Winter's Scorching Kisses Read online

  Books By Lily Thomas

  Giant Wars Series

  Loving His Fire

  Grounded By Love

  Melted By Love

  Wicked Flames of Desire

  Winter’s Scorching Kisses

  Galactic Courtship Series

  Xacier’s Prize

  Claiming His Champion

  Captivating the Doctor

  Escaping the Hunt

  Abducting the Ambassador

  Wicked Prisoner

  Seducing the Enemy

  Cuff Me Now

  Challenging the Arena

  Dark Desires in Space

  His Fallen Star

  His Human Temptation

  Racing Toward Desire

  Ice Age Alphas

  The Sabertooth’s Promise

  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.

  Cover created by SelfPubBookCovers.com/ FrozenStar

  Copyright © 2018 by Lily Thomas

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce the book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information email [email protected].

  www.lilythomasromance.com

  ISBN:

  ISBN: (ebook)

  Winter’s

  Scorching

  Kisses

  Lily S. Thomas

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 1

  Adorra sat impatiently at the breakfast table, waiting for her sister to show up in the great hall. She glanced at the empty seat next to her and rolled her eyes. Jasmine was probably sleeping in again in revolt. They might be family, but her sister was making her opinion of Adorra’s fiancé perfectly clear. Now Jasmine wasn’t even showing up for meals.

  She loved her younger sister, but sometimes… sometimes she just wanted to throttle her!

  “Excuse me.” She stood up from her seat, the chair scraping against the stone floor, and her fiancé, Lord Edmund Gothar, glanced up surprised by the sudden movement.

  “What is it?” Edmund asked as he turned his attention back to buttering a roll.

  “My sister. She hasn’t shown up, and I fear she’s slept in again.” On purpose. Jasmine was making it her mission to protest the upcoming nuptials, and Adorra had a theory. She figured Jasmine was just upset that someone else was entering their lives. They’d grown close after their parents’ death, and they would remain close after her marriage. She just wished Jasmine could see that.

  “Perhaps you should let her rest,” Edmund suggested as he took a bite of his buttered roll, chewing thoughtfully, not a bit perturbed about Jasmine’s ludicrous behavior.

  Adorra glanced over at him and sent him a smile. “You’re so sweet, but she must show herself.”

  Jasmine was most likely still sulking in her room over the fact that Adorra was about to get married. No matter how much she reassured her sister everything would remain the same between them, her sister wouldn’t be happy for her.

  To say it was causing a rift, would be an understatement.

  She left the table with a sigh and glided over to the stairs nearby. This wouldn’t be the first time she’d been forced to wake her younger sister. Adorra had been like her mother ever since their parents died when they were children. She had hoped adulthood would bring about another side of her sister, but it hadn’t.

  It was no secret Jasmine hated Adorra’s betrothed. She only wished her sister could see Lord Gothar as she saw him. He was a kind man with an enormous heart. It hurt her that her own sister couldn’t see the love she felt for him.

  As she ascended the stone stairs, she used the time to think over how to handle her sister. Jasmine was a woman who enjoyed the freedom of the countryside, but maybe it was time Adorra insisted her sister go to court. There Jasmine would be ruled by a stricter timetable, and no one there would let her out of her place.

  She paused midway up the stairs, but did she really want court to take away one of the things she was glad Jasmine got to enjoy? Not many women in their station could say they’d had enough spare time to read as much as her sister did. Jasmine had such spirit and kindness, and Adorra worried the ladies of the court, with their wagging tongues, would shred her in a minute.

  Quickly, her slippered feet made quick work of the rest of the stone stairs. She strode up to Jasmine’s door but took a moment to rein in her raging emotions. Getting in a heated discussion with her sister would get them nowhere and only result in them simmering in silence.

  She knocked lightly on the wooden door. “Jasmine, you’ve missed the morning meal.”

  No answer.

  It was time to get a little harder and pull out the voice she figured she’d used on a petulant child. It was hard to imagine her sister was an adult and being this childish. Life was full of people they hated, yet a lady should still smile and find something to talk about.

  “Jasmine, I will come in there and drag you out of your bed.” She’d done it before, and she wasn’t afraid to do it again.

  Silence.

  She knocked again, louder this time. “I’m coming in Jasmine!”

  Adorra shoved open the door only to stop short when her eyes landed on Jasmine’s bed. Jasmine’s bed was made without a single crinkle in the fabric, and no one was in the room. Her teeth gritted together in anger.

  As she slammed her sister’s door shut, she noticed a maid passing by. Adorra reached a hand out stopping the maid. “Have you seen Jasmine?”

  “Not since yesterday, m’lady.”

  “Okay, you may go back to your tasks, but if you see Jasmine let her know I want to speak with her. Immediately.”

  The maid curtsied before bustling off down the hall.

