Vision of Light [The Renegades 1] by Amanda Hilton Page B

trying to take her own life. It mattered nothing to them she had been a foolish, young girl of not even sixteen at the time, who had lost her mind. Aislan shut out the memory because she could not think about that now.
    "You cannot hide from the king. They will hunt you down."
    It took a while for her groggy brain to process what he said. “The king? Why should I hide from the king?"
    "You know nothing about your husband's treason,” he stated almost flatly.
    "Treason! Lord Temple served the king."
    "Yes, another king."
    "If ‘twas true, why should I be punished for what he did?” she asked incredulously. “I have no control over his actions!"
    He touched her cheek gently. “I know that. ‘Tis why I'll not allow anyone to harm you."
    Giving in immediately, she nuzzled against his long fingers like a starved puppy caged up for most of her life. She wanted him to seduce her. No, she should fight this. She should slap him, scratch him. Instead, she pulled him closer, lifting her face, parting her lips.
    He did not refuse her. His mouth covered hers instantly, hard and commanding, his tongue probing deep, hotly taking control as he plundered what she willingly offered. Almost roughly, he sucked and devoured her like a ravenous beast, but she reveled in the intensity of the kiss.
    Anchoring the back of her head, his fingers tightened in her hair, his onslaught of her tongue and lips making her dizzy and weak. Her knees buckled, and she clung to him. Grabbing his hair, she kissed him back, savoring his male taste as his tongue rubbed and dipped into every corner, every crevice. She could barely breathe and took his breaths as hers as she gasped and panted, returning each kiss for kiss. His other hand tunneled under her tunic and beneath her shift to push it down until he cupped a bare breast. First, he squeezed one globe and then the other. He pinched her nipple, his touch firm but gentle. He nipped at her upper lip and then her bottom one.
    Dazed from the pleasure of kissing and touching, she could barely focus on anything but his mouth and his hands. He made her feel alive. The intensity about him reached into and sparked inside her, bringing every nerve ending alive. She wanted to know what it felt like to have the man she wanted in her body. Her clit pulsated and contracted, her pussy throbbing with desire while moisture gushed and trickled down her legs. The physical craving for release became so fierce, she could not think beyond this moment. Even though he barely contained his roughness in his demanding exploration, she felt no fear. Even from the first touch, he had yet to hurt her, and she sensed that he would not.
    Abruptly, he pulled from her and took a few steps back, unsheathing his weapon. She watched him, her senses still swimming even as she wondered what had come over him.
    "We have company.” He grasped her by the waist and held his sword at ready as he looked around. Barely seconds later, animals growled. Dark-haired beasts with bright, slanted eyes emerged from nowhere, four huge wolves with snarling jaws. They leapt.
    Aislan screamed and wrapped her arms about Lucien's neck. In a blur of motion, the blade of his sword danced in his hand and zigzagged to keep the animals at bay. One of the wolves flew back with a slash across the chest, yelping. The other three surrounded them. As each leapt, Lucien swiped, forcing them to veer from the blade. Something dragged at her near her feet. Aislan looked down to see her cloak caught in a wolf's fangs, tearing. With a flick of the sword, Lucien cut the cloth barely inches from the beast's mouth. In a flash, Aislan saw the sword make its way upward and slash across the animal's chest. It yelped fiercely.
    Three wolves leapt at the same time. Aislan's breath knocked out of her as she and Lucien fell in a heap of bodies and animals tussling and then separating. One of the beasts lunged at her. It stared at her with eyes that appeared almost human, hesitated for one