by Anna Lowe
Someday soon, she would explain everything in person. For starters, she had sent a few pictures of herself and Marco, calling him her “boyfriend” for now.
Wow, her brother had texted back. Does he have a brother? Asking for a friend.
Then he’d added, Just kidding. Henry asked the same thing.
Now, as Marco drove along, Laura mentally composed her next call home.
You should see it, Mom. The sky is so blue, and the water is so clear…
In some ways, she couldn’t wait to visit her family and show off her man. Better yet, to have her family visit Europe, because she was in no rush to leave. Everything was new and exciting, but somehow familiar too. As if she’d been born to live there all along.
She tightened her arms around Marco. It was the same with him — the feeling that she’d been born to be with that man.
He touched her hand. The way I was born to be with you.
She was tempted to have him pull over at the next lookout along the coastal road, and her dragon enthusiastically agreed.
It’s been hours since we’ve kissed our man senseless. How are we going to survive?
Unfortunately, they had to be back in Lisbon by four, and it was going to be tight, given Sunday traffic.
Thankfully, Marco knew the best back roads and the fastest way through the winding streets of the old town. Up and up they went until they finally pulled up in front of his house.
A taxi idled in the driveway, and Finn stood beside it, checking his watch.
“Perfect timing,” he called.
Laura slid off the motorcycle, a little stiff from the two-plus-hour drive. “We didn’t keep you waiting?”
He shook his head. “No, but this will be hello and goodbye. It’s time for me to leave.”
She gave him a quick hug. “Exciting news, though.”
“You mean becoming an uncle again? Nah.” Finn shrugged, but there was a merry sparkle in his eye. “It will be nice to meet the little guy, though.”
“How many nephews does that make?”
Finn held out all the fingers of one hand. “Five. My poor sister. She loves it, though.”
Laura chuckled. “No girls?”
Finn shook his head. “Not one in four generations, apart from my sister.”
“Well, at least you have a Fire Maiden,” Laura pointed out.
“No, we don’t. Eileen is a firecracker, but she’s no Fire Maiden. We’re still on the lookout.” His eyes went distant, and his hands clenched. Then he gave himself a little shake and slapped on a smile. “Anyway, I’d better go. The sooner I’m off, the sooner I’ll be back to sunny Portugal.”
Marco stepped up, and he and Finn performed one of those elaborate rituals men who’d been through a lot together indulged in. They shook hands, smacked each other’s backs, then leaned into an awkward bear hug.
Laura would have laughed if Marco hadn’t shared a little about the toughest missions he, Finn, and the rest of their company had survived. They were closer than brothers, and parting was always hard.
Finn kicked the ground, still not quite ready to go. Laura wondered why. He spoke so warmly of home and his family. What, then, was he trying to avoid?
“Anyway, I’ll be back soon,” Finn said, though he still didn’t make a move.
Marco checked his watch. “Your flight is at 19:00, right? Better get going.”
Finn sighed and looked up. “My last glimpse of the sun for two weeks. Wish me luck.”
Marco laughed and held open the taxi door. “Até breve.” See you soon.
“Slán go fóill,” Finn replied. When Laura cocked her head, he added, “Bye for now,” and slid into the cab.
“Bye for now.” Laura stepped back, making room for the taxi to turn. Then she stood in the driveway, waving goodbye with Marco.
They stood there, arms around each other’s waists, long after the taxi disappeared around a turn. Even after that, they waited, listening until the sound of the sputtering engine meshed with the sounds of the city’s streets. Finally, Marco sighed and scuffed the ground.
“Somehow, I get the feeling it might be longer than planned.”
She gripped his arm, alarmed.
“Not a bad feeling,” Marco assured her. He sniffed the air as if to eke out some clue. “Just the feeling of…of…”
Laura touched her ruby, tuning in to that ephemeral something Marco sensed.
“The feeling of destiny on the move?” she whispered.
Marco nodded. “Exactly.”
She looked out over the city, then into the air, picturing Finn’s trip to the airport and the flight to Ireland. “Well, destiny can bring good things, right?”
Marco smiled and wound his arms around her. “Especially when you least expect it.”
When he kissed her, her soul sang, and a familiar heat set into her core. As Marco deepened his kiss, she slid her hands from his back to his rear. In a matter of minutes, they would be naked and panting in bed. But first, she pulled back, sparing a thought for their friend.
“Whatever the future brings Finn, we’ll be ready to help if need be. But right now, I have a bigger problem.”
Marco’s eyes glowed with desire. “Oh yes? What might that be?”
She faked a frown. “I need help. Desperately.”
He arched an eyebrow. “With what?”
“With getting these clothes off and into bed. Are you up to the challenge?”
Marco pressed his body against hers. “Anything for you, my mate.”
