The Seafaring Rogue
Pirates of Britannia World
The MacLomain Series
A New Beginning Spin-Off
Sky Purington
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: DragonMedia Publishing
Date of Publication: June 26th
ASIN: B07DCG6RT6
Number of pages: 199
Word Count: 47, 000
Book Description:
Left for dead on the shores of Scotland, Fraser MacLomain falls in love with the healer who saves him. Yet Elspeth MacLauchlin has deep dark secrets. Hidden truths rooted in a century old family feud. A vendetta that is soon resurrected by vicious enemies who steal her away during a late night pirate attack.
Bent on saving her and reaping revenge, Fraser embraces a life of piracy. Cutthroat, out for blood, he relentlessly pursues his nemesis long after rumor has Elspeth dead. Long after he abandons love for bitterness. But even a hardened heart can be thawed, as he soon discovers when catching his foe begins a high seas adventure ripe with passion, intrigue, and treasure.
Excerpt
“The plaid looks
good,” she remarked, eying Fraser with appreciation.
She had worked
tirelessly to mend his ripped and tattered MacLomain tartan. Now he wore
nothing but the plaid wrapped around his waist and over his shoulder. Another
means to test her, she was sure. Because there was no finer sight than Fraser
dressed as he was with his chiseled muscles bared to the world.
“I think he
enjoys his vanity fed,” Innis muttered as he grinned and rolled his eyes at the
hill behind them. A hill that had hosted many a lass over the past few hours.
Lasses, quite assuredly, out for a late-afternoon stroll to enjoy the view. And
though they would claim otherwise, that view had nothing to do with the lovely
bay.
Even Audric was
aware of the women, his cheeks turning red when he dared a random peek over his
shoulder.
“Well, I would
see Fraser’s vanity challenged,” Elspeth murmured, not speaking of his good
looks as she picked up one of several swords Innis had brought down. One suited
to her size. She met Fraser’s eyes in challenge. “Do ye accept, then?”
His brows perked
in interest. “Ye know how to fight?”
“Of course,” she
replied, wide-eyed. “’Twould be foolish in these tryin’ times not to, aye?”
“I suppose
‘twould,” he concurred, a new spark in his eyes. One, she realized, born of a
man who appreciated a woman who knew how to defend herself.
“So will ye
then?” She made a show of testing the weight of the blade and even executed a
few novice swings to prove she was good but not that good.
When a small
smirk hovered on his lips, and his eyes narrowed on her grip, she knew he had
her figured out.
“’Tis a good
enough method making your opponent think ye cocky rather than talented,” he
acknowledged. “But you’ll want to work some on your expression.”
“My expression?”
“Aye, ‘tis that
of one with confidence, not insecurity.” He stepped close and brushed the pad
of his weapon-roughened thumb between her brows. “It should furrow here as
though ye are concentrating verra hard indeed.” Then he grazed it along her
lips. “These should be turned down and mayhap wobble a wee bit as ye begin to
doubt yourself. As if ye just realized ye took on more than ye can handle
facing off with your particular enemy.”
After that, he
dusted the outer edge of her brow indicating her eyes. “And these, of course,
are your best weapon if you’re fighting a lad. Use them to look him over as if
sizing him up.” A knowing gleam lit his eyes. “A look as if you’re trying to
determine his weaknesses but realize mayhap there’s something to be attracted
to instead.”
“I willnae do
that,” she rebuffed, chuckling despite herself. “’Tis foolish.”
“I dinnae know.”
Innis stroked the braids in his beard as he contemplated Elspeth. “I think
Fraser is right. Especially when it comes to ye.”
“’Twill make me
seem daft!” she retaliated.
“’Twill make ye
seem as your rival likely expects ye to be,” Fraser counseled, still close
enough that she could feel his heat. “A lass with a proper eye to pleasing a
lad instead of a disobedient hellion trying to be something she’s not.”
When she
narrowed her eyes, he merely shrugged and grinned. “I didnae say I agree with
that mindset.” He stepped back and held his sword at arm’s length. “I’m more
the sort that enjoys a wee lassie with a bit of backbone.”
“Good then.” She
straightened said backbone and held her blade at the ready, wishing she wore
trousers instead of a skirt.
They eyed one
another and circled before she came at him fast. When he dodged, she spun
quickly, came in low only for him to leap back with a grin of approval.
“Ye use your
size to your advantage,” he praised. “And keep your movements quick but small.”
“Aye.” She
ducked beneath the swing of his blade. “Douglas always said to conserve my
energy. Especially when fighting a seasoned warrior.”
Innis guffawed.
“Well, you’re certainly fighting such now, lassie!”
“Your brother’s
words were wise,” Fraser conceded as they continued battling. While she knew he
was holding back some, she could tell by his random nods of approval that it wasn’t
as much as he thought it would be.
Yet as they
continued crossing swords, she saw something shift in his eyes moments before
he came at her a little harder. While she initially thought he was competitive
and could not help himself, she soon realized it was for another reason
altogether.
He truly cared
about her well-being and wanted her to fight the best she could.
So as they
fought and her energy waned, he offered not only praise where it was due but
pointed out her every weakness. An elbow held too high on a swing. The
incorrect angle of her knee when lunging. Breathing too heavily when she should
be trying to measure her breaths for certain movements and speed. His was a
well-balanced dance. A very specific manipulation of the body that included a mixture
of thought out planning and spontaneity.
By the time they
were finished, she was sore in places she had never felt pain.
“Thank ye,” she
managed, as she tossed aside her blade, planted her hands on her knees and
tried to catch her breath. “I will be feeling this for days, I imagine.”
“’Tis good.” He
smiled. “’Twill give ye a better idea of what needs strengthening.”
Though not a lewd look by any means, as their
eyes held, she got the strongest impression he longed to test other muscles as
well. To see how limber she really was.
About the Author:
Sky Purington is the bestselling author of nearly forty novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth, and legend. When combined with a love for history, romance, and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.
Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington. Interested in keeping up with Sky’s latest news and releases? Either visit Sky’s website, www.SkyPurington.com, subscribe to her quarterly newsletter or sign up for personalized text message alerts. Simply text 'skypurington' (no quotes, one word, all lowercase) to 74121 or visit Sky’s Sign-up Page. Texts will ONLY be sent when there is a new book release. Readers can easily opt out at any time.
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Thanks so much for the feature! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Sky Purington