Her Druid Desire (The Amber Druid Series) by Trish F Leger

His
smell, his presence, just him breathing was enough to make her body stand up
and take notice.
               
Instead of answering her statement, he sauntered closer to the edge of the
small portico where they were standing. The play of muscles in his shoulders
was highlighted by moonlight. Nadia clenched her fingers against the material
of her dress.
               
“I knew what I was getting when I allowed Donavan close to me.” Now why in the
hell had she admitted that? That was none of Drake’s concern.
                Shut up, Nadia!
               
“Did you really, little Dia ?” The endearment sounded
condescending when he said it. Donavan had been the one to start calling her
that. Many other society members picked up on it also. “The man gambles most of
everything he has away. He barely has money for his own business to stay
afloat. He loves rich women, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why, and among
other things, his taste runs towards rough sex.”
               
Those words went through Nadia like a shockwave. She knew some of it, and a few
other things that he hadn’t mentioned, but it was still wicked to hear him talk
so base to her like that. She looked towards him in the dark, and could barely
make out his facial features. Strong emotion wafted off of him.
               
“He is scum, Nadia. Filth. So far beneath the purity
of you that I’m surprised you didn’t turn brown when you touched him.” He
turned to look in her direction, and Nadia swore she saw a flash of golden
light where his eyes were. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her upper
body, not able to deal with this new side of Drake so easily. Exactly what had
she just seen?
               
“I’m glad that you caught on to the truth before he was able to strip your
wealth away or hurt you indefinitely.” He left the edge of the portico and
slowly walked towards her. Her heart kick-started into a
dangerous tempo. Something was different tonight. Something was causing
Drake to act even more territorial towards her. Nadia wasn’t sure how to feel
about that.
               
She could barely breathe whenever he stopped in front of her. His tall, massive
frame made her feel ultra feminine. Her forehead came to his breastbone, and
that was only because she was wearing high heels. The breeze turned, and Nadia
could smell the tinges of some spicy, woodsy cologne that he wore. She inhaled,
taking in the smell, recording it to her memory for the months to come. He was
so warm. And it took every ounce of her conscience not to give into the notion
to walk up to him and beg him to hold her. Just to feel those arms cradling
her, protecting her, caressing her…
               
The air stirred near her head, and instinctively she knew he had brushed his
fingers there. She almost moaned low in her throat, but killed the noise
instantly. There was the slight tug on her loose hair, and then she felt his
finger trace her jaw line. Nadia almost dropped to the ground at his feet. Her
breath crystallized in her lungs, and she knew in the back of her mind that
this was affecting her more than him.
               
“I don’t think you realize the kind of hurt he could have given you, Nadia.”
               
She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. The moment was so acute that
she was able to feel the calloused skin on his fingers when he brushed her jaw
again.
               
“You are too small, too delicate, and so much more than that, to allow him to
mess with your life like he was doing.”
               
The words touched something deep inside of her, and Nadia clenched her teeth
from screaming out, but you don’t understand! This was all to keep me away
from you. To keep the temptation of reaching out to touch you away from my
hands, away from me!
                The
threat of tears returned. Oh dear God,