Ever My Love: Lore of the Lucius Ring
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ABOUT THE COLLECTION
The heart of a legend. The only chance for love. The hope that the Fates will
be kind before time runs out.
The long-awaited sequel to the original multi-genre USA TODAY bestselling
collection, With Dreams Only Of You: The Legend of the Theodosia Sword, has
finally arrived. Welcome to EVER MY LOVE: THE LORE OF THE LUCIUS RING, a
multi-genre new material collection unlike any other romance collection
available today.
Six of the top authors in their genres bring you this powerhouse collection
based upon the common thread of a cursed ring, passed down through the female
line descended from Theodosia herself. Only a woman may bear the burden of the
ring said to curse she who wears it. When the owner of the ring finds love, the
stone remains crimson and assures her life-long happiness. But if she does not
find love by her twenty-fifth birthday, the ring will turn dark and she will be
forever cursed with loneliness.
Join the descendants of Theodosia as they grapple with a family legend that
follows them through centuries of hope, heartache, adventure, and romance in
seven amazing segments:
Ancient Rome - The ring, and its curse, begin with the beautiful
Theodosia.
Medieval England - The ring finds its way into a notorious outlaw's possession
only to curse the woman he loves.
The Scottish Highlands - The ring escapes with a little girl... and the curse
follows.
Tudor England - The ring once again becomes the prize for the lawless when an
infamous female pirate tries to steal it from a Queen’s Naval Captain.
Georgian Era - Twin sisters vie for the ring - and for the Duke of
Axminster.
Regency England - The ring enters the proud and proper Regency set where the
curse finds new life. This one is mine!!! And it is the sequel to Tarnished
Honor. Call of the Wild Wind is the story of Britannia Halsey, as she
desperately searches for her betrothed who disappeared in the battle of
Waterloo. She's aided by her brother's friend, the Very Annoying Earl of Wick,
Charles Grant. Soon Britannia is torn between her loyalty and her lust.
Modern Times - Mistaken identity, soul mates, and the last chance for the ring
to fulfill its destiny.
Seven unique and powerful brand-new stories take the legend of the Lucius Ring
through the ages. Discover how each woman finds her own love, peace, and
happiness. The ring that can tear them apart is also the one that binds
them.
The heart of a legend. The only hope for love... will each lady find her
destiny before time runs out?
READ AN EXCERPT OF CALL OF THE WILD WIND BY SABRINA YORK
Britannia gulped. The command had utterly thrown her for a
loop.
Undress him?
How strange that a curl of excitement whipped through her
belly. She resolved, however, to be as aloof and blasé as he, and stepped
behind him to help him shed his coat.
A frisson of restlessness, a coil of tension shot through
her at the sight of this man in his shirtsleeves. This was a shockingly intimate
tableau. She reminded herself she was his servant and there was nothing more to
it. But when he turned around, so she could untie his cravat, she began to
shake.
She drew in a deep breath and began working the knot.
All the while, he glared at her with a muscle pulsing in his
cheek. Surely she was not so clumsy or slow to deserve that.
When she began on his buttons, he snarled something that
sounded like, “Never mind,” and turned away to finish the job himself.
It wasn’t wrong for her to watch.
She was a valet, after all.
And, frankly, she was curious.
Besides, it wasn’t as though she hadn’t seen plenty of naked
men in her day. If one counted today.
But oh. That frightening and dismal experience had done
nothing to prepare her for this. As Charles pulled off his linen shirt, and his
bronzed back was revealed, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Mr. Cole-Winston
had not had muscles like that, muscles that bunched and rippled when he moved. Mr.
Cole-Winston had not had a bottom like that, either. Charles’ bum was
beautifully formed and tight. His legs were long and thick and, all things
considered, rather intriguing.
She tried not to stare, but could not help herself.
Had she really thought naked men were hideous?
This one was like an Elgin marble. Perfect. A Greek God.
