Here’s another snippet out of Sue-Ellen’s fabulous story. I recently finished reading it and have to admit I hated to reach “the end’ and bid goodbye to these great characters. Isn’t that the truth though–we race through books we love, hardly able to put them down but then it is such a downer when we hit that last page and realize there is no more! Thank goodness many of our favorite authors are still here and will be giving us more though.

I admit I  cried when I learned some of my faves like Tony Hillerman and Anne Macaffery had crossed over; now I can’t read any more until I join them–maybe on the other side we can just communicate by telepathy and one can ‘read’ as a writer invents a story! Wouldn’t that be a trip?

Excerpt 2

From SEDUCTION OF A HIGHLAND WARRIOR

 On The Cliff Stair – Alasdair and Marjory

Set-up: Alasdair was paying a call at Castle Nought, Lady Marjory’s home. This exchange happens after he leaves and as he is descending the cliff stair that leads down from the stronghold.  During his visit to Nought, he’d had an altercation with Marjory’s brother, Kendrew.  Alasdair took his leave in anger.

**Please note:  The MacDonald ambers refer to an enchanted necklace that is passed from one heroine to the next in the trilogy.  The necklace originally belonged to the MacDonalds, Alasdair’s clan.

     “Blackshore, wait!”

“Marjory?”  Alasdair turned on the cliff stair, his jaw slipping to see her a dozen steps above him.  Wind tore at her hair and although she clutched her blood-red cloak to her breast, he could see a hint of her bosom, the MacDonald ambers gleaming at her throat.  Mist swirled everywhere and torchlight from farther up the steps cast a halo around her, revealing her shapeliness and letting her appear like a living flame, seductive and alluring.  She beckoned him in a way that made his entire body tighten.

She was breathing hard, her breasts rising and falling beneath her cloak. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted.

Alasdair knew she’d only hastened from the hall, yet she looked as if she’d just risen from a mussed bed, still roused and excited from love play.

The thought set him like granite and he swore, ordering his men to remain where they were before he bounded the steps to stand before her.

He gripped her shoulders, shaking his head as he looked at her.  “You shouldn’t have come after me.  It was dangerous to do so.”

He didn’t say he posed the threat, knowing she’d assume he meant her brother.

“Kendrew thinks I’m in my room.”  She held his gaze, unblinking.  “I had to speak to you, alone.”

“We are hardly that, my lady.”  Alasdair didn’t release her.  As always, her scent bewitched him, the temptation of her nearness hitting him like a blow to the chest.  His heart thundered and he’d wager anything that hers pounded just as fiercely.

It was all he could do not to kiss her again, their audience be damned.

There were onlookers, even if to their left, where the cliff path fell away into nothingness, little could be seen but thick whirling mist.

Elsewhere”¦.

Alasdair didn’t care.  Lifting his hand, he trailed his knuckles along the softness of her cheek, then down the smooth line of her neck, noting how her pulse quickened beneath his touch.

“If you look behind and above you,” ““ he stepped closer and leaned toward her ““ “your brother’s guardhouse is well-manned.  My warriors are but a few steps below us.  I wouldnae say we’re no’ observed, sweet.”

“We shall be in here.”  She drew him off the stair and behind a jutting rock that looked like part of the cliff face.

In truth, the outcrop hid a deep and narrow niche in the rock wall; forming an alcove that must’ve been used as a guardhouse or storeroom in earlier centuries.  It stood empty now, the tight space filled with nothing but cold, the damp, and shadows.

It was a sheltered place, well shielded from the main cliff stair.  The cave-like niche also offered absolute protection from prying eyes.

Alasdair’s men wouldn’t disturb them here.

Nought’s guards hadn’t seen them slip inside the secret place.  Alarm horns would’ve blasted if they had.  Marjory had spoken true.

They were alone.

Thick mist blowing past the opening did the rest, sealing them away from the rest of the world.  Torchlight slanted in through a crack in the rock ceiling, casting a sheen on Marjory’s hair.  Each strand shimmered as if dusted with diamonds.  Her eyes sparkled like sapphires.  Her cloak had opened, offering glimpses of her pearly skin, stirring images of even more bared flesh.  Her nakedness pressed hard against his own, their bodies entwined.

Alasdair drew a tight breath, his pulse racing.  Just looking at her made him forget every reason he shouldn’t desire her.  Masculine awareness thrummed the entire length of him, warning that even if he did remember, he no longer cared.

The time for restraint had passed.

“This was no’ wise, sweet.”  He moved closer to her, slowly shaking his head, his gaze steady on hers.  “I warned you.  Now it’s too late.”  He placed his hands on the rock wall behind her and leaned in, trapping her within his arms.  “I’ve run dry of warnings.”

“Perhaps I do not need them?”  She straightened to her full height, squaring her shoulders so that her breasts were displayed to advantage.

She also let her gaze glide from his face down over his plaid-draped chest, then to where his sword belt was slung low around his hips.  It was a deliberate assessing that only fired his blood, stirring very wicked thoughts and causing his loins to throb.

As every time their paths crossed, her hair tumbled in fetching disarray to her waist.  Her gown hugged the curve of her hips and her nipples were chill-tightened.  They pressed against her bodice, an unbearable enticement.  And her luscious, parted lips only served to remind him how thoroughly kissable she was.

Alasdair bit back a groan.

She remained perfectly still, almost daring him to admire her.

She tilted her head, her blue gaze seemingly innocent.  “I wished only to speak with you.”

“Indeed?”  Alasdair gave her a slow smile, knew heat burned in his gaze.  The blazing passion she ignited in him, unleashed.  “A man could think you wished to seduce him.”

***

To order Seduction of a Highland Warrior, click here.  (Book 3)

Here is the order link for: Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel  (Book 2)

Here is the order link for Sins of a Highland Devil  (Book 1)

To learn more about my Highland Warriors trilogy, click here.

Visit me at www.welfonder.com