Defiant
Authors: Kris Kennedy
“Stop talking,” he ordered, and leaned over the table until
his scarred, perfect mouth was far too close to hers.
“And if you bark at me again, I will tie you up and make you howl in a way you’ve never dreamt of, Breton lass.”
They were leaning that way, each half across the table, staring at each other, angry and aroused—at least Eva was; Jamie’s face revealed little—when the door of the tavern squeaked open, then slammed shut. She tore her gaze away; habit too well formed, from too many years of running and hiding.
In this case, as in so many others, it saved her life.
The squint-eyed men who’d kidnapped Father Peter had just walked into the tavern. If they saw her now, they would recognize her. Then they would take her. Mayhap kill her. And Father Peter would be lost.
She slowly shifted her gaze back to Jamie in wedged degrees, like the pointed crest of a sundial. The sound of bootheels hitting packed earth thumped inside her head with each pump of blood. Trembling rippled through her in the way of a river, with fierce currents, fear and fury mingling as they so often did, so that she could equally run or attack and not know which until she was already doing it.
But in this moment, like a hand reaching out with a gift, came a new idea:
Kiss him.
And so she did.
Praise for Kris Kennedy and her seductive medieval novels
The Irish Warrior
“This medieval romance has it all: tenderness, romance, danger, suspense, politics, sex and a dash of fantasy.. . . The sex is hot and the suspense is breathtaking. This one is impossible to put down.”
—Romantic Times
“An unusual setting and a plot that comes out of the mists of legends. Kris Kennedy has penned a rare, steamy, and adventurous love story with a wild Irish warrior and a strong woman of substance. . . . Sexy and adventurous, intriguing and tender,
The Irish Warrior
is a page-turner full of high drama and hot, steamy romance!”
—Jill Barnett,
New York Times
bestselling author
“A sexy, taut medieval that’ll leave you breathless and wanting more. Kris Kennedy has penned the perfect romantic adventure, overflowing with gorgeous imagery, rich characterization, and an unforgettable voice. Passionate characters caught in a page-turning adventure. . . . I devoured every delicious word.”
—Roxanne St. Claire,
New York Times
bestselling author
“Medieval romance fans rejoice—Kris Kennedy captures the essence of old Ireland in this engaging, sexy adventure! The rich and imaginative story pulled me in from the start, and an irresistible hero kept me riveted till the end.”
—Veronica Wolff, national bestselling author
The Conqueror
“A strong, sensual medieval romance about sworn enemies who fall in love against a tapestry of love, greed, revenge and betrayal. The characters are well written, the history accurate, and the action engaging and intense.”
—Romantic Times
“With her debut release, Kris Kennedy has given us a stunning tale of betrayal and redemption. . . . On the surface this would seem to be just another historical romance novel, but hidden in its depths are real treasures.”
—Book Binge
“If you’ve been looking for a strong medieval romance,
The Conqueror
is an impressive debut, indeed.”
—All About Romance
“I blushed, smiled, and then happily went back and started reading
The Conqueror
again.”
—Wild on Books
“If you’re an old-school romance fan, especially one who adores medievals? Yeah, just stop reading my review right now, run out and buy
The Conqueror
. It has everything you’ll want and more.”
—The Misadventures of Super Librarian
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Kris Kennedy
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Pocket Books paperback edition May 2011
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Designed by Jacquelynne Hudson
Cover illustration by Craig White
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4391-9590-1
ISBN 978-1-4391-9592-5 (ebook)
To the men in my life, for letting me be mom, wife, and writer, and
for being so supportive on those days when it was mostly the latter. But
especially my husband, first and foremost, for everything.
To my son, for bringing me sharpened pencils with bright fresh erasers—
about fifty of them—and laying them quietly beside me as I worked.
To my wonderful agent, Barbara Poelle, for knowing who’s going to love
what, then forcing them to read it when they’re really, really busy.
To my fabulous editor, Abby Zidle, for a whole lot of patience and
assistance as I trekked through this story without a muse.
To my readers, who love hot romance, hard-headed knights, headstrong
women, and lots of adventure. Here’s to a long journey ahead for us!