Obsessed by Cheyenne McCray Read Free Book Online

as though she was nothing more than a child. Over his other shoulder he slung his saddlebag that he had snatched from beside the horse.
    Furious, Liana pounded his back with her fists. “Let me down!”
    Aric chuckled and settled his hand upon her buttocks as he strode through the forest. Squirrels chattered and blackbirds cried out, but the sounds faded as Liana became intensely aware of the heat of his palm radiating through her thin gown.
    Gods, she wanted him to touch her again. She wanted more than his hand caressing her, and his mouth between her thighs.
     She wanted him inside her.
    When they reached a hidden pool, Aric carefully set Liana down on a crumbling set of stone stairs. For a moment she forgot to be angry with him. She drew in a deep breath and gazed about her, enchanted by the magic of the place. It was too beautiful for words.
    Massive oaks and pines stood sentinel around a glistening sapphire pool. Sunshine swirled through the canopy of trees, dust motes dancing within the shafts of light.
    Giant jensai blooms grew in clusters, their emerald vines twisting around the trees. Liana had never seen such enormous jensai—easily as large as a man’s head, when the norm was the size of her palm. Even their crimson color was more vivid and their scent sweeter than normal. It was heady, intoxicating. And like all jensai, certainly too potent and dangerous to touch.
    Liana’s gaze returned to the pool. She longed to slip into the waters and cleanse the smoke from her hair so that she might fully feel all there was to enjoy in this charmed place.
    She looked up at him. “Where are we?”
    He shrugged. “At the Elvin Bewitching Pool.”
    With a gasp, she widened her eyes. “I thought stories of the pool were but Elvin tales.”
    A smile quirked the corner of Aric’s mouth. “It is as real and as magical as the tales say.”
    “I can feel it.” Even though her senses were muted, her tresses vibrated as they soaked in the otherworldly air.
    “Now get into the pool and bathe,” he commanded, folding his arms across his chest.
    That feeling of power rose within her. Despite her own desire to cleanse herself, she raised her chin and shook her head. “I will not.”
    He growled, and in the next moment Liana yelped as he yanked her gown over her head, leaving her naked before him. She started to cover herself, but instead she decided that if he was going to play rough, she would, too.
    She straightened, holding her shoulders back, keeping her hands at her sides. His growl turned into a groan as he stared at her breasts. The heat of his gaze caused her nipples to harden, and it was all she could do to hold back a moan.
    “You will get into the pool and bathe,” he demanded again, but his voice was rough and it wavered. “Before I take you there myself.”
    A delicious feeling of wickedness overcame her and she had to restrain a smile. “I answer to no man.”
    Aric pulled his tunic over his head and then began untying his breeches. “You will answer to me.”
     

Chapter Four
     
    Aric dropped his sheathed dagger onto the shore beside his tunic. He stripped off his boots and breeches, tossing them aside in his haste, but he never took his eyes off Liana.
    He was strong. He was King of the Nordain. He could fight the temptation to bury himself in this beautiful naked woman.
    Liana clenched her small fists and glared at Aric defiantly.
    Yes. He definitely had to teach the maid a lesson.
    She yelped as Aric swept her in his arms, and he tried not to groan from the pleasure of feeling her skin against his.
    “Let me go!” she shouted as he slowly strode down the ancient steps.
    “You will learn to obey me,” he growled, and then tossed her toward the center of the chilly pool.
    Eyes wide with shock, she screamed, and then in the next moment she vanished beneath the crystal water. She resurfaced, sputtering and cursing. “You son of an irani!”
    Aric covered his mouth with one hand, trying to hold back a