Excerpt from The Crystal

Gabby sank into the old-fashioned wicker settee on the east side of the crystal and held out her hands. She touched the globe and closed her eyes as its warmth enclosed her, caressing her like a lover.

She moaned softly. Almost against her will, her eyes opened as the colors churned. Christopher Saint’s image began to form. Only this time it was accompanied by his voice. “What the hell are you doing?” He stood behind her scowling.

Gabby dropped her hands. Mortified, she felt her face turn scarlet. She couldn’t have been more embarrassed if he’d walked in on her and a lover. Sticking her chin in the air, she said angrily, “How dare you watch me you Peeping Tom.”

Christopher eyed her with distaste. “I expect this sort of behavior from Aunt Tam, she’s a little fey. But you, you’re just plain crazy.”

She stood up intent on sweeping past him.

But as she moved away, his arm shot out and he pulled her hard against him. He may have been disgusted by her wanton reaction to the globe, but he was also aroused. That was quite evident.

His eyes glittered like the globe as he stared down at her. Then abruptly, he lowered his head and his lips hard and sensual claimed hers.

Gabby had no intention of responding to his caveman tactics, but she found herself melting against him, weak in the knees, her insides turning to jelly.

As he felt her response, his lips softened, becoming less demanding, more persuasive. His hands explored her body. His touch light as a butterfly.

Her nerve ends tingled wherever his fingers moved.

“I can’t fight you anymore. I want you, Gabriella. I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you in the rain,” he whispered against her ear, his breath labored and uneven.

Heat shot through her like sizzling streaks of lightning. Maybe it was the residual affects of the crystal, but she wanted this impossible, arrogant man as much as he wanted her.

Her hand reached down and settled firmly on his fly. “I believe you,” and smiled against his lips.

His breath caught in his throat and the hand on her breast tightened. “I’m going to take that to mean you want me too.”