Guest Post : Laura Harner
I started writing Highland Shift—the first book in the Highland Destiny series—about five years ago. From the first word of the first book, I knew it would be a four-book series, and I knew exactly how I wanted it to end. Of course, there was a lot of writing to get there—the series is over 400,000 words!
Each book in the series focuses primarily on one couple, but characters for the next book are introduced and characters from the previous books play important roles. Keeping everyone straight was an intricate dance! By the time we get to Highland Destiny, you will have hopefully come to know and love everyone.
In Highland Shift, the main characters, Elena and Faolan (pronounced FULL-en) spend a lot of time dancing around their attraction for each other. Especially while Faolan tries to keep Elena alive and she tries to figure out his secret…and convince him to have sex with her. Can she convince him? Well, she gives it a damn good try in this scene from Highland Shift.
To set the scene in this excerpt up—they have had a major disagreement, but set aside their difference for an evening with friends. Caught up in the fun, Elena might have had a wee bit much to drink. As soon as they’re alone, she is struck by a sudden attack of the giggles, which is definitely not in character. The situation becomes funnier still, when Faolan unexpectedly joins in the laughter.
Highland Shift (Highland Destiny: I) Adult excerpt
Elena tried to stop, really she did. She held her stomach and tried not looking at Faolan, then he snorted and it was all over. She erupted into another fit of laughter. Faolan took a deep breath and tried to gain control. He straightened his face, looked serious, and Elena couldn’t help herself, she sniggered. Then they both lost it all over again. After what seemed like a very long time, they both finally pulled it together and managed to take a couple of deep breaths without fresh bouts of hysteria erupting.
“Och, lass, you are good for me. I canna remember the last time I laughed like that. Maybe never.”
His arms stretched out along the back of the couch, and he started to play idly with Elena’s curls. She smiled, a wicked idea forming in her drink-addled brain. He’s happy, I’m happy; I’m a virgin, and he’s a man. She threw back the rest of her drink and poured them each one more. His head was back, his eyes closed, and still he twirled strands of her hair between his fingers. The situation was perfect, they were alone, relaxed, and Elena was just drunk enough to lose her normal inhibitions. It was now or never.
Elena climbed onto his lap, her knees straddling him and she kissed him. She took his face in her hands, the way he had done before, and she stroked his jaw, first with her fingers, and then with her lips and tongue. He stayed very still, keeping his arms on the back of the couch, head thrown back, and eyes closed. Elena could tell she had his attention by the press of his erection between her legs. Her lips lingered over his neck, paying special attention to his collarbone, she ran her tongue up to his ear, and whispered, “Faolan.” His cock twitched beneath her.
Elena returned her mouth to his. She was hungry for him, she wanted him, and she wanted him to want her. Smiling lightly, Faolan let her kiss him. His lips parted, inviting her tongue, tasting it, sucking on it. Still his arms didn’t move from the back of the couch. Encouraged that he hadn’t stopped her and challenged that he hadn’t moved, Elena raised herself on her knees, putting her breasts at a height even with his mouth and leaned into him, daring him to keep ignoring her. She pulled her fingers through his hair, lightly scraping her nails against his scalp. Then she pulled his head forward, so that his face was buried between her breasts.
Faolan capitulated with a moan, and reached to pull the front of Elena’s dress down, revealing a lacy black bra that barely contained her lust-swollen breasts. He massaged her breasts and licked and kissed her nipples. He lifted one breast and put the nipple in his mouth and sucked hard, shooting waves of pleasure straight through her that connected to the achy need between her legs. When he pulled her other nipple into his mouth, Elena reached down and unbuttoned the fly on his jeans. She pulled away the material as best she could, then pulled her dress up over her waist and settled her hot, wet center against his swollen shaft.
