Excerpt

Chapter One

Sacrilege. Mari was sure she was committing some crime somewhere, but there was no hope for it. The man before her inspired wicked thoughts. This was no pretty-boy Paris. No, this was a warrior in the truest sense of the word. And yet, at the same time, he was everything beautiful, strong and true, and perfect for her.

Six foot four inches of pure male excellence stood with his back to her, so Mari felt free to peruse the sight at her leisure and with pleasure. Both his arms were thrust up high on the doorjamb. He appeared to be enjoying whatever breeze came through the opened doorway, while he took in the view of the sea beyond. His head was thrown back, showing how his ruffled, chestnut brown hair hung down slightly longer than she knew he usually wore it, curling lightly around a crown of golden laurel leaves.

A slight sheen clung to his well-defined back and clearly showed he felt the heat of the day, despite its zenith having passed some time ago. His position, with more weight on one foot, shifted his bottom into a delicious pose and encouraged her lustful thoughts to bloom.

This was all wonderful, but the sight that had her holding her breath was found lower down. Lower, where the skirt defied gravity by barely hanging onto the top of his perfectly taut cheeks. She saw the start of his crease and a sexy little freckle slightly to the side. There was a waistband made from a stiffer fabric, with a carmine and gold meander pattern, before a more fluid fabric fell to mid-thigh with each side well slit. She guessed the openings were for ease of movement but personally felt it was more for a man’s convenience.

The skirt’s white silken fabric was soft and flowing, the edges fluttered in the breeze, but it still clung lovingly to his perfectly rounded, muscular ass. Her fingers itched to cup the firm cheeks gently before slowly moving around his waist to lay against his stomach. Or maybe she would use the vents to move her hands down between his legs to stroke his prime piece of personal steel, feel the hitch in his breath and know the exact moment she had his full attention.

Mari moved her gaze from the backside of the universe slowly down the lightly haired, heavily muscled legs to the brass guards covering his calves. But it was the heavy boots which caused her to frown. It brought to mind that, yes, Cooper was godlike in beauty and possessed many wonderful qualities and had cast a spell on her senses, but in his heart, he was all-warrior, the ultimate warrior.

Since Cooper had come into her life, she had enjoyed their time together, both in and out of bed, and now understood she had gone so far as to fall in love with him. At no time had she felt there could be a future for them beyond what they currently had, although she had definitely dreamed of them being a family, as husband and wife with kids, everything.

But happily ever after did not come her way.

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Cooper had to tell her. He didn’t think he’d been beating around the bush about how serious his feelings for her were, but then again, he hadn’t come right out and said the words either. If he didn’t tell Mari straight out that he loved her, he might lose her, and that was unacceptable.

How had his life reached this point? He was always in control, be it personally or professionally. Lives depended on it. Although, at this moment in time, he didn’t feel like he had full command of his life. He’d felt the wall she had put up from the start but thought he had reassured her, overcome any of her misconceptions and worries about tying herself to a man such as him. But lately he started to doubt she understood she was his.

Forever his.

He had done everything he could think of to show her how much she meant to him. Lately he’d been left with the impression she was waiting, for what he didn’t know, but he would find out tonight and no later. He was not a patient man.

In fact, right now he was a hot man! Standing in the doorway with the sea before him, he hoped for any and all breezes available to come to him. Cooper wondered when his little sexy bit of everything would make an appearance, for he had some serious plans for her tonight. And it was not going to be the party she thought they were attending.

With a deep, gut level sigh, Cooper opened his eyes and looked out at the beach in front of him, thinking back to the moment he first saw his Mari.

It was minutes from sunset. He was naked and starting his dash down the sand to dive headfirst into the surf to cool off, both from the oppressive heat and the ineptness he’d seen over the past few days. Tonight his attendance was required at a dinner party. After that he would move on to enjoy an annual, bacchanal event with friends. If truth be told, he was not looking forward to either event.

A sharp noise to his right had him reaching for his weapon, only it wasn’t there. He pulled to an abrupt stop. He could see her fairly well for being about twelve feet away, but had the impression she wasn’t able to see him as clearly with the sun at his back.

Her long hair, hanging past her waist, was free and slightly mishandled by the wind. Her face was oval, with almond-shaped eyes and lips, slightly opened in a shocked “O” shape.

The details were foggy in this lighting and distance, but he easily discerned she was a tiny bit of something wonderful and most likely wouldn’t reach his shoulders. Her beach attire, a length of fabric, wrapped around what appeared to be much more than a handful up top and curvy hips.

She giggled, placed a small delicate hand up to cover her mouth and started backing up, picking up her hem to keep from tripping. Before he could say more than a “hello”, she turned and headed down the beach at a soft jog, sneaking peeks at him from over her shoulder.

He started to take off after her when he looked down and remembered he was nude, with his dick at full stand, and decided it best not to follow. He yelled “Come back, I won’t hurt you,” for good measure, but knew it wouldn’t do much good when he heard the answering squeal of laughter. He didn’t know how she found her way onto his private beach but he was going to have to keep an eye open for this little beauty.

Later, upon arriving at the dinner party in honor of the new doctor, Cooper instantly noticed the curvy blonde at the side of the room. With one look, he knew the shy, little thing standing against the wall was his siren from the beach. Before greeting his hostess and host, he marched right over, stood confidently between the room and her, and gently picked up her hand.

“I am Cooper Sayer, and I would very much like to know you better.”

She gasped in reaction to his bold measures.

He knew his actions did not follow the usual path, nor it seemed, had anyone ever bucked society’s rules in any way for her. He watched her intently as she anxiously looked around the room before lowering her eyes and quietly answered, “I am Mari…”

Cooper felt tiny hands gently rest on either side of his hips, above his skirt, feathering from his hipbones up his sides. With whispered reverence but delivered on a deeply felt groan, he breathed, “Mari.” The name of his heart’s desire floated out and he closed his eyes to savor the moment. She was very real, in his house, touching him, no longer a mere memory.

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