Excerpt from THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE

This book is a fantasy romance published at Samhain Publishing:

 http://www.samhainpublishing.com/romance/the-wolverine-and-the-rose

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“Excuse me, milady,” a rich, deep voice rumbled in her ear. “But I believe you dropped this.”

Arianna’s insides trembled. She turned and faced the robed man. In his hand was the blood-red rose. She cleared her throat before she spoke, not trusting her own voice.

“No sir. That is not mine.”

“Yes, I believe it is.” He broke the long stem. Once he’d pulled off the thorns, he placed the bloom behind her right ear.

Arianna caught her breath, trying to make sense of this. She wanted to turn and run, but this man would catch her, she was sure of it.

“Can you read?”

“What?”

“Can you read?” His query was more urgent, demanding an answer.

A moment of silence passed before she answered him. “No. I cannot.”

Arianna glanced over his shoulder only to see the Dark Knights entering the marketplace. People scattered to get out of their way, running as fast as their feet could carry them. Arianna’s loud gasp made the stranger turn and look.

The man hissed a foul oath. Arianna widened her eyes, but she didn’t have time to question him. As quick as a flash, he snatched her arm and sprinted out of the marketplace.

“What are you doing?” Arianna yelled as he sped through the streets with her in tow.

“Be quiet,” he yelled back.

The man pulled her into an alley, and released her arm. Arianna fought for breath as fear pulsed through her. What was happening? Who was this man? He peered around the corner of the building, looking for pursuers.

“Damn!” he growled, turning back to her. “Follow my lead.”

Scrambling out of his robe, he tossed it on the ground and pushed Arianna against the nearby wall. She didn’t have a chance to wonder at what he meant to do before his mouth descended upon hers.

Shock flooded through her and she whimpered at the contact. Should she push him away or pull him closer? Regardless of the fact she’d never met this man before, she couldn’t deny kissing him felt so right, so perfect. She didn’t have the strength to let him go. Arianna vaguely heard the sound of men shouting and running past the alley, but she didn’t care, she didn’t think about anything but the man pressing against her, trapping her against the wall

Without thinking, her arms circled his neck. She wanted to get closer to him. Standing on her toes, she threaded her fingers through his hair. The man groaned in response. His hands framed her face, holding her head still for his plundering mouth. When his silken tongue danced on her lips, she gasped. She didn’t know what to do, but once she opened her mouth for him, his tongue slid inside, playing with her own.

He sprang away from her as if burned. “I am sorry, milady,” he said, running his shaky fingers through his thick blond hair. “I am sorry.”

Trembling, Arianna watched as he grabbed his robe from the ground. His cheeks turned bright red. Arianna couldn’t believe he’d kissed her. And why had she let him?

When he was satisfied no one followed them, he turned back to her. His face relaxed. “I am sorry, milady, for dragging you though the streets.” Arianna stood frozen, like a frightened rabbit. From within the sleeve of his robe he produced what looked like an ancient scroll case. It was embossed with dragons and had some sort of writing engraved into it. He pushed it into her hand. “Take this and hide it.”

Arianna looked down at it, dumbfounded. “But sir…”

“Just do it, Rose,” he said with such finality she could not argue with him. He looked briefly around the corner again. Arianna noticed a sword strapped to his waist—a snarling Wolverine etched on the hilt. As soon as she saw it, the man donned the robe once again. “I will be back for this scroll in a few days. Please keep it safe.”

Arianna tried to protest once more. “Sir, I cannot…”

“Where do you live?” he demanded, interrupting her.

She stared at him.

“Quickly, milady!”

“I…my father has a farm about an hour’s walk that way.” She pointed with a trembling hand west, toward the King’s Mountains. “Who…what are you?”

“Please, no questions, milady. Keep the scroll safe. That is all that matters. If you will not do it for me, do it for your king.”

 ~*~*~*~

THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE by Rebecca Goings

Samhain Publishing 

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For the Free Read prequel to The Legends of Mynos, you can download the PDF eBook of

THE CRYSTAL OF MYNOS here:

http://www.RebeccaGoings.com/thecrystalofmynos.pdf  

~~Becka

http://www.RebeccaGoings.com