The Star Necklace - New Release

Today I'm pleased to announce the new release of my second eredsage story - The Star Necklace. Here's a blurb:

The warrior Ronan travels to the far reaches of the galaxy to search for his missing brother. He cannot stay on a planet where all outsiders are killed. But when he crosses paths with the healer, Lata, who is sacrificing her virginity in a sacred rite to help her countrywomen, he cannot leave her to her unkind fate. With passion and love simmering between them, Lata is faced with an agonizing choice when Ronan is mortally wounded by her countrymen. Must she fulfill the promise made when she was chosen to wear the Star Necklace – a promise to help her countrywomen? Or can she find a way to take Ronan off-planet to save his life?

Here's a short excerpt:

“Is that how you feel about desire?” Ronan leaned closer until his breath touched her face. “If not one man, another will do?”

“I…I don’t know. I didn’t know anything about desire…until recently.”

“How recently?”

“When you kissed me…after the auction.”

“That was a show, for the Temple elders.”

“It still felt good. Then, in my room…”

“Another kiss. Nothing more.” He waved his hand.

He could dismiss it. But she wouldn’t. She’d been kissed by Toric, and by a few other men over the years. None had affected her the way Ronan had. No other kiss had produced that tingly, melting feeling that reached from her lips all the way through her body. None had sparked a sharp yearning for more. A spark that danced within her, searching for an answering light to ignite a fire that would burn out of control.

“No, Ronan.” She looked up at him. “You know it was more than just a kiss.”

“This is more.” He drew his forefinger down between her breasts. Her nipples hardened under his watchful eyes. “That’s desire. Subtle. A man needs to pay attention to catch a woman’s signals.” He curved his hand and moved it slowly over one breast towards her nipple. “Do you want me to keep going?”

“Yes.” The word sighed through her parted lips.

“That, too, is desire.” His fingers moved onto her nipple and he stroked it, gently. She tried to breathe.

Her back arched in wordless supplication.

“Harder?” His voice scraped her skin.

“Yes, oh, yes.” She couldn’t have imagined something that felt this good.

He increased the pressure almost imperceptibly, leaning over her, the darkness that was his body the only thing she could see.

“Where do you feel it now?” His low voice rumbled in her ear, adding another texture to the delicious sensations washing over her.

“Everywhere.” She sighed, opening her eyes when his hand left her breast.

“How does it feel?” His dark voice continued to tickle her ear.

“Tingly and achy, and wonderful and…”

“And?”

“Like something is missing.”

He laughed shortly.

“Yeah, that’s desire, the good and the bad.”


You can read a longer excerpt here.

I'm also blogging today at Cataromance here on my series The Art of Flirting (C is for Confidence).