Oceanborne by Katherine Irons Read Free Book Online

and women.
    But here was forbidden fruit. If he took what could be so easily his, Orion would risk honor, career, and his place in line to the throne. He had no wish to become Poseidon; that task would rightfully go to his brother Morgan, but breaking law and tradition for pure sensual pleasure was crossing the line.
    He wanted Elena … wanted her with a passion that made his blood run hot and his mind giddy with lecherous possibilities. He wanted to run his hands over her smooth, scale-free body, cup her breasts in his hands and coax the nipples into hard, tight nubs. He could imagine the silken texture of her skin and the soft whimpers she’d make as he drew those sweet nipples between his lips and sucked her breasts until she screamed for release, before he’d roam lower to explore the damp crevices between her thighs. He wanted to feel the soft, dark curls of her woman’s mound against his lips and to slide his fingers slowly inside her before …
    No! He couldn’t weaken. Stifling a groan, Orion fought the smoldering arousal that threatened to ignite into a blazing heat. Control … he must retain control of his body and will. To do less would be his undoing.
    Mating with an unwilling partner was one of the greatest of sins among the Atlanteans, punishable by a particularly unpleasant and lengthy death sentence. Women were equals in every way, other than physical strength, and to take advantage of a weaker opponent was looked upon with disgust. Yet, if she desired him, even if she was a land dweller, could their union be so terrible? And she would want him if he willed it. A touch, a glance, a whispered suggestion would be all that it would take to bring about the ends that he wanted so badly. But that, of course, was cheating.
    â€œIt’s true,” Elena cried. “It is here. And here! And here!” She ran trembling fingers over a stone tablet inscribed with hieroglyphics from the time of the New Kingdom. “As sharp and clear as if they had been carved yesterday,” she babbled. “See this.” She pointed to a line of characters.

    â€œThe cry of the dove rings out.
    Dawn breaks, where doest thou fly?
    Stop, sweet bird, why must thou …”

    â€œ Scold me ,” he translated.
    Elena stared at him in astonishment. “You read hieroglyphics?”
    He shrugged. “I was always good with languages.”
    Confusion flickered in her dark eyes, and he knew she realized that she’d underestimated him. He wasn’t what she’d thought. How far off she really was, he suspected she’d never guess. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and turned back to the text.

    â€œI discovered my … my sweetheart—”

    â€œ My lover ,” he corrected huskily. “ I discovered my lover …”
    Elena nodded and continued the translation.

    â€œI discovered my lover in his bed,
    And my heart overflowed with sweetness.”

    Orion nodded. “Close enough.” Why hadn’t she picked an oil merchant’s inventory to translate? Hearing love songs read from such kissable lips was intoxicating. Still on her knees, she was close, too close, close enough for him to feel her breath on his bare thighs.
    â€œBut New Kingdom? Why are these tablets here with the Linear B?” she demanded. “The time isn’t right. They can’t be genuine.”
    He dropped to his knees beside her. “They’re real, all right. But not original poetry. Plagiarized from an earlier civilization.”
    â€œNo,” she insisted. “You’re wrong about that. “It’s Egyptian. Love Songs of the New Kingdom . Do you have any idea how old that is? We’re talking 1200, maybe 1500 B.C.E. Fully documented by—”
    â€œPlagiarism,” he repeated. “Originally composed by—” He broke off, unwilling to cloud the waters by giving the name of the twelfth-dynasty Atlantean court poet who