SAHARA KELLY


Bio –


Born and raised in old England, Sahara now makes her home in New England – a delightfully symmetric circumstance, which appeals to her slightly skewed sense of humor. Married for twenty-five years to the same patient man and the mother of a son now graduating from college, Sahara reconnected with her passion for writing several years ago (her first book was published over twenty years ago, but motherhood got in the way of things for a while!). Now the author of nearly fifty titles for Ellora’s Cave, Sahara loses herself with glee in her latest work, only taking a break now and again to relax with her other love – graphic arts. She believes that everyone should have fantasies – and is well aware she’s blessed to be living her own!!!


Links –


Sahara’s website – http://www.saharakelly.com/


Partners in Passion – http://www.partnersinpassion.net/ (shared with co-writer S.L. Carpenter)


The Hussies – http://www.thehussies.us/


The Hussies Blog – http://www.thehussiesblog.blogspot.com/


Publisher – http://www.ellorascave.com/


Blurb –


Sahara’s latest release is a Medieval-set HUSSY™ novel titled FLY BY KNIGHT:


A Knight condemned to death. A Welsh woman with a quest. Is it fate that brings these two together—or the mystical touch of an ancient warrior? Aubrey Thaxton doesn’t really care, since he’s facing his imminent demise and isn’t averse to some bedsport before he burns at the stake. The strange wench who appears in his chamber is just what he needs.

Gwyneth Mor Hafren wasn’t planning on enjoying Baron Thaxton’s physical charms, however. She’s there to rescue him, driven by a knowledge given her long ago in a dream. Together these two unlikely cohorts escape Castle Thaxton and journey into what is, for Aubrey, enemy territory. Wales.

Surrounded by hostility and betrayal, Aubrey and Gwyneth discover passion amidst the turmoil, a deep and abiding emotion that binds them to each other more tightly than the strongest chains. It will save them both, complete Gwyneth’s quest and take them on a wild journey to a place where their hearts are free to “Fly By Knight”.




Excerpt – FLY BY KNIGHT (The Hussies™) Now available from Ellora’s Cave



“You’re not afraid to be here.” It was a statement more than a question, since the lad was collecting the fine garments from the pile on the bed where Aubrey had tossed them.


“No, Lord.” He pointed to a rough tunic and worn breeches. “These are for you.”


“Will they fit?” Aubrey knew his size was above that of the normal man.


“Wilfred the farmer is a big fellow.”


“That he is.” Aubrey nodded. “And he has offered up his clothing for my death? Nice of him.”


“He was suitably recompensed, I believe.”


“I’ll wager he was—“ Aubrey paused. “Mouse?”


He looked up.


“Your vocabulary is not that of a kitchen servant, you know.” Aubrey stared at the lad. There were only three tapers lit in the room and he could barely make out the figure. “Come here.”


Mouse took one step forward.


“Closer, lad.”


Obediently, Mouse took one more step toward the tub.


“You smell.” Aubrey wrinkled his nose.


“My apologies, Lord. Not many of us enjoy the luxury of a private bath.” He glanced at the objects by Aubrey’s hand. “Nor fine milled soap and soft linens for drying.”


Aubrey was truly intrigued. This Mouse, this lowly serf, was addressing him in a voice that was both cultured and educated. A surprise, to say the least of it. Perhaps there was one last mystery to be solved, one last challenge he could enjoy before the end of it all.


Mouse’s next words set the seal on Aubrey’s determination. “If you are to end your existence, Lord, may I suggest a quick cut along the length of your arm. Both of them, in fact. The blood will flow quicker.” He gave a tiny shrug. “And if you do it over the water, then there will be less for the servants to clean up on the morrow.”

Aubrey’s eyelids lowered a little, a movement that his fellow Knights would recognize as Baron Thaxton at his most dangerous. “’Tis good advice, lad. If you’d pass me that towel so I can dry off the handle of this dagger…”


Almost without thinking, Mouse moved up to the rim of the large tub and reached for the folded linen.


