Through the Looking Glass by Rebecca Lorino Pond Read Free Book Online

had her pinned to the spot. They were the lightest blue eyes she had ever seen and reminded her of the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean.
     
    Her breath caught in her throat when he stripped off his dirty shirt and tossed it aside. His chest was covered with well-developed, defined muscles that tapered down to his narrow waist. Only a small amount of the same colored hair as his head, grew from his chest, leaving his nipples bare. Each time he moved the muscles in his chest would contract and flex. She hated to compare him to Daniel, but this man would make Daniel look like a wimp. His arms had to bigger in circumference than her hands would be able to span around and his hands, which had been cruel to her arms, looked just as strong as the rest of him. But, she wondered how gentle those hands could become if they were running over her body.
     
    “Like what you see?”
     
    The sound of his voice jarred her from her stupor. She had been staring at him like a little school girl caught staring at her new crush.
     
    “No, I don’t,” she lied.
     
    What was she supposed to do? It was awkward being in the same room with this stranger as he took off his clothes, about to do God knows what to her. He laughed at her futile attempt to lie to his face. The deep, rough sound of it gave her chills down her spine. It was the kind of laugh she could never get tired of hearing.
     
    Just as she was about to say something else, the door to the room swung open and in walked an older woman. She carried something in her arms but she couldn’t tell what it was.
     
    “Ah Jakar! You made it back alive!” the old woman said. “A might dirty but at least alive!”
     
    Isobel was surprised when Jakar, at she knew his name now, walked up to the old woman and placed a kiss on her forehead.
     
    “Nana, you know I always return. This time I have returned with a guest.” He looked in her direction as Nana finally noticed her standing there watching them.
     
    “I see that. Who is she?”
     
    That wicked smile spread across his face again. “I caught her spying on the battlefield. I was about to find out what she knows, right after I have my bath.” He walked away from Nana to sit on a low stool to take off his mud-covered boots.
     
    “Stop saying that! I wasn’t spying. Please help me. He is holding me here against my will.” Isobel went to the old woman to plead with her. Maybe another woman would be more sympathetic to her situation.
     
    But as she approached the woman, Nana’s eyes grew wide and a smile played at the corners of her lips. Nana’s eyes skimmed over her face then took in her clothes.
     
    “Jakar, do you know who this is?” Nana asked in voice barely above a whisper.
     
    “She is one of Tuloch’s spies.” he said as if he was uninterested in Isobel for the moment.
     
    Nana rushed over to Jakar and grabbed his hand, forcing him to look at her. “No, Jakar. She’s the one.”
     
    She was the one what? Nana was looking at her as if she had three heads and was foaming at the mouth. Jakar stopped moving to look at her too. But whatever Nana saw, he didn’t.
     
    “Rubbish, Nana. That tale is nothing but superstition and an old wise tale. Nothing more.”
     
    “You are wrong, my boy, ” Nana said. It was strange to hear her call him a boy because by the looks of him, he definitely wasn’t a boy anymore.
     
    “Would someone please tell me what’s going on?” Isobel asked the pair.
     
    “Nana, would you please leave us alone?” He kissed her forehead again.
     
    The old woman huffed and puffed at his demand but gave in. “It is her, Jakar. I swear by it.”
     
    “We will talk about this later. Right now I want to bathe and I am sure our guest would like to do the same.” He escorted her to the door then opened it so that she could exit. “Good night,” he said as he closed the door.
     
    Isobel saw the old woman look around Jakar’s massive form to get another look at her right before