One Touch of Topaz by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

such a coward. Perhaps it would be better after Fletch left the island and no longer offered such temptation. A wrenching pain swept through her. He would leave and she wouldbe left alone. She might die here, never knowing, never experiencing so many wonderful things. She might be taken to the Abbey and—
    No! With wild immediacy she rejected her vision of the future. She might have to stay, but she would not be cheated. She had a right to some joy.
    “Are you all right?” Fletcher Bronson gazed intently at her.
    She drew a deep, quivering breath. “Yes.” She moistened her lower lip with her tongue. “I’m fine.” She began to quickly unlace the army boot on her left foot. She pulled it off and then began unlacing the right boot. “I had a bad dream.” She tossed the other boot aside and stripped off her socks.
    “Does that happen often?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it if you don’t mind.” She rose to her feet and began unbuttoning her khaki shirt with swift, nervous fingers. “It’s over now. Do you want me to undress completely, or do you prefer todo some of it yourself? I understand many men—”
    “I beg your pardon?” He stiffened to total immobility, his gaze on her fingers on the buttons. “I seem to be behind the times. Do I take it you’ve changed your mind?”
    She nodded jerkily. “If you still want to do it.” She stripped the shirt off and dropped it on the pallet behind her.
    Something hot flickered in the depths of his cool green eyes. “Oh, I still want to do it. At the moment I can’t imagine anything I want more.” His gaze dropped to her small, uptilted breasts, naked now in the firelight. “You don’t wear a bra. I couldn’t tell in that oversize shirt.”
    She could feel the color heating her cheeks. He was so casual, as if she had undressed for him a thousand times before. “I don’t need one, I’m not very big.”
    “I can see that. I’m going to be able to hold your breasts in the palms of my hands. I’ll like that.” He sat up. “Will you come here, Samantha? I want to touch you.”
    She hesitated, then crossed the few paces separating them and dropped to her knees beside him. For the first time she looked directly into his eyes. She inhaled sharply, a tiny thrill of excitement running through her. She had been mistaken. Fletch was not at all casual. She swallowed to ease the tightness in her throat. “You’re not touching me.”
    He smiled. “I’m quite aware of the fact. I want to take my time. You’re special, Samantha.” He unclasped her tortoiseshell barrette and tossed it on the ground. “Very special.”
    “I’m skinny.”
    He nodded. “You’re too thin. We’ll have to do something about that. I feel as if you’ll shatter if I put even one finger on you.”
    “Oh, no, I’m really very tough. I get lots of exercise.”
    His lips tightened. “Running through these hills dodging patrols, no doubt.” His fingers threaded through her hair, and the slight tugging sent a frisson of hot delightdown her spine. His hands suddenly tightened on her hair, and he pulled her head back to look into her eyes. “We’ll do something about that too.”
    She scarcely heard him. He was close enough for her to feel the heat of his big body and a faint musky fragrance that was wildly exciting. She began to unbutton his shirt. “Do you mind? I want to see you.”
    “I’m not very pretty. Not like your Adonis, Lazaro.” He pulled away from her and rose to his feet. “I’ll do it.” He stripped quickly and efficiently and stood before her, still scowling. “I told you I was no Adonis.”
    Not Adonis. There was nothing slim or elegant about him. Fletch was all bulging muscle and power, tree-trunk calves and thighs, tight buttocks, and flat stomach. The thick auburn hair roughening his chest was gilded with silver, and he looked fully mature, overpoweringly male. Not Adonis but perhaps Vulcan or Hercules.
    Samantha gazed at him in fascination,