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Title: Taming A Highland Devil
Author: Kimberly Killion
Genre: Historical Romance,
Erotica
Release
Date:
August 9, 2015
Publisher:
Killion
Publishing
Synopsis:
A CHOICE...
Laird Magnus Sutherland loves women. His prowess in the bedchamber has earned
him the name Devil of Dunrobin, but no woman has ever stirred his heart. Magnus
needs to provide his clan with an heir, which is the only reason he agrees to
marry the neighboring chieftain’s sister. When his betrothed arrives, he
discovers the chieftain has two sisters. If Magnus must bind himself to one
woman, he intends to discover which is best suited to be his wife, for he wants
more than a body to plant his seed. He wants a mate for life.
A CHALLENGE...
There are three reasons Lady Effie Reay refuses to vie for Laird Sutherland’s
affections…
For one, she is thirty-two and would surely lose a competition to her
beautiful, younger sister. Secondly, Laird Sutherland is a well-reputed rake,
and she holds no desire to wed another faithless man. And thirdly, the sight of
him makes her tingle, shiver and ache.
Will Effie be successful in thwarting Magnus’ advances, or will her body
succumb to a temptation that can only lead to heartbreak?
About Kimberly Killion:
Internationally published
author, Kimberly Killion, writes sexy historical romances. Her debut book was
nominated for the romance-publishing industry's highest award of distinction,
the RITA® Award.
BEYOND WRITING CREDENTIALS,
Kimberly is also the Owner/Creative Director/Photographer of The Killion Group,
the umbrella company over Hot Damn Designs. With 24+ years of experience in
marketing, communications and design, Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a
Certificate in Web Design, and is an Adobe Certified Expert. The Killion Group
has designed 5,000+ book covers and has 2,000+ clients, including Kensington
Publishing, Amazon Publishing, Sourcebooks, Samhain, Trident Media Agency,
Kristen Nelson Agency…and many, many more.
Excerpt:
They
were perfect for one another, Effie decided as Laird Sutherland entered the
Great Hall. Four of his kinsmen trailed him, all braw and thickly built, but
none possessed the chieftain’s dominating presence. Hair, black as a raven’s
eye, lay disheveled about his shoulders with a braid falling from each temple
to mark his status. A sea-green and pale blue plaide, perfectly pleated,
draped over a clean léine shirt, but what impressed her most was the
arsenal he wore on his person—a basketsword hung from his hip, two daggers
sheathed at his waist and the black handle of a sgian dubh poked out the
top of deerskin boots.
He
was a good match for Effie’s younger half sister, as well as Clan Mackay. Their
union would make their clans a fearsome beast to behold. Clan Sutherland was
known for their prowess in battle. They were powerful enough to protect
themselves as well as Effie’s clan. The truth of the matter was, Clan Mackay
needed Clan Sutherland more than Clan Sutherland needed the Mackays. And her
brother knew it, which is one of the reasons Ian had traded their sister for an
alliance after Da died.
The
other reason was simple—Ian was as eager as Effie to see Vanna wed. Effie had
taken over Vanna’s tutelage after Da ousted Vanna’s mam from the clan four
years past. At nineteen, Vanna knew her letters and could manage a household,
but Effie feared her sister might be a wee bit loose with her legs. Given Laird
Sutherland’s lascivious reputation, Effie suspected he might find such a
quality agreeable, so long as the girl took care not to spread her legs for his
kinsmen.
’Twas
a mistake Vanna’s mam had made.
Effie
shook the thought out of her mind. Vanna was not to blame for Besse’s
transgressions.
“Think
ye the chieftain will like me?” Vanna swished long black hair over her shoulder
and fiddled with the brooch pinning the heavy wool of her arisaid.
“The
man agreed to the union in writing six months past. It matters naught if he
likes ye.” The worry stitching Vanna’s thin black brows together made Effie
wince. She would do well to remember Vanna was the daughter Da had coddled
throughout her adolescence, unlike Effie who’d had two bairns in the nursery by
nineteen. “I suspect ye will have Laird Sutherland feeding ye roasted almonds
before dawn.” Effie gave her sister’s cold fingers a reassuring squeeze then
stepped into her brother’s shadow where she belonged.
“Laird
Mackay, welcome to Dunrobin.” The chieftains embraced in a fierce hug, smacking
one another heartily on the back. “Ye must forgive my tardiness, but in my
defense, ye are more than two months early. I didn’t expect ye and your retinue
until the first thaw.” Laird Sutherland glanced down a line of Mackay warriors,
all huddled in furs with melted snow beading their beards. He made a gesture
toward one of his housecarls. Moments later, the fire burning in the hearth
roared to life.