She began to move up and down against him, as he had done the night he pleasured her, but withheld his own release. His hands cupped her ass, and he pulled her closer still so that the fabric of her thong pulled tight into her womanly folds, rubbing her clitoris with every stroke. Again and again, she slid against him, hotter and wetter, until they were both nearly insane with desire.
Elena knew finding her release was a point of danger, it was when he’d chosen to walk away the last time. Tonight she was determined he would find his pleasure; she would wind him up so much he would have to make love to her. She ached to see him, touch him, so she slowed, carefully watching his face.
Faolan’s head was thrown back again, his eyes half closed. His breath was ragged as his hands gripped her hips, trying to guide her back to that quick pace. The passion and desire on his face told her what he refused to say.
He wants me. He wants this.
Elena slid off his lap, kneeling between his legs and pulled at his jeans. She wanted them all the way off. He lifted his hips off the couch to help, staring at Elena, mesmerized by what she was doing. She tentatively stroked him, fascinated by his size, unable to reach her fingers all the way around his shaft. This part of him was such a contradiction, hard as steel with a velvet soft covering.
As she slid her hand up and down the length of him, his hand covered hers, and they rubbed his shaft together. They started slowly, then going faster and faster. A small drop formed on his tip, and Elena savored the taste of him. His hand froze at the touch of her tongue. Elena had never done anything like this before, yet tasting and stroking him felt natural, and she couldn’t get her fill.
Faolan’s breath was coming fast and shallow. His hand gripped hers once more and together their strokes became faster. He moaned, and Elena felt his body becoming increasingly taut. He thrust back, grabbed her shoulders, lifting her slightly, to spill his seed between her breasts. Spasm after spasm rocked his body, and Elena was thrilled with her newfound power.
Elena held him close and pressed her face to his sculpted stomach, and his hands tangled in her hair. Elena’s head was spinning, with too much alcohol, or too much Faolan, she wasn’t sure.
Breath coming hard and fast, Faolan leaned back against the couch looking stunned. “Elena,” he whispered. “Och, Elena, what spell is it that you have woven around me? I am determined to resist, and yet you break me as easily as a twig. Are you some witch come to further torment my life?”
Elena looked at up at him, worried he really was angry, but he was smiling tenderly. He pulled her up beside him on the couch, and kissed her. Gentle fingers stroked her cheek, and down to her jaw, opening her mouth, he kissed her deeply, stealing her breath and giving her his in return.
“Wait here, love,” and then Elena heard water running in the big slipper tub. Was this real or fantasy? It was all so surreal.
Faolan returned holding a warm, damp washcloth with which he tenderly wiped her breasts. He pulled up the top of her dress, covering her up, and then carried her to the bathroom. Faolan undressed her with infinite care, caressing and kissing each part of her body. He pulled her dress up over her head, revealing her black lace bra and matching thong.
He kissed her breasts through the bra, before unfastening it and caressing her breasts with his tongue. He knelt before her and pulled the thong tight against her folds, kissing and tasting her. Then catching the lace in his teeth, he pulled the thong away, down toward her hips, where his hands finished removing it completely.
When she stood naked before him, exposed in all of her insecurities, Faolan looked at her and said, “Och, you are so verra’ beautiful, Elena MacFarland.”
Elena caught sight of herself in the mirror over Faolan’s shoulder, and stared in wonder at the vision they presented. Her hair was wild, spilling over her shoulders and down her back, in tangled masses of raven curls. Her green eyes slanted in contentment, her lips were swollen, and the skin on her full breasts was rosy from his raspy shadow beard. The man at her feet was looking up at her, as a mortal worshiping his goddess, and in that moment, Elena felt beautiful.
When the tub was full, Faolan picked her up, and lowered her gently into the water, draping her hair over the side so it wouldn’t get wet. The tub had tall slipper sides, and Elena leaned back to let the water spill over her shoulders and breasts.
“I will be right back, doona’ go anywhere,” he smiled.
