·
She
faces justice, truth, and a Laird’s vengeance
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Blurb
After
her half-brother attacks the kinsmen of Blair McGregor, Lady Roselyn of Etal is
brought before the stern highland laird to answer for her reluctant, unwitting
role in the crime. Once she has told her story, she throws herself at his
mercy.
Blair
soon realizes that Roselyn is as much a victim of her half-brother as anyone,
but his people’s demands for justice cannot be ignored entirely, so he strips
the young Englishwoman bare and chastises her firmly with a switch applied to
her naked backside.
The
painful, humiliating punishment both assuages Roselyn’s guilt and leaves her
yearning to be even more thoroughly mastered by the handsome laird. Though
Blair makes it clear that she is free to return home, she instead chooses to
remain with the him in his castle… and in his bed. Their passion soon blossoms
into romance, but can the highlander protect his beautiful Sassenach when the
villain who caused them both so much pain tries to tear her away from him?
Publisher’s Note: The Laird and the Sassenach includes spankings and sexual scenes. If
such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.
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post Introduction
The Laird and the Sassenach is a story of a man with justice to mete out, and a
dilemma to face. Sometimes the truth seems to stare us in the face, at other
times it may be not so clear where the blame lies. In the middle ages, of
course, matters of crime and punishment, guilt or innocence were simple enough.
The social hierarchies of the time placed authority and power in few hands and
there were no qualifications required which entitled the privileged to rule.
They were just handed the job and the common folk had to hope their leaders
would turn out to be wise and fair. Sometimes they got lucky, and The Laird and the Sassenach is a story
of one such instance.
I love
to write historical stories. I am especially drawn to Highland fantasies, and
why not? Who can resist the soaring Scottish scenery and sexy men in kilts. I
find myself fascinated by that heady cocktail of honour and lawlessness, the
atmospheric sensuality of the time and the way an all-powerful laird will
reveal his soft centre just when it matters. But the Sassenach in the story
also has her little quirks and faces some unique challenges. And look out for
an unlikely star of the show. Freya the wolfhound has her part to play and I
absolutely adored her.
I hope readers enjoy The Laird and the Sassenach as much as I loved writing it
Excerpt
3 (18+)
An hour
later Blair ascended his private stairs leading to his solar. Roselyn had gone
up some twenty minutes earlier, at his bidding. She should be ready for him by
now. Aiden had also completed his allotted task and the products of the man’s
labours now awaited the laird, suitably prepared and soaking in a bucket of
water in the hallway outside his chamber door.
Blair
halted to check the switches. Aiden had done his work well and Blair could
detect no sharp edges which might cut Roselyn’s delicate skin. He crossed the
solar to the door which led to the smaller chamber where he slept.
Roselyn
had obeyed his instructions to perfection, particularly considering that this
was the first time he had required her to be naked in his presence. He had been
tempted on many occasions and as his prisoner there would have been little she
could do had he decided to take advantage of her vulnerable situation. When her
very life hung in the balance his innate sense of honour would not permit him
to stoop to such an act, but all had changed now.
She
turned her head as he entered the room. “My lord…?”
“You
will not speak, Roselyn, unless I ask you a direct question. You may of course
scream—indeed, I believe my people will expect it.”
She
nodded and bowed her head.
He
paused for a moment to peruse her slim body. Had there been the slightest mark
remaining, any residue of her beating at Kelso, he would have insisted that
this issue between them be deferred.
There was not.
Very well then, we continue. He strode past her to fetch the bolster from the head of the bed and
moved it to the foot. Blair considered the arrangement for a moment, then took
a length of folded plaid from a chest and added that to the pile. It would do.
He turned to regard Lady Roselyn.
“I shall
require you to lie across the foot of my bed where I have placed pillows which
will lift your bottom up for me. I expect you to remain still and in position
until I am finished, and I have no doubt that you will find that difficult. If
you move I shall be obliged to start all over again, so to avoid disappointment
to both of us I shall tie you in place. Your wrists shall be secured, and your
ankles.” He moved to stand immediately in front of her and tipped up her chin
with his fingers. “I will hurt you, Roselyn, for that is what I intend, but I
will do you no lasting harm. Do you understand the difference?”
“I… I
believe so, my lord. You are not at all like my brother.”
“No, I
am not. So, may I help you up?”
She
nodded and reached for his hand. Blair helped her to her feet then paused to
peruse her naked form. “You are quite lovely.” He meant it, but now was not the
moment to pursue that disruptive line of thought. Instead, he brushed his lips
across her forehead then led her to the foot of the bed. “Lean forward and rest
your body on the pillows. You may take your time to get settled, and when you
are ready I shall tie you in place.”
He
stepped back to allow her the space to move, and moments later he was rewarded
by the sight of her upturned, naked buttocks presented prettily for his
punishment. His unruly cock stood to attention as Blair admired the vision
before him. For several moments he did not move, but then he heard her whimper.
She was afraid, utterly terrified. He should conclude this as quickly as he
might and ogle her later.
“Spread
your legs as wide as you are able, Roselyn. I shall secure your ankles first.”
He
crouched and fastened her delicate feet to the bedposts, his actions both swift
and deft. He used leather straps, sufficiently flexible not to cause undue
discomfort, but neither could she escape or kick. He had every confidence she
would do her utmost to achieve both before they were done.
Next he
moved to her side and took her right hand in his. He pulled it into the small
of her back, then drew her left to join it. “I shall bind your wrists like
this.”
She lay
still as he finished his preparations, her breathing rapid. Satisfied that she
would remain quite still during the proceedings and not wishing to prolong her
ordeal unnecessarily, Blair returned to the outer solar to select his first
bundle of switches.
More
about Ashe Barker
USA
Today best-selling author Ashe Barker has been an avid reader of fiction for
many years, erotic and other genres. She still loves reading, the hotter the
better. But now she has a good excuse for her guilty pleasure – research.
Ashe
tends to draw on her own experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her
plots and characters. An incident here, a chance remark there, a bizarre event
or quirky character, any of these can spark a story idea.
Ashe
lives in the North of England, on the edge of the Brontë moors and enjoys the
occasional flirtation with pole dancing and drinking Earl Grey tea. When not
writing – which is not very often these days - her time is divided between her
role as taxi driver for her teenage daughter, and caring for a menagerie of
dogs, tortoises. And a very grumpy
cockatiel.
At the
last count Ashe had over forty titles on general release with publishers on
both sides of the Atlantic, and several more in the pipeline. She writes M/f,
M/M, and occasionally rings the changes with a little M/M/f. Ashe’s books
invariably feature BDSM. She writes explicit stories, always hot, but offering
far more than just sizzling sex. Ashe likes to read about complex characters,
and to lose herself in compelling plots, so that’s what she writes too.
Ashe
has a pile of story ideas still to work through, and keeps thinking of new ones
at the most unlikely moments, so you can expect to see a lot more from her.
Ashe loves to hear from readers. Here are her social
media links:
Or you
can email her direct on ashe.barker1@gmail.com
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