Nightwind by Charlotte Boyett-Compo Read Free Book Online

the door.
    He watched her running down the street, no one even taking the time to stop and stare after her.
    It was as though she did not exist for the people of this wretched town and his fury grew in leaps
    and bounds beyond even the rigid self-imposed limit he had placed on it with centuries of practice.
    A writhing serpent of vengeance slithered in his gut and his hot glare slowly left the running
    woman to go once more to the bookshop. The dark ember of his gaze grew red-hot, the pupils of
    his eyes elongating until they more closely resembled the slit pupils of a viper than a human being.
    His lips pulled back over his teeth and he hissed.
    Night would not come fast enough for Syntian Cree.
    He stood inthe shadows, hidden from her view. He had watched her bathe, soaping her body with
    hands that lingered on her breasts and between her legs. He had watched her bring herself to a
    shuddering climax, all the while with a gaze so hot it would have burned her flesh had she been aware of
    it.
    She had climbed out of the tub, toweling her lithe frame, powdering it, perfuming the creases behind her
    knees, under her breasts, the flesh at her wrists. It had not taken her long to dry her hair, to brush it to a
    glossy sheen. It had taken her longer to arrange it on top of her head in artful curls meant to cascade
    down around her shoulders with the release of a few strategic hairpins.
    As she sat down at her vanity to apply her makeup, he had stepped from the shadows, moving into her
    line of vision in the mirror. He had watched her eyes widen, first in surprise then narrow with speculation.
    She didn’t turn as he walked to her and placed his powerful hands on her shoulders, caressing the
    smooth flesh as he found her eyes in the mirror.
    “I was wondering when you’d come,” she said, smiling at him in the mirror. She reached up to put a
    hand over his. “How long can you stay?”
    He did not answer her smile. “As long as it takes to pleasure you, my lady.”
    Her fingers caressed the back of his hand. “And in return for such an offer, Syntian?”
    “I need your help,” he answered. He ran his hands over her shoulders, over her chest, and his strong
    fingers slid beneath the silk of her chemise and molded to the creamy perfection of her breasts.
    She leaned her head against his belly. “You want to break your vow.”
    “Aye.” His thumbs stroked the tips of her breasts until the nipples were hard little nubs against the pad of
    his thumb.
    She held his gaze in the mirror for a long time, watching him, probing his emotions, thrilling to the touch
    of the one male in the universe who could ignite such passion within her. At last she sighed. “There will be
    an exacting price to pay for such evil as you intend, Syn.”
    His lids flickered, but he held her look. “I know, my lady,” he said softly. He slid his hands down until
    her breasts were cradled in each of his palms. He squeezed her gently.
    “And you are willing to pay that price?”
    He hesitated, calculating, trying to hide his deepest feelings from her. She was watching him closely and
    he knew she read his mind as easily as he read the mind of a mortal female. His hands slid from her flesh
    and returned to the softness of her white shoulders.
    “Syntian?” she asked. “Are you willing to pay the price?”
    His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Aye.”
    Her smile was lazy and slow as she stood up and faced him. She loved the way he was looking at her:
    half-afraid she would deny him; half-afraid she would agree. She enjoyed what little bit of power she had
    over him for no other being had such control over Syntian Cree.
    “I will not allow you to repay me in any other way, Syntian,” she warned. “If you feel you must do this,
    then I will be paid as befits the bargain. You do understand that, do you not?”
    She watched his sensual lips part as he drew in a long breath then close softly as he exhaled. “I
    understand what will be expected of