Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out
the way it does when she’s in serious thought—and though I’m listening
to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth.
Nip it and caress it with my tongue.
“I knew you’d say
that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn’t want you to know.”
She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my
forehead. Her body subtly moves against mine as she does, and it drives
me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more
weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don’t need the
added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They’re my
kindred. As long as I’m their equal—in both power and status—I can
protect you.”
This woman—the woman I’ve
loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against
physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. However, I
cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be
her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she’s fearful, and
protect her against this world.
I tilt my
head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won’t be with me.” I
want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her
battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for
her kept affections, then by Gods…help me from laying her out on this
tile and taking her. I won’t stop.
She nods.
“This
is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I
need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I
grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine.
Her
lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss,
unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss
many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips
slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have
ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can’t slow. I
won’t. I won’t allow her a moment to question our actions, to
reconsider us. I’m going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out
of her infuriatingly rational head.
She
shivers and locks her arms around my neck. Moving my hands along her
waist, I grab her shift, clenching my fingers in the material and
pulling her closer to me, but also trying to restrain my passion. I’m so
hard beneath her; I ache to be inside her. A moan works its way up from
my chest. Her body moves on top and then bears down as she rubs herself
against me, and it’s my undoing.
I dart my
tongue deeper into the hollow of her mouth, craving her taste. Her moan
rumbles through me, sending a current rippling over my skin, as if
she’s infusing me with her power. As her hands fist in my hair, I touch
every inch of her, my fingers wanting to be everywhere at once. I thrust
up against her and her hips press down, matching my rhythm. Her thin
undergarment brushes over me, and I can feel the heat just beneath the
bothersome material. I want it gone—to remove it in one quick motion so
that there is nothing between us. Only her soft skin against mine.
A
tremor of need rocks my body and I pull back, painfully breaking our
kiss. “Don’t deny me your feelings anymore,” I say, my voice hoarse. “I
need you now—all of you.” Desire blooms in her glowing blue eyes, and
I’m nearly lost in them. I swallow, gaining my conviction. “I want to
belong to you. Let me please you… Let me serve you.”
Her
eyes flash, and for one second I fear her rejection. I won’t be able to
go back, to return our relationship to the way it was before I felt her
in my arms, her tongue mingling with mine, her body trembling from my
touch. No. I refuse to go back. Lifting us out of the water, I hold her
close as I step onto the tiled floor.
She
will give me one last chance to convince her. I at least get that before
she makes her decision. If she denies me afterward, I will accept
it…though I know it will break me.
I hold
her bright gaze as I walk us into my chamber, the slight breeze hitting
my wet skin with a cool kiss. I pull her body closer to me, reveling in
the feel of her legs locked around my waist. I need her to want me as
badly as I crave her.
She swallows hard as I
slowly lower her feet to the floor. Her body slides down against mine,
heightening my need for her all over again. I run my fingers up her
arms, and she shivers. Reaching the silver clasps of her soaked shift, I
pause, a fire igniting in my stomach, right before I undo them. The wet
material hits the ground, revealing her body to me.
My
eyes longingly take in every curve, every silky inch of skin, the swell
of her breasts and their perked peaks. I run my tongue over my lips and
force my eyes away from her beautiful body, reminding myself why I
brought her in here. I tear myself away from her side to search for the
asp necklace I’ve wanted to give her since…forever.
I
don’t know the exact moment I knew I loved Star. It didn’t smack me
over the head. Looking back, it’s as if I’ve always loved her in some
form, whether as a friend, a confident, or a desired lover—as if I’ve
always known she was the only woman for me. But I do recall the day I
bought the asp. We were swimming in the ocean. She was lying on her back
staring into the sky, her wet shift teasingly outlining her body…and I
just watched. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I’m sure I had a dumb
look on my face, but in that moment, I wanted her. No other would ever
compare.
That day I made up a weak excuse
to leave and rushed to the Emporium, frustratingly searching for
something to convey my feelings. And when I found the golden asp, I felt
confident that it would show her how I felt. Only, I never gathered
enough courage to actually give it to her. There was always something to
get in the way. Bad timing, or bad circumstances. Truly, I was a
coward. And standing here before her now, naked and vulnerable, I’m
still a coward.
But my stubbornness to have this woman overpowers my fear.
I
circle her and come up behind, then sweep her dark hair to one
shoulder. She presses her back against my chest, her warm body causing
all logic to flee my brain, and I clench my jaw. I place the asp around
her neck and fasten the clasp.