Elena luxuriated in the hot bath, her eyes closed, sure she was dreaming. He let me make love to him. He doesn’t hate me. He’s going to make love to me. The words were a mantra to her soul.
When he returned, Elena opened her eyes in wonder. He had brought candles, freshly poured drinks, and a bottle for refills. He handed Elena her drink and made a toast, “My little enchantress,” and they both drank, before he kissed her deeply. Elena knew she should stop drinking, but the whisky made everything so smooth, just one more drink wouldn’t hurt, and she held her glass out for a refill.
Faolan removed his sweater, and now stood before her in all his glory. He was huge, and ready for her. Elena sucked in her breath as she imagined trying to take all of him inside of her. What a beautiful man! She reached out to touch him, and he smiled and stepped back to grab a stack of towels and laid them on the floor. Faolan knelt next to the tub, picked up a sponge, and began washing her body with exquisite care.
Faolan leaned in to lick and then nip at her neck. He gently washed her neck then squeezed the sponge sending rivulets of water running down her breasts. His eyes followed the water, locked on her breasts and then his velvet tongue licked the droplets from her sensitive skin.
His rough hands created a gentle friction against her swollen breasts and he rolled her nipples between his fingers, lightly pinching and squeezing, before he pulled the puckered peak into his mouth. The combination of the warm water and his hot mouth sent signals directly to her most private of female places, telling her to prepare for invasion. Elena shuddered; her muscles contracted in anticipation, leaving her achy with need, waiting to be filled.
Faolan draped her leg over the edge of the tub and rubbed the sponge slowly up the inside of her thigh. Brushing lightly over her mound, he started on her other leg, draping it over the opposite side of the tub, opening her to him. He continued to rub back and forth with the sponge as the heat between her legs built. She felt weighted by desire, her muscles heavy with the heat of the water and his touch.
When his hand replaced the sponge, a moan of pure pleasure escaped Elena. He cupped her mound in his hand and rubbed up and down, applying pressure. His fingers pulled gently at the folds of flesh, revealing the core of her most sensitive female parts. He pinched and rubbed, until she was moaning and gasping, still she couldn’t move. His fingers tenderly opened her, and he gently inserted one finger, exploring, in and out, careful never to go too deep. First just one finger, then another, taking up a rhythm, stretching her. Elena sucked in air at the feel of his fingers inside of her.
Oh, how I want him.
Elena opened her eyes and looked up at his face. His eyes were hungry as he watched his fingers touching, spreading, entering her. He turned his head, his gaze locked on hers, watching her pleasure when he touched his thumb to her lust-swollen nub. She nearly came out of the tub with the intensity of the feeling. Slowly he began to rub, never stopping his fingers, he brought her to the edge of orgasm, and then he stilled his hand, releasing the pressure an instant before she came. Elena could barely open her eyes. Her limbs floated on the water. She wanted him to take her over the edge, but all she could do was gasp and moan.
Faolan lifted her with a hand beneath her hips, letting the water buoy her, her legs still draped over the edge of the tub, spreading her. With his fingers still pumping rhythmically, he lowered his mouth and touched her with his tongue, kissing, sucking, nipping, and stroking. Elena’s inner muscles locked down tight around his fingers, and the world around her shifted. The edges of her vision became wavy as though the entire room was losing its shape with the strength of her climax. Somewhere stars exploded, showering her with thousands of fiery sparks that singed her, leaving their marks imprinted on her forever. Sounds of ecstasy filled the room, and Elena nearly blacked out as he finally carried her over the edge.
Faolan stopped stroking and just held his mouth there, letting the extra sensitivity pass, tasting her pleasure while her body continued to shudder with the force of her orgasm. When she could breathe again, he lifted her out of the tub and stood her on shaky legs while he dried her. He paused to lick the water off her breasts and to taste the sweetness between her legs. Gently, he pressed her back until she was leaning against the sink. He fell to his knees in front of her and began to lick her again with long slow strokes of his tongue. He pulled her into his mouth, and kissed and licked, faster and harder, until she had to hang on to his shoulders as another orgasm rocked her body.
