Always Mine by Sophia Johnson Read Free Book Online

Elyn.”
    “Lock me away?” Lydia’s arms flailed as she fought the feather bed mattress and sat upright to stare at Elise.
    “Yes, like Great-grandmother. They said she fed her husband wormy meat and yelled he was a vulture and should eat carrion.” Elise’s eyes widened as she recalled the story about her relative.
    “They thought her possessed and tried to drive Lucifer from her. The priest shaved a cross on the top of her head. It did not help.” She gasped and stared at the crown of Brianna’s head. “Mayhap they will think you are like her. Oh, ’twould be a sin to shave such beautiful hair.”
    “If he was as obnoxious as Lord Damron, he probably was a vulture.” Her palms began to sweat, her heart to race. She took quick gasps of air. This was no interactive dream about a medieval castle. It’s the real thing. God, help me!
    Knowing she was hyperventilating, she fought for control.
    There’s no paper bag here to breathe into, so calm yourself.
    Pass out now, and they’ll march in here and shave your head before you know what’s up!
    Lady Maud came into the room making soft, soothing sounds. “Mayhap you left your bed too soon, sweetling.
    Surely ’tis the reason for your strange ravings.” She handed Lydia a pewter cup. “Drink this, and by the sun’s next rise, you will be to rights.” She smiled kindly at Lydia before putting her arm around Elise’s shoulders to coax her to the door.
    “Come, love. If we keep Brianna awake with our useless talking, she will not get the healing rest she needs.”
    Left alone, Lydia sniffed the hot liquid but decided to pour the brew out the window. She had no idea if the herbal con-
    ALWAYS MINE
    45
    coction was safe. Perhaps Damron had persuaded Lady Maud to add a sleeping potion to it. Now was not the time to sleep.
    She needed to think, to sort out this strange dilemma before Elise returned for the evening.
    She undressed and examined the clothing, noting the tex-ture of the material, the simple design and the stitches that held it together. Her anxiety grew while she folded each article. Finally, she climbed into bed, prepared to pretend a deep slumber if they checked on her.
    No sooner had she done so than the latch lifted and someone quietly entered to stand over her. Her eyes were lightly closed, and she tried to keep her breathing deep and rhythmic. She did not need to see her visitor. His scent reached her nostrils.
    He studied her so closely that his warm breath stroked her cheek, bringing to the surface another puzzling memory. The scene flashed behind her closed lids, and she almost gasped aloud. It was much clearer than any of the strange memories she’d ever had.
    Damron, his weight on his arms, covered her. His dark brows arched questioningly above green eyes that stared hotly down into hers. His full, sensual lips hovered close to hers.
    “This?” His teeth nipped gently at her skin as he trailed kisses to the tip of her breast. Slowly, hotly, he licked the nipple there, then gazed into her eyes. “’Tis this ye like?” His voice husky with passion flowed over her. She moaned softly.
    “Do ye love me, henny?”
    She refused to answer. He clenched his teeth, causing a jagged scar, which ran from the left corner of his lips down across his jaw, to whiten. His thick black hair was longer. The thin braids at his temples fell on each side of his face to lightly brush her sensitive flesh.
    He was naked.
    46
    Sophia Johnson

    * * *
The erotic vision caused a wild swirl of heat to race through her body and puddle in the pit of her stomach. Her mind cleared when the flesh-and-blood Damron began to speak.
    “Ye are not as they said,” he whispered, his tone bitter.
    “Either all was a lie, or the rock has done more harm than the bruises that show.”
    Though anger and frustration radiated from him, his touch was gentle as he smoothed the hair back from her forehead.
    His fingers combed through her thick curls, then strayed to trace her