The Craving (Rogues of Scotland #1) by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online Page A

father worked twice as hard to win her favor.”
    “I gather he did,” Meg said.
    “Unfortunately. My mother used him. She told him she loved him, but it was only to get him to marry her. She made his life hell. Nothing he ever did was good enough. She turned a proud man into a shell of what he once was.”
    Meg swallowed, because it all became clear to her. It wasn’t that Ronan hated women. He didn’t believe in love. Add that to the cunning way his mother tricked his father and ruined his life, and it was no wonder Ronan had balked at marriage to the gypsy.
    “My sister learned from our mother,” Ronan continued. “She was just as scheming and unscrupulous when she was trying to get what she wanted. I tried to warn her husband, but he was too enamored with her to listen. He learned soon enough. But by then it was too late. He was in the same trap as my father.”
    Meg laid her head back on his chest. “I’m sorry, Ronan.”
    “It’s in the past.”
    “But still ruling your life,” she pointed out.
    She closed her eyes as silence stretched between them only broken by the rain and thunder. Meg was almost asleep when his fingers brushed across her cheek to move away her hair.
    “I’ve shared my story. Where is yours?” he asked in a low, husky voice that sent chills racing over her skin.
    Meg drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. “There’s nothing really to tell. I was given a promise. The promise was broken, leaving me betrayed and alone.”
    Ronan knew there was much more to the story. He might not know Meg’s past, but he knew enough of her to know that she was a good, sweet soul. Whoever had hurt her should be hung up by his balls.
    Suddenly, Ronan wanted to look into her gray eyes. He rolled her onto her back so that he leaned on one forearm beside her. Her gaze met his without hesitation.
    “Tell me,” he urged.
    She looked away, all emotion draining from her face. “I met a man I thought cared for me. He told me he wanted me to be his. He even asked me to marry him. I was overjoyed. He was very handsome and charming. My family liked him as well. I thought everything was going along fine.”
    When she fell silent once more, Ronan ran a finger between her breasts to her navel. “What did he do?”
    “He left me.  Abandoned me on the day of our wedding to run away with someone else. I’ve never felt such shame.”
    “You doona have reason to be ashamed, sweet Meg. He was the fool who let you go. You should be happy no’ to be shackled to a man like that.”
    Her gaze swung back to him. “You’re right. Had it not happened, Aunt Tilly wouldn’t have offered Ravensclyde to me, and I wouldn’t have found you.”
    “You freed me.” The impact of what she had done for him, and given him, slammed into his chest like a battering ram.
    “And you awakened my body,” she said with a sly smile.
    If only she knew how wonderful her body was. It might have been a long time since he’d had a woman, but he knew the pleasure he found with Meg was profound.
    Enough to make him think about running as far away as he could.
    What stopped him was realizing Meg wasn’t like his mother or sister. She had been abandoned by a man. She was wounded, her heart sore. And yet she had given him her most precious gift – her innocence.
    No other man had touched her, kissed her, loved her as he had. It was a first for Ronan, and he quite liked how it felt.
    “What a pair we are,” Meg said with a small laugh. 
    Ronan rolled to his back. “Aye. A pair for sure.”
    Meg returned to her spot on his chest. “How long will you stay at Ravensclyde?”
    “I’ve no’ thought much about it. Why? Do you wish me to leave now?”
    “On the contrary. I want you to stay as long as you want.”
    Ronan idly played with the drying strands of hair that had come loose from her braid. “I doona understand why you gave yourself to me. That man was an arse to be sure, but you will make a good wife and mother.”
    “I