Gem of Gravane (The Northern Knights) by Amber Dane Read Free Book Online Page A

it
along.  My husband will be here all too soon and I need to be under the
covers before he sees me.”  She paused, her back still to him.  “And
why are so many bloody candles lit?”
    Aric’s brows drew together at that
as he watched her bend and blow out a row of lit tallow’s closest to her.
 She continued on, a slur in her tone. Aye the drink had loosened
her some, he thought.
    “You know this cannot be.  I
cannot let him see me in all this light.  In the dark ‘twill not matter to
him.  Now, come, stop your tarrying.”  
     Aric frowned even more at her
words and stood still.  She whirled around, exhaling her exasperation.
“Edie! What-" She turned crimson and slapped a hand hard over her
open mouth, her eyes widening.   
    Danielle froze. Nay!  Where
was Edie?  How long had he been standing there? Why was he not out in the
hall still talking to Balwain? And heavens!  
    Why was he naked?
    No, no, she tried not to look but
her eyes had a mind of their own and took in the beautiful sight before
her.  She did not notice that her breath quickened as her eyes roamed over
every inch of that muscular physique. 
    A massive chest, covered only with
a sparse sprinkling of hair in the middle down his flat hard stomach,
rippling with his strength, thick and sinewy arms at his side.  The
tuft of black hair below his navel trailed down to where that male part of him
stood at attention.  That part of him she’d wanted so eagerly and tried to
get to in the garden. But then, it’d been alright, she’d been fully clothed.
    She flushed and her eyes shot up to
his.  His smoldering gaze seared her and she felt the tears sting her
eyes. 
    Nay. 
    Danielle turned her back to
him.  She had been fooling herself. 
    All of Thomas’s ugly words over the
years came rushing back to her. This was a cruel joke. 
    She had thought after the kiss they
had shared in the garden she would be able to at least face him in the dark for
him to perform the marriage act and she had even been looking forward to
it.   But, he would not want to do that now.  She was not yet
naked, but she may as well have been as thin as her shift was. He could
see everything. Her head spun as she fought back the tears.   
    Aric frowned over the myriad
of emotions he had read in her eyes.  Pleasure had been in them as her
eyes had raked over him, then terror.  He’d just been about to curse
himself for being so eager to bed her and letting her see his aroused
state.  But, he knew different when he saw the sadness flash in her eyes
when she turned from him.  He was larger than most, sure, but he would not
hurt her.   He crossed the room to stand at her back. 
     He could smell her, a
hint of rose and he wanted to wrap those thick braids around his
fist.   But he stopped himself.  He didn’t want her terrified of
him.  Not tonight. It should not matter, but it did to him.
    “Milady,” he spoke
softly. “It is normal for a man to be in this state if he is to do his
duty.  Do not fear. I give you my word. I will be gentle with you.” 
    He had never been one to use
flowery words, or ever had need of them, but Balwain’s words came back to
him.  Aric was used to women throwing themselves at him and climbing into
his bed even when he did not want them.  So, he had never needed to be
gentle with any of them, or speak sweet words or anything of the kind and at
first it felt awkward.   But, as it had in the garden, that
feeling left him as quickly as it had arrived.  For he found he
wanted to ease her fears and comfort her once again. 
    He reached out and had barely
touched her shoulder when she let out a shriek to rouse the dead and stepped
away from him. 
    She faced him, her trembles
visible.  She suddenly seemed sober.  Aric sighed, frowning. 
Mayhap she’d not partaken in enough drink after all.
    What happened to the hot woman he’d
held in the garden?
     “’Tis not that, milord. 
I- can, we…can we not