Rescued (Book One of the Silver Wood Coven Series): A Witch and Warlock Romance Novel Read Online Free Page A

affecting him, too.  
    For a moment he considered surrendering to them.   He wanted nothing more than to go her, and take her in his arms, and assure her that he would never let any harm come to her. He could see himself leaving the order for her, and taking her away to a place where they’d never be found by the Templars or the Wiccans. There she would be his, the woman of his dreams, and he could live as other men. He could know love with Summer, and perhaps even have children. He could be husband and father and neighbor, and never again have to bloody his hands for the sake of a mission he no longer believed in.
    Temptations so often test of faith of the very purest of heart, my son, Nathaniel Harper’s pleasant voice intoned from Michael’s memory. You are burdened by so many because the Almighty intends you for greatness. Someday you will lead us all, I know, but first you must prove yourself worthy.
    Michael did want to lead the order, for only as Grand Master could he change the path of Templars. Instead of hunting the Wiccans, he could guide his brothers to co-existence with them. A new era of peace and tolerance might even allow them to work together toward protecting humanity and steering the world away from global destruction. If he had a destiny, he wanted it to be that.
    With his resolve returned, Michael cleared away the food and tidied the table before he went down the hall to the utility room. Summer stood folding her laundered clothes into a neat pile.  
    “We must soon leave,” he said.
    “Oh.” Startled, she turned toward him, and one side of his robe slipped down. “I didn’t hear you.” She followed his gaze to her bare shoulder and made a face as she pulled it up. “It’s too big for me.”
    Michael saw something on her shoulder, but before he could make it out the pull of her power twined around him, tugging at him as his mind filled with a sensual fog. As he moved closer to her he forgot his resolutions and destinies, and focused on the soft, sweet promise of his Beauty’s mouth. A small dent in her lower lip fascinated him. It hinted that she had been worrying it with the edge of her teeth. He wanted to soothe it with a kiss, and taste it with his tongue.
    The clothing in Summer’s hands inexplicably fell to the floor as she came to meet him, her eyes filled with some nameless promise of pleasure.  
    “What’s happening?” she whispered.
    “You’ve held me enchanted for weeks,” he murmured as he pulled her against him. “I can’t resist it any longer.” He bent his head until his mouth hovered a breath away from hers. “This once, Beauty. Only this once.”
    Her mouth felt made for his, soft and welcoming, and when a low sound parted her lips he tasted her sweetness, giving her his tongue to stroke hers as he urged her closer. The press of her firm breasts burned into the vault of his chest as he lost himself in the kiss, his hand moving to cradle the back of her head and tangling in her damp, heavy mane.
    Summer clutched at his arms, her nails pricking his flesh and sending a jolt of heavy need into his groin. He tucked his arm under her bottom and lift her off her feet. The rub of her sweet curves against his coiled muscles made him gasp. Then the edges of the robe fell open.
    Summer wrenched her lips from his.  
    “Michael, please,” she breathed. “We can’t do this. It’s not…us.”
    She sounded confused, as if her own words puzzled her. But somewhere through the haze of desire, her words rang true. Slowly, he lowered her back onto her feet. But as he did, he allowed himself to take a long look at her ripe curves and tight pink nipples. Willing his hands not to touch her, he dragged the robe closed and belted it. As he did she covered his hands with hers, and he closed his eyes and fought against the beast of need roaring inside him.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Now she touched her hands to his cheeks, her slim fingers cool against his overheated skin.