An excerpt from Lover’s Talisman
2008 (c) Copyright Ashleigh Raine

This book is intended for mature audiences only. If you are not over the age of consent, click the little X on the top right-hand corner of your screen.

For the second time that night, Mariah heard the crunch of bone and felt pain flare in her knuckles as she punched someone. Normally, she was the run-and-hide type, not the punch-first, ask-questions-later type. She’d taken self-defense classes and knew how to shoot a gun, but she preferred avoiding situations that required her to bring on the violence.

Boy, she’d stepped knee-deep in it this time.

“Damn it!” The man stumbled backward and Mariah leapt to her feet, ignoring the throbbing in her head—and now her knuckles—as she moved. Her heart pounded a dangerous beat against her rib cage and her mind raced, trying to determine the best way to evade her new enemy. A single closed door—the only apparent exit—was blocked by the most-likely-pissed-off man she’d just hit.

Mariah met his eyes, her hands clenched in fists at her sides. Her heart continued its rapid flutter, but this time it seemed to be reacting to the sheer magnitude of this man’s presence. He was dressed casually, in faded blue jeans and an unzipped black leather jacket, revealing a matching faded blue T-shirt underneath. Black work boots finished off the ensemble. His dark brown hair was rumpled, as though he’d run his hands through it several times. Standing a few feet away from her, one hand rubbing his stubbled jaw and the other loose at his side, he should have appeared dangerous, threatening. Yet her instincts didn’t scream at her to run away.

Hello. Note to brain. Now is not the time to drool. Maybe she was suffering from a brain injury—her headache was worse than all of her previous hangovers combined. Plus, her instincts about men had been proven wrong before. Just get out of here, Mariah. Don’t be a dumbass.

Too late. Her breath caught as he dipped his head and ran a hand through his hair—she’d been right, he was a finger comber. And why was she finding that incredibly sexy?—then lifted his face and graced her with a genuine smile that caused his hazel eyes to sparkle and shine with a hint of gold.

Her stomach flipped over, and she fought the dual emotions rising inside of her. Anger and lust—a ridiculous combination. She ignored the sensual heat riding havoc through her bloodstream and let the anger take over instead.

“Oh, this is fun for you, is it? You enjoy hurting people smaller than you?”

His smile faded. “Whoa, take it down a few. I helped you.” He crossed his arms over his chest…his very nice chest. “Look, you got jumped pretty hard. I only brought you here to make sure you were okay. And you’re fine now. Hey, you can leave whenever you want.” He stepped back, his arms raised in a gesture of truce.

He seemed to be telling the truth—or at least her body hoped he was telling the truth. God, it had been so long since she had responded this way to a man…what the hell was her body thinking, going all achy now?

Shaking her head, she grimaced at both the residual ache and the realization that she wanted to thank this man by slamming him against the wall and fucking him until she passed out…which, considering the throbbing in her skull, would take all of five minutes. It was time to leave before she did something she’d regret.

She bent to retrieve her purse from the floor next to the sofa. As she stood, a wave of dizziness rocked the floor beneath her feet and she grabbed her head, hoping to steady herself. It didn’t work. She let out a weak groan as the pale gray carpet rushed up to meet her.

Strong arms caught her before she could do an indelicate face plant. Her body reacted instinctually to his touch, nipples beading and moisture flooding her pussy.

Damn those instincts.

“Let go of me!” She struggled against him and her bad instincts. She didn’t know where she was or whom she was with. She would not be stupid and allow her body to rule the moment. Last time she’d done that she had almost paid with her life.

He set her on her feet, then took a few steps back. “You should take it easy for awhile. You took a hard fall.”

“That better be all that happened.” Hello, bitch alert. Keeping him in her sights, she moved backward toward the door, silently cursing her big mouth. All of her thoughts were in turmoil. Her body was attracted to this man, while her mind and heart reminded her of past mistakes. Fear was her voice. “What the hell happened tonight? Where am I and why am I here? If this is some type of sick game you like to play—”

His eyes narrowed to angry slits. “Hold on a damn second. I’m the good guy here. I rescued you. That’s what I do…um…did.”

Mariah swallowed. Okay, maybe being a bitch wasn’t the smartest thing when appearances made her believe this man was telling the truth. Her best bet was to get out of there, go home and forget this night ever occurred.

She reached the doorway, her hand poised on the knob when he spoke.

“Hey, is there anything else you need? Something else I can do for you? Seriously.”

Mariah stared back at him, studying his striking features—his strong, aquiline nose, high cheekbones, sun-darkened skin, the way his eyes had softened as he looked at her with genuine caring and concern—but she didn’t reply. She remained at the door, prepared to flee.

“Wait. My name is Stephan—Stephan Rashleigh. This—” he gestured to the room around him, “—this is where I work.”

He smiled, his eyes an open invitation she wanted to accept. But she’d gone down that path before, and it only led to grief and heartbreak.

Stephan continued, his smile faltering. “So, do you need anything? Can I take you somewhere?”

“Just leave me alone,” she said softly as she turned and exited the room.

Stephan waited until he heard her reach the top of the stairs and the back door closing behind her. After what happened tonight, there was no way in hell he would let her walk home alone. But she didn’t need to know she was being tailed.

He followed her in silence and shadows, rationalizing that he was only doing his job, that she was just another Talisman Bay citizen to be protected in the night. But he’d never been able to lie to himself. He wanted this woman. From the first notes of the Celtic melody she’d danced to, something about her had crept into his blood, into his very soul.

Shit. He was waxing poetic over a stripper who had a hate-on for men. Time for a trip to Polgara where he could indulge in some hard fucking with his favorite, very willing Pleasure Goddess.

Or maybe another fight would leach the lust from his system. Something or someone else crept in the shadows across the street, following Mariah on her trip home. The figure appeared to be a human male, but at this distance he couldn’t be too certain. Stephan watched as Mariah entered a house. She was safe, now he could attack.

He stalked across the street, avoiding the light from the street lamps. The individual had retreated down a cross street, but Stephan needed this fight…needed to know who else was tailing Mariah. If she was in future danger, well, he could protect her.

Rounding the corner, he caught a glimpse of the stalker disappearing into the shadows. Stephan’s blood thrummed as he ran, hands fisted, prepared to fight. Seconds before he attacked, the man turned, gun aimed at Stephan’s head.

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EXCERPT: First Kiss
EXCERPT: Twyla is captured
EXCERPT: Confrontation