Highland Vampire Read Free Page B

welcoming the deepening of the kiss. With but one stroke of his tongue, the heat of desire raged through her veins, burning away all common sense and resistance. A little voice in her head warned her that now she had been embraced by him, one kiss would never be enough, but she ignored it.
    It was not until he had shifted their bodies around on the bed until she was sprawled beneath him that Efrica regained a sense of the danger she was in. For one brief moment, she savored the feel of his lean, highly aroused body pressed against her. It was so tempting to take what he offered, what she wanted so badly, she ached with the need. She knew, however, that if she became his lover, it would bind her to him in ways she might never break free of. That thought gave her the strength to shake loose of desire's tight grip, and scramble free of his embrace. As she stood by the side of the bed struggling to regain some sense of calm, she was happy to see that he was as flushed and breathless as she felt.
    "I am nay one of your ladies ," she said, pleased with the cool steadiness of her voice.
    "I have no ladies," he said.
    "Ha! I have heard all about ye since coming here. Weel, I have no intention of joining your stable."
    He inwardly cursed, all too aware of what was said about him and the women of the court. It annoyed him that he felt a sudden need to explain, even excuse, his earlier excesses. He was unwed and unpromised, had simply taken what was offered, as would any man. The look of something akin to disappointment in her eyes stung him nevertheless.
    "Gossip and rumor are nay fact." He did not blame her for rolling her eyes over that pathetic response.
    When she realized she wanted him to tell her that what she had heard was all lies, that he had been as chaste as a monk, Efrica decided it was time to leave. "Ye should be careful about disdaining all I have heard," she drawled, "oh great dark stallion ." She had to grin at the way he blushed, then scowled at her.
    "Now I am certain ye have heard naught but whispered lies. And just what are ye doing here?"
    "My cousin Barbara brought me. I am nearing twenty. Past time I get a husband."
    The thought of another man touching Efrica, claiming her as his own, stirred a rage in Jankyn he fought hard to hide. "Barbara doesnae appear to be a verra good chaperone."
    "She is the best. She doesnae cling to one's side, but is there when needed."
    "Such as in the garden?"
    A telling point, but she just shrugged. "’Twas still daylight. It should have been safe. I will be more wary now. And may I now ask what ye are doing here? Aside from rutting yourself blind, that is."
    Jankyn ignored that last remark. "I seek a wife for David. He is more Outsider than MacNachton, and I thought I could arrange a profitable marriage for him."
    "Ah, of course. ‘Twould certainly serve the clan weel if ye succeed."
    "Aye, if only because it would allow us to point to one of our own who isnae so, weel—"
    "Odd?"
    "As good a word as any." He looked her over, then quirked one brow. "Do ye plan to keep your secrets from a husband?"
    Efrica wished she had an easy answer for that question, one she continuously asked herself. "I believe my secrets are easier to keep."
    "True. Save for that noise ye make when your blood runs hot," he murmured, feeling his tamped-down desire stir at the memory of that low, throaty purr she had made as they had embraced. "Wives shouldnae purr, I am thinking."
    "And I am thinking I had best leave ere I give in to the urge to strangle ye," she snapped, embarrassed that he had obviously known exactly how much his kisses had stirred her.
    "Alas, so easily does the purring kitten become the hissing cat."
    Opening her mouth to retort, Efrica quickly shut it again, swallowing the insults crowding her tongue concerning blood-drinking men who swooned like frail maidens when touched by the sun. "Nay, ye willnae goad me into trading insults." She stared toward the door. "I have grown beyond such