An Illicit Temptation Read Free Page A

desperate lunge. The motion unseated her and
she was thrown over the horse’s shoulder, landing hard with a sickening thud.
Kwan-Li’s heart stopped. The runaway horse continued heedless through the
grassland while the princess lay in the dust.
    Kwan-Li dismounted and ran to her. The princess was curled onto
her side.
    “Princess!”
    He called out her name when she didn’t respond. With great
care, he rolled her onto her back and she opened her eyes slowly. The headdress
had fallen away and her face was streaked with dust. Her chest lifted and
lowered shallowly as she struggled for breath. Only a thin wheeze escaped her
lips.
    “Are you hurt? Is anything broken?”
    She was able to focus on him, which was a small relief, but she
appeared confused.
    Kwan-Li realized he’d reverted to his native tongue in his
panic and had to repeat himself in Han. Wincing, she pressed a hand to her
midsection.
    There was no time for fear. He ran his hands along the sides of
her rib cage, trying to feel through the tunic. He unclasped the front of her deel , ignoring the flimsy silk garment beneath.
Pressing his fingertips lightly to her abdomen, he checked for swelling, for
pain. She didn’t wince at his touch, but continued to struggle for breath. He
ran his hands over her arms, her legs, searched gingerly along her scalp.
Nothing seemed broken. She’d simply had the wind knocked out of her.
    “Breathe slowly,” he instructed, his voice low and calming.
    After what seemed like ages, she was able to draw a shallow
breath followed by a deeper one. His own breath returned as she let out a sigh
and the color returned to her cheeks.
    Relief flooded through him. Their eyes met as he helped her sit
up and something unspoken passed between them. He had a hand on the curve of her
waist and another braced behind her shoulder. She was watching him, her eyes
deep and dark, lips parted. Her hair was in wild disarray. He reached up to
brush at a smudge of dirt on her cheek and suddenly it was more than relief that
warmed his veins.
    He’d avoided this for so long. Avoided even the thought of it,
but she was so close and his hands were on her, touching skin. Hungrily,
helplessly, he bent and pressed his mouth to hers.

Chapter Two
    Dao’s eyes shot open. Kwan-Li was kissing her, his
breath becoming her breath. His fingers sank into her hair to hold her to him as
he tasted her. She went still like an animal hunted. The roughness of it sent
her heart racing, harder and faster than it had during the wild chase across the
plain. But the kiss had barely begun before he tore away.
    She was left staring up at a blank sky. It was several moments
before she could gather her wits. It was much longer before she could catch her
breath. His back was still to her and his breathing was low, harsh.
    “I didn’t even think you liked me,” she said, her throat
dry.
    He turned to her, an incredulous look on his face as if she were the one who had lost her mind. “We must
return to the caravan,” was all he said.
    Her hands shook as she fumbled with the clasps on front of the deel . In the distance, she could hear the sound
of horses and in a matter of minutes, several of the nomads from the caravan
appeared on the horizon.
    When Kwan-Li helped her to her feet, his expression was wooden,
but his eyes continued to burn. He kept his hands fisted by his sides, refusing
to reach out to her even when she stumbled. Her horse had finally stopped and
wandered back toward them, bending his head to graze tranquilly upon the wild
grass. The beast.
    Kwan-Li retrieved both of the horses as the escort came closer.
“You’ll ride with me,” he said as he mounted.
    “But that would be highly improper.” She was still dizzy from
the harrowing ride, from the fall, from his nearness. From…everything. “For a
princess,” she added. “Wouldn’t it be?”
    He gave her a hard look and held out his hand, stopping all
argument. She climbed onto the horse behind him. She