She turned around as she tried to detect the candle in the dark to light it. Lightning lit up the room, and she spied the candle for a moment. Marie placed her hand on the counter and patted down, only to find the sink. Thunder boomed again, and she yelped as she gripped the cup. She extended her hand out again, but this time encountered something warm.
Marie screamed as she held the cup for dear life. Large arms wrapped around her in a warm embrace. Her face rested against a man’s naked chest which wiggled as he chuckled. She took a deep breath, smelled John’s scent of light musk, and relaxed in his embrace.
“Sorry, a nighean,” my girl. “I only meant to play with ye. I didn’t think I’d scare ye.”
Marie huffed and pushed against him. “Well, ye scared me all right. Thought I found the ghostie, the Green Lady of Dunstaffnage, in the flesh.” She lifted her head, peeked at him, then rested her hand on his naked chest.
John stepped back as he took her cup. It clinked as he set it on the counter. She felt him move away as his form shifted towards the stove. The clank of the kettle told her he’d picked it up.
His body moved to her and he reached around her to turn on the water. The kettle filled with a gurgle. He amazed her at how he easily navigated the kitchen in the darkness.
In a flash of lighting, his white teeth glowed as his voice calmed her. “Didn’t ye want some tea?”
Marie blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and his face outlined in the dark, close to hers.
She took a deep breath. “Aye, tea would be nice.”
John chuckled as he moved away. “This happens every storm.” At the stove, with his eyes on hers, he opened the drawer, took out a long lighter, and held it up. He smiled, flicked it on, then lit the stove manually casting him in shadow. He stretched over her and lit the candle. A warm light illuminated the room and cast a golden glow around them.
As he pulled back, he stopped when their faces were a mere breath apart and stared into her eyes. He stepped closer and smiled as he reached to the cabinet behind Marie and retrieved another cup.
Marie shifted out of his way, but he placed the cup on the counter stopping her motion. He put the lighter on the other side. John leaned on the counter trapping her between his arms.
He gazed into her eyes as he opened the drawer next to her hip. His hand shifted around, then pulled out the tea and tea strainers and set them on the counter. His gaze held hers.
Marie raised an eyebrow. “I see ye’ve made tea in the dark before.”
John smiled. “Aye.”
Lightning lit up the room, and thunder reverberated off the walls. Marie jumped, and her hands gripped his shoulders. John took her hands into his, kissed one, then placed them around his neck as he wrapped her in his embrace. She rested her head on his chest, her ear aligned with his heart. Beneath his warm skin, its steady beat calmed her. Marie took a deep breath, and they stood there in the night as they held each other. The rain made shadows on the moonlit window and ran down the glass in wavy patterns. Thunder rumbled, but farther away now.
She wasn’t sure who moved first, but she gazed into his eyes. He shifted closer, and his lips brushed hers lightly. She didn’t stop to think, only feel.
Their lips twirled and his heart beat against hers, then her heartbeat rushed. His hand caressed her face while the other anchored her to his body. She relished the play of their mouths as warmth spread from her neck to her toes, making her knees weak. Her hands traveled over his chest as she ran her fingers through the soft hair.
He deepened the kiss, and she molded her palms over the muscles of his shoulders, then trailed them back to his chest again. John’s kisses sent tingles from her fingertips to her toes. She tilted her head and moaned as John trailed kisses down her neck.
The tea kettle whistled loudly. Marie jerked away, but John held on to her.
He whispered, “Stay here. Don’t move an inch.” John crossed to the stove, shut off the gas, and shifted the kettle to another burner. He stopped and lowered his head as he rubbed his neck. They stood there momentarily. She glanced down, took a deep breath, and turned away.
Before she proceeded farther, he came beside her and took her into his arms, her face in his hand. “Where are ye going?”
Marie wouldn’t look at him. “Back to bed.”
John’s thumb shifted under her chin as he tilted her head till their eyes met. He gazed at her a moment, glanced over her face, eyes, and mouth.
His hand caressed her hair. “Sit up with me, please?” His eyes shifted to her face again. “I can’t sleep in storms. Spend the time with me over a cup of tea. We can sit by the fireplace in the hall.”
Marie blushed. “Aye, I can’t sleep either. I’ll sit up with ye.”
John kissed her nose, then stepped away. His easy manner soothed the storm jitters away. John moved close to her, handed her a cup, and placed his hand on her back as they made their way out of the kitchen.
Marie stopped. “John, the candle. Ye need to blow out the candle.”
He leaned down and blew out the candle. “That’s the second time I’ve blown that candle out tonight.”
Stone of Love
At the study, the door was ajar. A low fire glowed around the room. Good, someone already lit the fire. Brielle slipped into the dim room, crossed to the fireplace, and set the candle on the mantel. A flash of lightning illuminated the room, drawing her gaze to the shelves beside the fireplace. She perused the shelving, trying to find the perfect book. She realized the one she wanted was three shelves up, and she couldn’t reach that high. Climbing to her knees on the lower cabinet, she stood and reached to the shelving above. Her fingertips barely touched the book she wanted. She stretched a bit more, and just as she was about to reach the spine marked Love Poems and Sonnets, a crack of thunder startled her, and she fell backward off the bookcase.
Her cry was cut short when she hit something solid. A warm, muscular chest shifted along her back, and strong arms cradled her. Mortified, she kept her eyes shut. How much worse could it get? Then the chest shook with a chuckle.
The voice that belonged to it said, “Careful what ye seek, lassie. Ye might find something ye aren’t looking for.” In utter embarrassment, she kept her eyes shut. It was Colin. “Ye can open your eyes, Brielle.”
She turned her head farther into his chest. That was a mistake. He was shirtless and smelled too damn good.
The Inspiration for the Magic Stones
In early research, I read about the Stone of Destiny, or the coronation stone, traveling through Scotland and stopping at Dunstaffnage Castle, Oban, Scotland. Dunstaffnage Chapel in the Woods and the castle’s long, turbulent history laid the foundation for my series, Stones of Iona.
When I read about the Stone of Destiny and its rumored birthplace, Iona Isle, I asked myself, what if the stone was magic? What if many stones were magic, and what would that mean? As I delved into research on Scotland, I found that many of the people’s beliefs link to its folklore. These rich stories of worlds beyond ours became essential in capturing this country, its people, and its culture and bringing them to life.
After drafting the first three books in the seven-book series, a trip to Scotland in June 2023 provided an inspiring view of Scotland and her people. I feel even more connected to the characters and their stories after visiting locations featured in the series… Dunstaffnage Castle, Chapel in the Woods, Iona Isle, Iona Abbey, and Dunollie Castle.
Why should readers read this book?
Stone of Love, Book 1, Stones of Iona Series is a swoon-worthy time-travel romance set in Scotland and an “add it now” for anyone’s reading list. Outlander readers will clamor for more after reading this one!
Come discover how a simple magic Fae stone can save the realms as an American scholar starts a new life by renovating a Scottish chapel as a Fae’s prophecy sends her through time into the arms of the modern Scottish Laird, posing as his ancestor who must find a magic Fae stone to bring order to the realms.
Next in the series…. Stone of Fear, Book 2, Stones of Iona Series, just released summer 2024 and look for the Christmas companion book to the series, Thistle in the Mistletoe coming Holiday’s 2024.
This looks like a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike!
DeleteI enjoyed the post. Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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