Seduced by an Angel (Velvet Lies, Book 3)
Page 31
And that we may always know Your truest guidance
As we walk each day as husband and wife.
Great Spirit, before You
And all the majesty that You have created,
We seal these marriage vows.
Aho!
Sera gasped as a sudden burst of wind snatched the corners of her blanket, causing it to flutter off her shoulder. Jesse's blanket did the same. A mantle of pure, white energy descended, wrapping around them, binding their hearts and spirits as One through the guidance of Hiawassee's radiant hands. Next, the Medicine Woman beckoned them to drink from an earthen vessel with two spouts. Together, they sipped a nectar-sweet mead.
Jesse smashed the vessel, sealing their vows.
To Sera's delight, she noticed that an entire herd of white-tailed deer had wandered down from the hill to graze upon the wildflowers that surrounded the Sacred Fire. Jesse kissed her hand. With his help, she untethered her bridal doe so it could join its cousins.
"Come, wife," he murmured, his eyes glowing with the promise of all the sunrises to come.
He led her to the cave, and her heart swelled to see how he'd transformed it. In every nook and cranny, a white candle guttered, radiating warmth and light. The walls were painted with multi-colored symbols for love and happiness, peace and hope, and everlasting life. Suns, moons, and stars shone down upon a peaceful world, where panthers, wolves, turtles, deer, rabbits, birds, bears, fishes—and even humans—all dwelled in harmony beneath a rainbow bridge that connected Father Sky to Mother Earth.
Upon the floor of the cave, colorful Cherokee blankets were spread, their geometric designs woven from thick, plush wool. Stone goblets stood at attention beside a flask of wine. A half dozen beautifully painted, earthen bowls were piled with fruits, cheeses, nuts, corn cobs, and desserts.
But Sera's hunger could only be satisfied by Jesse. She tightened her hand over his, leading him with infinite love to their nuptial bed.
"Let me touch you," she whispered, splaying her fingertips over his magnificent chest, tracing the trail of ebony fur that marched down his rock-ribbed abdomen to the gift of her wedding belt.
"Don't you want to explore our cave?" he teased her huskily.
"I would much rather explore you," she breathed, pulling his head down for her kiss.
Tenderly, he stripped the rawhide from her braids, unleashing her curls to fall in untamed cascades to the small of her back. She reached reverently for his topknot, loosing the silken mass of blue-black hair, gently removing the feathers.
His hands paused, gripping her shoulders. Her belly warmed, and her knees grew weak to see how he admired her in her buffalo robe, with its rows upon rows of fringe and rainbow-colored beads.
"Claudia?" he murmured, touching the wolf's head on the pouch that nestled between her breasts.
She nodded, too full of love to speak.
His smile was soft. Reverent. "She honors us both to give you a gift from her clan."
He treated her like a sacred treasure as he slowly, but persistently, disrobed her. If the cave was chilled by the autumn air outside, she didn't notice. She was too flushed by joy to call this precious, selfless man her own. He would have ridden out of her life to protect her. He would have sacrificed his happiness to spare her from pain. But now he was hers, and she was his, just as the Great Spirit of God had planned when they had both been Cherokee children a lifetime ago.
When her husband lay her down, Sera knew the sweetest soul connection. Warmth and light flooded her mind, spiraling through her body. She felt every breath he took, every beat of his heart, every tremor of his pleasure. The sensations rippled beneath her skin, as if they were her own. She felt him in ways that only a heightened awareness and a special sensitivity could allow.
At long last, her Touching Curse had become a curse no longer.
When the crescendo of their pleasure finally came, and the symphony of their love sent her streaking across the universe in a kaleidoscope of color and sound, Sera gave thanks for the great blessing that God had bestowed upon her in her Beloved, Jesse Quaid.
He held her through the long, spiraling aftermath, combing his fingers through her hair, heating her body with his warmth.
"So," he whispered huskily. "How many ghosts came to our wedding?"
She smiled to see her love-drugged eyes reflected in the jewel-colored depths of his own.
"Hundreds. I couldn't count them all. But Hiawassee presided, of course."
"Of course." His dimples peeked.
"And your mama came. And my mama, too."
"The matriarchs of our clans." He looked pleased in a humble sort of way. "We were deeply blessed."
She nodded, stroking his cheek. "It saddens me that you couldn't see all the ways the Ywahoo spirits celebrated us. Surely with Hiawassee's Seer Medicine in your blood, you have some talent for half-sight. Don't you want to use it?"
