Just One Golden Kiss Read online

  JUST ONE GOLDEN KISS, a steamy vampire romance retelling of the Frog Prince

  By M.A. Thomas

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  First released in short episodes, Just One Golden Kiss has now been released as a complete novel.

  When twenty-year-old Lela encounters a golden ball in the forest, she falls into a well. A frog agrees to save her but only if she agrees to give him whatever he desires. And what he desires is her. From the moment the frog pulls her out of the well, Lela’s life is forever changed and she embarks on a sexual journey filled with passion and love during which she also uncovers the secrets of her past.

  When Lela kisses the frog, he transforms into a prince named Eldrich. What Lela doesn’t know is that Eldrich is really a vampire who wishes to protect her from other vampires intent on draining her because they believe that since the golden ball, their god, chose to make itself visible to Lela, her blood has the power to make them mortal again, something vampires desire more than anything. And although Eldrich will do anything to protect Lela including going to war with his own kind, his dark past scares Lela and she doesn’t completely trust him. She desperately wants to surrender her heart and soul to him, but every time she almost does, she finds out something else about him, making her doubt his love for her and pushing her into the arms of Xavier, an angel prince from another kingdom.

  Just One Golden Kiss is a steamy retelling of The Frog Prince and other fairy tales with a vampire and angel twist. Just One Golden Kiss is nothing like the Brothers Grimm’s version of the The Frog Prince. It is not a children’s story. It is also nothing like Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland…well, a young woman does follow something (a golden ball) down a hole, in this case a well, and is never the same again…hmm, maybe it’s a little like Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland, not really, though.

  Within the pages of Just One Golden Kiss you will find forbidden romance, vampires, witches, elves, and gods. Go head, dive in, and get lost in Lela’s and Eldrich’s world.

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  I want to know what you think of Just One Golden Kiss so please email me ([email protected]) or stop by my blog: http://www.mathomasauthor.com

  Copyright © 2013 by M.A. Thomas

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from M.A. Thomas.

  CHAPTER ONE

  At twenty years old, Lela couldn’t resist falling back on childish antics. After all, she was the King’s only child and oh how he doted on her. She could go anywhere in the castle and its grounds, exploring whatever got her attention. She was boundless, often traversing the forest alone going far beyond the safety of the castle.

  Yes, Lela’s father did not saddle her with rules. Even so, there was one rule he insisted she obey without fail: never stay outside the castle after dark. This rule Lela did not mind. She was completely afraid of the dark. When she was ten years old her mother vanished one night after dinner when she decided to go for a walk. Lela didn’t know the details of her mother’s disappearance or why she had ventured out after sunset, something no one, not even her father or his men ever did.

  She found solace in the forest where she felt she could dance and sing and clear her mind of any thought that reminded her of her mother. She could pretend her heart had healed and that she no longer carried the weight of loss and grief.

  Today, a golden ball shining among a pile of leaves had summoned her and she had gleefully ran to it as if the very sun would cease to exist if she did not answer the ball’s call. But when she came to the ball, it began to roll away from her.

  She followed it, taking light steps so as not to disturb the strange event she was witnessing. It kept going until it came to a well some thirty feet from her. She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone else was around. She didn’t want to share this experience with anyone, let alone her father’s men who would sometimes spy on her under pretense that they were hunting or scouting the land for bandits.

  Holding her breath, she approached the ball. She tried to pick it up, but it was too heavy. The ball was made of gold! Lela had never seen anything like it in all the Kingdom of Barmoth. Gold had not existed in Barmoth for thousands of years. She had only read about it in books. And even she did not know the reason for its extinction.

  “Bloody hell,” she whispered. “Gold.” Yes, she was convinced the ball was made of gold.

  Weighing her options, she paced back and forth. She could blanket the ball with leaves and sticks and then go back to the castle to formulate a plan. No, she couldn’t risk someone else finding it.

  Inhaling a long breath, she tried once again to pick it up. This time, she succeeded. But before she had a moment to enjoy her victory, the ball pulled her forward and into the well.

  Lela screamed as she fell, her thoughts on what would greet her at the bottom. Death was certain. The old wells of the forest were deep and no one had ever survived a fall. The people who had inhabited the forest hundreds of years ago left behind wells which now only served as death traps for animals and careless wanderers.

  Images of her mother invaded her mind and she screamed louder. If she was going to die, let it happen fast. She closed her eyes and begged the Gods to take her before she reached the bottom. Down, down she fell, the ball still in her hands.

  In the next moment, she did not feel herself falling anymore. Perhaps the Gods had taken her. She opened her eyes. It was not possible! She had fallen down a well and yet here she was, unscarred at its very bottom.

  She quickly looked around her. The bones of her unlucky predecessors greeted her and she resisted the urge to hurl. She looked up at the well’s opening. Although light was still shining, she knew the sun was only hours from setting.