As he shed the last of his clothing, and Charles turned to
the side to step into the tub, it almost seemed as though he was shielding his
most private parts from her, which was, all in all, a disappointment.
Everyone knew the most interesting part of an Elgin marble
was the—
“Well?” he barked as he sloshed into the water.
“Well what?”
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Are you going to wash
my back?”
Wash his back? Touch him? She gulped. Dare she?
“Well?”
She tipped her head to the side. “If you wish.”
“I do so.” He waved to the cloth and soap Will had left on
the table and she gathered them up and then slowly made her way to his side.
She didn’t even try to peek over his shoulder into the
water.
Much.
Unfortunately, it was murky.
Or fortunately. Depending on one’s point of view.
Gingerly, Britannia dipped the cloth into the water and made
a lather and then began scrubbing Charles’ back.
This was, again, a new experience for her. And again, a
surprising delight. His skin was warm and smooth. His muscles were finely
formed. She found she enjoyed washing him very much.
He, however, did not seem to enjoy it at all. His muscles
were tense and he moved restlessly as she worked away on his back.
“Would you like me to wash your hair?” she asked.
“No,” he snapped, though there was no call for snapping.
“Shall I wash your front as well?”
He whipped around and frowned at her, then snatched the
cloth away. “No.”
“What would you like me to do?”
She did not understand the consternation on his face. Really
she didn’t. And…why did he look as though he was in pain?
“Just turn around.”
An odd command, but she did so, and then she heard him rise
from the water. Her gaze flicked to the mirror and she froze as she caught a
glimpse of…
Good. Glory.
He was magnificent.
And he was aroused.
She knew enough about the way of the world to spot that
right off.
But why would he be aroused by his valet?
Unless…
Oh dear. She’d heard about that, too.
She peered at him over her shoulder as he dried himself with
the towel and dressed in what he assumed was semi-privacy. Oh, he was a
beautiful man.
Why should it matter to her if he preferred young valets
over ladies of the ton? It wasn’t as though the two of them had any kind of
future. But somehow it did matter, and the fact that it did matter irritated
her greatly. And made her sad.
Which was ridiculous.
She was in love with Peter.
She had no business wanting any other man. Most
specifically, him.
He turned around without warning, catching her gaze on him,
and he frowned. “This was a mistake,” he said.
“I beg your pardon, milord?”
His lips twisted bitterly. He raked his fingers through his
hair. “Oh leave off, Britannia. I know it’s you.”
Shock whipped through her. Her knees wobbled and she sat
with a plop on the bed. “What?”
“I know it’s you. How could I not know it’s you? How could any
man not know it’s you?”
Well, blast. She put out a lip. “When did you realize?”
“Really?” He tipped his head to the side and gaped at her.
“The first bluidy moment I saw you by the mail coach.”
“You did not know then! How could you?”
He snorted a laugh. “Because I’ve met you? I know your face.
Your expressions. Your smile.”
“Why on earth did you pretend you did not?”
He snorted again; this one was not a laugh. “I thought to
teach you a lesson.”
She couldn’t help it. She chuckled.
He was not amused.
“You thought to teach me a lesson?” How adorable. “Is that
why you made me fetch and carry for you?”
“You hardly fetched or carried anything.”
“I intended to. That counts for something. And you’re the
one who stormed downstairs all growly and rude.”
“Rude? Rude? I was worried about you. You disappeared and
didn’t return.”
“I was right there in the—”
“Oh, yes. I heard the songs they were singing. What do you
think your father would say if he knew you’d been exposed to such language?”
She batted her lashes. “He would probably think you were the
one who exposed me to it.”
It was wrong of her to be amused by his chagrin. Or not.
“I was the one who saved you from a brigand and don’t you
forget it.”
There was no call for finger shaking.
“I won’t forget it. I am certain my father will be very
appreciative.” She frowned at him. “Would you mind finishing?” Not that she
didn’t appreciate the glorious expanse of his chest, but it was a trifle
distracting.
