A Wizard's Vanilla Bluet Aphrodisiac ~ Sweet Saturday Sample

My Sweet Saturday Sample is a morsel from my latest release, an epic fantasy romance, Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One. This is the first of a 5-part series.

 

Available at Amazon for only 99 cents.

In this scene, Lyra McCauley is beginning her quest to save the Alliance part of Dragonspeir from domination by the Dark Realm's Black Dragon. Having just learned about her responsibilities, she is very tense. The Imperial Sorcerer, Sire Cullen Drake, finds a unique way to ease her stress. Kenzo, his tiger owl assistant, is quite amused at his technique.

 

Lyra stood and examined nearby flowers where the three fairies played.

They darted back and forth to the wizard, whispering in his ear.

He nodded and pointed in various directions.

 Lyra couldn’t decide what he directed them to do.

 One whorl of blossoms somehow noticed her presence and cast sprays of sparkles toward her. The vanilla scent wafted around her nose and drew her closer. Tempted, she reached her hand out to touch the flower, and fifty or so tiny clusters pulled closed before her fingers grazed their petals. When she withdrew, they reopened. If she leaned away, the whorl squirted its perfume far in her direction. Lyra laughed at its game.

 “It seeks your attention,” Cullen chuckled. With a pocketknife he cut the elusive stem. The flower recoiled, clamping tight. He presented it to her. “Its behavior told me it belonged to you.”

 “It isn’t much use now.”

 “You are mistaken, my lady.” He grinned and gently took her hand. “Follow me.”

 The sly look on his face piqued her interest. She followed him around a small stand of trees, their weeping branches heavy with sky blue blossoms. Within the secluded grove they stood facing each other.

 He touched the clenched whorl on the back of her hand. To Lyra’s surprise, it opened and sprayed. The corners of his mouth drew into a wider grin as he trailed it along her bare shoulder, across the curve of her collar bone, causing her to shiver in delight. The flower obliged and scented her skin. He lifted strands of long, golden hair aside and continued, tickling the delicate skin along one side of her neck. Then, the tip of his tongue glided over the vanilla path.

 She jumped slightly, moaned, and elongated her neck for him to caress. Her hands rested against his chest and traveled along the definitions of his firm muscles.

 His tongue journeyed across her neck, jaw, and mouth. After a gentle brush, he parted her lips.

 Lyra tasted the flower’s sweet vanilla from his kiss. In the next moment, she understood why he selected that blossom. A pleasant rush of electricity flooded her mind and heightened her senses. The feeling of his mouth on hers caused her entire body to tingle wildly.

 He pulled her tight against him, thrusting his tongue inside for a deep kiss.

Cullen’s body, the vanilla taste and scent, his raged breath and heartbeat, and her body’s reaction were all she perceived. 

 He pulled away, panting and trying to catch his breath. “I hear Bero calling. We must rejoin the group.”

 “I don’t hear anything. Are you sure? Let’s stay.” She playfully covered his lips with butterfly kisses.

Cullen took her hands into his and smiled. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m a wizard, and my greater power allows me to be slightly less affected by the vanilla bluet’s spell. It was a treat to see how completely you became entranced.”

 “Oh really? I think you were plenty affected.”

 He laughed. “I certainly was, but owing to your charms and not of the flower.”

 “You like being under my magic?” She grinned.

 “Mmm. Definitely. Too much. With the effects of the vanilla, I think I was a bit too forward, so I beg your pardon.”

 As he described his attraction to her, heat rose into Lyra’s cheeks. “No apology needed.”

 “In that case…” He leaned in for one more quick taste of her lips. “We must go now. Don’t bring the bluet. We need to keep our heads about us.”

 They fell in with the other members, lining up to proceed along the trail. The wizard opened his pack, and the sprites reluctantly crawled back inside. “If Kenzo can fly we could too…Back in the dark pack…We need to find an easier wizard to work for.”

 Lyra laughed. “Grumbly bunch, aren’t they. At least they helped you find that enchanted flower.”

Cullen’s mouth curled into a devilish grin again, and he winked at her.

 The silver owl sailed above, counting heads. Suddenly, he sneezed and a wing inadvertently collided with Cullen’s head.

 “Hey! Watch where you’re flying, Kenzo.” He stepped aside from the massive wing, bumping into Lyra on his other side.

 “So sorry, Master. Something twitched my nose. Hmm. I know what that something is! Do I detect an air of vanilla about the two of you?”

 Lyra and Cullen looked at each other and smiled ear-to-ear, but said nothing.

 “Ah-ha! Vanilla bluet—guilty!” Kenzo chortled all the way back to the front of the entourage.

Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One

Lyra McCauley is a writer and loves fantasy novels, but until she opens a selection from bookstore owner Cullen Drake, she has no idea he’s a wizard character who lives a double life inside that volume…or the story’s magic will compel her from the edge of depression to adventure, danger, and love.

His gift to Lyra, the Book of Dragonspeir, was actually her copy, misplaced years ago. Lost in her pain following divorce and death, she fails to recognize him as her childhood playmate from the fantasyland. Friendship builds anew. Attraction sparks. But Lyra doubts whether a wizard is capable of love. She’s torn—should she protect her fragile heart or risk new love? 

Opening the book’s cover, she confronts a quest: save Dragonspeir from destruction by the Black Dragon before he utilizes power of August’s red moon to expand his strength and overthrow the opposing Imperial Dragon. Lyra accepts the challenge, fearing Cullen will perish if evil wins. Along with magical animal guides, Cullen helps her through many perils, but ultimately Lyra must use her own power…and time is running out.

I'm looking forward to seeing what sweets some of my fellow authors on this hop will serve. Be sure to check them out on the main blog page for Sweet Saturday Samples.

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. The first of her epic fantasy romance series, ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS, is now available--SEEKING A SCRIBE. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, fantasy romance with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.