Caress of Magic — Katrina LaFond

Marinda Hatcher at Paranormal Romance & Authors that Rock

Kate is a witch, born and bred. With her boyfriend, Ethan, and his brother Russell, she has made a satisfying life for herself, fighting evil and protecting those she cares for. During one of those battles, Kate is transported far away, with no memory of who or what she is. Believing her dead, a depressed Ethan tries to go on with his life. When Kate recovers her memory and returns, she finds him in the arms of another woman. Furious, she vows that she's done with him, done with her life as a witch, and determines to prove that she doesn't love him anymore

But Kate has caught the attention of a powerful evil, and she is now the hunted. Can she and Ethan find their way back to each other? And if they do, will dark magic tear them apart again?

Excerpt:

Kate tried to force her body to stop trembling. She tried to focus on the months that she'd spent not knowing who she was, not knowing what she was. The fear and the uncertainty. But all she could focus on in that moment were those beautiful green eyes of his, the heat rolling off his skin that had nothing to do with fever. She started to lean toward him and stopped herself.

“Let me go, Ethan.”

Instead, he lowered his head and she knew he was going to kiss her. Panic shot through her and she tried to jerk out of his grasp. He let her hand go, but he wrapped his arm around her waist before she could get away. She gasped at the speed with which he snared her, and when he pulled her against his body, her hands came up to brace against his chest, trying to keep some distance between them. That was a mistake, she realized. At her touch, his muscles tensed rock-hard, and her own traitorous body reacted, desire pooling low in her belly.

When he lowered his head this time, there was no evading him, and when his mouth closed over hers, his lips gentle but firm, her world spiraled away into the stars. His kiss was hot and demanding. He nibbled and teased, commanded and cajoled. Of their own volition, her arms twined around his neck, holding on for dear life. His hands roamed down her back, settling at her waist, and she leaned in to him, moaning softly.

He nibbled at her lower lip and when she opened for him he groaned at the taste of her. Kate whimpered low in her throat when he deepened the kiss, but she loved the invasion, craved it. She'd missed his possession, his commanding presence, the way he took by giving… She wanted Ethan so desperately her body felt like it was on fire, and she knew that only his touch could extinguish the flames.

She tried to pull away and broke the kiss. “No,” she said softly.

“Yes,” he growled, and kissed her again, his lips scorching hers, his hands roaming further south, cupping her ass.

Yes! her body screamed. Oh, yes!

She managed to pull away again. “No,” she said, firmer this time.

Ethan stopped for a moment, but he didn't let her go. He kept her prisoner against the heat of his body, his arms like steel around her. He looked into her eyes. “Say it again,” he said, his voice harsh, his eyes gleaming at her in the flickering candle light.

“No,” she said, her voice wavering.

“Again.”

“No,” she whispered.

“One more time,” he breathed.

“No.”

“Are you convinced yet?”

Tears flooded her eyes. “No,” she admitted.

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Caress of Magic contains adult situations, violence (including references to rape), and is recommended for 18 years old and over.