Underground Captive by Elisabeth-Cristine Analise Read Free Book Online

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                       Jared looked at the bleeding man, still writhing on the ground like a snake in a pond. "It looks to me like Williams was the one who was...shall we say... lady -handled?"  He stared down at her from his mount.  "What's the problem here, mademoiselle ?"
                       Her eyes met his and held them, changing the air from the thick tension of adversaries to smoldering tension of lovers.
                       "M- Monsieur , I think the overseer has been stealing the slaves's rations."
    "Stealing the slaves's rations?" Jared echoed, hard and cold.
                  " Oui , Monsieur ."
    "And ye confronted him?"
    Nicki nodded.
                       His eyes softened.  "Ye should have gone to yer father.  Ye could have been hurt."              
    "What are you doing here, Monsieur Fleming?"
    "Yer father invited me."
                       "Why didn't you tell me in the carriage you knew my father?"
    "Ye didn't ask," Jared retorted.
    " Non, Monsieur , I didn't," she agreed with a weak smile.
                       Jared sat astride his handsome, golden steed.  The horse's shiny coat glistened and complimented Jared's proud stature.  His thigh muscles, straining against black breeches, vied for recognition with his broad shoulders.  His wind-tousled, coppery hair gleamed in the bright sun.
                       "I know you wouldn't have allowed Monsieur Monster to hurt me."
    Staring down into her eyes, Jared swallowed hard.  "Nay, Nicollette," he
    hoarsely assured her as he dismounted.  "I wouldn't allow anyone to hurt ye."
                       The cadence of his voice as he spoke her name caused a wicked rush of fire to burst through her.  " Merci , Monsieur Fleming," she whispered,
                       He moved closer, touching the side of her cheek with a tenderness that surprised Nicki.  Drawing her into his arms, he bent his head and found her mouth.
                       Her lips were warm, soft, and trembling.  He explored her mouth as she received his probing tongue hesitantly.  Without warning, she pulled away from him.
                       Nicki's knees weakened.  This had been her first kiss and her flesh was seared by the feel of his lips against her own.  Blushing, she met his gaze.
    "Why did ye pull away from me, Nicollette?"
    "This is improper.  We mustn’t do this.  You...you take too many liberties."
                       "Not nearly enough."  Raising her chin with the crook of his finger, Jared
    brought his lips firmly down to her own.
                       " Non --" she began, seeing him as the enemy and struggling to free herself when his arms encircled her waist.  Her words were lost as his mouth covered hers.  His arms, strong and possessive around her, held her like a vise.  He pressed his lips to hers, thrusting his tongue into her tender recesses.
                       Jared forgot that this was Ricard Duplantier's sister.  He forgot his plan to use her in his revenge for his wife's murder.  Her innocence awakened a feeling in him that he didn't want to name.  Blood pounded in his brain.  Desire flared and burned a path to his loins.
                       Nicki struggled, alternately clawing at his heavily muscled arms and punching his wide chest.  She cried out against his mouth in desperation when she realized her attempts to free herself were futile.
                       The understanding that she was trying to free herself from his hold slowly