PENETRATE (The Portals of Time Book 1) Read Free Page B

herself. She’s vowed it.”
    He lifted an eyebrow. The move highlighted and defined and put dawn glow on how many shades of gray his eyes contained. The cut at his forehead seeped again. He didn’t act like he felt it.
    “You’re making this up.”
    Ainslee shook her head.
    “You truly expect me to believe that a woman? This...Lileth? She’d kill herself? Rather than wed with me?”
    Ainslee nodded.
    “You can’t be serious.”
    Ainslee nodded again.
    “Bullshit.”
    Ainslee’s eyes went wide at his crudity. “But, it’s true!”
    “Women hound me for a ring, young woman. You wouldn’t believe the plots they hatch. I’ve even had one post video online to force my hand.”
    “Vid...eo?”  She stumbled over the unfamiliar word.
    “This is a set-up, isn’t it?” he interrupted. “Any moment now, news crews will be buzzing about, filming this. Am I right?”
    Ainslee frowned. He must have taken a terrible blow to his head. He was speaking gibberish. And she was out of time. The sun was burning away the concealment of mist with every passing second. She craned her neck and looked, not in the direction the groom should be appearing. She scanned the path she needed to take. She was going to be late. She’d have to run every step. She looked back at the duke. Sighed in resignation. “I...have to go.”
    “Just when we were having so much fun?”
    “Will you ask for Ainslee today?” 
    He didn’t act like he heard her plea. He tried to sit. Crumpled back to the turf again with a groan.
    “Oh. Hell. My head.”
    “You mustn’t move. Your groom will be here soon with your horse.”
    “I don’t have a horse.”
    “But, you do. You own scores of them! Each more impressive than the next. Your stables are immense!”
    “No. I own bikes. Large ones. Powerful. Garages full.”
    “But...your grace!”
    “Can we dispense with the ‘your grace’ nonsense? It makes my head hurt worse.”
    “Forgive me, your grace.”
    “That’s it. Enough. Please. Cease calling me that. My name is Neal. Use it.”
    Ainslee couldn’t believe it. Her mouth dropped open. Her eyes had to be reflecting the shock. He said his name in an odd fashion, but he’d still said it. She’d heard him. She was having trouble with comprehension. It wasn’t possible. She was being allowed to address the Duke of Straithcairn by his given name?
    Her?
    Was this morning truly happening?
    His eyes narrowed as he watched her. They looked less like hammered silver and a lot more like lead. That was a disquieting thought.
    “This is some...uncharted island. Right?”
    “Island?”
    “It’s not Bermuda. Even I can tell that. But we have to be somewhere in the Atlantic. Someplace off the beaten path. Someplace...fairly uncivilized. Yes?”
    Uncivilized? Ainslee stiffened. Had he really just used that word and tone to describe his homeland? As if he was a Sassenach and not pure Highlander? And worse. Perhaps, he was including everything in it with his opinion.
    Like her.
    “Hail there!”
    They both turned at the voice, coming over the slight hill.
    “Oh, dear! ’Tis your groom! I must go.” 
    Ainslee was on her feet. He forestalled her by grabbing her hand. And then he pulled, hunching her forward. She probably looked as awkward as she felt.
    “Your grace! Please?”
    “Neal.” 
    “I canna’ be seen here with you! Na’ alone! You do na’ ken!”
    Of all the horrid consequences of this morning, what happened right now had to be the worst. She may have forestalled tears, but she hadn’t alleviated anything. Shortly, she’d be sobbing outright. The humiliation was beyond imagining. Ainslee swiped at her cheeks with her free hand. Sniffed loudly. And then – thankfully – he released her.
    “All right. You win! I’ll figure this out myself. Run along, little girl. Run. Far! And fast!”
    His taunt followed her, wafting on the wind with the volume of it. Tears blinded her flight through the swift scramble up the hill. A glance