Betrothed by Wanda Wiltshire Read Free Book Online Page A

with appreciative eyes. I’d come to realise that whatever I wore to bed was what I would be wearing when I arrived in my alternate world. So tonight I’d worn my cutest nightie, a slip of silky blue. There was so much I wanted to say, but of course I was too mesmerised to speak. ‘You’re glad to see me,’ he said, standing finally.
    I nodded—there was no denying it.
    ‘I feel it here.’ He took my hand and placed it over his heart. ‘You’re making my pulse quicken.’ If I was making his pulse quicken he was making mine fly, and at the sensation of his handpressing mine to his heavenly pecs it flew faster still. He seemed to know because his smile widened as he said, ‘Come, Marla, before your heart bursts through your chest.’ He kept my hand and led me to a fallen tree, sat on the trunk and brought me down beside him. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked after a moment.
    I hardly knew—my thoughts were too scattered. ‘Do you ever wear a shirt?’ I answered and instantly wished I could take the words back. He laughed, deep and melodic. If he didn’t know what was on my mind before, he sure did now.
    ‘Occasionally, it’s just more convenient not to.’ I had no idea why that should be so, but I wasn’t about to ask another embarrassing question. ‘You must feel bewildered, Marla—ask me anything, and I will answer if I can.’
    I shook my head slowly. ‘I don’t know where to start.’
    ‘You know who you are now?’
    ‘I know I was born Marla, but I can’t say I know who I am, and I know the names of my parents, but I don’t know who they are either—or how to find them.’ I felt suddenly overwhelmed. ‘I don’t even know if they’re alive . . . ’
    When he realised I couldn’t go on Leif said, ‘I have been searching for information, but so far have discovered nothing. You are a mystery. But please know I will continue to seek answers. We cannot lose what is meant to be.’ His eyes, dark and intense, kept mine.
    ‘I’m lost already; I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    He sighed. ‘You can feel the connection between us, can you not?’
    ‘Oh, I can,’ I replied. I wanted nothing more than to touch him again, make that connection physical. It was an effort not to. ‘But why?’
    ‘Our kind believes that when a male child is born, a part of his soul is released to seek his perfect mate. When that piece ofhim finds and connects with her, she is conceived and they are as one. Even their hearts beat together. You and I share that soul connection, Marla—you are my betrothed. I am yours; you are mine.’
    That whole thing with the racing pulse suddenly made sense. In my excitement I had literally caused his heart rate to increase! I didn’t even have time to feel embarrassed at the thought because he was watching me with love, desire and adoration in his eyes. He was running his hand down my arm, bringing shivers to my skin and causing me to make his pulse speed up all over again. I had to touch him—could resist no longer. I reached for him and pressed my fingers to his face, felt his heat come into me. He covered my hand with his and bent to kiss my forehead, allowing his lips to linger for a moment before brushing my mouth with his. Sighing, I leaned close to catch the kiss as I felt him pull away.
    ‘When are you eighteen, Marla?’
    ‘I only just turned seventeen five weeks ago. Well, I thought it was five weeks ago, it’s actually closer to four.’
    ‘Still, we don’t have much time.’
    There was that whole thing with my age again.
    ‘How old are you?’ I asked, guessing him to be in his early twenties.
    ‘I have just turned nineteen. When I could not find you after I turned eighteen, I feared the worst . . . ’
    ‘Eighteen is important?’
    ‘Eighteen is when we reach our immortality.’
    ‘You’re immortal!’ Now I knew, despite how real this felt, that I was definitely dreaming.
    ‘There is so much you don’t know,’ he murmured.