Ebony

Madeleine loves nothing more than to provoke the fearsome but handsome Guardian, never imagining that he hides a secret about her past. When she tweaks the tail of the tiger one time too many, neither Blaise nor Madeleine can imagine the events that will be set in motion.

From Chapter 6

A cool wind blew out of the north, sweeping across the beach and carrying the scent of ocean spray. Gulls circled overhead, their calls piercing the cold morning air as the sound of waves crashed against nearby cliffs. The first rays of sunshine broke over the hills behind Madeleine and cast rosy light over the dunes.

"I thought you weren't an early riser, Blaise. Is that what makes you such an ogre?" Madeleine stood on the beach trying not to tremble. Her mother's swim suit billowed around her like a ship sail's in a brisk wind. It had fit once, when Pierre called on her - or was it Jon Paul? She couldn't be sure. The linen kirtle covered leggings that reached past her ankles. The garment covered her arms as well but hardly offered anything in the way of warmth. The fabric was snug across her chest but hung around her legs. Her teeth chattered and she cast glances at the stormy waves that crashed on the shore; the water was the color of granite.

Blaise made no reply, instead busying himself with the fire he'd built. Driftwood - logs bigger than she, were piled in the pit he'd dug. It was astonishing, the strength he had. After staring for a long while, she wandered to the water's edge, wriggled her toes in the surf. The frigid water made her bones ache and she considered running back to the fire and huddling close to the flames.

Strong arms lifted her in the air and she shrieked as she was hoisted over Blaise's immense shoulder. He strode into the water with her while she shrieked and flailed in his grasp.

"It's best to get it over with," he said. "Inching in one toe at a time will only be painful."

She tried to find something to hold onto, but he'd taken off his tunic and was bare-chested. She wanted to scream for help, but no one was about to see her plight; a half-naked lunatic was taking her to the icy waters in revenge for some offense.

"You want me to apologize don't you?" she cried out. "For calling you an ogre?" The water was already to his waist and in seconds she would be dunked by her captor.

"You don't need to apologize. You need to swim, and then go sit by the fire like a good girl while I take my swim. Then we'll have our little chat."

She wriggled and pounded on his broad back with her fists. "You're a beast!"

He smacked her bottom, one stinging blow. The next instant she was airborne, flying through the salty wind and landing with a splash in the waves. The water closed around her and she sank down to the sandy bottom, the icy water closing in over her head. She found her footing and pushed to the surface. Her sopping hair hung over her eyes and she swiped it out of the way. More than anything, she wanted to unleash a torrent of abuse, but was taken aback by the expression on his face. He glowered, his eyes lit with something like anger, or fury.