An Original Sin by Nina Bangs Read Free Book Online Page B

door. He controlled his urge to touch the spot where the cross had rested, and swore he’d find a way to rescue it.
    “So you guys need clothes? You’re newlyweds. What the heck do you need clothes for?”
    Leith wanted to strangle the driver for his bold comment, but he couldn’t anger anyone who’d offered to help them.
    “You don’t wanna go to a store dressed like that.” The driver paused in his conversation long enough to glare at another driver and to give him some sort of finger signal. Leith understood that language perfectly. “Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll take you to a place you can stay cheap, then loan you something you can wear to go shopping. How’s that sound?” He grinned into the mirror at them. One front tooth was missing.
    Fortune’s smile was relieved. “That’s wonderful. We’re so lucky we met you—”
    “Blade. Just call me Blade.” His glance shifted to Fortune’s chest.
    Leith’s anger surprised him. “Mayhap ye should watch where ye’re going.” He cast Fortune a glance, but she seemed unaware of the sexual currents surrounding her. And she hadn’t questioned Blade’s willingness to helpthem. She might be at ease with machines, but she didn’t know much about men.
    “Why are ye doing this?” Leith shot a hard stare at the mirror.
    Blade’s joviality died. “Sorta owe Hugh Campbell. Lent me a few bucks when I needed it. Can’t pay him back, and his wife sure don’t need it, so I’ll use the money to help you guys and call everything even.”
    Leith nodded. “Aye. Honor. Now I understand ye.”
    No one spoke for the rest of the trip. Leith tried to relax as he stared at the wondrous sights they passed. He couldn’t quite decide how he felt. His overwhelming fear now warred with awe and…excitement. Glancing at Fortune, he also admitted a sense of anticipation.
    His penance. Assailed by so many emotions, he hadn’t had time to think about it. He thought of it now. Narrowing his gaze, he watched the gentle rise and fall of Fortune’s chest. He pictured himself peeling the cloth away from her breasts, exposing the creamy flesh, touching one pink nipple with his tongue, then watching it pucker, become a hard nub.
    Something else was growing hard at a wondrous rate. Yes, he would look forward to paying for his sins. With penance such as this, he would be sorely tempted to raid a score of clergymen.
    They finally pulled to a stop in front of a small white house surrounded by trees. It looked like heaven to Leith.
    He climbed out, but before he could offer Fortune his hand, she’d clambered out the opposite door and walked around to stand beside him. The cat returned to his seat on her trailing gown.
    Arching her back, Fortune stretched. Leith followed the motion and hungrily thought of the delights that swelled beneath the layers of white material.
    “How can people stand riding in things like that? I feltevery bump in the road.” She glanced at Leith and grimaced.
    He couldn’t help smiling. When she frowned, she had a way of thrusting out her bottom lip that was…enticing.
    “ ’Tis better than wrapping yer legs around a horse and plodding through a driving rain wi’ no protection.”
    His smile widened, and she glanced away. Primitive men were easy to read. He wasn’t thinking about wrapping his legs around a horse. It disturbed her that she wasn’t either. Unbidden, she saw an image of him as he’d looked standing beside her sleeping pad, all smooth flesh and tight muscle. At a time like this she’d have thought she’d have better things to think about.
    Like how was she supposed to get Leith to her time? And why had cosmic forces shackled her with a man from 1700? Why couldn’t she just grab a man from this time? She glanced at Blade. Maybe not.
    She wished cosmic forces had chosen someone else to do the dirty work. Of course, she was probably the most qualified. She knew women’s fantasies, listened to them on a daily basis as she took their