Romance Author Cherie Amour's Website

He wanted to fall deeper into sleep, into the darkness, but a siren's voice draws him out of unconsciousness. Her beauty enamors him. He longs to touch her, kiss her, make love to her.

When Geva meets a mysterious man in the woods, the sexual attraction's intense. She is frightened yet enchanted by him. Soon they find it difficult to keep their hands off one another.

But two obstacles keep them apart. One's an abhorrent mystery of his past. The other's their social standings. He's a wealthy nobleman; she's a poor serf's daughter. They were never meant to be together. Society forbids it. Will their love conquer all or will it be extinguished before it's fully ignited?


General Excerpt:

Chapter One

 

Stars fluttered behind his closed eyelids, inducing him to fall deeper into unconsciousness. Sleep could be euphoric if he'd just let it continue to envelop his mind. But something urged him to rise. The voice of an angel, could it be? So soft, so serene, so alluring.

 

"My lord, are you all right?" came the caressing whisper.

 

He opened his eyes briefly and then squeezed them shut again. The stars that just seconds earlier had danced benignly behind his closed lids now expanded exponentially, blinding him. A sharp pain to the side of his temple accompanied the stars' bombardment. "Augh," he uttered in reflex.

 

A light, warm hand came to rest on his back. "Oh, dear. What shall I do?"

 

Behind the pain and disorientation, he understood that she was talking to herself, but he couldn't help but respond to the sweet voice of the siren. "Please do not fret, my lady. This will pass."

 

He opened his eyes in a slow movement this time. Although the stars still inhibited his vision, they did, however, shrink and then fade within moments. The pounding pain on the side of his head remained, though now tolerable. He turned over onto his back and peered up.

 

The intense, beaming sunlight blinded him. All he could decipher was the silhouette of a shapely figure kneeling just by his side. Bringing his hand down to block the dazzling sun's rays, he gazed at her once more. The most beautiful vision he had ever seen made him fail to expel the stale air he held. A face so delicate, so perfect, with the biggest, bluest eyes, filled his vision. Her black hair, flowing over her shoulders danced with the wind.

 

The dazzler of beauty smiled slightly and stared deep into his eyes. "Are you all right, my lord?" she repeated once more.

 

He nodded and then winced as searing pain shot through his skull. Closing his eyes briefly, he took a deep breath as a tear trickled down the side of his face. "I think I'm all right. Just have a devil of a headache is all." He extended his hand. "Would you mind helping me stand?"

 

"Certainly, my lord." She stood and extended her arm for him to grasp. In doing so, her bodice dipped and he caught a glimpse of her cleavage. His mouth watered as he imagined how her bosom would look without the confining attire.

 

He gently took hold of her hand and pulled himself to an upright stance, and then let go. His head threatened to explode from the exertion. Twisting so he leaned on his knees, he brought himself to a kneeling position and then stood up. The forest around him spun, and he shot out an arm to grab anything for support or risked plummeting to the ground once more. The only thing to support him was the beauty in front of him. Before he could focus and see what he leaned on, he heard her gasp.

 

Within seconds, his vision cleared. He realized why she gasped. His open palm leaned on her plump bosom. Quickly pulling away, he felt his cheeks heat. "Forgive me, my lady. My vision is confusing me, and I only reacted so as not to fall."

She cleared her throat. "It's quite all right, my lord." She stared ahead. "Can you walk? My home isn't that far off."

He nodded slowly. "Yes, but I will need to lean on your shoulder so as not to fall."

 

She turned so her shoulder was just a few inches away from him. "Certainly, my lord."

 

As he leaned closer and placed his hand for balance, a whiff of a flowered fragrance tickled his nose. He tamed an urge to nuzzle the nape of her exquisite, delicate neck.

 

They walked for quite some time at a turtle's pace while he continued to wonder what was right and left as everything spun around him. He closed his eyes a few seconds hoping it would subside. To distract himself from the cyclone view, he asked, "What is your name?"

 

She glanced at him and smiled shyly. "My name is Geva, my lord."

 

"That is a beautiful name, for a beautiful lady." He grinned back.

 

Instantly, she broke their eye contact and stared on the ground before them, her cheeks reddening from embarrassment. She quickened her pace and stuttered, "T-thank y-you, my lord."

 

Trying to follow her new speedy pace became difficult. "Geva, would you mind slowing down? I'm afraid that I cannot keep up. The woods spin more with every quickened breath I take."

 

She stopped suddenly and turned to look at him with worried eyes. "Please, forgive me. I didn't realize you were still dizzy. Would you like to rest, my lord?"

 

He shook his head. "No, that isn't necessary. If we walk slowly, I'll be all right."

 

When she turned back and continued to stride more languidly, he dipped his head forward so he could gaze at her eyes. But she didn't look at him. Her cheeks reddened still and spread to her chin and neck. Finding it flattering and enticing, he coughed. "Um, I won't bite, you know. I'm really quite harmless, my lady."

 

By now, he could see the cottage she spoke of in his peripheral vision. It was small. A fire must surely be burning inside because the chimney emitted a white cloud of smoke in the air.

 

Ignoring his teasing words, and his stare, she glanced at him and stated, "There is my home. Do you think you can walk that far?"

 

He nodded and smiled. "I'll try, Geva."

 

She turned her gaze forward again, but he didn't miss her brief reciprocating smile.

 

He decided to change his approach since she was obviously uncomfortable with his directness. Small talk would be best. "Is the village nearby?"

