The Velvet Promise Read Free Page A

to him, almost as if in terror.
    He tried to pull her away so he could see her face but she held him with such desperation that he dared not to. He felt the wetness of her tears on his neck and all the rage he'd felt during the day left him. He held her close to him, murmuring endearments in her little ear, stroking her hair. "Tell me, what is it? What has hurt you so?"
    She moved away so she could look at him, secure in the knowledge that the night could not betray the lack of redness in her eyes. "It's too awful,"
    Alice whispered hoarsely. "It is too much to bear."
    Gavin stiffened somewhat as he remembered what he'd heard about her marriage. "Is it true then?"
    She sniffed delicately, touched a finger to the corner of her eye and looked up at him through her lashes. "My father cannot be persuaded. I even refused food to make him change his mind, but he had one of the women… No, I won't tell you what they did to me. He said he would—Oh, Gavin, I cannot say the things he said to me." She felt Gavin stiffen.
    "I will go to him and—"
    "No!" Alice said almost frantically, her hands clasping his muscular arms. "You cannot! I mean…" She lowered her arms and her lashes. "I mean, it's already done. The betrothal has been signed and witnessed.
    There is nothing anyone can do now. If my father withdrew me from the bargain, he would still have to pay my dowry to Chatworth."
    "I will pay it," Gavin said stonily.
    Alice gave him a look of surprise; then more tears gathered in her eyes.
    "It wouldn't matter. My father will not allow me to marry you. You know that. Oh, Gavin, what am I to do? I will be forced to marry a man I do not love." She looked up at him with such a look of desperation that Gavin pulled her close to him. "How could I bear to lose you, my love?" she whispered against his neck. "You are meat and drink to me, sun and night. I… I will die if I lose you."
    "Don't say that! How can you lose me? You know I feel the same about you."
    She pulled away to look at him, suddenly happier. "Then you do love me? Truly love me, so that if our love is tested, I will still be sure of you?"
    Gavin frowned. "Tested?"
    Alice smiled through her tears. "Even if I marry Edmund, you will still love me?"
    "Marry!" He nearly shouted as he pushed her from him. "You plan to marry this man?"
    "Have I a choice?" They stood in silence, Gavin glaring at her, Alice with eyes demurely lowered. "I will go then. I will go from your sight. You needn't look at me again."
    She was almost to her horse before he reacted. He grabbed her roughly, pulling her mouth to his until he bruised her. There were no words then; none were needed. Their bodies understood each other even if they couldn't agree. Gone was the shy young lady. In her place was the Alice of passion that Gavin had come to know so well. Her hands tore frantically at his clothes until they quickly lay in a heap.
    She laughed throatily when he stood nude before her. His body was hard-muscled from many years of training. He was a good head taller than Alice, who often towered over men. His shoulders were broad, his chest powerfully thick. Yet his hips were slim, his stomach flat, the muscles divided into ridges. His thighs and calves bulged muscle, strong from years of wearing heavy armor.
    Alice stepped away from him and sucked her breath in through her teeth as she devoured the sight of him. Her hands reached for him as if they were claws.
    Gavin pulled her to him, kissed the little mouth that opened widely under his as her tongue plunged into his mouth. He pulled her close, the feel of her gown exciting against his bare skin. His lips moved to her cheek, to her neck. They had all night, and he meant to spend his time making love to her.
    "No!" Alice said impatiently as she drew away sharply. She flung her mantle from her shoulders, careless of the expensive fabric. She pushed Gavin's hands away from the buckle of her belt. "You are too slow," she stated flatly.
    Gavin frowned for a