Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] by Crystal Flame Read Free Book Online Page B

she reminded herself that
    soon she would be starting a whole new life, one that was certain to include men. Surely allowing herself
    a small taste of what the future might hold would do no real harm to her mission.
    "Perhaps," Ridge drawled, his voice dangerously soft, "Ishould take my duties as a husband-to-be
    seriously. If I am going to be made to feel like a husband, Kalena, then I think you should be made to feel
    more like a wife."
    Kalena stood very still, excitement shafting through her as she realized he was going to kiss her. For an
    instant a vision of her aunt's outraged face rose to haunt her. Olara would be horrified. In truth, Kalena
    was slightly horrified herself. She had been telling herself for days that someday soon she would learn
    what it was like to be held by a man. Indeed, she had been looking forward to it with a nervous
    anticipation. But quite suddenly the moment was upon her, and she wasn't as certain as she had been
    about what she wanted. It wasn't that she feared the embrace, Kalena realized abruptly; it was that she
    wasn't at all sure Ridge was the right man with whom to experiment. So much was at stake.
    She stirred belatedly as he lowered his head, but by then it was much too late. His hands tightened on
    her shoulders, pulling her closer to his waiting strength, and his mouth was on hers.
    Kalena felt curiously suspended in the red moonlight, as if she was no longer completely herself but was
    Page 21
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    somehow on the verge of becoming joined with another—her born opposite. The sensation was
    disorienting, unlike anything she had experienced before. Very distantly, Olara's warnings rang in her
    ears: You must not surrenderto a man'sembrace until you havedone your duty and avenged thehonor of
    your House. Such an act would be extremely dangerous for you. But surely Olara had meant the
    complete act of making love, Kalena told herself. What harm could there be in a kiss?
    Ridge's mouth moved on her lips, slowly, inevitably taking control, and then demanding a response.
    Kalena briefly felt his teeth in a tiny nip that took her by surprise. She parted her lips in astonishment.
    Before she could utter a protest he was there, inside her mouth, his tongue exploring and tasting her with
    a boldness that left her breathless.
    Kalena moaned faintly and felt Ridge's hands slip from her shoulders down her spine and to the small of
    her back. Her arms went around his neck and she heard him inhale deeply. She had a fleeting impression
    that Ridge, too, was feeling unexpectedly disoriented, as if the kiss wasn't turning out quite as he had
    anticipated. She could have sworn the large, strong hands that held her had trembled slightly. But almost
    immediately he seemed to regain control of both himself and the situation. His palms curved around her
    full hips as he urged her forcefully against the hardness of his lower body. She did not sense a calculated
    sensual expertise in Ridge's embrace, but rather a determined hunger that seemed to have taken Ridge as
    much by surprise as it did her.
    Kalena's mind was suddenly spinning with the excitement of sensually clashing opposites. Her gently
    curving breasts were crushed against his tautly muscled chest. Ridge spread his booted feet and her soft
    thighs were trapped between the hard lines of his legs. She felt his strong, blunt fingers luxuriating in the
    lush shape of her buttocks and heard him groan. The heat of his mouth was colliding with the coolness of
    her own, bringing alive sensations that she had never experienced.
    No wonder the sexual act was considered an example of a perfect union of opposing forces, Kalena
    thought. If a mere kiss brought such incredibly sweet devastation to her senses, she could only imagine
    what sharing a pallet with Ridge would do to her.
    She opened her eyes bemusedly when Ridge finally released her mouth. In the red moon's light she
    looked