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.”