Excerpt of A Knight for Kallen by Lauren Linwood

Griffith had not been impulsive in years, but suddenly he
felt young and foolish. He spied an alcove directly across
from Kallen’s chamber door and without thought to the
consequences pulled her into it.

“My lord—” she began, but he cut off her words with a kiss
as he backed her against the wall. His hands ran down her
arms as he entwined his fingers with hers.

The kiss started slow and sweet as he ran his lips across
hers, back and forth. He heard her sigh and became more
daring, running his tongue along the edges of her mouth. Her
lips parted in surprise, and he gently thrust his tongue
inside, tasting the sweet nectar within.

Oh, God, she was heavenly. He raised her hands and brought
them to his shoulders. She instinctively locked them around
his neck. He wrapped his arms about her and drew her close.
He wanted to feel her body next to his, feel her heart
beating rapidly against his chest.

And he did. He deepened the kiss now, wanting more from her,
giving of himself to her, his fingers running through her
silken strands. Her body began to tremble, her own fingers
playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, soft moans
escaping from her.
Griffith tore his mouth from hers and moved to spread kisses
along her jaw, down to her neck, and even lower. The curve
of her breasts had taunted him all night, and he ran a
tongue along each, delighting in her shivers and moans.

He wanted nothing more than to peel her surcoat away to
reveal her perfection, but if he did, he was afraid he
wouldn’t be able to control himself. He reclaimed her mouth
with his own and cupped her face between his hands. He
pressed one more fervent kiss upon her lips and then
released her.

Kallen opened her eyes and stared up at him. In the dim
light he could see her swollen lips, her breasts heaving as
she tried to catch her breath. She leaned against the wall
for support, her silvery blonde hair mussed and tangled.

She was the most beautiful sight he could imagine. Griffith
wanted to offer some explanation for his actions, knowing
these was her first kisses, but the words froze in his throat.

Instead, he took a step toward her and captured her waist in
his hands. He bent and took possession of her mouth once
again, his hunger for her surprising him. The surprise faded
as her mouth became his world, all thoughts simply on Kallen
and pleasing her. He took; she gave. He assaulted; she
allowed him full rein.

They clung to each other like ones starved for affection.
Griffith had allowed no one to come near him emotionally
since Carina’s death. He realized beyond Savina, no one had
ever cared for Kallen. He wanted to be the one to comfort
her, protect her, bolster her self-confidence in her new and
strange world.

Slowly, he broke the kiss and looked down at her.

She smiled up at him. “’Tis much nicer than bobbing for apples.”