~*~*~<\/span><\/p>\n She turned her back on the man she just threw overboard. She was laughing to herself as she casually cleaned and reloaded her pistol. She put the pistol back into her holster and then faced her captives, the mirth all gone. Her face stern, her cold eyes trained on them. What would those gray eyes look like glazed with passion? Fox shook his head, he couldn\u2019t believe he was thinking these thoughts about a pirate\u2014a pirate who should, for all intents and purposes, hang from the gallows. He had been at sea far too long, he needed a woman, and he needed one soon. ~*~*~<\/span><\/p>\n All He Desires<\/span><\/a> <\/strong>~ Anthea Lawson<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span> Injured by a fall from her horse, Caroline Huntington is aided by her friend and traveling companion, Maggie, and an older French gentleman who is on Crete for archaeological excavation.<\/span><\/p>\n Crete, March 1848<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Maggie led Caroline to where a rustic vehicle waited. \u201cI would not think a village of this size boasted a doctor. How fortunate that help is so near.\u201d ~*~*~<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo you like bananas, monsieur?\u201d She reached out and slid her fingers over the length of one particularly thick stalk of fruit. With a quick snap, she broke off the banana while she allowed her breath to catch in her throat before she released it as a soft gasp of pleasure. [poll id=”13″]<\/p>\n\n A small note, there will be no excerpts next week, so I’ll be doing back-to-back excerpts, today and tomorrow. Today for Excerpt Thursday, we have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[261,307],"class_list":["post-1668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-excerpt-thursdays","tag-excerpts","tag-historicals"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"foxsbride\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/foxsbride.jpg?resize=199%2C327\" "\\"foxsbride\\"")
<\/a>Fox’s Bride<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>~ Amy Ruttan<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\nRelease Date: December 1, 2009 ~ Cerridwen Press<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n\u201cAs you can see, I do not tolerate disobedience. If you all cooperate and remove your valuables I will spare your lives.\u201d She motioned to John and the men stepped forward with bags in their hands.
\nFox cursed as he removed his fob watch and his family signet ring. He saw that the pirates who went below decks were ushering passengers and crew upstairs, including his valet who looked visibly shaken and highly affronted.
\n\u201cI tried to stop them, my lord, but they sacked all your trunks.\u201d
\nCaptain Meg turned to him then, overhearing his valet address him by his rank. She smiled cunningly as she looked him up and down.
\n\u201cWell, well, a lord of the realm here on this ship.\u201d She bowed with a flourish and several of her crew, including John, laughed. \u201cMaybe I should ransom you to your relatives.\u201d
\nFox scoffed. \u201cYou could but they\u2019ll never pay. I\u2019m an outcast, my dear.\u201d
\nShe cocked her eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by his response.
\n\u201cTsk, tsk. What about your poor wife? I\u2019m sure she would be lost without you.\u201d
\n\u201cYou can try her, she is quite wealthy. Although, you may find her hesitant, she\u2019s never met me.\u201d
\n\u201cHa, I find that hard to believe.\u201d Captain Meg unsheathed her rapier and pointed it at his heart. \u201cHer name, my lord, or I will run you through.\u201d
\nFox smirked, thoroughly enjoying his repartee with this enchanting vixen.
\n\u201cHappy to oblige, my dear. My wife is Lady Madeline Foxton of The Coral Reef plantation in Montego Bay.
\nCaptain Meg\u2019s eyes flew open in horror and she quickly turned away. Fox was confused by her response.
\n\u201cSorry, did I say something to offend?\u201d
\nShe turned around abruptly, the blunt end of her pistol raised. Why is she angry? was his last thought before everything went black.<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"all-he-desires-cover200\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/all-he-desires-cover200.jpg?resize=201%2C326\" "\\"all-he-desires-cover200\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nRelease Date: November 1, 2009 ~ Kensington<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe Frenchman smiled, though there was something cautious in his expression. \u201cWe shall see. Come.\u201d
\nThe cart rolled forward over the rough track, and it did not take long for Caroline to fall into a hazy, pain-filled daze. The night sky, the flaring torches, the jolting ride wove together into a disjointed tapestry. She did not realize they had halted in front of a cottage until Maggie coaxed her upright and helped her from the cart.
\nMonsieur Legault went to the door. He pounded, and pounded again until at last it was opened by a figure who remained in the shadows. Caroline blinked, her vision still blurred. A tall man, she thought.
\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d His voice was gruff.
