Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today I’m featuring my story Finding My Way To You in the recently released Bluestocking Belles boxset Moonlight Madness. You’ve seen my hero before if you’re a long time fan of my McLaren’s and Knights of Berwyck series.
Sir Rolf Norwood has always been my biggest regret as an author and the only way I could see him continue as a secondary character in my books was to make him a ghost. For those who are unaware, Rolf is bound to Berwyck Castle and this story is taking place in the Regency era. But how could I make this even better? Well.. let’s throw in some time travel that takes us back to the twelfth century. With the idea of a Halloween release, I finally found the perfect opportunity to write Rolf’s story. I hope I did him proud. Happy reading, my lovelies, and enjoy this first kiss scene!
Excerpt:
Rolf grimaced after Lynet left with Ian MacGillivray to begin the dancing. What more could he do other than to let her go, unless he created a scene. He gave a heavy sigh knowing that Fate… or Destiny… had just swept across his very soul. Lynet may not have yet realized it, but any chance Rolf may have had with her learning to love him was now gone. Ian had always owned Lynet’s heart from the time she was a young girl. How often, as her captain of the guard, had he watched her sorrow year after year when MacGillivray never returned to Berwyck. Until now, that is. ’Twas just damn bad luck or foolish thinking on Rolf’s part to think he ever stood a chance with the fair lady.
He turned away from the spectacle that was taking place in the middle of the hall so jealousy did not consume him. Instead, he turned his attention to a woman who continued to stare at him from the entryway to the room. A frown formed across his brow when visions of her swept across his mind and he was uncertain what tricks were now filling his head. Still… she was a vision in a gown the color of sage, her brown hair braided around her head forming a sort of crown, and he began to wonder about the color of her eyes, since he could not determine their shade at this distance or from the torches lighting the hall.
Brown… her eyes were brown. The answer rattled around inside his mind, and yet how did he know this or her for that matter? He had never encountered the lady before, or had he? He left the raised dais and began making his way toward her. Was it his imagination, or did her breathing seemingly quicken the closer he came? Once he stood before her, something inside him shifted and even he began to find it difficult to breathe.
“Good eve to you, my lady,” he said quietly with a formal bow, still confused about how he knew this woman.
A sob escaped her as she reached out her hand and placed it on his arm. “I found you,” she whispered so softly he almost missed her words as her fingertips trembled upon the fabric of his tunic.
An amused grin crept up at the corner of his lips. He was used to all forms of flattery by which the unwed women of Berwyck tried to claim or entrap him into professing he held some feelings for them. Lynet had been the only one he had cared for since he first arrived at the castle gates, even though he had known all along that another claimed her heart long ago.
He peered down upon the lady before him and images of their encounters together rushed again to the forefront of his mind. Yet they were not completely clear, since the gown she wore then was completely different than what she donned now and her hair… Aye, her tresses had been pulled up with loose tendrils faming her lovely face.
He made an attempt to conceal the confusion racing inside his head. “I was hardly lost, my lady,” he teased, instead of demanding who she was or why she was standing here alone in Dristan’s hall.
Her free hand shook when she raised it to place her palm against his cheek. A pulsing energy burst inside him at her touch as if the blood in his veins came alive for the very first time. And when she spoke, ’twas as if the sound of her voice vibrated in his chest, begging for him to remember their connection.
“You have been lost for a very long time, Rolf,” she declared, whilst her thumb began to move against his skin in a gentle caress. “I can hardly believe I can finally touch you.”
He arched one of his dark brows, thinking that mayhap he mistook her for one of the loose women who serviced the knights of Berwyck for a bit of coin. “You are mistaken if you think I will willing pay for your services, madam,” he grumbled irritably, but even as the words left his mouth he knew inside his heart that he had been gravely mistaken as to her intent. A gasp escaped her, showing he had erred.
“You warned me you would be difficult, no… I mean… nay… stubborn, but I did not think you would be so callous as to think of me in such a way,” she murmured sadly whilst a tear slowly fell down her cheek from one of her brown eyes.
