The Stone's Soul

By Lexxie Couper

Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano.

Trapped in a stone. Cursed by a jealous goddess...A warrior must find the one woman who can break the spell!

The Stone's Soul from award-winning Australian erotic romance author Lexxie Couper is an gripping paranormal suspense from start to finish.

When geologist Jordynn Harrison finds an unusual gem on the rim of Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano, she gets more than just a pretty stone to study. Touching the peridot makes her body burn—in more ways than one. The stone conjures her dream man, a Hawaiian warrior who fulfills her lustful fantasies with his hands, his lips, his tongue…

Though Jordynn knows Kale is just a creation of her lonely psyche—how else can he know her every desire?—she lets him take her again and again. But as dreams and reality merge, Jordynn begins to wonder if perhaps her masterful lover is more than just a figment of her overworked imagination.

This paranormal romance contains a Hawaiian goddess, magic, curses, paranormal phenomena, and adult situations; and is not intended for readers under the age of 18. If you're a fan of Australian paranormal romances, The Stone's Soul is a must read!

Previously Published: (2015) 5x5 Publishing

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Boutiques
• Release date: Jul 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781944003630

Lexxie Couper

Lexxie Couper started writing when she was six and hasn't stopped since. She's not a deviant, but she does have a deviant's imagination and a desire to entertain readers with her words. Add the two together and you get erotic romances that can make you laugh, cry, shake with fear or tremble with desire. Sometimes all at once. When she's not submerged in the worlds she creates, Lexxie's life revolves around her family: a husband who thinks she's insane, an indoor cat who likes to stalk shadows, and her daughters, who both utterly captured her heart and changed her life forever. Contact Lexxie at [e-mail], follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lexxie_couper or visit her at www.lexxiecouper.com where she occasionally makes a fool of herself on her blog.

Book preview

The Stone's Soul

Lexxie Couper

Published 2016 by Book Boutiques.

ISBN: 978-1-944003-63-0

Copyright © 2016, Lexxie Couper.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Book Boutiques.

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is wholly coincidental. The names, characters, dialogue, and events in this book are from the author’s imagination and should not to be construed as real.

Manufactured in the USA.

Email [e-mail] with questions, or inquiries about Book Boutiques.

Blurb

Trapped in a stone. Cursed by a jealous goddess. A warrior must find the one woman who can break the spell…

When geologist Jordynn Harrison finds an unusual gem on the rim of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano, she gets more than just a pretty stone to study. Touching the peridot makes her body burn—in more ways than one. The stone conjures her dream man, a Hawaiian warrior who fulfills her lustful fantasies with his hands, his lips, his tongue…

Though Jordynn knows Kale is just a creation of her lonely psyche—how else can he know her every desire?—she lets him take her again and again. But as dreams and reality merge, Jordynn begins to wonder if perhaps her masterful lover is more than just a figment of her overworked imagination.

Previously Published

(2015) 5x5 Publishing

Dedication

For Kelli Collins. Who believed in me from the beginning.

Acknowledgements

Editor: Kelli Collins

Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Design

Prologue

Kilauea, Hawaii Island, 1542 A.D.

"You dare reject me, mortal?"

Kale stared at the woman before him. Her glare, hotter than his blade, seemed to sear his skin. The very air around him turned to a scalding heat. The ground at his feet trembled. Shook. Threatened to crack beneath him and swallow him into its molten heart. He’d known rejecting her risked his life, but he would be no woman’s play-thing, dark goddess of his people or no.

Yes, he answered, drawing a slow breath. It blistered his lips, singed his lungs.

And yet, even in the face of destruction, he didn’t waver.

In surrendering to what the volcano goddess demanded of him, he’d be destroying that far more real than his life. He’d be destroying the memory of his wife…his child…

Pele’s laughter, cruel and bitter like the ash on the angry wind, lashed at him. Your heart is open to me, Kale. I see the woman there. That mewling infant. Why? They are vanquished from your life. They hold no bond over you now.

Kale’s gut clenched in disgust. He let his hate—both for the goddess and himself—fill his face. My heart shattered the night I lost my sweet Lani and our baby girl, Pele. It never became yours.

Pele ran eyes the intensity of an inferno over his naked body. "And yet, I made you Ali’i, High Chief of your tribe."

You also milked my body of orgasm after vile orgasm. Bile broiled in his stomach, coated the back of his mouth. Shame and anger warred within him. No matter how I protested, you took that which had only ever belonged to Lani. You used my body, my aching need for my wife in every way your saw fit, insisting it would heal my ripped soul and yet all it bore in me was a self-hatred I will never escape. Now, my body—like my heart—is forever denied you. You will have to kill me before I let you touch me again..

The volcano goddess sneered, her exquisite beauty etched with furious contempt. I will make your people suffer if you deny me.

Guilt sliced at him. And they will shun you if you do. They are stronger in soul than you will ever know. If I have done nothing else as their chief, I’ve given them that. They may not have ever seen your debasement of my body, but they have witnessed my strength in my grief and they will not forget that.

Pele narrowed her eyes. You scorn me, human? Her lips—lips that had caressed his body with ravenous greed more than once—curled. You reject me?

Yes.

Infinity swirled in her black stare. Then I was foolish to take Lani.

Kale’s heart thumped hard. His breath caught in his throat. What do you mean, ‘take Lani’?

Pele laughed, the sound cold and cruel. "I took her life force from her as she squeezed out your spawn. I had been watching you for many moons, my Ali’i, and my appetite for what I saw could no longer be suppressed. I removed the mortal obstacle and her offspring."

Kale stared at her. Icy numbness gripped him, a cracked grief beyond comprehension. Why would you do that?

The goddess curled her lip again, disdain flashing across her impossibly beautiful face. I share with no one.

Fury detonated through Kale’s being. You bitch. You fucking—

But now I see I was mistaken. Pele cocked a sharp eyebrow. Your body may be divine, but your heart…is pathetic. Unless you beg for my love, I must reject you.

Murderous rage flooded. "You killed my wife, you killed my unborn child and you expect me to love you? I will never love you, Pele! My days of worshipping you, of being your sexual slave, are over."

Pele’s ink-black eyes glowered. "You will not love me? I am Pele! The Volcano Goddess. The Goddess of fire. Your Goddess! If you will not love me then you are incapable of love."

Kale shook his head, his chest a twisted knot of rage and grief. "No, Pele. I have loved more deeply than you would ever, could ever understand. My heart is capable of love, my heart is just not yours."

The goddess laughed. Ha! Your heart is cold. Hard. You are like a precious stone, just as beautiful and just as cold. Her eyes shimmered, swirled with the life of a million stars. Let it be as I say, then. Until you know love again, until your heart is hot with passion once more, a precious stone you will be.

A chilling smile stretched Her lips. She lifted Her hands toward Kale. A stone the color of your eyes.

True and unending agony flooded