Title: Perilous Love
Author: J.A. Essen
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Blurb:
Edana is an Elven Druid princess whose world was sent spiraling out of control three years ago, shortly after her Awakening. She has spent her days since, training and biding her time, waiting to exact her revenge on those responsible. That time is now.
Faudron, our hero, has been contracted by the Kingdom of Dun Felmar, to track down and destroy the threat in the Forsaken Woods that is slowly killing off the Royal Guard. Another adventure and another payday. The only difference this time, is a set of mysterious circumstances that lead him to believe dark magic may be at play.
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time isn’t always such a bad thing.
When Edana and Faudron’s worlds collide, they’re sent down a path filled with deceit and betrayal, putting them both on the run from the Druids and humans. Could their magical attraction to one another be preordained? Where do they run with both on their tails? Is their forbidden love hopeless, or will the past change everything?
I have been married for eleven years and have two, very rambunctious little boys, ages five and seven. I am a full time restaurant manager and now, part-time Indie author. I enjoyed writing short stories and poems when I was in middle school, and won a few contests with my poetry, one of which was a published Christmas poem. I enjoy reading everything from fantasy, to bio-tech sci-fi, to romance. I have already released a dark erotic read, Blinded by the Darkness, and while it was a good jumping-off point for my debut as an author, I now know that I have found my niche in FANTASY.
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TWITTER: @AuthorJAEssen
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I’m ready to return to Edana and as such, I begin to dress in anticipation of seeing where all of this will lead. My new attire fits perfectly. I place the old, which has been cleaned, and the new, extra set, into my bag, and tie it closed. My sword is lashed to my waist, and bow and quiver stored where they belong. Grabbing the bag, I make my way out of the room and down the corridors leading out to the stables.
Valiant is a sight to behold. His coat is gleaming, and the fresh, brown saddle looks welcoming indeed. Stowingmy gear, I unlash him from the tie-up post, and we walk out into the bright morning sun. “Ready my friend? We have a long travel ahead of us and more adventures to be had.” I say this intentionally louder than I need to in case any prying ears are listening.
Flinging my leg over, and giving him a loving pop on the neck, we are off. Outside the front gate, we head east and ride for most of the morning. Rolling hills and sparse pockets of trees fly by as we push hard. At midday, I turn us northwesterly so that we are now heading back towards the Mountains of Dubh and the cave where Edana is recovering. IF we were being followed, we should’ve convinced them by now that we have no reason to stay in this kingdom.
This has put us considerably out of the way, but Valiant is showing no signs of fatigue, so we continue to push on at break-speed. Midafternoon brings us to within eyesight of the edge of the gloomy forest and the waterfall cascading down in the background.
Why does Edana have such a hold on my thoughts? I have seen, and had, plenty of beautiful women in my limited days. They were all just physical pursuits, though. There’s never been anything more to it; no desire for there TO be either. So why is it that I find myself so drawn to her? The feeling is deeper than carnal desire; NEED to be with her rather than a WANT. A feeling of totality.
We pull up alongside the black, granite mountains and follow them to the bend where the cave is hidden. Hopping off of my trusty steed’s back, I remove my things and leave him to walk as he pleases. I never have to worry about him leaving. Our kindred relationship is symbiotic.
Rounding into the mouth of the cave, I drop everything, including my jaw. Edana is lying across the blanket, her stunning body naked and uncovered. I stand there in complete awe and leisurely rake my eyes from top to bottom and back again. Her nipples are taught and peaked from the cool breeze, and the way her breasts rise and fall with her steady, sleeping breaths is hypnotic. The fingers of her hands are intertwined and resting just below her stomach. There is a small spattering of hair visible from the junction just above her crossed legs.
I’m instantaneously aroused, and that feeling of NEED has returned even more so; almost as if part of me is lying there, needing to be reattached to be whole again. She must have sensed me because I’m unable to move, so there is no way I disturbed her. Stretching her arms down her body, she forces her breasts together, and they peakmagnificently. She rolls my direction, “Good afternoon?” She questions, obviously unsure of how much time has passed.
I cut my eyes away finally out of respect.
“I’m not ashamed of my body. Do you see me scurrying to hide anything from you?”
“No, but…”
“Then look upon me. I like the primal look in your eyes I saw when I woke just now; the lusty NEED in them.”
She stands completely and walks toward me. Moving the long tendrils of hair back over her ears, the magical air about her returns. She’s much shorter than I, her head only just reaching my chest. She looks up at me and raises her hand to my right cheek, running the backs of her slender fingers over my jawline, under my chin, and then turning her hand over, up my left cheek and into my wavy, chestnut locks.
“Kiss me,” she requests in an almost whisper.
Gently, I take her face in my hands and tilt her head backward. Leaning forward, I run my nose up her cheek and breathe her in deeply; her smooth skin smelling sweet and earthy. Brushing across her lips with my thumb, I can feel the cool intake of air as she parts her lips minimally from the touch. Sliding my lips sideways over hers, I use the tip of my tongue to tease her. Grabbing her bottom lip between my teeth, I pull lightly before letting go. Turning my head, I place my lips against hers again and use my tongue to open her willing mouth, giving me access to let our tongues explore one another. She’s aggressive and begins to suck on my tongue, pulling it firmly into her mouth, sending a warm flush across my skin from shock and desire.