* * *
Thank you for reading Fire Maidens: Portugal! If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are the best way to thank an independent author for a story you’ve loved.
Laura and Marco’s story is Book 4 in Anna Lowe’s Fire Maidens: Billionaires & Bodyguards series. The action, emotion, and passion continues in Book 5, Fire Maidens: Ireland, featuring Finn and the elusive woman he’s secretly loved for years. Click here for a sneak peek!
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Fire Maidens: Portugal is also available in audio. Audio brings the story to life in a whole different way and can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. While driving, cooking, walking… you can settle back, relax, and let the audio story sweep you away!
Finally, you can read about the inspiration for Fire Maidens: Portugal in the bonus materials section of Anna’s website, so please come and visit today!
Sneak Peek — Fire Maidens: Ireland
Inheriting a cottage in Ireland seems like a stroke of pure luck to Grace Connolly — as is a chance meeting with her mysterious (and hot) new neighbor. Soon, Boston’s most up-and-coming harpist finds herself mixing business with pleasure and getting to know Finn Hurley — intimately.
But all is not as it seems with the alluring man from next door, nor in the seaside village of Ballyfianna. Magic, shapeshifters, and legendary pots of gold? The surprises don’t end there — not when Grace’s family secrets come to light. Before she knows it, her mini adventure — and sizzling romance — become a fight between good and evil. Ruthless enemies are muscling in on Finn’s home turf, and Grace will need more than the luck of the Irish to survive. Does she dare unleash the hidden power within her — a force she’s been warned never to use?
After a decade of military service, dragon shifter Finn Hurley is finally free to track down the elusive beauty he’s secretly loved for years. When he discovers her in his home town, it seems like destiny is smiling on him. He should have known nothing in life comes easy — especially love. Because Ballyfianna is no longer the peaceful, sleepy place it once was, and Grace has unwittingly become involved in its troubles. Bitter enemies from beyond its borders plot to
seize power, while traitors conspire within. But they are mere puppets to an even more treacherous enemy lurking in the background. Can this battle-weary warrior defeat evil and finally find his happy end?
* * *
Love. Magic. Sacrifice. Don’t miss Fire Maidens: Ireland, Book 5 in Anna Lowe’s Billionaires and Bodyguards series. Get your copy today!
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Books by Anna Lowe
Fire Maidens - Billionaires & Bodyguards
Fire Maidens: Paris (Book 1)
Fire Maidens: London (Book 2)
Fire Maidens: Rome (Book 3)
Fire Maidens: Portugal (Book 4)
Fire Maidens: Ireland (Book 5)
Aloha Shifters - Jewels of the Heart
Lure of the Dragon (Book 1)
Lure of the Wolf (Book 2)
Lure of the Bear (Book 3)
Lure of the Tiger (Book 4)
Love of the Dragon (Book 5)
Lure of the Fox (Book 6)
Aloha Shifters - Pearls of Desire
Rebel Dragon (Book 1)
Rebel Bear (Book 2)
Rebel Lion (Book 3)
Rebel Wolf (Book 4)
Rebel Heart (A prequel to Book 5)
Rebel Alpha (Book 5)
The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch
Desert Hunt (the Prequel)
Desert Moon (Book 1)
Desert Blood (Book 2)
Desert Fate (Book 3)
Desert Heart (Book 4)
Desert Rose (Book 5)
Desert Roots (Book 6)
Desert Yule (a short story)
Desert Wolf: Complete Collection (Four short stories)
Sasquatch Surprise (a Twin Moon spin-off story)
Blue Moon Saloon
Perfection (a short story prequel)
Damnation (Book 1)
Temptation (Book 2)
Redemption (Book 3)
Salvation (Book 4)
Deception (Book 5)
Celebration (a holiday treat)
Shifters in Vegas
Paranormal romance with a zany twist
Gambling on Trouble
Gambling on Her Dragon
Gambling on Her Bear
Serendipity Adventure Romance
Off the Charts
Uncharted
Entangled
Windswept
Adrift
Travel Romance
Veiled Fantasies
Island Fantasies
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More from Anna Lowe
Check out the other side of Anna Lowe with a series even die-hard paranormal fans rave about: the Serendipity Adventure Romance series. You can try it FREE with Off The Charts, a short story prequel you can receive for FREE by signing up for Anna Lowe’s newsletter. Just click here!
Listen to what a few Twin Moon fans have to say about this new series:
This is as HOT as her shifter series. For those who want spicy without paranormal, this is a perfect start. I can’t wait to read more about these characters.
I’m enjoying Anna’s new series just as much as I do her Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch series.
It’s not my normal genre but I do love Anna Lowe’s romance books because of the great way she writes. I am really happy this book was the same great style.
Uncharted is different from Anna’s Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch but I enjoyed the story just as well.
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