Wrapped in the towel, Faolan carried Elena to the bed, and then returned to the bathroom to retrieve their drinks and the candles. Elena’s hands were shaking as she sipped her drink, savoring all the emotions she was feeling. She watched as Faolan stirred the fire and added another log, before he joined her.
“Faolan” Elena murmured.
“Aye, lass?”
Elena sipped more of her drink, while she thought about what she wanted to say. They had just shared the most intimate of acts, save one, and she knew that despite his initial reservations, he would make love with her tonight. Faolan had made this night the most special of her life, and no matter what happened tomorrow, she would always treasure this memory. “This has been the best night of my life. I’m still not asking for promises.”
“I know, love, I know.” He gave her an inscrutable look, before kissing her tenderly. “No talking now. There’s plenty of time to talk tomorrow. Now turn over.” He rolled her over onto her stomach. His voice roughened with unsuppressed desire, “Elena, lass, you are a vision. Your hair is wild, your ass so lovely. You make a man crazy with desire.”
Elena’s breath hitched and she shivered in anticipation. He was going to take her from behind, and soon he would fill her. She would be a virgin no more. He straddled her hips, and poured something warm and slippery on her back. Then he began to rub. It was body oil, and it smelled of the earth and the wind and of him. He rubbed her back and her shoulders, his firm hands kneading away any remaining tension in her body. Big hands stroked down her back, then back up along her sides, fingers trailing the sides of her breasts each time his hands returned to her back. She could feel his erection, hard and heavy, nestled in the cleft of her behind, a promise of what was to come.
He moved his hands to her legs, rubbing the oil into each leg, working his way from her thighs to her feet and back again. She couldn’t imagine anything more seductive.
Somewhere along the way, while he was working his way back up her legs toward her ass, Elena fell into a relaxed, deep sleep and didn’t wake until morning.
****
With over 100 5-stars reviews at Amazon, Highland Shift is a top entertainment value, and is perma-free at all major online retailers.
Highland Destiny Series Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtrQgN7QvY
HIGHLAND SHIFT
Highland Destiny, #1
Amazon Top 10 *** #1 Paranormal Romance *** #1 Fantasy Romance
The Highland Destiny saga begins with Highland Shift, a tale of betrayal, murder, and magick spanning two continents and hundreds of years.
Elena MacFarland wonders what everyone else knows about her new farm that she doesn't, and whether she'll live long enough to find out. Betrayed by her fiancé and the powerful Worthington family, Elena fights back and negotiates a comfortable settlement with one small caveat: she must live in Scotland for two years.
One kidnapping and two attempts on her life later, the darkly arrogant Scot, Faolan MacGailtry declares himself her new protector and moves into her farmhouse. Major problem? He was present at all three incidents. Elena decides to follow the adage to keep her friends close and enemies closer--but which is he?
One by one, Elena uncovers Faolan's darkest secrets: his Druid heritage, his connection to her past, and finally, the deadly curse that is powerful enough to destroy them both.
Notes: This is the first book of the Highland Destiny series and includes multiple paranormal elements, including Druidry, Fae, shapeshifting and magick. Heat level: Slowly builds from extreme sexual tension toward "bring-some-ice-water" hot!
PERMA- FREE AT THE SITES BELOW
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HIGHLAND PULL
Highland Destiny, #2
**The best-selling Highland Destiny saga continues in Highland Pull, a tale of betrayal, murder, and magick that spans two continents and hundreds of years. **
Waking up next to a dead woman was a good indication that Dr. Gabhran MacLachlan was in bigger trouble than he'd realized. Recognizing this as another trap set by the dark Druid Master, Gav races from Edinburgh to New Orleans to find Alysone, a mental patient who claims to have awakened in a reality that isn't hers. Her story, so close to his own, may be the necessary key to unlock his Druid memories and prevent him from shifting realities once again.
