her.

“Have you any skills besides wenching and drinking?”

“I’m a fighter by trade.” His mouth turned up in a lazy, sensual smile. “Obviously drinking isn’t one of my strengths. At least, not when someone taints the mead. But don’t discount wenching. I know how to please a woman. My bed skills are yours for the asking.”

Her cheeks flushed with irritation that he’d divined the direction of her thoughts. Why shouldn’t a widow enjoy a bed slave so long as she kept herself from bearing?

She gave herself a slight shake. This new thrall was nothing but the son of Ulf. She had to keep thinking of him as such.

“I accepted you as my thrall to exact revenge for my husband’s death,” she snapped. She’d sworn to avenge Osvald and this was her first chance to make good on her vow. She’d humble him so abjectly his name would become a byword throughout the North, a warning to all men who fell into the hands of a vengeful woman. “Keep your lewd suggestions to yourself.”

Brandr Ulfson eyed her with boldness so she felt obliged to return the favor. Usually, a bald head made her look away. Only freemen let their hair and beards grow long. But by shearing Brandr’s locks, her brothers had accentuated his strong, even features. A man had to be breathtakingly handsome to still be so appealing after he’d endured the shame of being shorn.

She knelt beside him and stretched out her hand to run a palm over his head, down his neck, and around his firm jawline. In a few days, he’d be prickly with new hair growth—fine blond hair judging from the pale curls licking his brown nipples—but for now, the bare skin on his head and face was begging to be touched.

She straightened her spine.

“Letting you demonstrate your bed skills doesn’t sound like revenge,” she said. “It sounds like you’re trying to trick me into pleasuring a thrall.”

“If we shared a bed, it would be about
your
pleasure.” His amber eyes darkened to sable. “Not mine.”

“So bedding me wouldn’t please you?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m sure it would please me. Very much. But my aim would be your delight.”

Her breath caught and she couldn’t move. He gave her a thorough look, starting with her mouth, lingering at her breasts, which tingled under his direct gaze, and traveling down her loins and limbs.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Katla. And you’ve missed a man’s touch.”

“I haven’t missed yours,” she snapped. “And you will address me as ‘mistress’ or ‘my lady.’ You may not use my name, thrall.”

She turned and rummaged through her clothes trunk for the oldest, coarsest tunic she could find. She hoped it would be big enough to fit him, but for now, she’d be satisfied with draping the undyed fabric across his groin.

“Varangians are supposed to value honor above all,” she said. “Before I loose your bonds, will you swear upon your honor to obey me and not to run away?”

“I won’t run. Your brothers took me by guile and womanish potions, but they took me. As long as your commands do not conflict with my honor, I so swear to obey you,” he said. “May Thor strike me blind if I do not.”

“If the god doesn’t, I will,” she promised as she cut the bindings on his wrists.

He worked the knot at his ankles as soon as his hands were free. Then he stood to pull the rough tunic over his head.

Katla took a step back from him. The tunic was snug across his broad chest and struck him mid-thigh, leaving his well-muscled legs exposed. At least his disturbing maleness was covered.

“Now what,
princess
?” He managed to make the title he gifted her with sound like a curse.

She had to show this man his place and quickly. “I saved you from the gelding knife this night. You will show your appreciation by kissing my foot.”

She lifted her nightshift to ankle height and presented one to him, toes pointed.

That should wipe the smug expression from his face.

He shrugged, bent over and grabbed her ankle. Then he yanked her upside down. Her bottom took a glancing blow on the floor before she found herself hanging precariously, her foot level with his mouth when he stood back upright.

It happened so quickly, surprise forced all the air from Katla’s lungs. Her nightshift billowed down to bunch at her armpits, exposing her to him. When she tried to kick free, he grasped her other ankle as well. Her fingertips splayed on the slate floor to steady herself.

She clamped her lips shut to keep from crying out. There were a dozen strong men snoring on the other side of the door. They’d all rush to her aid, but she’d die before she let anyone catch her in this undignified position.

He planted a wet kiss on her instep and then lowered her to the floor. She managed not to land on her head; her right shoulder took most of her weight before she rolled to lie flat on her back on the cold slate.

He glared down at her and bared his teeth in a wolf’s smile. “Want me to kiss anything else, princess?”

Coming July 2012

by Amanda Forester

Seduction is a powerful weapon…

Morrigan McNab is a Highland lady, robbed of her birthright and with no choice but to fight alongside her brothers to protect their impoverished clan. When she encounters Sir Jacques Dragonet, she discovers her fiercest opponent…

Sir Jacques Dragonet is a Noble Knight of the Hospitaller Order, willing to give his life to defend Scotland from the English. He can’t stop himself from admiring the beautiful Highland lass who wields her weapons as well as he can and endangers his heart even more than his life…

Now they’re racing each other to find a priceless relic. No matter who wins this heated rivalry, both will lose unless they can find a way to share the spoils.

“A masterful storyteller, Amanda Forester brings new excitement to Scottish medieval romance!”
—Gerri Russell, award-winning author of
To Tempt a Knight

For more Amanda Forester, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Mary Wine

Clarrisa of York has never needed a miracle more. Sent to Scotland’s king to be his mistress, her deliverance arrives in the form of being kidnapped by a brusque Highland laird who’s a bit too rough to be considered divine intervention. Except his rugged handsomeness and undeniable magnetism surely are magnificent…

Laird Broen MacNichols has accepted the challenge of capturing Clarrisa to make sure the king doesn’t get the heir he needs in order to hold on to the throne. Broen knows more about royalty than he ever cared to, but Clarrisa, beautiful and intelligent, turns out to be much more of a challenge than he bargained for…

With rival lairds determined to steal her from him and royal henchmen searching for Clarrisa all over the Highlands, Broen is going to have to prove to this independent-minded lady that a Highlander always claims his prize…

“[The characters] fight just as passionately as they love while intrigue abounds and readers turn the pages faster and faster!”
—
RT Book Reviews
, 4 stars

For more Mary Wine, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Terry Spear

It’s a matter of pride… And a matter of pleasure…

Julia Wildthorn is sneaking into Argent Castle to steal an ancient relic, but reluctant laird Ian MacNeill may be the key to unlocking the one answer she really wants discovered…

From brilliant storyteller Terry Spear, modern day werewolves meet the rugged Highlands of Scotland, where instinct meets tradition and clan loyalties give a whole new meaning to danger…

Experience for yourself the sensual, action-packed, critically acclaimed worlds of Terry Spear, author of a
Publishers Weekly
Best Book of the Year:

“Crackles with mystery, adventure, violence, and passion.”—
Library Journal

“A thrilling, engaging, wonderful ride.”—
Seriously Reviewed

For more Terry Spears visit:

www.sourcebooks.com