BLISS
Lynsay Sands
Releasing July 25, 2017
Avon Books
No
one blends humor and sensuality like New York Times bestselling
author Lynsay Sands in this captivating story of feuding nobles forced to
marry…and destined to fall in love.
Love thy
neighbor, ’tis said. A fine idea, except when the neighbor in question is Lord
Holden. Lady Helen Tiernay has complained frequently about his treatment of his
people. Too frequently perhaps, for the king intends to curb
their constant bickering by ordering them to wed. Helen can’t refuse a royal
decree, but she’ll do everything possible to drive away her devilishly
attractive husband-to-be.
Holden has
faced all manner of horrors on the battlefield. But marriage to “the tyrant of
Tiernay” is still a worrying prospect—until he glimpses Helen in the flesh.
What flesh it is…soft, lush, made for his touch. If she weren’t so intent on
thinking up devious ways to prevent consummating their bond, Helen would see
how perfect they are together, and that a marriage begun as enemies can turn to
absolute pleasure.
“Lady Tiernay,” Templetun greeted, jogging
up the last few steps to come abreast of Hethe as he passed before their two
hostesses. “May I introduce Lord Hethe of Holden. Lord Holden, this is Lady
Helen of Tiernay and her aunt Lady Nell Shambleau.”
Hethe moved up another step so that his
face and Helen’s were on a level, and managed a smile as he gazed into his
fiance’s sky blue eyes that matched her gown. Actually, his mouth was
responding to his nether regions, and it fashioned itself into a beaming grin
of pleasure for the woman—until she smile back and said, “How do you do?”
His smile died an abrupt death, becoming a
dismayed grimace. It wasn’t the woman’s words that affected him so but her foul
breath that blew at him as she spoke. The shock of it made Hethe take a hasty
step backward. He would have tumbled down the stairs had William not steadied
him with a fist at his back.
“God’s teeth!” he gasped in horror,
bringing a perplexed and even slightly offended look to their hostess’s face.
It also brought him a rather sharp and confused look from Templetun, reminding
him of his manners. Forcing a false smile of apology to his lips, Hethe turned
his face slightly to avoid the noxious fumes and excused himself by muttering,
“Nearly lost my footing.”
“Oh, well, you must be careful, my lord,”
his betrothed breathed at him sweetly. Leaning closer, she snatched his arm
through her own, presumably to save him from losing his balance again. She then
smiled brightly and sighed gustily into his face. “Such a handsome man. We
would not wish you to tumble down the stairs and break your neck! At least, not
before the wedding, hmmm?” she teased, her eyes sparkling.
Hethe nearly whimpered. His head was
swimming under the onslaught of her poisonous exhalations. Sweet Saint Simon!
He had never smelled anything quite so raw or putrid. He hadn’t thought it
possible for such a scent to come out of a human’s mouth. And the fact that it
was coming from the sweet bow-shaped lips of the lovely woman before him just
seemed to make the horror of it that much worse.
“Shall we go inside?” the woman’s aunt
suggested cheerfully.
“Aye,” Lady Tiernay agreed. “I am sure you
gentlemen are ready for a nice mug of ale after your journey.” She spoke the
words to Hethe, her breath wafting over his face like an ill wind carrying the
stench of death. Feeling his stomach roil, Hethe nodded faintly, more than
eager for any excuse to move and avoid the situation he was in.
Lord love me, I have to marry this
wench,
he thought as he hurried rudely up the last step and into the keep, dragging
her a step behind. She would be breathing this putrescence at him for the next
fifty years or so, he thought faintly, too dismayed to even realize how rude he
was being by pulling Lady Tiernay about and leaving her aunt and the others to
follow.
Lynsay
Sands is the
nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as
well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She's been writing stories since
grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career
out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress
through her stories, and if there's occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter,
that's just a big bonus. Please visit her on the web.
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