Sunday, September 27, 2009

Mate Marks: Pulse by Kate Hill



Mate Marks: Pulse
by Kate Hill


cover art by ReneƩ George
ISBN: 978-1-60521-131-2
Genre(s): Paranormal
Theme(s): Interracial
Series: Mate Marks
Length: Novella




Blurb:


Long ago a Roman soldier fell in love with a Kushite noblewoman and changed sides to serve her. Bound by an ancient magic to protect her, Marc Claudius failed in his duty and was cursed with immortality, awaiting the rebirth of his lover and a second chance to fulfill their burning passion.
In the modern world, Amina has always felt strong ties to the past. Teaching a night class in history, she is enraptured by a handsome foreign student. When looking into Marc's intense, dark eyes, she can't control her desire. This man arouses yet haunts her, but when he reveals their timeless bond, will she accept his confession or deny a love that has burned for over two thousand years?

Excerpt:
This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Kheb stepped into the garden and shrugged off her thin linen robe, baring her body to the moonlight. Pausing by the edge of the square pool, she stretched her arms skyward and closed her eyes for a moment.
It felt so good to stand here, naked, free and alone. The past days had been stressful and she had no doubt the worst was yet to come.
At her mother's request, she had traveled from Kush to meet with a Roman official. Rome already had control over Egypt. Though her mother had sent her to discuss peace, Kheb knew she would have to report back to the Kandake, the Kushite Queen, that it was impossible. She found the Romans to be falsely polite, condescending and power hungry. Despite their semblance of respect for the Princess, she knew her people wouldn't be safe from their greed. Unless the next few days revealed a drastic change in their stance, her people would soon be engaged in battle with these pale invaders with eyes as hard and sharp as the weapons they carried.
Kheb lowered her arms and sighed deeply, glancing down at the fullness of her lush brown breasts. She stroked them lightly with her long, slender fingers.
Though still a young woman, she was already a widow and it had been too long since she had known the touch of a man. For the past few years since her husband's death, she hadn't thought much about the pleasures of the flesh, until she had arrived in Egypt.
He had prompted these lustful thoughts. From the moment their gazes locked, she'd felt a tightening in her belly and a desire she'd never known before. Not even her husband, in their most intimate moments, had quickened her pulse like this man had done with a mere look.
These feelings were wrong. The man who inspired them was Roman and soon to be her enemy. Why, then, did he make her nipples tighten and tingle? Why did the thought of his hands on her body make her burst into flames? Even now the soft flesh between her legs ached with need.
She swept her thumbs over her nipples, making them stiffen even more. In her mind his hands caressed her. She imagined his finely shaped lips sliding over the spiky peak of her breast and the sweep of his tongue teasing her until she trembled.
The sound of water rippling in the pool made her look up and when she did her heart nearly stopped beating.
He waded out of the shadows at the end of the pool from where he'd apparently been watching her. He strode closer and paused waist-deep in the water.
Kheb stared for a moment, unable to tear her gaze from his water-slicked torso. The man was absolutely beautiful -- lean and sinewy with broad shoulders and a chest that looked as if it had been carved from stone. The moonlight and water accentuated the ridges of muscle in his flat belly and Kheb licked her lips.
Of course he had no business here and even less business staring at her with such a hungry look in his gleaming black eyes.
Her first reaction was to cover herself, but she had no reason to hide. She was a noblewoman and he a mere soldier. A Roman soldier.
Straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, she said coolly, "What are you doing here?"
"Admiring the view."

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