He sighed, inky lashes fanning lower over troubled eyes. "I've never been able to access it."
"Perhaps I can help. Hiawasse has taught me so much in my dreams."
The corresponding warmth in his gaze was like sunshine on her face. "I would be grateful, angel."
He kissed her forehead. Then he released her, rising and padding to their feast. When he reached for the wine flask, she sighed dreamily, admiring his rippling back, his taut derriere, his muscular thighs and calves.
Suddenly, a mischievous, freckle-faced boy-ghost, sporting rolled-up bib overalls, bare feet, and a fishing pole, was blocking her view.
Her lips quirked at this vision of her youngest brother. "What's that saying about making a better wall than a window?" she chided him.
Gabriel grinned. To her surprise and delight, she heard his answer in her head.
"Papa."
He pointed at Jesse.
She blinked, uncomprehending. Then Gabriel's shining eyes and tousled hair began to morph. Suddenly, she was gazing at the sweet, blue-eyed toddler from her vision of the KERA rally. She gasped. Her hand flew to her womb.
"You're my son?"
He winked. "Someday. Soon."
In a shimmer of light, he was gone.
Jesse turned, offering her a goblet brimming with red wine. Stars were shining in her eyes when she joined him in the toast to their love.
Setting the goblet aside, she wriggled across the blankets and molded her length to his. She stroked his hair; she traced his lips; she brushed his warm, coppery skin with feather-light caresses. When his mouth covered hers, the sweetness of wine and love made her giddy.
"My darling," she murmured, laughing on the inside, "remember I told you I had a brother, named Gabriel...?"
The End
Want more from Adrienne deWolfe?
Page forward for an excerpt from
DEVIL IN TEXAS
The Velvet Lies Series
Book Four
Excerpt from
Devil in Texas
The Velvet Lies Series
Book Four
by
Adrienne deWolfe
Bestselling, Award-winning Author
"What's under your duster?" Cass demanded, training his revolver on the thief.
The ghost of a dimple peeked from the shadows beneath the thief's hat. "The usual."
Perspiration broke out on Cass's upper lip. This conversation was familiar—macabrely familiar. The only difference was, his memory had to do with a plush, red velvet bedroom, ostrich plumes, fur-lined handcuffs, and a flame-haired madam he couldn't forget.
"I'll make you want me, Sadie," he'd threatened, his heart hurting even worse than his loins.
She'd laughed up at him with those wicked, golden eyes. "You'll always be that homesick boy I taught how to dance in the sheets, Cass."
"Take off your hat," he snapped at the thief.
"You want it?" Again, that saucy dimple peeked from the shadows. "Come and get it, hotshot."
Cass squared his jaw. He took a step closer. Then another. Finally,
he was close enough to knock off the thief's hat.
Eyes as hot as golden brands burned into his.
He sucked in his breath.
In the next instant, a boot struck his forearm. His gun went flying. The second drop-kick plowed into his mid-section like a battering ram.
"Son of a—" Cass stumbled to his knees, winded.
The thief fled for the fire escape. Collie reached for his gun.
"No!" Cass wheezed, tackling the boy's legs. "That was Sadie!"
"Are you loco?" Collie shouted. "Sadie's dead!"
Devil in Texas
The Velvet Lies Series
Book Four
by
Adrienne deWolfe
~
To purchase
Devil in Texas
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Adrienne deWolfe's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/AdrienneDeWolfe
~
Discover more with
eBookDiscovery.com
Missed the first book in the Velvet Lies series?
Page forward for an excerpt from
SCOUNDREL FOR HIRE
The Velvet Lies Series
Book One
...or...
Skip to an excerpt from Adrienne deWolfe's
Award-winning, Bestselling
TEXAS OUTLAW
Wild Texas Nights
Book One
Excerpt from
Scoundrel For Hire
The Velvet Lies Series
Book One
by
Adrienne deWolfe
Bestselling, Award-winning Author
SCOUNDREL FOR HIRE
Reviews & Accolades
"Wickedly funny! This book sizzles with a scoundrel you won't mind losing your heart to."
~Christina Dodd, New York Times Best-Seller
"I know this is just a lark to you," she whispered fervently. "But my whole world will come crashing down if you don't pull off this charade."