“My apologies, my lady,” he answered sincerely, “for ’twas not my intent to misjudge you.” Unconsciously, he lifted his hand and rubbed the moisture from her cheek with his thumb, and she immediately took hold of his hand. A zing of energy shot up his arm, and he assumed she felt it too since her eyes widened at his touch. He raised her hand and placed a kiss at her wrist, and the smile she then bestowed upon him caused his breath to hitch. He had no notion why he had performed such a sign of affection.
“A lover’s gesture,” she said boldly, once more giving him a brief moment of doubt as to her motives. But he withheld further judgement ’til he could learn more from her.
“I must needs offer you an apology, once more, my lady. ’Twas highly improper for me to bestow such a kiss upon you,” he answered whilst the music in the hall ended. He turned from the lady he had been conversing with to stare at the blonde who was being led from the hall by MacGillivray. He frowned whilst a feeling that he must needs follow Lynet overcame him. He was, after all, her captain and ’twas his responsibility to always ensure she was safe from harm.
“Please excuse me,” he began but was surprised when she took hold of his arm.
“Wait!” she voiced whilst she pulled him around the corner of the room so they were out of sight of watchful eyes. She then pulled on his tunic and he leaned forward to her demand. “I know you will consider this bold of me but… Remember me, Rolf.”
Before he knew what was about to happen, another force the likes of which he did not know existed, seemingly pushed his head lower until his lips were upon hers. With the contact, images of her spun inside his head and he tightened his grip upon the lady he now held wondering, again, how he knew her.
***
Leonora’s heart soared with the first touch of Rolf’s lips upon hers. Never in a thousand years did she believe this would have ever been possible… or even time travel for that matter. Yet, here she was in the right place in time and Rolf was kissing her as though they had known each other for all of their lives.
His arms tightened around her, bringing her body firmly against his muscular chest… a chest she had been imagining touching since she first arrived at Berwyck and saw his ghostly body hovering above her in her bedroom in her own future. One of her arms curled around his neck, gently massaging the warm skin beneath her fingertips while she placed the palm of her other over his heart. She could feel for herself the rapid beating and knew that somewhere in the depths of his soul that he remembered her.
He deepened their kiss, their breaths mingled together as their souls became interwoven for all time. This was her Rolf… The man she had only thought to see as a ghost in her own world and yet, now here he was. A living, breathing man, who began to come alive for her alone. He pulled her even closer into his body. She could in no way dismiss the part of him that hardened, giving her evidence that he, too, was just as affected at their touch.
A low moan escaped her and with such a sound, Rolf suddenly broke off their contact and the spell that had magically been woven around them snapped. He took several steps away from her. The look of confusion rushing across his features almost crushed all hope that he would continue to bring to mind anything about their past… or their future as the case may be.
Finding My Way To You by Sherry Ewing in Moonlight Madness
When a ghost meets a determined lady, can he convince her to leave the past where it belongs?
Long Blurb:
Sir Rolf Norwood has been alone haunting Berwyck Castle for centuries. He is bound to the estate after vowing to watch over its descendant throughout time. A chance encounter with a lady who can actually see him makes him wonder if love has possibly found him, although to love her is inconceivable.
Lady Leonora Beckwith is not your typical lady. Her mother has all but disowned her for her ability to see ghosts. Leaving London to live near the Scottish border may give her younger sister a chance to find a suitable match. But upon her arrival, how could Leonora have known that one look at the ghost who resides at Berwyck, would change her fate… and his.
When an impossible opportunity reveals itself, Leonora willingly leaps at the chance to change Rolf’s history because sometimes you to need to follow where you heart leads.
Learn more about my contribution to Moonlight Madness and all the other incredible stories at the Bluestocking Belles’ website here: https://bluestockingbelles.net/belles-joint-projects/moonlight-madness/
Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4Dwnjr