In a swift move, Aubrey had him by the neck, pulling him over the side of the hammered copper bath and into the water with a resounding splash. “Got you.” He felt his lips peel away from his teeth in a satisfied grin. “Now let’s see what we’ve caught, shall we?”


Mouse struggled in vain against a hold that clamped down, yet refused to give up the fight, swamping little waves of water over the side of the tub as he tried to break free.

“Stop it. I wish merely to wash off some of this filth.” Aubrey grabbed a small soapy cloth and began to scrub the slim figure one-handed. He started with the face, since getting a mouthful of bathwater was enough to quieten anybody, let alone a writhing handful of small servant.


A ripping sound indicated the end of Mouse’s threadbare tunic and Aubrey tore at it, tossing it from the tub to the stone floor where it fell with a wet plop. Suddenly, Mouse sank almost to his nose beneath the water and froze.


“For God’s sake, boy, I’m only going to wash you. You need this bath a hell of a lot more than I do.”


Heedless of his nudity, Aubrey stepped from the tub and kept a wary eye on Mouse who was now staring wide-eyed at him like some kind of strange fish. Other than eyes and nose there was nothing to be seen. Everything else was submerged beneath the milky bathwater.


A breeze stirred the flickering tapers, the summer evening air blowing in with the soft scent of newly mown grass and the slight tang of the ocean. Aubrey ignored the waiting clothing and his own bare body, letting the droplets of water cascade around him as they willed. He was determined to clean this servant, driven by some desire to accomplish one final task. If he could die in a state of physical cleanliness, then it would be good to know that at least one person watching him burn on the morrow would be clean too.


Plus there was the unanswered question about Mouse’s conversation.


Ah well. Aubrey grinned as he lathered up a cloth with plenty of soap. There was nothing like a good scrubbing to loosen the tongue. At the very moment he began to apply his rough and ready cleansing techniques, Mouse blinked at him, eyes wide, body shivering a little and making ripples in the water.


Aubrey’s hand paused and he reached forward, washing the face staring at him, rubbing the scented soap over grime and grease and then rinsing it away. He reached beneath the surface and grabbed a sharp chin, lifting it so that he could complete his job.


Even as the face tilted upward, Aubrey felt an odd prickling at the back of his neck. He stared down, rinsing away the soap and the grime.


The chamber was silent but for the slight lapping of the water in the bathtub.


Eyes of a luminous green were fixed on him, wide and betraying something that wasn’t quite fear and wasn’t quite anger. Flecks of gold flared from large black pupils and a lacy frill of black lashes framed the whole. The skin he’d cleaned was pale, dotted with a few freckles here and there. The lips were rosy and full, the mouth wide.


As knowledge crept up on Aubrey, he lathered Mouse’s hair, sweeping the heavy stuff free of dirt and bits of straw. Within moments it lay heavily in his hand, a silken mass of darkness glimmering with fire.


He rinsed and lathered and rinsed again, more and more certain of what he’d found.

Finally, he sat back on his heels and stared for long moments at the figure in the bathwater.


“Well, well. Mistress Mouse.”


The figure in the tub shook her head in denial. “You mistake, Lord.”


“I think not.” He plunged his hand into the water, making Mouse gasp aloud as he found the cord securing her breeches and tore it away, nearly dunking her completely beneath the surface as she wriggled in an effort to avoid him. He pulled them free and dropped them on the tunic. “Stand up, if you dare. Prove me wrong.” He dipped his hand back into the water, swirling the lather around soft curves and delving between thighs that clamped shut around his wrist in an effort to preserve her modesty.


She failed. Aubrey’s fingers felt soft curls, a mound of them, and beneath…the folds of flesh hiding her womanhood. He stroked once—twice—his cock hardening at what his eyes could not see but his touch recognized so well.


Sputtering, Mouse glared at him, sparks of fury shooting from her eyes. Oh no, he’d not mistaken anything at all. He had a wet and naked and very angry female in his bathtub.


Aubrey withdrew his arm and grinned. “I’m waiting.”