The Untamable Rogue by Cathy McAllister Read Free Book Online

dangerous! It was undoubtedly safer to keep away from him and not play with fire.
    Ivo turned round on his horse and his dark eyes fell upon me. I felt my cheeks begin to burn and redden. Heat rose within me and I hastily turned away.
    Oh, yes, this man was a  blazing fire, a burning inferno, that was trying to devour me.
    *
    At about midday the group sought protection from the burning sun under a group of trees. Children were sent away to fetch firewood and a few men went to a nearby river to catch a few fish. I did not know what I should do as I was not given a task, so I sat down in the shade beneath an enormous oak tree and lay back against the rough trunk. The first men returned with their catch and took the fish out to hold them on sticks over the fire that had been set up in the middle of the camp. A few women were sitting together, happily chatting whilst they breast-fed their babies. Without any embarrassment whatsoever they had bared their full, heavy breasts with their dark areolae and the small children suckled blissfully. For me this was completely unaccustomed permissiveness, but here it seemed to be absolutely natural and no one was bothered by it. The men on the camp were not even looking at them.
    A shadow fell upon me and I looked up. It was Sergio, smiling amiably down at me. He was holding two bowls in his hands from which rose an enticing aroma of grilled fish.
    “Hungry?”
    I simply nodded and smiled gratefully.
    Sergio sat down next to me and handed me one of the bowls. Apart from the grilled fish with herbs there was also a piece of crispy round flat bread.
    “Mmm … thank you.”
    My stomach contracted with anticipation. Only now did I realise how hungry I had been. I put a piece of fish into my mouth and chewed blissfully.
    “Mmm … This tastes delicious!”
    “How are you feeling? Are you already feeling a little better?” asked Sergio solicitously, simultaneously touching me on the arm, as if accidentally.
    “Yes, thank you! I’m already much better, even if my head is still hurting a little,” I answered.
    I looked into Sergio’s warm eyes and saw tenderness in them. It warmed my heart. I liked him a lot and his attention was doing me good, even if he did not of course befit my rank in society. But a few harmless words could not hurt. I felt good in his company.
    There had already been several suitors who had asked for my hand in marriage: boring old goats, as I called these fashionable dandies; boot licking nobles in search of a good match to pay off the debts that they had collected through gambling and in brothels, as well as from their tailors. Sergio knew nothing about my wealth. His interest was completely in me and was also not of the sinful nature that I had read in Ivo’s eyes. – No! Sergio was the direct opposite of his older brother. Sergio’s facial features were soft and open, which reflected his character, whilst Ivo was as hard and angular as his external appearance. And yet Ivo’s fiery looks had awakened a consuming desire within me, whilst I only felt a warm affection for Sergio. Whatever was wrong with me? Was I perhaps perverted? If not even Sergio was a suitable match, then this Ivo most certainly was not!
    Suddenly Sergio took my hand and placed a tender kiss on my palm. His eyes had taken on a tender, enraptured expression.
    “Liz. Oh sweet Liz. I have truly fallen in love,” he said hoarsely. “It can’t be a coincidence that it was I who found you.”
    I blushed. Carefully I pulled my hand away and lowered my eyes, embarrassed. The last thing that I wanted was to hurt his feelings.
    “But … but we don’t know one another at all,” I objected helplessly.
    “I feel as if I have known you forever,” declared Sergio passionately. “You are my destiny – I can sense that very clearly. – And Grandmother Aneta said that!”
    “You … you’re an attractive man and I think you’re very nice, but I hardly know you,” I said, evading the issue. I