When Alysone disappears, Detective Miranda Close is less than thrilled to discover her new landlord and would-be lover is the missing woman's doctor. Raised in the magick of New Orleans and already familiar with the darkness coiled within Gav, Randi's belief in the supernatural may be all that saves her life when they are pulled hundreds of years into his past, and only one of them remembers the truth. When realities shift once again, Randi realizes they may be pawns in a much larger game.
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HIGHLAND PUSH
Highland Destiny, #3
**The best-selling Highland Destiny saga continues in Highland Pull, a tale of betrayal, murder, and magick that spans two continents and hundreds of years. **
Using the spell of time shifting, Alexander MacLachlan says good-bye to his beloved brother, his brother's wife, and his own darling Alysone--necessary sacrifices for the survival of Druidry. With his family far in the future preparing for battle, Alex must fulfill his destiny: find the Worthington heir, then kill and be killed.
Thrust forward to a time not her own, Alysone and the others discover precious few light Druids remain to offer their protection to Scotia and the world. As the time for the prophesied battle grows nearer, past meets present, and they realize someone besides Alexander is manipulating events. In a race against time, they must discover the lost secrets of Druidry, even as the members of the dark Bresal Etarlam work to destroy all that is light and claim the Druid legacy as their own.
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HIGHLAND DESTINY
Highland Destiny, #4
**The best-selling Highland Destiny saga continues in Highland Pull, a tale of betrayal, murder, and magick that spans two continents and hundreds of years. **
Although Professor Andi Cunningham knows Druidry and magick are real, her dream to recreate a twelfth century Scottish castle is destroyed when the Druid who claimed her heart wards her from the land. Now Andi’s deeply hidden Druid powers have been awakened by her new husband, Liam—Ian’s descendant and the son of the Master of the Bresal Etarlam, who wants her untapped power as his own.
Ian Worthington, the ancient warrior displaced by time, knows sacrifices must be made for the good of the order, including his own heart. However, as prophesies are revealed, he discovers sending Andi away for her protection may prove too costly for them all. When Ian convinces her to return to finish her work on the castle, both sides in the Druid conflict are pleased.
With both Ian and Liam keeping secrets, Andi must uncover the darkest secrets of her Druid heritage and the connection to the past, before the upcoming battle destroys the balance of power forever. All that’s at stake is the fate of the world.
AVAILABLE NOW:
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Author Bio & Contact Links:
Raised in California, Laura likes it hot, which explains why she ended up in Arizona via such diverse places as Japan, Maine, and Florida, and many more places in between. After retiring from the US Navy, she found a niche working for land management agencies, including the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Though she has held many jobs around the world, her favorite was working and living in Grand Canyon National Park. Working (and eating) in New Orleans was a close second. You will find many of her books are set against the rich backdrops provided by coastal Louisiana and northern Arizona.
When asked how she started writing, Laura tells of waking on Boxing Day a few years ago, with a woman named Elena MacFarland yammering in her dreams, demanding her story be told. Despite never attempting to write fiction before that morning, Laura ignored all of the holiday visitors and the Highland Destiny series was born. She doesn't believe it was a coincidence that the great grandmother who died when Laura was just a baby was named Elena MacFarland. Destiny does play a hand.
Laura became a full-time writer in 2012, and now she spends her time writing, watching her Arizona Diamondbacks, and working on her very own version of the Willow Springs Ranch in northwestern Arizona.
Laura is a multi-published author of erotic romance, mystery, and urban fantasy and her books can be found at all major online retailers.
Contact links:
Website: http://lauraharner.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LauraHarner
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Laura_Harner
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Thanks for hosting me!
ReplyDeleteLove your books that I read so far.
ReplyDeleteLove the books that I have read so far. (irlandiablue@aol.com)
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpts !!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely going to check these out.
TY for the amazing giveaway !