 

"No. It isn't that far off, though. But I don't think you are strong enough to travel that far by foot, my lord."

Feeling the fatigue settle in and pain seep into his limbs and head, he replied,  "No, I don't think I'd be able to. If I could just rest in your home for a bit, until I regain my strength, then I won't bother you anymore and will head out to the village myself. You'll just have to show me what direction to go."

 

Still avoiding his eyes, she murmured, "You are no bother."

 

He barely caught it, but heard it, he did. Urging her to repeat herself, he asked, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

 

Her eyes widened and she babbled, "I, uh . . . I was, uh . . . I was asking what your name is, my lord."

 

He stopped dead in his pace a few seconds later as the full force of the question hit him, stunning him.

His name.

"I'm . . . my name is . . ." He procrastinated.

For the love of God, he couldn't think of what his name was.

Adult Excerpt:

Confusion swirled in her mind, making her feel overwhelmed. What was happening?

 

She stood in the duchess's castle in one of the chambers, looking around. Two men had come early that morning requesting that she and her father return with them to the castle. While her father had gone with another man, she had been brought to this room, asked to bath, change clothes, and then wait.

 

Breeches, chemise, and hose, as well as an underskirt and the most beautiful red silk gown Geva had ever seen, lay on the bed. The female servant had asked her if she needed assistance with her bath or getting dressed, but modesty compelled her to refuse, and she asked that she be left alone to get ready.

 

As she began to undress, she glanced around the gigantic room. Portrait paintings aligned one side of the wall while the other housed a fireplace and the tub of warm water for her bath. The bed in the middle of the room was wide and spectacular. The wooden headboard had intricately carved angels in it. Having dropped her undergarments, she walked, nude, over to the bed to take a closer look at the handiwork.

 

The door opened suddenly then. She jumped and turned to find the handsome, tall, dark stranger enter the room. His eyes were wide in surprise.

 

He stopped in his step and gawked. "Geva. I didn't know they brought you in here."

 

Shock left her numb, unable to move to cover herself, unable to speak to explain.

His gazed roamed from her face, to her bosom, down lower to her pelvis. She felt her nipples get taut, and heat pooled between her legs at his hungry stare. Within seconds, she finally got back her wits and snatched the underskirt up to cover her front, as much of it as she could, that is. "Why are you here, my lord?"

A smile spread over his face. "These are my private chambers. I just came back from horseback riding and wanted to bathe and change into clean clothes." He glanced at the tub. "I guess this is for you, not me, since they hadn't expected me back so soon." He glanced back at her and his grin widened. "It is good to see you again. You look lovelier than when I saw you last."

 

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and a warm feeling encompassed her heart and heated her cheeks. "Thank you, my lord." She walked a little closer to gaze at his face more closely. "The cut has healed well."

 

He touched above his brow and grinned. "Yes, it has. I am forever grateful for what you did for me, Geva. If it weren't for you, I might have perished in the forest. I owe you my life."

 

She lowered her gaze in humility. "I did nothing, my lord. Anyone who came upon you that day would have done the same thing."

 

He moved in closer and grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it while staring into her eyes. "No, my dear, you did far more than anyone else. Only you have the touch to heal. Only you could have saved me."

 

Without warning, he pulled her to him, crushing her body to his, making her gasp. He encircled her waist with his arms and stared at her lips when they were a mere inch away from his. He peered deep into her eyes and she swooned. His beautiful hazel eyes enchanted her. She could spend an eternity staring into them.

 

His strong chest pressed against hers and her breasts throbbed from the pressure. Wetness spread between her legs as arousal traveled from her bosom to her pelvis instantly. She should push him away before he did something else. She was, after all, in his private chambers, naked, and one of the maids could come in any minute. What would the duchess think if someone did catch them like this? But she couldn't pull away. Being in his arms, feeling his muscular body crushing her, his hard manhood pressing on her pelvis through her garment, made her body awaken in ways she never thought possible. It felt so, so good. She yearned for more.

 

Breathing heavily, he brought his lips to hers, and when they were less than half an inch away, he whispered,  "I am forever grateful." He gently pressed his mouth down on hers and her legs weakened.

 

He slowly moved his hands up to cup the side of her face while he boldly pushed his tongue into her mouth. She caressed his tongue with hers and wrapped her arms around his neck.

 

Now that she no longer held the garment, he groaned and moved so as to free them from the cumbersome barrier. His hands then began to roam over her, touching the side of her hips, causing pleasurable goose bumps to form all over her skin. He worked himself up to her breasts. When he gently touched them, she worried he would be repulsed again like he had been at her cottage. And she held her breath even though her mind screamed for her to arch her body closer to his ministrations.

 

He released her lips and gazed down at her body, and then he looked back deep into her eyes. "You are so beautiful, Geva. A true goddess with a heart of gold."

 

He returned to kissing her lips, but this time, his actions were more demanding. He rubbed her nipples and pinched them softly.

 

A gush of liquid seeped out of her nether lips then, and she widened her legs. He let go of her nipples, brought his hands to her buttocks, and pushed her hard against himself. She reacted by moaning and crushing her pelvis up against him. His hard manhood, confined in his trousers, rubbed against her and her lips throbbed from the vibration.

 

As daring as her companion, she brought her hand to the side of his erectness and pulled on the strings of his trousers.

 

He jerked away and took a deep breath. She panted, wondering what he was doing. Would he stop this before it began once more? She'd surely go mad if he did.