“What?”
She waved at his person. “You are undone.”
Why he muttered, “You have no idea,” was a mystery. But he
did make an effort to do up his buttons, though he got them wrong.
“So,” she huffed. “What do we do now?”
His gaze snapped to hers and his face went a little red and
that muscle in his cheek began bunching again. “I…what?”
“Are you sending me back to London?” Might as well throw it
out there. But she wasn’t going. If she had to, she would slip out in the night
like a wraith and find some other means of making her way to Wick.
He huffed a breath and collapsed into the chair. “We both
know how that would end up, don’t we?”
“Do we?” She widened her eyes in an attempt to look
innocent. He was not fooled.
“At this point, it is better for you to travel with me,
where you will be safe. Though we will need to hire a companion.”
“A companion? Whatever for?”
“You are a lady, remember?”
“Within the last week, I’ve been a boy and a valet. That
seems to have worked out fine.”
“Has it?” He leaned forward and pinned her with a glare.
“What do you think would have happened if I had not come along when I did this
morning?”
She sniffed. “There is no need to belabor the point. I
believe I did thank you.”
“In point of fact, you did not—”
“Well, thank you—”
“But your gratitude, or lack thereof, is hardly at issue
here. You were in dire danger of being—”
“Being what?”
“Ravaged.” He scrubbed his face with his palms. “Can you
imagine what could have happened?”
“I was prepared to protect myself.”
For some reason, her declaration did not appease him.
“Really? And how would you have done that?”
She sat up straight and tipped up her chin. “Caesar has
taught me to box.”
“Oh bluidy hell.”
“And I know where a man is most…vulnerable.”
“That you do.”
Again, she did not understand his insinuation. “Regardless,
it seems perfectly obvious to me. We shall travel together to Wick, but there
is no need for a companion. I can continue posing as your valet.”
“Wandering around strange inns and flirting with the stable
boys?”
“I was not flirting!”
“It looked like that to me.”
“Will and I were simply being friendly.”
“And we all know where that leads, do we not?”
“Balderdash.” She turned away and stared at the door. “One
would think you were jealous, the way you are carrying on.”
“Jealous?” A roar. One that shook the room. “To be jealous,
I would have to want you for myself.”
The silence that fell, following his pronouncement, was a
deafening one. Slowly, she turned and looked at him.
His eyes burned. His face was a mask. His hands were closed
into fists.
And she saw it there. On his face, in his expression.
An unholy thrill rose up within her. Because there, in that
moment, all thoughts of Peter faded. No man existed but this one. This large, perfectly-formed,
glorious specimen. And she realized that her impatience with him, her
restlessness in his presence all along, had been speaking to one thing and one
thing only.
She desired him, this man who was not her betrothed.
It was really something of a surprise, but not nearly as
surprising as the realization that he wanted her as well.
He stood and prowled across the room. He stopped just short
of her, touching her with nothing but his breath.
“Britannia, I am trying to be an honorable man.”
She stood as well and faced him, toe-to-toe. “The way an
honorable man pretends not to recognize a lady in distress so he can use her as
his servant?”
“I think I explained, I was trying to teach you a lesson.”
“Which is so very flattering really. Women love it when men
show them their place.”
“It was not meant like that and you know it.”
“Do I?”
“Goddamn it, Britannia…”
“Such language. Whatever would my father say?”
“I believe he would say you are in need of a spanking.”
Her eyes widened. Outrage swelled. If he even tried, she
would saw him open with the butter knife. “You are something of a beast, you
know.”
“I am a Scot,” he snarled. “What else would you expect?”
Well, there was no answer for that.
But then, he didn’t expect one.
Rather, he took that last step toward her, yanked her into
his arms, and kissed her.
It was not a gentle, demure or respectful kiss. Not in the
slightest. It was like the wild wind on the moors. A crashing tumult of a storm
at sea.
And it was mind-boggling.
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