\n\u201cMr. Trentham, we require your help.\u201d The Frenchman waved to where Caroline stood, supported by Maggie. \u201cThe mademoiselle is injured.\u201d
\nThe man shook his head. \u201cI cannot help you.\u201d He began to close the door, but Monsieur Legault set his foot in the jamb.
\n\u201cI ask you not to be stubborn. She is hurt\u2014she must be seen.\u201d
\nThe shadow moved closer to the light. He was tall, his hair the color of night. The torchlight painted hollows under his cheekbones and cast his uncompromising nose in sharp relief. He did not look like a doctor, not with his creased clothing and untamed hair, a scowl making his face even more forbidding. When his gaze moved to her, Caroline felt it, a nearly physical sensation, like standing under a storm cloud just before the fury of wind and rain lashed down. She shivered.
\nHe regarded her for several moments, measured by the rapid beat of her heart. His eyes seemed black in the flickering light. That intent gaze moved down to her dusty boots, then returned to her face.
\nAt last he turned to the Frenchman. \u201cThe woman is on her feet. She looks well enough. Take her to Rethymno.\u201d He stepped back and made to close his door again.
\n\u201cYou must help us,\u201d Monsieur Legault said, a pleading note in his voice. \u201cRethymno is too far, and you know how little talent the doctor there has.\u201d
\n\u201cEnough to care for an injured arm. Good night.\u201d
\n\u201cWait!\u201d Maggie stepped forward, bringing Caroline with her. \u201cYou cannot refuse\u2014you are English!\u201d
\n\u201cOh?\u201d He paused with one hand on the door frame, his lips twisted as though he had tasted something bitter. \u201cI don\u2019t see that it signifies.\u201d
\n\u201cOf course it does. This is Miss Caroline Huntington, the niece of the Earl of Twickenham. How can you consider yourself a gentleman if you turn her away?\u201d
\n\u201cWho says I consider myself a gentleman?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"kismet_blog\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/kismet_blog.jpg?resize=204%2C316\" "\\"kismet_blog\\"")
<\/a>Kismet<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>~ Monica Burns<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nRelease Date: January 5, 2010 ~ Berkley Trade<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n\u201cNot particularly.\u201d
\nHer gaze didn\u2019t leave his face as she snapped the stem of the fruit to break open the peel. With delicate moves, she pulled back the yellow skin of the banana to expose the fleshy white meat of the fruit. His expression was unreadable, but he betrayed his rapt attention in other ways. The way he held himself rigid, and the tic flexing in his face. Then there was the fire darkening his intense brown eyes.
\nTipping her head back in a slow, elegant manner, she parted her lips and swirled her tongue around the tip of the fruit. Eyes closed, she sighed with pleasure and slowly drew the banana into her mouth. The sharp hiss of his breath filled her ears and she quickly pulled the fruit from her mouth to eye him with innocent concern.
\n\u201cIs something wrong?\u201d she asked. He swallowed hard, and simply shook his head. Smiling, she sighed. \u201cI hope you don\u2019t mind me indulging myself. I adore bananas. They\u2019ve such an\u2026erotic quality.\u201d
\nNot waiting for his answer, she closed her eyes then tipped her head back again to demonstrate the skill she\u2019d learned years ago. Slowly, she slid the firm flesh of the fruit in and out of her mouth. With each leisurely stroke, she took more of the banana into her mouth until he rewarded her efforts with the choked sound of a man struggling not to cry out.
\nCertain of his undivided attention, she gently bit down on the fruit to free it completely from its peel. In the next instant, she swallowed it whole. The dark growl he made vibrated across her skin, and she smiled with triumph.
\nLightly, she touched her fingers to first one corner of her mouth then the other as if to wipe away any lingering residue from her lips. The jubilant taste of victory flooded her mouth. The man had just experienced the illusion of Allegra Synnford, courtesan extraordinaire. Her gaze shifted downward to where his erection created a natural tent inside his sherwals, and she returned her gaze to his face.
\nAware that she needed to retreat before his ardor subsided, she stepped to one side of him, her shoulder pressed into his. She turned her head and noted the taut white lines of tension at the corner of his mouth. He knew he\u2019d lost their wager and he wasn\u2019t happy about it. She needed to tread carefully.
\n\u201cForgive me, monsieur, but I must return to the reception before I\u2019m missed,\u201d she said softly. Extending her hand, she brushed it over his erection. His jerked at the touch and dragged in a sharp hiss of air. \u201cThank you for a most\u2026stimulating tour of the gardens.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n