Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…
Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.
When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.
Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance.
EXCERPT:
Damien was not to be put off. A dark intensity burned in his eyes. He stalked her.
Aurora continued to move away until her back hit a tree. She turned to move, but Damien’s arm blocked her path. She whirled the other way, but his other arm was there, trapping her.
“Admit it,” he whispered, his voice husky.
Aurora pressed herself back against the tree and lifted her gaze to meet his.
“You liked it,” he coaxed softly, delight shining in his eyes.
“No,” she answered fervently, again turning to flee.
This time, Damien stepped in close. Their bodies weren’t touching, but he was so close he could feel the heat from her body. “Liar.”
Aurora shook her head, denying his accusation.
“I’ll prove it.” His lips were almost touching hers, so close. “You will lift your lips for me to kiss.”
Aurora shook her head. She looked away, her eyes darting across his bare chest as if searching for a way of escape.
Damien bent his arms, bringing his face close to hers. He moved his lips near her forehead, not touching, but wanting to. He slowly lowered his mouth down over her cheek to hover over her lips. He could feel her sweet breath on his lips. He wanted to taste her, feel her against him. He was so hard he thought he would explode.
Her lids drooped over her eyes. “Damien,” she whispered in a shaken voice.
“I know you want to,” he coaxed. “Let me kiss you. Lift your lips to me.”
Her mouth was open, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She lifted her head just slightly but not enough to be a surrender. Her nose touched his, sending tingles of desire through his body. It was such an innocent gesture, so tentative.
His lips skimmed hers. She was so tantalizing. So breathtaking. Just a kiss. One kiss. “Aurora,” he called.
Aurora lifted her eyes to his, lifted her lips to his, giving in to the temptation.
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Laurel O'Donnell has won numerous awards for her works, including the Holt Medallion for A Knight of Honor, the Happily Ever After contest for The Angel's Assassin, and the Indiana's Golden Opportunity contest for Immortal Death. The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. O'Donnell lives in Illinois with her four cherished children, her beloved husband and her five cats. She finds precious time every day to escape into the medieval world and bring her characters to life in her writing.
