Beltaine’s Song, Book 2, Dark Goddess Trilogy
Enter Dark Age Scotland””a mysterious, dangerous & exciting place”¦
Buy links: http://kelleyheckart.com/BeltainesSong.html
Blurb: For each of them, spring’s song has a different meaning.
Aedan and Domelch must battle earthly foes””enemy kings and traitorous allies. For the first time, the arrival of spring heralds the sound of a harsh battle horn as their foes close in. Through all this turmoil, can their love survive?
For their son, Gartnait, spring brings with it the promise of new love and the thrilling sound of the battle horn, putting those he cares about in danger.
Beltaine’s Song Excerpt:
Caitlin peeled off Domelch’s battle gear. Domelch yearned for a hot bath, but settled for a cold cloth to wipe off the sweat and grime of battle. She stood naked while Caitlin used a cloth soaked in a bowl of lavender scented water to clean her. The lavender scented water soothed her troubled mind and would do until she could get home and sink into a hot bath. Sometimes she detested campaigning with all its inconveniences.
She looked up and saw Aedan standing in the shadows, his eyes admiring her naked body, reflecting the flickering flames of the lamp.
Caitlin finished washing Domelch. “What would ye wish of me now, my queen?”
“Leave us,” Domelch ordered, smiling at Aedan. “Stay nearby. I will call you if I require your assistance.”
“Aye, my queen.” Caitlin scurried past Aedan.
Seeing the desire in his eyes made her feel alive and free of the horrors of the day. With death, came life and the living needed to be reminded of life on such days.
He came to her, holding her tight, burying his head in her neck. In his embrace she felt all the tension of battle in his body escape into her comforting arms. His sword belt jangled against her side and his chain mail bit into her skin, a reminder of battle, but also a reminder of his power as a warrior and a king. It filled her with longing, her naked flesh tingling. He smelled of sweat, horse and blood, which ignited her desire. She moved against him in a seductive arch, her hands searching him out, stroking his erection.
His cropped beard brushed against her cheek, his lips crushing her in a forceful kiss of passion and urgency. “Ah, my sweetling,” he murmured against her cheek.
He pinched her nipples, sending a lightning shock to her nether regions. Moaning with pleasure, she pulled him toward the stuffed mattress in the corner of the tent. Soft curtains hung from the rafters, fluttering, stroking her body.
A wolfish gleam lit Aedan’s eyes.
“I desire for the wolf to hunt me,” she purred, pulling on his sword belt. It fell to the floor in a loud clank.
“The wolf is vera hungry,” he growled, pulling off his boots and reaching for his trews.
She picked up her long knife, running the flat of the blade across her chest. The coldness of the blade delighted her flesh, raising her nipples.
His eyes glinted with need and he pulled off his trews and struggled with his chain mail shirt in his hurry to have her.
“Allow me, my lord.” She helped him out of the heavy shirt, brushing her hands along his erect shaft and teasing him with her lower body.
Growling, he left his under tunic on and grabbed for her, forcing her on to the bed. On all fours, her body tingled with anticipation, needing him to claim her. With a roar, he entered her from behind in a fury of desire. She felt all the battle fury and grief of the day in his powerful thrusts. One hand gripped her backside while his other hand stroked her, filling her with pain and pleasure that ached for release. She came in a powerful climax and with one final plunge, Aedan’s body rocked against her in a violent shudder.
They collapsed on the bed, tangled in the blankets. He closed his eyes, falling asleep. She watched him sleep, stroking his cheek. In sleep, his face looked peaceful, the lines of worry gone. Her heart pained her for what he had to endure to be king. He had much to contend with for prisoners were being questioned in a distant tent about who else was behind the uprising. Rumors flourished that some in Aedan’s own circle may be involved. The love she felt for him welled up inside her and she regretted their arguments of late. If only she could accept the Christian god without reluctance.
Sighing, she covered him with a blanket and rose quietly, padding across the animal skins covering the ground. She dressed in a simple tunic dress, pulled on some leather shoes and drew back the deerskin covering the entrance, averting her eyes from the severed head.
In the gathering twilight, campfires burned into the reddening sky. A monk uttered prayers for the dead to a crowd of warriors. Off in the distance, a wolf howled, a sorrowful sound touching her mind with compassion. Tonight was for mourning the dead. A sense of premonition shadowed her heart. Tomorrow would find peace for some, answers for others and heartache for a few.
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Kimberly
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/beltainessongbykelleyheckart.html
This story is a remarkable one on so many levels. The theme spoke to my soul and touched my heart. The warrior women made this story sing for me”¦I adored the way Ms. Heckart tangled religion and politics into a tale that held my interest to the very end.
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Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating…Sensual…Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
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A Greek vampire, Celtic kings, vengeful goddesses, an ancient faery curse”¦
All three books of my Dark Goddess trilogy are available in Print and Ebook. Set in dark age Scotland, I mixed history with a Samhain/Beltaine myth that revolves around an Irish clan and the goddesses Brigit and Cailleach.
http://kelleyheckart.com/BookShelf.html
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