Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal) by Jerri Hines Read Free Book Online

that pain, she pushed it all back within her. She refused herself the remembrance. She had a mission. She had no time to grieve or her heart would rip apart.
    “Hannah.”
    She looked up from the ground she sat. Marcus stood in front of her. He wasn’t dressed as a British officer. Instead, he was dressed as she had first seen him. Was he going out again to deceive others into betraying their cause?
    Marcus smiled at her, a charming, disarming smile. Giving her no time to contemplate his visit, he extended his hand to her. She pulled her gloves off and accepted accepting his assistance more than a little suspicious of his intent. With ease, he pulled her up to him…much too close. She wanted to back away, but he held firm. His eyes fixed upon hers.
    “I was looking for you. I didn’t mean to catch you off guard, but wanted a minute of your time. I felt certain you would be up and about.”
    She dusted her skirt off and pushed back her unruly hair. “You are up early, Marcus. You will have to excuse my appearance. I wasn’t expecting anyone to call at this time of the morning. I do hope you will forgive me, but I’m in the midst of planting bulbs. Grandmother loves flowers. I was hoping for blooms in the spring for her. I know she will so enjoy them.”
    He didn’t say a word to her ramblings, but wiped her face where a streak of dirt lay. His hand lingered longer than it should. She glanced up at him only to find him staring deep into her eyes. She wanted desperately to turn from his gaze, but she dare not show a sign of weakness. Yet she could not contain her heart beating rapidly.
    “You’ve a purpose to this visit, Marcus?” she asked, finding her voice. “Or do you want to see Grandfather? I’m sure he’s within his study.”
    “No, it’s you I wanted to see,” he answered under his breath. Suddenly, his hands went securely around her waist.
    “Marcus,” she protested. Her hands pushed against his chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I find that I must once more depart. And I have only one question for you Hannah. Are you going to be here on my return?” He drew her closer. “I wonder. I wonder if you will remember what it is like to have my arms around you as they are now. I wonder if you will dream of me while I’m gone.”
    “Please release me, you arrogant man!” she pleaded. “Someone will see.”
    “That’s no answer,” he whispered. She wanted to be able to jerk away and run…run far away from him, but she found herself helpless as he pushed her back against the wall of the house. “You’re a strange one, Hannah Corbett. Why are you really here?”
    “I have told you, my grandmother,” she murmured, finding it difficult to find her words. “Is that so hard to believe?”
    He held her gently, but firmly. “I know what you told me, Hannah. How you wanted to leave before the invasion and would do so now. It’s just…I imagine if you really wanted to leave, you would do so. And now I find it hard to leave you. I can imagine all sorts of trouble you could find yourself in.”
    “I don’t believe it’s your concern, Marcus. I wish you well in your journey.” Her tone held no trace of the emotion raging within her. She twisted, but his grip only tightened. He pulled her to him.
    Her protests drowned as his lips came down hard upon hers. She could feel a fire within him as his mouth claimed hers. And then to her horror she found herself responding to him. Her hands, which once pushed against him, trying to resist, opened freely and she pulled him to her. Her body betrayed her mind, melting into his…his touch, his kiss. His mouth kissed her cheeks, her neck, and back up to her lips again.
    She couldn’t breathe. Her chest heaving, she finally broke away. Ashamed she responded so; she found she had no words. Oh what was she going to say that her body had so willfully denied with his touch. He caressed her cheek again.
    “You make it hard to leave, Hannah Corbett.”