Saturday, August 27, 2011

Sweet Saturday Samples


This week, my Sweet Saturday Sample is again taken from my sweet medieval romance, Illuminations of the Heart (rated PG). My heroine, Siri de Calendri, has journeyed from Italy to France to enter the guardianship of Sir Triston de Brielle, at the command of her late brother's will. Her first meeting with her new guardian is a bit of a surprise, as you'll discover if you read on. :-)

Lucianna broke off as the man strode abruptly across the hall and caught Siri’s chin in his hand. Siri gasped a little as he forced back her head. She saw the way the blood washed away behind his tan. She had an impression of strong, passionate features and a mass of coal-black curls, before she found herself engulfed in the swirling agony of his eyes. They embraced her like two deep ebony pools, drawing her into an eddy of pain so poignant that she thought she must drown in its depths. From some great ringing distance, she heard him utter a name, not her own, but one spoken on a breath like a prayer.

“Clothilde.”

And then the dark eyes closed and he lowered his lips to hers.

His mouth covered hers in a soft but urgent caress, and in his kiss was a need so great that Siri had not the power to deny him. Curiously, she found that she had no desire to try, but allowed her lips to warm in a wonderfully spontaneous response.

“Signore, please!”

Lucianna’s sharp voice pierced whatever mad fancy had seized this man. He lifted his head with an unsteady breath.

“Clo—”

Siri was certain no one could hear the whispered name but she. She felt a queer twinge of regret that she must disillusion him.

“I am Siri,” she said.

“Siri—?”

“Siriol de Calendri. You knew my brother, Simon Geraud.”

For a moment his fingers lingered on her chin, his dark eyes clouded with a mist of confusion.

“Simon.” He released her and stepped back a pace, then raised his hand to rub at his eyes. “Of course. You must forgive me. Your resemblance to—someone I knew—is remarkable.


Thank you for stopping by. You can read more about Illuminations of the Heart on my website. And click here to find some more Sweet Saturday Samples.

8 comments:

Patricia Kiyono said...

The mystery deepens! I'm really drawn in now! Thanks for sharing.

Sherry Gloag said...

Wow, the emotion in this clip is awesome. What a meeting.

Jennifer Lowery (Kamptner) said...

Beautifully written sample! A kiss from a stranger. Can't wait to read more.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what Sherry said. (She always says it best.) That is amazing.
Gunnar

Jessica Knauss said...

Do I sense that Siri wants to change her name to Clotilda?

Shirley Westenskow said...

Great job! Love reading all the ANWA blogs!!

Lindsay said...

Once again you've given us a great scene. Love the way you described how she saw his eyes.

Anonymous said...

A mysterious resemblance...the intrigue deepens.