by: Lisa Kessler
Series: The Muse Chronicles
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Release Date: January 22, 2018
Publisher: Lisa’s Lair
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Mason Knowles is a carpenter with a secret. He's a Lycan, cursed by Zeus to shift into a wolf. With each transformation, the curse becomes stronger, threatening the man to succumb to the animal forever.
Clio Clarke is the human vessel for the Muse of History, devoting her life to studying the past. But when destiny brings Mason into her present, Clio realizes she still has plenty to learn about love and trust.
Mason discovers he's Clio's Guardian, gifted with inhuman strength, however, it will take more than might to stop an immortal from hurting her. He'll sacrifice anything, even his own humanity, to keep her safe, but this shift could be his last.
The Prophecy - "Every generation the nine daughters of Zeus are reborn, and with their rebirth are also nine Guardians. They will be marked by the gods, and given gifts to protect his treasure. Their abilities will only be unlocked when they find their muse."
Mason walked Clio out of Bartlett’s and toward her car. She had to work in the morning but wasn’t ready for the night to end. Not yet. Mason made her laugh, and when she went off on historical tangents, he didn’t just sit and wait her to return to the twenty-first century, he listened and joined her on the journey. They’d already talked for over two hours.
As she slowed her pace, he chuckled. “I’m not ready to say good night yet.”
“Me neither.” Clio stopped beside her car and looked up at him. “If I didn’t have a teaching assignment tomorrow, I’d love to find another place to talk.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. Her pulse raced as heat coiled low in her belly.
His eyes met hers as he lowered her hand. “You’re my silver lining, Clio.”
Her heart fluttered. “How do you figure?”
“I came to Crystal City without knowing a soul, landed a job that no one else would work on, and then got trapped in a burning building, but I also got to meet you.”
She worried her lower lip. Why couldn’t Mason be her Guardian? She’d never met anyone like him before. He loved the hard labor of his job, claimed it was honest and allowed him to move around and see the country, and when he wasn’t turning architectural drawings into reality, he enjoyed reading.
And his favorite subject was history.
Ugh. She never should have taken a seat at his table. Now when she found her Guardian, she’d be comparing him to Mason. How could any man measure up?
At least she hadn’t kissed him yet.
Yet? She needed to get her head together and stay focused on finding her Guardian, not making out with the hot contractor. For now, she’d imagine that he was a sloppy kisser, like a wet vacuum cleaner, all tongue and teeth.
“Damn. I’m sorry.” His hand slid free of hers, his gaze wandering over her face. “Let me guess. You’ve got a boyfriend, and I just made you really uncomfortable.” He shook his head, a trace of a smile on his face. “But boyfriend or not, I meant what I said. I’ve got no regrets.”
She reached up to cup his face, rose up on her toes, and brushed her lips against his.
What was she doing?
His five-o’clock shadow was rough against her palm, reminding her this wasn’t a dream. He returned the kiss, humming into her mouth as he embraced her. Gods, her entire body came alive, aching for more. She parted her lips, and his tongue searched for hers, teasing her until a wanton moan escaped her throat.
Her knees wobbled, but Mason’s strong arms kept her upright. She tangled her fingers in the back of his hair, and suddenly, her brain engaged.
She pulled back, breathless. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Mason loosened his grip on her, shaking his head. “I will never be sorry you stopped thinkin’, darlin’.”
His crooked smile almost lured her to kiss him again. So much for imagining he kissed like a wet vacuum. It was the opposite, in fact. Now she realized she’d never really been kissed until tonight.
She was so screwed.
Taking a step back, she pressed the center of her glasses farther up her nose. “I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
“So there is another guy?”
“Yes.” She coughed and shook her head. “Well, no. At least, not yet.”
He raised a brow. “Which is it?”
She couldn’t tell him she was waiting for her Guardian to find her, and right now, her blood was rushing to lower parts of her body. Her brain was still struggling to catch up. She crossed her arms. “It’s complicated.”
So smooth.
He nodded, his gaze boring into her. “Maybe you can explain when I help you move Saturday.”
Having him in her place, near her bed… Yeah, bad idea. She broke eye contact and looked down, inspecting her shoes. “About that… I don’t want to impose.”
He caught her chin, lifting her head until she stared into the lush forest of his green eyes. “I swear I’ll keep my hands to myself.” He smiled and added, “Even if it kills me.”
Knowing he wanted her too wasn’t helping. Had Trinity been right about Mason all along? How had Clio missed it?
“Okay.” She nodded, a grin creeping up on her. “And I promise not to kiss you again.”
He shook his head, bending closer. His breath teased her skin, his voice dropping an octave. “That’s a promise I hope you can’t keep.”
Her lips parted, aching to close the distance between them again. Never in her life had she wanted anyone like this. Why now?