“A
wee bit o’ snow cannot contain the young and impatient.” Ian’s cracked lips split
into a wide smile beneath his thick copper-colored beard.
A
wee bit o’ snow?
Effie contained a snort. They’d traveled four days through a bleating blizzard,
risking their horses’ health, as well as their own, because of Vanna’s
impatience. Effie feared her toes would never thaw inside her worn leather
brogues.
While
the chieftains introduced their kinsmen, Effie peeked around her brother’s
shoulder to study Laird Sutherland more closely. The man was as braw as they
came. Black stubble shadowed his jaw but didn’t hide the strong angles of his
chin and cheekbones. Silver-blue eyes the color of shallow seawater glittered
beneath thick black brows. His nose, slender and straight, directed her gaze to
sharply-defined lips.
Simply
put, the man was…well, he was certainly easy to look upon.
Effie
decided her sister had been blessed with good fortune, until Laird Sutherland
turned toward his seneschal. A scar trailed a sinister red line from in front
of his ear, down his thick neck and into his léine shirt.
Vanna
sucked in air, her spine straightened.
Effie
wanted to scold her. The girl slept peacefully night after night beneath the
blanket of protection the Mackay warriors provided. War was essential to the
security of their borders. No one knew this better than Effie. She had her own
scars, though none marred her skin.
“Wake
the servants and warm ale for our guests,” Laird Sutherland issued the order to
no one in particular for his attention was now on Vanna. He added instructions
to prepare their accommodations, then set himself before his betrothed.
“If
this is your sister, then ye did her no justice in your missives.” Laird
Sutherland eyed Vanna from tit to toe and awaited introductions.
Ian
angled himself toward Vanna. “May I present Lady Vanna Mackay.”
Vanna’s
smile could weaken any man’s resolve, and she knew it. She glossed her full
lips, batted her curled black lashes and dipped low as Effie had taught her.
“’Tis a pleasure to finally meet ye, m’laird.”
His
bow was deep, reverent, but his eyes darkened with lust. ’Twas how men looked
at Vanna. She possessed uncommon, exotic beauty, unlike Effie, who resembled
every other green-eyed lass in the Highlands with unruly copper-colored curls
and pale skin. The one physical attribute Effie had to her favor was her firm
round breasts. Not that anyone ever noticed them.
Laird
Sutherland noticed. His gaze flitted over Effie’s person then lingered long
seconds on her breasts.
Her
heart skidded, but she quickly pulled the seams of her mantle tighter around
her bosom and tucked herself farther behind Ian.
“And
who, pray tell, is this bonnie creature?”
Ian
had to follow Laird Sutherland’s eyes before he replied, “This is Euphema
Reay—”
“Effie,
m’laird,” she corrected quickly and stepped forward beside Vanna to curtsey. As
she stood upright, she glared at Ian. At four years her junior, Ian had the
bitter disposition of a man twice his age. “I am my brother’s other
sister.”
Laird
Sutherland’s brows perked up, his head tilted, then his eyes shifted back to
Ian. “I was not aware ye had two sisters.”
Ian
scratched his beard. “I saw no point in mentioning it during our negotiations.”
Laird
Sutherland’s gaze swept over her like a gust of heat before he met her eyes.
“Are ye married, lass?”
“I’m
widowed, m’laird.” She hated those words. Had hated them for two years.
“And
past her years.” Ian’s callousness spiked her temper.
“I
just turned two and thirty. I’m hardly dead.”
“Do
ye still bleed?” Silence hummed in the wake of Laird Sutherland’s inquiry. The
fire cracked in the hearth, raising the short hairs at her nape.
She
considered herself keen, but it wasn’t until he asked his blatant question that
she fully understood the path of the conversation. She held no desire to take
another husband, much less take a husband from her sister. Staring wide-eyed at
the rushes scattered about the floor, she felt almost ashamed when she
answered, “Aye.”
Effie
swore she heard Vanna’s teeth grind as Ian attempted to remedy the situation.
“Forgive me, but ye agreed to marry Vanna in exchange for an alliance.”
“We’ll
have our alliance.” He locked eyes with Ian. “But I’ll remind ye that I agreed
to a union with your sister.” Laird Sutherland’s attention shifted between
Vanna and Effie. “I’ll need a fortnight to decide which one is best suited to
be my wife.”
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