  She had never in her life been outside the castle after sunset. Leaning against a wall, she dropped to the ground. The ball, a few feet in front of her, rolled toward her.

  “It’s your fault! Get away from me,” Lela said. “Help me! Please someone help me!” she yelled.

  The hours passed. Lela craved her father’s comforting arms.

  Suppressing tears, she raised her eyes to the well’s opening and yelled, “Help me! Is someone out there? I fell in the well!”

  She sat still and listened, desperately hoping for a sign that someone had heard her plea. Dirt fell into the well. Someone was out there. Yes, someone must have heard her. Bless the Gods.

  “Who’s there,” she asked, standing. “Make yourself known, I demand it.” More dirt fell. Whoever was out there was certainly enjoying throwing soil at her. “I know someone’s there!”

  “And what will you give me if I help you?” a man asked.

  “Let me see you. I demand it,” she said.

  “You demand it? How comical that someone stuck at the bottom of a well declares a position to command anything from anyone,” the man said, laughing.

  “You dare mock a princess?” Lela asked. She would have this imbecile of a man punished for his treachery.

  “You’re not my princess,” he said. “I don’t owe you allegiance. Now then, let’s return to my ques
tion. What will you give me if I help you?”

  Lela chewed her lip, an attempt to keep from cursing the man. Despite her fury, she was a princess and would therefore behave as one. Instead, she silently cursed herself for allowing herself to be in such a dilemma.

  The sun set and darkness overtook the well. Lela was sure she would never see her father again.

  “Help me, I beg you. I’ll give you whatever you want,” she said, crying.

  “It must be very dark down there. It is up here and I have a torch. Are you scared?” the man asked.

  She was more than scared. She couldn’t see anything. Something came to her mind that sent sharp pain up and down her body. Why had her father’s men not found her yet? Her father must have sent his men to look for her when she didn’t appear at the dinner table. She never missed a meal with her father.

  Ever since her mother had vanished she and her father ate every meal together. Her mother had enjoyed their meals together, just the three of them laughing, joking and telling each other stories of all the adventures they would someday have as a family. Her mother was the happiest when they were together because she knew that no matter what happened in their lives, even if their entire Kingdom was suddenly swept into the sea, they loved each other deeply and their moments together would live forever. Oh how Lela missed her.

  “You still there?” the man asked.

  “I’m here,” Lela said, wiping her tears.

  “Move to a wall. I’m throwing down a rope. Tie it around yourself and holler when you’re ready for me to pull you up.”

  “Bless you,” she said.

  “Save your blessings. I haven’t gotten you out yet.”

  She did as the man said. In the next moment, the end of a rope hit the ground.

  Wasting no time, she took steps away from the wall and felt for the rope. In shadows, she tied the rope around her waist.

  “Are you ready?” the man asked.

  She had a choice. Remain in the well in the company of the dead or take a chance with a stranger. She scooped down and searched for the ball. Once she had it in her arms, she exhaled and said, “I’m ready.”

  The man started pulling her up. She prayed her father’s men would find her soon.

  “You’re a heavy girl,” the man said. “Not surprising. You’re a princess accustomed to eating whatever you want whenever you want.”

  “Pull harder,” Lela said, ignoring his comment. Her feet were only inches off the ground.

  “Are you holding something? I’m sure your father will replace whatever it is you feel you can’t leave behind.” Slowly, the man pulled her higher above the ground. “Remember your words. You’ll give me whatever I want.”

  “And what is it that you desire?” she asked, her stomach twisting.

  “Ah…you shall know what I covet when I have succeeded in rescuing you.”

  Higher she rose until she reached the well’s opening. There she was hanging in the air, feeling completely stupid. Her savior could decide to let go of her at any moment and what then? She’d fall to the ground yet again, except maybe this time she’d not survive.

  “Grab hold of the well’s wall and pull yourself out,” he said.

  “I can’t.”

  “Come now. Are you really so spoiled?”

  “I’m carrying a ball,” she said, instantly feeling ridiculous for the words she had just uttered.

  “Oh, my, the princess cannot bear to leave her toy behind. Toss it! I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold you up much longer.”

  “Promise you won’t take it from me.”

  “Toss it now or fall back into the well.”

  “First promise you won’t take it.”

  Grumbling, the man said, “Stop being childish. I promise I won’t take your toy.”

  Lela raised her arms and threw the ball. Thump, thump on the ground it went. She then reached for the well’s wall and dragged herself out. Once she was standing on firm ground again, she untied the rope from around her waist.

  A torch sunken into the ground near the well shone light on her. Blinking rapidly, she tried to clear her vision so she could identify the man who had just rescued her. She saw no one. Coward. At least he left her his torch. She took it out of the earth and looked for the golden ball. Against a tree it rested as if it had been there all along. She paced toward it.

  “I think I deserve gratitude.”