  Adorra pursed her lips. She had no idea where her sister was in the manor, but she had a breakfast to get back to and a betrothed to dote over. She would run into her sister at some point during the day. For now, she would let Jasmine have her solitude, but at some point, she would have to light a fire under her sister’s butt.

  She wanted her sister and betrothed to get along. Soon they all would be family, and she needed them to be on speaking terms. They both meant so much to her. Each of them held a half of her heart, and she didn’t want them breaking it into pieces.

  “Give up, my lady.” A guard pleaded with Adorra. “We’ve been searching for more than a fortnight now, and there is still no sign of your sister.”

  “No, I must keep looking for her. I can't just give up on finding her.” Adorra stifled a sob. She had to keep focused. If her grief took over now, then she wouldn't have the strength to keep searching the area around the manor. Her sister was still missing, and after a complete search of the manor involving everyone who lived there, there’d been no trace of her.

  Something had happened to her sister, and Adorra hadn’t even noticed! She’d thought her sister was being stubborn and refusing to accept Lord Gothar, but she’d been gone… and she felt horrible for thinking such terrible thoughts about her sister.

  Turning her face up towards the grey clouds that had tak
en over the sky, she let her tears mix with the drops of falling rain. It was as though the land was crying with her, and she prayed her sister would still be alive when they found her. She couldn’t even think about not finding her sister.

  She’d lost both of her parents when she’d been young, and now her sister couldn’t be found. The world was a cruel one, but she refused to believe it would be that cruel to her, and right before her impending nuptials.

  “My lady you will catch a cold if you do not return to the castle and warm yourself.” The soldier rode up next to her horse, trying to snatch the reins from her hand.

  “Stop!” Adorra barked with authority. She was the lady of this land, and if she wanted to search the area despite the rain, then she would.

  His hand froze in mid-air. Pulling it back, he tried again, “You can't help your sister if you become bedridden with a chill.”

  Heaving a heavy sigh, she yanked the horse’s head around. Fine, the soldier had won, for now, but she would be back the moment the storm had passed. She had yet to give up hope on finding her sister. Jasmine was the last family member Adorra had left, and she wasn't willing to just let her sister go without a fight.

  Kicking her heels into the horse's flanks, she hung on as it jumped into a gallop.

  The sound of dogs baying as their human called them back accosted her ears. The fact that the dogs hadn’t been able to find any sign of Jasmine’s tracks caused Adorra to fear the worst.

  Today the rain had defeated her. She was shivering and drained from being out in the cold for most of the day.

  Edmund had expressed concern over Jasmine’s disappearance but had excused himself from the search party. She didn’t hold it against him. Jasmine and Edmund had never been close. It wasn’t like Jasmine had given him a reason to search for her with all the rudeness she’d thrown his way.

  She took a glance behind her at the forest willing her sister to appear, but she didn't. Adorra turned her attention back to guiding the horse to the manor. It’s large hooves tossed up chunks of the soggy ground.

  It only took them a few minutes to get back to the manor. Once she rode into the manor’s courtyard, a stable hand ran up to her side quickly taking control of her snorting horse who’d been riled up by the fast pace.

  “My lady.” The stable hand held out a hand, and she took it, sliding off her sidesaddle.

  Her booted feet hit the muddy ground below her, splashing dirty water up onto the skirts of her forest green riding dress. Shivers spread over her skin, and she quickly dashed for the manor’s doors. She pushed open the heavy wooden doors to find Lord Gothar and Keir sitting at a table in the hall playing cards.

  Lord Gothar’s head shot up, and his sea-green eyes darkened for a second before worry spread across his face. “My dear,” he rose from the table, “you shouldn’t have been out in this weather.” He strode over to her and rubbed her arms vigorously through the fabric of her dress.

  “I have to find her, Edmund.” Adorra glanced up at him, hoping he’d be able to help but knowing no one knew what had happened to her sister.

  “Just look at yourself, Adorra.” Edmund motioned to her soaked clothing and the puddle that was developing around her boots. “You’ll catch a chill and die, and that won’t do your sister any good.”

  “But”

  “No, no more buts.” He waved a maid over. “Take your lady upstairs and get her warmed up and changed into some clean clothing before she catches her death. Go now, Adorra.” He ushered her off. “I will have Keir pick up where you left off in searching for your sister.”

  She nodded as another round of shivers overtook her body. Warming up did sound like a good idea, and the search would continue. Relenting, she let the maid guide her back to her room. They would find her sister. They had to find her sister.

  “Everything will be alright miss.” The maid encouraged her with promising words.

  “I’m not so sure.” There was a pit developing in her stomach, and she worried this would either never be resolved or result in someone finding Jasmine’s lifeless body somewhere in the forest.

  “You mustn’t lose faith. Your sister is known for loving her solitude.”

