Her Warrior Heart releases June 8th

I'm pleased to share that my sensual historical romance Her Warrior Heart releases June 8th from Resplendence Publishing.

Blurb -

Raina, a gifted healer known for her magic mead, must deliver her rare medicine to King Valin who lies dying from a poison of black magic concocted by a vengeful sorceress.

On her quest she is joined by Torin, the fierce and handsome warrior she handpicked from a village to join her.

Along the way they are thwarted by harpies, a ruthless warlock, and the sorceress herself. When Torin falls prey to a spell of black magic, Raina must stay strong and trust her heart to decide who she will save.

Excerpt -

Sated from the meal, Raina patted her belly and lay back on the blanket. “Thank you for the delicious catch. It was just what I needed.”

“I can only take half the credit. The herbs you added were a nice touch. Your cooking skills have come a long way.” He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his tunic and then inspected the tears in it left by the harpies.

Her heart sank. She’d been consumed by her hunger and forgotten all about Torin’s injuries. Raina sat up and gestured with her chin. “I should tend to those cuts.”

The gold flecks in his hazel eyes brightened against the firelight. “No need. They’re fine.”

“Let me be the judge of that,” she offered and reached toward her salve.

“No.” His tone suggested that they could go back and forth all night, and she wouldn’t get anywhere.

Raina took that as a challenge. She grabbed her salve and approached him, ignoring his pointed stare. “I’m going to take care of these, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

With that said, she knelt behind him and stiffened. All this time she’d wanted a proper excuse to touch him, and now that she had one she’d lost her nerve.

Torin cleared his throat. “Should I take off my tunic?”

“Uh, no, I’ve got it.”

Her fingers fumbled as she pulled the garment up and over his head. The sight of his massive shoulders sent a surge of heat through her, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe. She’d seen him many times before without his tunic. But not from this close. Not in this way.

“Did you fall asleep back there?”

“No,” she snapped. “Just be quiet.”

You can do this, she told herself. Remember you’re a healer, this is what you do.
Raina forced herself to relax. She took a handful of salve and carefully rubbed it into his wounds. To her delight his hard muscles bunched and moved beneath her palms.

Torin groaned. “That feels good.”

It did feel good. So good it almost hurt.

Her breath turned heavy. She was dimly aware of the fire crackling beside them. Its light accentuated the peaks of his muscles. When she’d finished his back, she crawled on her knees to face him. With everything in her she tried to avoid looking at his chest.

She gathered more salve in her palm and curled her fingers up his arm and across his chest. Her hand heated and tingled against his flesh.

Raina made the mistake of looking up at him and saw him staring back at her. Was that interest in his eyes? Her gaze dipped to his firm full lips. Gods, she wanted the courage to kiss him. She wet her lips just thinking about how wonderful it would feel. Torin released a sigh and gently took hold of her wrists, holding them loose enough for her to get free.

“Raina.”

The soft caress of his voice sent a pleasurable shiver through her. She fastened her gaze on his mouth, watching it part and move. Her arousal-hazed mind barely registered the words he was saying.

“Raina, please.”

Her mind exploded with what he wanted to tell her. Maybe he felt the way she did. Gods, he could free her with his words.

“Yes, Torin?”

Breath held, she waited.

~Ann Cory