Angie Arms - Flame Series 03 by The Darkest Flame Read Free Book Online Page A

rested on the edge of the tub, inches from her breast she concealed beneath her own hand.  It seemed as if his presence made the warmth leave the water, and she forced herself not to shiver.  His eyes were so cold, so blank and her mind screamed at him to show her a soul, to show her some kind of life, so she would know he was human, and not some kind of deadly messenger.
    “I must go.”
    She stared at him, his closeness made it hard to breath, made it hard to do anything but feel his power.  “Why?” she managed to ask him, through a throat that was suddenly dry.
    “Stroud has attacked Lenox.  I have to go take back what is mine.”  She swallowed against the shock that she feared for this man that would be her husband.  Was this the last time she would look into the bottomless pits?  Was there more to this m an than the demon people saw?  With the joy that he would not return, came the fear he would die. Garrick did not hurt her, handled her roughly, but did not hurt her.  If he was the evil man everyone thought him to be, there would be death wherever he went.  None of her people were hurt, and the only reason they were not was because he would not allow it. 
    “How long will you be gone?”
    He shrugged and reached his hand out to stroke her wet hair, his eyes following his hand.  “A fortnight or more.  I am leaving some of my men, they will not harm you as long as you remember you are mine,” his voice grew quietly menacing, and she felt the coldness race up her spine.  “You no longer run these lands but Arealee.”
    “But he’s my own man.”
    “Yes, and quite competent at his job too.  But he answers to me, not to you.  I would hate for you to put him into a position that might be seen as betrayal.”  His eyes were back on her and she could only nod.  To betray a lord, especially this one, was death.
    His eyes went back to the hand that stroked her hair.  Suddenly he caught a handful of it, forcing her head back slightly making her gasp.  His eyes came back to her face , and he stared at her for several heartbeats of time.  Then his mouth came down on hers, demanding she give up her defenses.  His tongue flicked at her closed lips once, when she did not surrender, a tightening of his hand brought another gasp, parting her lips, and his tongue invaded, claiming her, toying with her tongue.  Then it retreated and he suckled gently on her lower lip, before invading more cautiously this time, teasing her, before a sigh escaped her and she advanced with it.  It was immediately seized as he sucked it into his own mouth, a groan escaped her, forced from her core as her body became suddenly hot, and her mind not her own.  His lips left her and his eyes went to the hand that was still gripping her hair.  Relaxing his fist, he slipped his hand out of her hair, sparing a moment to stroke her wet locks before standing.  Moving away, he gave her his back and went to his armor.
    “Get out and cover yourself.  I require your assistance.”  The blood rushed from her body and she shakily rose to her feet.  She reached from one of the cloths laid out for her, pulling it around herself, she stepped out.  He spared a glance at her, his eyes lingering for a moment, then turned back to his armor.
    “What do you need me to do?” she asked , moving to him, feeling quite vulnerable next to him.  He directed her in the donning of his armor, and when he turned to her, his helm in his arm, she drew in a shaky breath.  It might be possible to forget who this man was, if she didn’t ponder too much on the darkness within him.  But standing before her, his armor making him immortal, his face dark with stubble adding to the menacing figure before her, she shivered. 
    He saw , and in a flash his hand snaked out, grabbing her roughly by the chin held her face, as he brought his down to hers.  “If you are not here when I return, you will regret it Countess.  Do you understand me?”
    She nodded