Those pewter eyes held her spellbound. For a moment, she forgot that one poorly timed a lie, one spiteful wisecrack, and he could destroy every happiness she'd ever known.
"This is the point of no return," he said softly.
He was right, of course. His reminder was almost as disturbing as his heart-tripping closeness.
"Don't tell me you’ve suddenly developed a conscience."
"Nothing so drastic." A smile teased the corner of his mouth. "But I trust my little ruse will keep me busy in the nights to come. And that won’t leave us much time to get acquainted."
“I shall endeavor to muddle through," she rallied, hoping she didn’t look as flustered as she felt.
"Come now, Silver." His voice lowered to a throbbing murmur, and his lips parted above hers in the most hypnotic way. "You would much rather I lavished my kisses on you..."
Scoundrel for Hire
The Velvet Lies Series
Book One
by
Adrienne deWolfe
~
To purchase
Scoundrel for Hire
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Adrienne deWolfe's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/AdrienneDeWolfe
~
Discover more with
eBookDiscovery.com
Page forward and complete your journey
with an excerpt from
TEXAS OUTLAW
Wild Texas Nights
Book One
Excerpt from
Texas Outlaw
Wild Texas Nights
Book One
by
Adrienne deWolfe
Award-winning Author
TEXAS OUTLAW
Awards & Accolades
AWARDS
Rita Finalist, Best First Book
Romance Writers of America
Finalist, Reviewers Choice Award (Best Debut Novel)
Romantic Times Magazine
Winner, Honey of a Heroine Award
West Houston Chapter, Romance Writers of America
REVIEWS
"Texas Outlaw is a real triumph. Adrienne deWolfe is a brilliant author."
~Literary Times
"Funny, fresh, fast-paced and romantic, Texas Outlaw is an entertaining read."
~Susan Wiggs, National Bestselling Author
"Adrienne deWolfe's writing is clever and unconventional... guaranteed to please."
~Pamela Morsi, National Bestselling Author
Teasing, with featherlight persistence, he trailed kisses along her jawline, down to her pulse, up to her ear. But when his tongue flicked inside, shooting sparks to the base of her spine, she couldn't bear his assault any longer. She hiked a shoulder.
"You're just one hot little tease, aren't you, Fancy?" Cord whispered, his mouth hovering a bare inch above her own.
She drew a ragged breath. "Amateur."
"Oh, I reckon I am—next to you. Think you've got something to teach me?"
Her heart tripped. He wasn't serious... Was he?
She fanned her lashes downward to hide her uneasiness. What had happened to the grieving husband? To Marshall Do-Right? This wasn't the Cord Rawlins she knew; this was a wildcard.
Still, she was the mistress of gaming, was she not? She could match any ace he had hidden—and then some. She'd make this one showdown Cord Rawlins would never forget.
Rising on tiptoe, she touched her lips to his. She expected him to stiffen; instead, his mouth slanted, demanding more of her kiss. She obliged. Gripping her buttocks, he ground his hips into hers, and she gasped. His heat was electric, charging every nerve. She told herself she had no business liking the way her flesh tingled. But desire was like a firecracker bursting inside her brain...
Texas Outlaw
Wild Texas Nights
Book One
by
Adrienne deWolfe
~
To purchase
Texas Outlaw
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Adrienne deWolfe's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/AdrienneDeWolfe
~
Discover more with
eBookDiscovery.com
Adrienne deWolfe is a bestselling, award-winning author and book writing coach, who calls Austin, Texas, home.
Recipient of 48 writing awards, including the Best Historical Romance of the Year, Adrienne is the author of the bestselling Wild Texas Nights series of Western Historical Romances. She has also written a bestselling, non-fiction series, including, How to Write Wildly Popular Romances, How to Write Romance Heroes with Sex Appeal, and How to Write Sensual Love Scenes.
When Adrienne isn't writing books, she is blogging at WritingNovelsThatSell.com, where aspiring authors find lots of tips, inspiration, writing resources, professional story critiques, and online writing workshops.
You can follow Adrienne on GoodReads.com; on Facebook at Facebook.com/Writing.Novels; and on Twitter at @AdriennedeWolfe.
Table of Contents
Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Excerpt from DEVIL IN TEXAS - The Velvet Lies Series, Book 4
Excerpt from SCOUNDREL FOR HIRE - The Velvet Lies Series, Book 1
TEXAS OUTLAW
Meet the Author
lvet Lies, Book 3)