  “But for a fortnight? And no one has seen her?”

  They entered another corridor. “It doesn’t look promising right now, I must admit, but Jasmine is an intelligent woman. We should believe in her ability to be fine despite the odds.”

  The maid was right. Jasmine always had a way of bouncing back. She may have been bookish, but she’d also had an inner strength that only some could dream of possessing.

  “Come on my dear.” The maid coxed her into her room where a tub of hot water waited along with a set of clean, dry clothes.

  Once she was dry and in clean clothes, she would do her best to direct the men who were still outside looking for her sister.

  Chapter 2

  Sitting before her mirror, Adorra dipped a fingertip into a metal jar of red dye. She raised the fingertip to her lip and spread the dye across her full lips.

  Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the butterflies dancing around in her stomach. Today was the day of her wedding, and her nerves were skyrocketing. She had been so excited to marry Lord Gothar, and now she felt as though she had cold feet. All she wanted to do was run away and never look back.

  Which was completely silly, she had been dreaming of her wedding ever since he had kneeled in front of her and proposed. He was quite the catch, her Edmund. There’d been more than a few ladies at court vying for his attention.

  Maybe the fact that her sister hadn't been found was starting to weigh on her, especially now that it was her wedding day. Now she had no family to help her celebrate this joyous occasion.

  No parents and no sister.

  It broke her heart.

  There was still no word as to what had happened to Jasmine, and no body had been found, which caused her to still have hope.

  “You look gorgeous!” Her friend exclaimed from beside her.

  Adorra smiled, yes, she did look quite amazing in her wedding gown. The snow white dress fit snugly around her full breasts, and the waist of the dress highlighted her hourglass figure. The dress had a neckline that dropped dangerously low over her cleavage, almost to the point of being scandalous, with long sleeves that split at the elbow.

  As she shifted in her seat, she watched as all the crystals on the dress shimmered as they caught the afternoon light shining through her chamber window and reflected it through their many facets.

  Her sister hadn’t approved of the dress, but now that Adorra had it on, she liked to think Jasmine would’ve loved it.

  “Should we get you down to your wedding?”

  Adorra snapped out of her thoughts, a smile forming on her lips. “Yes, but I have to admit I’m feeling a little anxious.” She may not have her sister or parents, but she was still surrounded by friends and a man who loved her.

  The friend waved it off, “Of course you’d be anxious. You are about to become a wife, and finally, know the passion of being with a man.”

  “Isabel! Truly, is that all you dwell on?” Adorra was appalled by where her friend’s mind had gone.

  But it could very well be one of the reasons Adorra was growing nervous about marrying Lord Gothar. Soon she would be a wife and be tied to a man for the rest of her life. She was going to be a wife, running a large household now that their lands would be joined. She would have two manors to maintain for her husband, two households full of maids to manage. It was a lot, and she only hoped she was up for the challenge.

  “But it is understandable that I am getting such jitters?”

  Isabel nodded her brunette curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Perfectly understandable. I don’t think I’ve ever known a bride who didn’t harbor misgivings about her marriage, but you have the perfect man waiting to make you his.”

  Isabel was right. Adorra was only being silly. Despite the fact that she’d lost all her close family
, she would now have the opportunity to create a new family with Edmund Gothar. “Then let us go so we don't arrive late to my own wedding.”

  It wasn’t fair of her to keep her guests waiting. Or keep Edmund waiting… not when he’d been so patient with her. Every spare moment she had, she was out searching for her sister, and he’d been more patient than any man would’ve been. He was too good to be true.

  Rising from her chair, she straightened her spine and readied herself for a marriage without any close family members. There would be a few distant aunts and uncles down there, but no one she knew intimately.

  Isabel guided her through the halls of the manor until they reached the great hall. It was rare to see the great hall empty, but all the tables were decorated and ready for the celebration that would soon fill it’s stone walls. Food and drinks were already laid out in a glorious display.

  Then they headed for the double doors leading out to the garden behind the manor.

  Walking outside, Adorra paused at the doorway letting her eyes adjust to the bright natural light. Blinking a few times straightened out her eyes, and she glanced over the crowd attending her wedding.

  It was a small crowd, consisting of mainly the people who lived in the manor or nearby. It wasn't as grand as the wedding of her dreams, but it was what Lord Gothar had wanted. He had explicitly asked that they keep the wedding and following celebration small. It had deflated Adorra's sails for a while, but a small wedding could be more intimate. Or so Edmund had told her.

  Smiling, she stepped out, her close female friends trailing behind her.

  Every footstep seemed like a lifetime. She felt her heart rate spike as she neared the outdoor altar, where Lord Gothar stood in his formal attire. He looked stunning, and for a moment she wondered what he saw in her. She wasn’t the richest lady at court, and he’d had his choice of women, but he’d chosen her.