Tangled (Handfasting) by Becca St. John Read Free Book Online Page A

different. Surely, I've put someone out of their
place."
    He
held the curve of her shoulder. His hand warm, solid. She did not want him to
go just yet. She did not want him to let go.
    "You're
fine in this bed."
    She
grabbed at that. "I would be glad to share."
    Talorc
chuckled. "Would you now?"
    "Aye."
    "It's
my bed you're sleeping in."
    She
blinked. Of course it was. She knew that.  His papers, his books, his clothes
were in here. “It’s not you I’m thinking of sharing with.”
    He
laughed. "Do you want to let me in?"
    Aye,
she did, but dared not tell him. Refused to let him see how desperately she
wanted his mouth on her mouth, on her body. To feel the way his teeth would
tease her nipple and his tongue would soothe the nip all while his hands molded
her breasts. She would not demand that he push himself against her secret
places, rub and buck and draw her into mindless hunger. She would not beg.
    "Where's
Ealasaid? I shouldna' be here alone with you."
    "You're
my handfasted, you're expected to be alone with me."
    Maggie's
snort was not much different than Brutus's. "I'd not have need of comfort
if not for that. But I am doing better now. I can be moved to another
bed."
    "There's
no need for that."  He sighed. "But you needn't worry about me
climbing under the covers with you. I'm more than comfortable on the floor. It's
smoother than the rocky ground outside. And goodness knows I've spent enough
nights on that."
    "I've
never slept alone, MacKay."
    "You'll
not be alone, Maggie. I will be right there for you."
    "I've
never slept alone in a bed. And I've never shared a bed with someone who was
not my kin."
    "I
am your kin now, Maggie. Don't mistake that."
    "Blood
kin."
    Silence,
so peaceful moments before, stirred into something quite different.
    "Maggie,"
Talorc broke the stand-off, "if you want someone in the bed with you, I'll
join you."
    "Never." 
She thought of the other woman, Seonaid and wondered if she had shared this bed
with him.
    "I'll
not pursue you more than you want." His white teeth gleamed with his
smile.
    That
she could challenge. "I don't see you pursuing at all."
    He
cupped her head, pulled her to his kiss before she could react, all hard and
tense hunger. He rolled onto her with his body, thrust against her with his
loins. She felt the long, thick length of him and knew that she had won. He was
pursuing, he was challenging her.
    She
had to check him, or he would think to dominate her with her one weakness. She
had to check herself as well, or she would be buried so deep in her want for
him she would never leave.
    "I'm
not wanting."  She told him and realized it was her third lie of the
evening.
    "Then
I'll not pursue."
    This
was what she hated about him. The push-pull, to want him and not want. The pit
of her fluttered, a hundred frenzied butterflies. Her mind screamed to push him
off, tell him to go to the floor.
    "You'll
have to sleep in a different layer of covers." She was naked. She'd not
risk her skin to touch his, certain it would ignite a horrible sensation she
could never control. "And stay on your side."
    "Aye,
Maggie," he didn't pull his plaid free until he was under a blanket. "I'll
do that." Settled, he reached out again, pulled her close. "You'll be
safe, right here, with me."
    “You’re
not on your side.”  She grumbled even as she wriggled against him.
    “Aye,
I am. On my side of the center. And you are on your side of the center.”  He
tightened his hold.
    Tell
him to let go her mind argued, but Maggie stayed mum, until Talorc asked,  
"Remember your dream, Maggie. When you woke from your wound."
    Impossible
to forget. "You mean when Ian came for me."
    "Ian
didn't come for you, Maggie," Talorc leaned up, and over her. With a
reverence that stunned her, Talorc rested his hand over her belly, "He
brought you a bairn, my child, Maggie.  Yours and mine."
    "He
didn't say it was yours."
    Talorc
laughed. "He brought the lad to you here at Glen Toric, to my home, my bed.
He'd