Excerpt: Warrior of the Past

Warrior of the Past by LA Day
This is the sequel to The Last Warrior.
Releasing May 2, 2007 from Ellora’s Cave.

Blurb:
The time of the Yahi has past but a select few warriors are brought through time. This is the Bear Claws story. Can he accept a life in the present and protect his woman from a vengeful ex-husband.

Holly is starting over. Her ex-husband mortgaged the family ranch and she has to sell. Bear, Grey and Tara seem to be just what she’s looking for. They will buy the ranch and she can stay on. Burned by love, she’s afraid to trust anyone. Finding out your new friends are time-traveling warriors, and a witch doesn’t help.

With the patience of a warrior, Bear sets out to prove he is the man for her. If he has to, he will kill to prove it.

Excerpt:
He lifted his hand and brushed against her fingers. He half-turned to face her. Their eyes met and she read deep sadness in his dark eyes. “Gold-seeker hit me with rifle.”

“Oh my god. He could have killed you. Are you okay?” No wonder he was confused. A blow like this could have killed him.

“I am good.”

“You need to sit down on the couch and let me see the injury.”

Raising his brow, he smirked but complied. Pulling at the hem of her gown, Holly knelt next to him and placed the candle on the sofa table that ran behind the couch.

“Sit still and let me see. Oh no. You have a huge lump and a cut back here. How long ago did this happen?” The blood was dried and the cut appeared closed.

“I not sure.”

“You should see a doctor.”

“Warrior not see white man’s doctor.”

Furrowing her brow, Holly glared at the stubborn man. “Bear, head injuries can be dangerous.” She didn’t mention the fact that his confusion could be a sign of a more serious injury.

Gently, Holly caressed the injured area and Bear turned to face her. In their current position, his face was level with her chest and she felt his gaze through the thinness of her cotton gown. She’d long forgotten her state of dress and her breath hitched in her throat at his look. To her horror, she felt her nipples tighten and cream gather at the juncture of her thighs. She couldn’t remember the last time a man’s hungry gaze had turned her insides to mush.

Frozen in place, with her breasts inches from his nose, her heart pounded. Slowly he tilted his head and lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Little Fox, not worry about Bear.”
“O-okay, ” she stuttered.

His large, warm hand lifted to her elbow. The rough pad of his thumb caressed the tender underside of her arm before he lifted it from around him. “Little Fox not touch warrior unless she want to join with him.”

“Bear, I wasn’t trying to seduce you.”

His dark, penetrating eyes lowered to her pebbled breasts. She crossed her arms across her chest to hide the evidence of arousal. “I’m cold.”

He raised his head and she met his probing gaze. “White women do not join with savages.” His eyes filled with derision.

“I don’t have sex with men I just met regardless if they are white, red, black or purple.” She wondered at his references to savages. She supposed there was still prejudice against Native American’s in some parts of the country but surely he knew how physically devastating he was. Any woman would want him, any normal woman anyway.

Bear grunted as he stood and reached for a blanket off the back of the couch. “You sleep here white woman.” His tone was gruff and something inside her called out to him.

“Bear, please don’t be angry.” She laid her hand on his arm.

He shrugged his massive shoulders and sighed deeply. “I not angry at you.” He turned away. “Little Fox not responsible for way of white man.”