Inhaling a
deep breath through my nose, I brace myself for her reaction. She picks
up the necklace in one hand and glances down. “Xarion—”
“I
should have given it to you long ago,” I say, emboldening myself to
move before her, to see the wary expression lighting her face. “But you
would never give me a moment’s peace to attempt it.” A nervous laugh
escapes my mouth.
She understands the
meaning behind this gift—the weight of it. I’m asking her to be my
intended. To accept me as her lover, husband—her other half.
“This is so dangerous, Xarion. If anyone ever found out—if the Council discovered—”
“I
don’t care.” I run the pads of my fingers over her smooth cheek,
tilting her head up. “My title be damned. I’ve loved you for ages. And
I’m going to make you mine.”
I kiss her.
With all the love and passion in my being, I kiss her. I want her to
feel every emotion thrumming through me. And her whispered words of
fear—fear of them, not of us—bolster my resolve. She has always belonged
to me. I was only too dim-witted not to recognize her feelings, and how
afraid she is. I’m going to erase every fear inside of her and replace
them with the certainty that we were made for each other.
I
caress her lips with mine, slowly at first and then with more
determination, as I guide her backward onto the mattress. Her body fans
out beneath me. I grasp her thighs, encouraging her legs to part, and
lower myself between her. She releases a soft gasp as my lips travel her
skin from knees to thigh—my hands gripping her hips.
My
mouth follows the curve of her hipbone to the sensitive skin below her
belly button, and I’m tempted to taste every bit of her; not leave any
part of her undiscovered by my mouth. But as I reach her breasts, she
slides her legs along mine, bringing me closer—and my body trembles as I
try to hold back, to go slowly, the need to be inside of her so fierce
and demanding it causes a physical pain in my lower half. I clamp my
eyes closed as her hands roam over my back, coaxing me to continue.
My
chest lowers to hers, our bodies melding together. The heat of her
desire washes over me, and I’m through. I can no longer hold back. I
bury my face in her neck and greedily take in her scent as I find her. A
small gasp escapes her mouth as I slide in slowly…the feel of her
driving me mad—wanting to be within her all at once.
Her
nails sink into my skin, and the pain causes me to shudder. I push in
farther, and her warmth surrounds me. My eyes roll into the back of my
head with pleasure I’ve never felt. I kiss her neck, my tongue working
over her soft skin, her shoulder, her breasts—I’m all over the place. I
reign in my need and push up. Hovering above her, I find her eyes.
I
open my mouth to ask if she’s all right—if I need to stop. But her eyes
are heated and glassy as she nods, and a smile flits across her face.
She pulls me to her, her fingers gripping my hair as my lips come down
on hers. A moan rumbles from the back of my throat as she lifts her
hips, pushing me in deeper yet. I thrust once, deep and claiming.
Her
cry is breathless and needy and it sends my hands to her hips, guiding
her body along with mine. I’m losing control. I want the release but I
never want to stop. It’s maddening and frightening all at once, and I
want her to feel pleasure, too. This is more painful for her…and I vow
to give her pleasure immediately after. To kiss the swollen skin and
work her body into a frenzy until she gives over to the feeling that’s
leveling me.
“Oh, Xarion—”
My
name on her lips is all it takes. I’m pulsing within her, my body
quaking, my insides trembling as the surge of pleasure and release finds
me. Her arms and legs wrap around me, anchoring my body to hers, and my
muscles can no longer hold my weight. I collapse, and her slick, warm
body swallows every emotion drumming through me.
Pressing
my lips to her temple, I kiss her over and over, trailing them to find
her lips before I whisper, “Forever. I’ll love you forever, Star.” I
lift up to see her glistening eyes. “Now”—I bring one of her legs up
over my shoulder—“your turn.”
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT
ASTARTE'S WRATH BY TRISHA WOLFE
FOR THE WHOLE STORY!
A tragic love story.
Two
thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian
Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian
pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different
time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.
This is the beginning.
Set
against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of
Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for
the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her
duty, he’s the son of Cleopatra, and he’s human. All of which makes
their love forbidden.
But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar
creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow
Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge—the
last pharaoh—while Egypt burns around her.
New Adult/Mature YA:
sexual content, drinking, drugs, violence, language, death, and other
mature content intended for readers 17 and older. Astarte's Wrath is a
companion novel to Destiny's Fire, but can be read as a standalone novel.
PURCHASE THESE BOOKS IN THE
KYTHAN GUARDIANS SERIES!
I’m the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), ASTARTE'S WRATH NA Historical/Supernatural, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. My NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.
