Madelaine Alexander is on a mission. When her boss sends her to the hottest nightclub in town to meet with the owner, she won’t be deterred, even if that means standing in line for fifty-eight minutes in torturous heels while she’d rather be home in her pj’s with a bowl of popcorn.
A Knight of the Templar, Christien Chevalier was given immortality along with the responsibility of protecting the treasure of the Templars. He’s been unwavering in his task for centuries until his one true love—who died seven hundred years ago—shows up in his club, demanding his attention.
Christien couldn’t protect Madelaine when they first fell in love. She was married to a lord and he was simply a knight. Now, through some unknown miracle, she stands before him again and they have a second chance. But Christien fears that Madelaine is being used as a pawn in a dangerous game, a game of good versus evil that could affect all of mankind…
“I don’t need any distractions right now.” They reached her apartment building and she turned to him.
He took her hand and was relieved when she didn’t pull away. “Do you think I’m a distraction?”
“Yes.”
“A good distraction or a bad distraction?” He rubbed her knuckles. Her eyes darkened and her
fingers trembled.
“Bad.”
He took a step closer. “Bad can sometimes be good.”
She yanked her hands away, obviously flustered. “This isn’t a good time for me to have a relationship.”
Stunned, he stared at her for a moment. She didn’t know. She didn’t know Lucheux had thrust her into Christien’s life to distract him. Lucheux hadn’t coaxed her into lying to him. He’d merely used her looks to get to Christien. Otherwise she wouldn’t be trying to push him away. Unless she was a very, very good manipulator, but he didn’t believe she was.
His relief was so profound that he tightened his hold on her fingers so she wouldn’t see his hands shake. But the realization only led to more questions and prodded his instincts to protect her even more. Her innocence meant danger to her.
He cleared his throat. Of course he couldn’t let her walk away. Not now. But he also couldn’t kidnap her and keep her locked up for her own safety. He skimmed his fingers up her arm, feeling the goose bumps rise. A ray of sunlight caught on the key at her neck, drawing his attention to it and making him believe more than ever that she was the key Michael
spoke of.
He put his hand beneath her chin. Slowly she raised her eyes to his. “I can wait,” he said softly even though every instinct told him not to let her out of his sight.
She stepped back, breaking their contact. He allowed her the room she needed, but would only let her go so far. He said he would wait, but he lied. He was through with waiting. However, he would give her the illusion of time if that was what she wanted.
“Why would you wait? I’m a hick from farm country. You’re…” She waved her hand in the air.
“I’m what?” They were standing so close that every time she breathed her chest brushed against his. He had to grit his teeth to keep from taking her in his arms.
“This isn’t a joke,” she whispered.
“Oh, I know.”
“You’re way out of my league.”
“I don’t play baseball.”
Her lips thinned. To keep from laughing or because she was perturbed?
“You’re exasperating,” she said.
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I’m sure you have.”
“Kiss me.”
“Christien…”
“Kiss me, Madelaine.”
“This is going beyond exasperation into frustration. You’re not listening to a word I’m saying.”
He stared at her lips, needing the feel of them against his own. “I heard every word. Exasperating. Frustrating. And something about baseball.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. Her small sound of surrender sent his heart soaring.
Tentatively her fingers rested against his chest, her touch electrifying. He pulled her into his arms, feeling Madelaine. Not Lainie Alexander, but Madelaine, the woman he’d loved and lost. The woman he thought he’d never see again. ’Twas her body held tightly against his, her lips he was tasting. There could be no two alike. He pulled away before the kiss went too far. Before he swooped her up and carried her away.
She swayed. Her lips parted. Her lids fluttered open. Her eyes were a deep amber, the exact shade Madelaine’s got when she was aroused. It took every bit of self-control to step away from her.
“Go inside, Madelaine. Before I change my mind.”
“Change your mind about what?”
“About taking you back to my place and making long, slow love to you.”
Bio: Sharon Cullen is the author of paranormal romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance and historical romance with Samhain Publishing, Carina Press and soon will be published with Random House. If you’d like to find out more about her and her books, you can visit her at her blog or her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.