Defy Not The Heart

Defy Not the Heart The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book 2Amy Blankenship   Copyright © 2006 Amy Blankenship English Edition Published by Amy BlankenshipSecond Edition Published by TekTime All rights reserved.   The Legend of the Heart of Time The worlds may change… but true legends never fade. Darkness and light have constantly battled since the beginning of time. Worlds are formed and crushed beneath the feet of their creators, yet the ongoing need for good and evil have never been in question. However, sometimes a new element is thrown into the mix… the one thing that both sides want but only one can have. Paradoxical in nature, the Guardian Heart Crystal is the one constant that both sides have always striven to attain. The crystalline stone has the power to create and destroy the known universe, yet can end all suffering and strife in the same breath. Some say the crystal has a mind of its own… others say the gods are behind it all. Each t

Chapter 3 "Kiss of Jealousy"   Kyoko set off in the direction of the hot spring. She was tired, sore, and couldn’t wait to just be able to relax in steamy water. She stumbled on a rock and wondered if it was going to take weeks to get her balance back after getting drunk only one time. “Damn it… Geez, now I sound just like Toya,” she said to herself with a giggle. Shinbe followed quietly, peeking out from behind trees ever so often. He had to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape him when he heard the comment about her sounding like Toya. It was great to find out he wasn’t the only one in the group that held complete conversations with their self. If he was crazy, then they made a great couple. He stayed back long enough to let her gain some distance between them. Finally getting to the secluded hot spring, Kyoko rummaged through her bag. Finding what she needed, she arranged her bathing supplies by the side of the water. She quickly undressed, easing her aching bod

Chapter 5 "Dangerous Jealousy"   Kyoko was miserable. All she could think about was Shinbe and Toya and that stupid kiss. She lay under the soft covers wide-awake, pondering how she could possibly want to be kissed by either of them. One was Shinbe, the lecherous guardian that flirted with every woman he came in contact with. He’d probably had more women than she could count on her hands, yet just the thought of his kiss sent her swooning. The other was Toya, who yelled at her for little things and tried to always be the boss of every move she made. Still, sometimes he could be so sweet. They both could. She thumped her head back against the pillow and sighed. It was strange how she used to think of only Toya before she went to sleep, but for a while now, the thoughts had been slowly changing to Shinbe. Shinbe… She drifted off to sleep dreaming about him yet again. ***** Shinbe awoke in the middle of the night covered in sweat, another dream. He whimpered as he stood up. Wh

Chapter 7 "Questions"   Kyoko made her way back through her darkened house to find Shinbe fast asleep. She silently wondered if she should tell him about her meeting with Toya. Sitting back at her desk, she set about to finish sewing the torn robes, but thoughts of Toya slowed her fingers. He’d surprised her when he kissed her. She used to dream about him kissing her… she used to wish for it. She had to admit that kiss was exactly what she’d always imagined… it was the timing that had made it confusing. Maybe it was just Toya trying to distract her anger. He’d never tried to kiss her before, so why else would he do so now? She thought about his lips on hers, and on instinct, she raised her fingers to her lips wondering at it… then another kiss invaded her mind. When she had casually brushed her lips against Shinbe’s, it was like an electrical shock ran through her. Had Toya not shown up when he did… she’d of liked to of experimented with that kiss a little more. Shaking

Chapter 9 “Feelings No Longer Hidden”   For so long, Kyoko had wanted Toya to take her in his arms like this… and now it had happened twice. To feel his arms wrapped tightly around her, and his lips pressed firmly against hers. But now that her dearest fantasy was unfolding, it all felt wrong. Why? Why was Shinbe’s face flashing before her eyes, while Toya’s lips were claiming hers? Shinbe’s knuckles were white as he gripped the windowsill. Burning acid churned within him as he watched Toya force the demanding kiss to Kyoko’s pink lips. Lips whose flowery flavor still lingered in his memory. Liquid fire screamed through his veins, propelling him to action but still … he knew he had to control himself. “Kyoko!” Satisfaction curled through him as Toya and Kyoko jumped apart. Even from the window, he could see the confused blush spread across Kyoko’s cheeks before she looked away guiltily. Shinbe turned from the window quickly before Toya could spot the anger and satisfacti