She backed away. Being near him was intoxicating. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a tentative smile. “I guess I’ll see you in a couple days.”
He nodded, and while his eyes shone with desire and intensity, he made no move toward her, respecting the boundary she was desperately trying to erect between them.
A nervous giggle escaped her lips. “I’ll text you my address. Thanks for your help. And sorry about the…”
He shook his head and gave her a crooked smile. “I’m only sorry we’re not going to kiss again.”
As she slowed her pace, he chuckled. “I’m not ready to say good night yet.”
“Me neither.” Clio stopped beside her car and looked up at him. “If I didn’t have a teaching assignment tomorrow, I’d love to find another place to talk.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. Her pulse raced as heat coiled low in her belly.
His eyes met hers as he lowered her hand. “You’re my silver lining, Clio.”
Her heart fluttered. “How do you figure?”
“I came to Crystal City without knowing a soul, landed a job that no one else would work on, and then got trapped in a burning building, but I also got to meet you.”
She worried her lower lip. Why couldn’t Mason be her Guardian? She’d never met anyone like him before. He loved the hard labor of his job, claimed it was honest and allowed him to move around and see the country, and when he wasn’t turning architectural drawings into reality, he enjoyed reading.
And his favorite subject was history.
Ugh. She never should have taken a seat at his table. Now when she found her Guardian, she’d be comparing him to Mason. How could any man measure up?
At least she hadn’t kissed him yet.
Yet? She needed to get her head together and stay focused on finding her Guardian, not making out with the hot contractor. For now, she’d imagine that he was a sloppy kisser, like a wet vacuum cleaner, all tongue and teeth.
“Damn. I’m sorry.” His hand slid free of hers, his gaze wandering over her face. “Let me guess. You’ve got a boyfriend, and I just made you really uncomfortable.” He shook his head, a trace of a smile on his face. “But boyfriend or not, I meant what I said. I’ve got no regrets.”
She reached up to cup his face, rose up on her toes, and brushed her lips against his.
What was she doing?
His five-o’clock shadow was rough against her palm, reminding her this wasn’t a dream. He returned the kiss, humming into her mouth as he embraced her. Gods, her entire body came alive, aching for more. She parted her lips, and his tongue searched for hers, teasing her until a wanton moan escaped her throat.
Her knees wobbled, but Mason’s strong arms kept her upright. She tangled her fingers in the back of his hair, and suddenly, her brain engaged.
She pulled back, breathless. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Mason loosened his grip on her, shaking his head. “I will never be sorry you stopped thinkin’, darlin’.”
His crooked smile almost lured her to kiss him again. So much for imagining he kissed like a wet vacuum. It was the opposite, in fact. Now she realized she’d never really been kissed until tonight.
She was so screwed.
Taking a step back, she pressed the center of her glasses farther up her nose. “I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
“So there is another guy?”
“Yes.” She coughed and shook her head. “Well, no. At least, not yet.”
He raised a brow. “Which is it?”
She couldn’t tell him she was waiting for her Guardian to find her, and right now, her blood was rushing to lower parts of her body. Her brain was still struggling to catch up. She crossed her arms. “It’s complicated.”
So smooth.
He nodded, his gaze boring into her. “Maybe you can explain when I help you move Saturday.”
Having him in her place, near her bed… Yeah, bad idea. She broke eye contact and looked down, inspecting her shoes. “About that… I don’t want to impose.”
He caught her chin, lifting her head until she stared into the lush forest of his green eyes. “I swear I’ll keep my hands to myself.” He smiled and added, “Even if it kills me.”
Knowing he wanted her too wasn’t helping. Had Trinity been right about Mason all along? How had Clio missed it?
“Okay.” She nodded, a grin creeping up on her. “And I promise not to kiss you again.”
He shook his head, bending closer. His breath teased her skin, his voice dropping an octave. “That’s a promise I hope you can’t keep.”
Her lips parted, aching to close the distance between them again. Never in her life had she wanted anyone like this. Why now?
She backed away. Being near him was intoxicating. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a tentative smile. “I guess I’ll see you in a couple days.”
He nodded, and while his eyes shone with desire and intensity, he made no move toward her, respecting the boundary she was desperately trying to erect between them.
A nervous giggle escaped her lips. “I’ll text you my address. Thanks for your help. And sorry about the…”
He shook his head and gave her a crooked smile. “I’m only sorry we’re not going to kiss again.”
Purchase Devoted to Destiny from:
The Muse Chronicles Series:
Lure of Obsession ~ Review
Legend of Love ~ Review
Breath of Passion ~ Review
Light of the Spirit ~ Review
Don’t miss Dance of the Heart, book 6 coming June 18, 2018
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, performing with the San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
Places to find Lisa Kessler:
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