Read an Exclusive Excerpt of EARTH BOUND by Christine Feehan

About EARTH BOUND

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of AIR BOUND returns to the mysterious coastal town of Sea Haven where six sisters of the heart are bound by the elements, and one is stalked by an inescapable past…

After escaping from a cult, Lexi found refuge with her sisters on the farm that more than sustained her body—it nurtured her soul as well. But she never forgot the terror she left behind or the always present fear that the cult would find her again, and claim her. Then her nightmare came true.

Lexi was discovered and threatened—only to be suddenly saved by a stranger. He is Gavriil Prakenskii, and he’s awestruck by the woman he’s rescued. She is destined for him. He can feel it in his soul. But how can Lexi find happiness with a man steeped in secrets and shadows, one intimately acquainted with violence, and whose very love could be the death of them?

Excerpt of EARTH BOUND

“Lexi.” Gavriil spoke softly. “If you don’t want me to stay, I can find somewhere else to sleep. I’m not really picky about where. I’m a stranger to you. You don’t owe me anything, and I’d never want you uncomfortable.”

She spun around to face him. Exhaustion was in every line of his face. He looked . . . alone. Pain clung to him like a second skin. The pain was so severe, she couldn’t understand how Airiana and Judith hadn’t seen or felt it.

“I don’t want you to leave, Gavriil. I know it’s a little awkward because we don’t know each other but I think we can get past that. I do have to say something to you though.” She bit down on her thumbnail and then her eyes met his.

He felt the impact like a physical blow. It was almost terrifying the way his body and his mind reacted to this woman. He had no idea it was even possible for him to react to a woman, to another human being the way he did her. She moved him. She moved the earth beneath his feet. There was something very satisfying in knowing he still had a few human qualities left in him. There might not be much in the way of humanity, but if he had anything at all, if there was something left of his soul, it belonged to this young woman.

“Tell me, solnyshko moya.” He kept his tone soft, coaxing, as gentle as he knew how to be. He’d never felt gentle or tender toward anyone, he hadn’t known he was capable outside of faking it, yet he actually felt those softer emotions toward her.

“I’m sorry you had to shoot those men. I know you did it to save me. You had no idea who I was. I didn’t mean a thing to you but you still shot them both and you didn’t have to. It must have been terrible for you. I’m sorry I put you in that position.” Her apology came out in a little rush.

He didn’t even know how to respond. She meant every word, he could hear the sincerity in her voice, and see it on her face. She left him speechless. Completely enamored. She was winding herself around his little finger, his heart and probably his soul. That brand had been stamped into his bones, not just hers.

“Levi warned me not to go outside the existing boundaries of the farm, but I just couldn’t help myself,” she continued. “I wanted to really take some time and look over that acreage to see what I could do with it. By being so selfish and careless, I put you in a terrible position, and I’m really very, very sorry.”

He had the unexpected urge to kiss her. The compulsion welled up strong and was nearly impossible to ignore. He was grateful for all the years of discipline. Lexi Thompson would run like a rabbit if he made one wrong move. He held himself still, his gaze drifting over her, more possessive than he would have liked, but then she was shifting her weight anxiously from one foot to the other, waiting for him to say something and not paying attention to the fact that he was a tiger with teeth and not the lamb she thought him.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Lexi. It didn’t bother me in the least to shoot the two bastards. It’s what I do. I exterminate rodents. You’ve been around my brothers enough to know what we did. I’ve been at it a few years longer than they have. I started when I was fourteen years old. Don’t think for one moment that you put me in a bad position. I had a choice, and truthfully, it didn’t bother me. They were going to kill you.”

Relief showed on her face. In that moment, he realized just what Levi had been trying to tell him. Lexi had been taken at the age of eight and beaten into submission. Her family had been murdered. Everyone she loved had been taken from her and her life had been one of subjugation to a criminally insane man. She was more than fragile.

She’d gone from a government safe house to the farm. She knew no other way of life. Here she was beginning to know who she was and little by little was gaining self-esteem and confidence. Now he came along, and she was going to have to make new changes and adjustments—ones that might be more difficult than he first considered.

Gavriil sighed. He couldn’t change who he was. He was as cold-blooded as a man could be and still actually call himself human.

“You’re very nice to say that. Are you hungry? Do you want to lie down for a while? I can get back to work . . .” she offered, her voice fading shyly.

She didn’t need to be going back to work, not after the trauma of the morning. He ran a hand through his hair. “Stay with me. I haven’t talked to anyone for a long time, and I like the sound of your voice.”

He found her soothing, her voice reminding him of perfectly pitched music softly riding on the wind. He held out his hand to her, afraid going into the house would be too intimate. She needed care. Great care. He approached everything logically and intellectually, thinking things through thoroughly so that he could come at a problem or a job from many different angles, and he was prepared for anything. This was going to be his most difficult and hopefully, his most rewarding challenge.

She moistened her lips. “I’m not very good at conversation. I’ve never had company before. Not someone who isn’t family.”

He smiled at her. “But I am family in a way.” The last thing he needed was for her to see him as a brother. He didn’t make the mistake of snagging her wrist, although he could have. He waited, his hand extended, willing her to take that first step toward him and their future relationship.

Posted by arrangement with Berkley Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Christine Feehan, 2015.

About Christine Feehan

I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything. I mean everything. All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself.

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