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Kindle Edition
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Staci Troilo's Love Set in Stone
Universal Link
Category:
Romance
Publisher: AIW Press
Type: Fiction
Pages: 216
Copyright: Apr 2, 2016
A gargoyle--stone by day, protector by night--has grown jaded over the centuries, but now has the opportunity to transcend his grotesque form. All he has to do is soften his heart to love.
A cold stone heart breaks more easily than it beats. Than it loves.
Damien was a loyal warrior, killed in battle in 1203. Because of his true heart, he was given the option to pass on to his eternal reward or exist in another state of being as a protector… until he could resume living the life he’d been cheated of. A soldier by nature, he chose the latter. And he waited centuries—as a gargoyle—growing increasingly bitter about his choice.
Then he sees her.
Rina is a hard worker and loyal friend. But she has the worst luck. One night, after saving her best friend from a violent assault, she finds herself at the attacker’s mercy. Then, out of nowhere, a savior comes and rescues her.
With only an angel to guide him, Damien must make the right choices to win Rina’s heart, or be forever damned as a grotesque mockery of the guardian he once was.
Excerpt
That first instant when her lips met his, she panicked. His unyielding mouth, his stiff body, his lack of response… it all made her think she’d made a huge mistake.
That moment lasted a lifetime. And only a fraction of a second.
Before shame made her pull away, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight to him. She felt every hard plane of his chiseled body, every exhale of his warm breath, every desire he held in check. He trembled with restraint.
And she reveled in it.
Despite his hard visage, his lips were soft, his embrace gentle. And when he deepened the kiss, his tongue first teasing her mouth open then exploring hers with lingering leisure, she nearly melted.
Seriously, if he hadn’t been holding her, she’d be a puddle on the ground.
He swept her along in a maelstrom of passion and emotions, and she was helpless to do anything other than ride the wave. When he nipped her lip, she yipped and broke the kiss, stumbling back. When her eyelids fluttered open, she had to blink a few times to clear her vision.
She swore she saw…
No. That was ridiculous. Humans didn’t have wings. She shook her head, buried the thought.
When Damien reached for her, she cringed, and he dropped his hand.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I got carried away.”
“There’s no reason to be sorry. I started the kiss. If anything, I owe you an apology.”
He scoffed. “Believe me. It wasn’t a hardship.”
Rina didn’t know what to make of that, so she didn’t reply. Instead she rubbed her lip, remembered the sensation of his teeth nibbling on the tender tissue.
She’d never felt anything so erotic in her life.
“Did I hurt you?” His voice was low, soft. His eyes dark, like storm clouds or shadows.
“What? No, why?”
He touched his own lip. She realized what he must be thinking and lowered her hand to her side. “Definitely not hurt. Just—just remembering. Fondly.”
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