  Lela turned around ready to shout at the man for hiding from her. But again, she saw no one. “Stop playing games,” she said. “Make yourself known or be on your way.”

  “I’m down here,” the man said.

  “Where?”

  “Look down,” he said.

  Lela lowered her stare. Gasping, she stepped back. Was she really seeing what she was seeing? Yes, down on the ground staring at her was…a frog.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “You assumed me to be a man,” the frog said, hopping to her.

  “Get away from me!” Lela could not decide what she was more afraid of, the dark or a talking frog!

  “Oh come now, I saved you. Where is your gratitude?”

  “You’re a…frog.”

  “And you’re a…princess. Now that we have established our existence, let’s get on with what I desire.”

  Her heart was beating faster than it had when she was falling down the well. “How were you able to pull me out? How can you speak?” she asked, breathing heavily.

  “No time to answer your questions. We need to find shelter. Quickly, follow me,” he said, jumping away from her.

  She held back laughter. The very idea that this talking frog wanted her to follow him was absolutely, without reserve, completely laughable. Even so, she was alone in the dark in the forest far from the castle. Such a predicament convinced her to follow him.

  “Don’t forget your golden ball,” he said, chuckling.

  Ah…yes, the reason why all of this was now happening to her could not be left behind. Scooping it up, she said, “Where did you get this torch?”

  “Magic, dear princess. The same way I was able to pull you out,” he said. “Are you scared?”

  “I’m hoping this is a dream.”

  “You should be scared,” he said. “If we don’t reach shelter soon, they will come after us.”

  “Who will?” she asked, walking behind him, her head spinning.

  “Don’t pretend not to know. They have roamed the forest since the beginning of time.”

  Swallowing saliva, she said, “I’ve never been outside the castle after sunset.”

  “Clearly your father has protected you from the truth. Why do you think people no longer call the forest their home?”

  “If you mean to frighten me even more than I am, congratulations, you have succeeded.”

  “Move faster. Up head is an abandoned house. We can spend the night there.”

  When they reached the stone and decrepit house, the frog entered without hesitation. “Hurry,” he said. “I can sense them. If you linger outside for even a second more, they will find you. I won’t be able to stop them from taking you.”

  She darted into the house and situated the ball on the cracked floor. Then she said, “Start speaking.”

  “First, blow out the torch. Now!” he said.

  “We’ll be left in complete darkness,” she said. Curse you, darkness, curse you.

  “They’re near. Blow it out.”

  She exhaled into the flame.

  “Don’t move,” he whispered.

  She thought her knees would give out. When she left the castle just hours earlier for one of her many travels through the forest, she never imagined she’d now be standing in an old dwelling with a talking frog and a golden ball hiding from someone or something that definitely did not want to befriend her.

  The minutes passed and she remained still.

  “They’ve moved on. We should be safe for the night,” the frog said.

  “Who were they?” she asked, sweat coming down her fa
ce.

  The frog jumped to her and settled at her feet. “They enjoy roaming the forest at night hoping they come across a poor lost person on whom they can feast. Their appetites are insatiable.”

  “You tell lies,” she said.

  “I may only be a frog, but I’m not a liar.”

  “Tell me who they are.”

  “You’ve read about them in storybooks.”

  “I’ve read about a lot of creatures, make-believe creatures meant to scare children into obeying their parents.”

  “Ah, yes, but these roaming night creatures are not make believe,” he said, launching himself onto the ball.

  “Say what you mean, stupid frog.”

  “Calling me stupid when I have saved your life twice is offensive, princess.”

  “That I’m still standing here talking to you disappoints me. I’ll take my chances in the forest. Get off my ball,” she said, waving her hand in front of him.

  “Very well, courageous princess, be on your way then.”

  Holding the ball, she started to walk away, mumbling curses.

  “Oh and princess, if you encounter a vampire, please don’t try to run.”

  She stopped.

  “Go on,” he said. “What are you waiting for?”

  Turning, she asked, “Did you say vampires?”

  “Indeed. Still feeling brave?”

  She felt her lungs fall to her ankles. Storybook vampires were vicious, bloodthirsty creatures cursed to live soulless for all eternity. They weren’t real just like talking frogs weren’t…blessed Gods, vampires! Impossible.

  Dropping the ball, she inhaled a long breath and tried to remain calm. If it wasn’t for the very real truth that she now found herself engaged in a conversation with a talking frog, she’d have dismissed his claim that vampires existed. A part of her wanted to run and not stop until she reached the castle but her instincts told her to remain with the frog. Whether or not vampires were real almost didn’t matter. She had never been outside after dark. Ever. Her only knowledge of the night was through her bedroom window in front of which she often stood staring at nothingness, wondering what matter of creatures scurried about cloaked in shadows. Even if she left, she would most likely not find her way home. And what’s more, she could not lie to herself. The blunt truth was that she was afraid and would not dare venture out.