About
the Book
Title:
Ariella’s Escape
Author:
Carolee Croft
Genre:
Epic Fantasy Romance
Ariella
had always believed that the life of a warrior should include
indulging in wine and men whenever they were on offer… And in
Chaldea, the capital of the old empire, they certainly were.
Especially
the man she finds in her bedchamber, a slave provided by her hosts to
entertain her in any way she wishes.
But
when betrayed and surrounded by enemies in a strange land, there is
only one man she can trust—the slave who was meant only for her
pleasure but is much more than he seems.
Demetrius
had been captured in a battle at the age of fifteen, and slavery was
all he had known in his adult life. When his chance for freedom comes
along, his fate is bound to the noble warrior maiden whose voice and
body he cannot resist. Duty calls him to return to his kingdom, but
the journey will take him places that will change him forever.
Together,
they make their way through a den of thieves and an enchanted elf
forest, but the biggest danger of all may be their fiery
attraction to each other and the secret that will draw a dividing
line between them.
Author
Bio
Enchanted
by romance on page and screen, I have always tried to write my own
versions of the perfect fairytale. As for real life, I believe I may
have already found the man of my dreams, but I still haven’t found
the dog of my dreams. Currently, I’m obsessed with Italian
greyhounds. I can usually be found enjoying the outdoors or relaxing
with a good book on the west coast of Canada.
Connect
with Carolee:
Links
Book
Excerpts
Excerpt
3.
Ariella
was supposed to enter onto the stage to begin the scene. Her hands
were trembling, but she took a deep breath and commenced walking
towards the low stage. One small step brought her up to Demetrius’
level, and he pretended he had just sighted her.
“What
do I see?” he exclaimed, his smooth voice carrying well to the back
rows, but not so loud as to be overwhelming. “Are you a spirit? A
ghost sent to torment me for my misdeeds? Why do you take on the
shape of one so dearly loved, who has too soon departed from this sad
earthly abode?”
He
had spoken his lines with great conviction, but then, just for a
split second, he dropped his act and winked at her with his right
eye, unseen by the audience.
Ariella
took another couple of steps towards him.
“I
am no spirit,” she replied.
“But
I received word that you were dead…”
“That
is what I wanted everyone to believe. But I did not drown. When I
fell in the river, I breathed through a reed and swam away, and then
I waited for you to regain your kingdom.”
The
audience laughed at this facile explanation for Aurilia still being
alive.
“I
did so,” Demetrius continued, unfazed, “and I avenged my father’s
death. Now we can be together, my beloved.”
He
embraced her, and suddenly his mouth was claiming hers, and she
nearly forgot where she was. After this, the dialogue ended, and it
was all up to them. Ariella was breathless, from the kiss and her
nerves. But she buried her face in Demetrius’ long dark hair,
determined to carry on.
“We
can do this,” he whispered to her.
She
squeezed his hand in thanks.
Still
hiding her face from the audience, she trailed kisses down his neck.
The scent of his skin, which still held whatever perfume it was he
had used in the palace, now mingled with sweat and the pine smell of
the forest. It enticed her to lick his skin, to lose herself in his
kisses and his caresses.
The
thought of being watched melted away as passion coursed through her
body. She was much more aware of being slowly undressed, the laces of
her tunic unwound, of Demetrius removing his silken robe and pressing
her against his broad chest.
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