Sunlight by Jill Myles Read Free Book Online Page A

moving to the stick next to the window and wrapping her hair around it twice. Then she yelled down, “I’m ready!”
    The hair tightened around the rod and she kept her hand firmly around it, holding it in place. A minute later, Callum appeared in the window.
    He gave her a grin and a wink. “I brought the prince today, lady.”
    “I saw that,” she replied in a dry voice. “You shouldn’t have. Really.”
    “I regret that we’ll no’ be able to spend time alone tonight,” he said, and leaned in to give her a quick kiss before turning back to her hair and chopping it off.
    Hope swung the thick mass back over her shoulders, admiring the flex of Callum’s shoulders as he lowered the ladder and patiently waited for the prince to climb. As he did, he cast a hot look over his shoulder at her, raking over her figure, and telling her that he was just as interested in their next rendezvous as she was.
    Well, she’d just have to be patient, then, wouldn’t she? Hope forced herself to stand calmly, her hands clasped in front of her, even though she wanted nothing more than to run them down Callum’s broad, delicious back and maybe squeeze that tight, firm ass.
    Just once. Maybe twice. Three times, max.
    And then the prince arrived, and she pasted a bright smile on her face for him.
    “My dove,” he cooed, extending his hands, and leaned in for a kiss.
    Scrunching her nose up, she endured the prince’s chaste, closed-mouthed kiss. And even as she kissed him, she glanced over her shoulder at Callum.
    Who was frowning darkly, his gaze possessive and hot.
    Good. For some reason, it made her absurdly pleased that he was jealous.
    Hope endured the prince’s idle chatter, pretending to be interested as he prattled on about his day at court, and all the fawning lords. The Englishmen that he had to endure visiting. The pope’s latest edict.
    She tried not to yawn behind her hand, smiling and nodding encouragement as he continued.
    The man was obviously in love with her. Or the old her. How to turn him down nicely so she could devote all her time to Callum? Hope peeked over at the sexy bodyguard through her lashes. His gaze was on her, and she felt all hot and flushed, remembering what they’d done last night.
    Drat the prince for showing up anyhow.
    “Have I ever shown you my hawks?” Walter asked, his voice nasal and odd.
    She froze for a moment. Was that some sort of weird euphemism? Hope hesitated, her glance flicking to Callum, but he didn’t seem distressed. “I don’t recall, my prince,” she said smoothly. “Are they…big hawks?”
    “Oh, very large.” He puffed up proudly, his thin chest bowing slightly. “My favorite is Francoise.
    She’s this darling little peregrine that can tear the throat out of her prey in moments.”
    “Lovely,” she murmured. Her gaze flicked back to Callum. His lips were wet, gleaming. Had he licked his recently? At the thought, she licked her own lips in response, feeling her nipples harden.
    Lordy, all this tension in the room was driving her wild. If she could only figure out a way to get rid of Walter, she and Callum could pick up where they left off.
    And now she noticed Callum was watching her mouth, his gaze intent. She licked her lips again, and then brushed the pad of one of her fingers over her lower lip, her gaze on him.
    Callum’s gaze burned as he stared at her, trying to hide his lust and failing miserably. Walter only had to look backward to see his guardsman’s interest in her, but the prince was oblivious.
    “–not quite what our party had intended, of course, but hawking is such a challenge every day.”
    Walter droned, then looked over at her, startled. “Are you listening, my pet?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry, Prince Walter,” she said quickly, thinking hard. “I was just…reminded of something when you spoke.”
    “Of hawking?” He raised a bushy eyebrow.
    “Yes, hawking,” she said quickly. “I thought I saw a hawking party earlier today and was