The Seduced Read Free Page B

slope of his nose. She brushed across his square chin and along the hard angles of his jaw up to his sharp cheekbones. She traced the blond brows that slashed over his eyes.
    Her gaze lowered to his mouth. She leaned closer, rested her hand on the side of his face and outlined the shape of his wide lips with the pad of her thumb.
    “I think I’ve come to need you,” she said into the quiet. “That’s not good. If everything goes according to Alistair’s plans, I’ll be married after the first of the year. I’m sure my new husband won’t approve of the time I spend with you, talking and...touching.”
    She glanced down at his chest. His saffron shirt used to be closed, but she had parted it the year before to see more of his impressive chest.
    “I’m your guardian,” she continued. “And yet, I feel as if you’re the one who has been watching over me.” She dropped her forehead onto his chest and squeezed her eyes closed. “Donald did it again. He took some of his men out into the woods to attack the people of Ravensclyde, but he stumbled across a man that nearly wiped them out. Donald has gone out for a second attack, and I fear if Alistair doesn’t do something soon, Donald will be the ruin of us.”
    She paused and raised her head to look at him again. Innes straightened and took his large hand in hers. “My mother says you’re a great warrior. That one day you’ll be the answer to our prayers.”
    Her heart knocked against her ribs at what she was contemplating doing. With her chest heaving and her blood running cold through her veins, Innes squeezed his hand between hers.
    “I was told that I should only think of waking you under the direst of circumstances. Our clan is starving, and our numbers are rapidly shrinking. Other clans are eyeing our lands because we don’t have enough warriors to fight. I think that’s pretty dire.”
    She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. Once she revived him, there was no sending him back to sleep. He would be awake, his will once more his own. His life had been paused while he slept, and when he woke, he would once again begin to age like everyone else.
    “I pray this is the right thing to do. Alistair is doing everything he can, so now it’s my turn.” She pulled the amulet from beneath her gown and then over her head. Innes looked at the silver piece, the markings faded from being held so many times. “Alistair is a good man, but he needs help. Please be that help for us.”
    Innes held the amulet for a few moments longer, debating on whether to leave without waking him, but the fate of her clan was at stake.
    “Please be the answer we need,” she whispered and gently placed her lips over his.
    Innes set the amulet in his palm and closed his fingers over it just as her mother had instructed. She leaned back and waited, hoping he would wake immediately, but as the minutes passed without movement, she began to doubt.
    She removed the amulet and put it in his other hand. Still nothing happened.  
    “Of course,” she said and shook her head ruefully. “It would’ve been too easy to be able to wake you and have you save the day. Keep the amulet. I don’t know why my family was bade to watch over you, or why you’re in this cave, but I hope someday you get to wake.”
    Innes jumped when thunder boomed so close that the ground shook. Pebbles and dirt rained down from the ceiling of the cave. She glanced at the man to see him still asleep. Utterly defeated, she turned and ran out of the cave and back to the castle.

    ~ ~ ~

    The sweet voice was back. Daman drifted upon nothingness, but every once in awhile he heard a woman’s voice. He hadn’t been able to hear the words at first. It was just sound, a calming, reassuring sound that he sought. Then the words became clear, as if she were right next to him.
    It felt like an eternity in-between the times he heard her. Immeasurable time stretched endlessly before him. He didn’t know her name, didn’t