Read Online A Dangerous Damsel (The Countess Scandals) by Kimberly Bell - Free Book Online

roll to the side. Her enjoyment poured from her throat in sighs and moans. Quickening her motions, she drove herself in a building wave. She felt it rising and her voice rose with it. She rocked on her own palm, unaware of anything except the perfect moment waiting for her just out of reach. When it came, it came fast. It left with a shuddering that claimed her whole body in its wake.
    Standing in the river, hand between her legs, she stood on unashamed display as awareness returned to her. A deep breath ended in a final moan of satisfaction.
    She shoved her hair out of her eyes and splashed back to the shore. She didn’t bother putting her clothes on. She just lay down on the plaid, her head returned to his bicep, and sighed. “Much better.”
    The last thing she saw before she settled into a deep and restful sleep was Ewan, rigid from head to toe like a man being burned alive.
    ***
    Angus didn’t have to come get Ewan when it was his turn to take the watch—Ewan was wide awake. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her standing naked in the water, lost in the pleasure of her own hands. He’d known some bold women in his time, but they all paled in comparison to Deidre.
    “What’s she done now?”
    Ewan looked at Tristan’s bedroll. The boy was still awake and watching him.
    “That’s a Deidre look on your face.” Tristan hoisted himself up to sit against the tree trunk. “She’s got a way of provoking people so it sticks.”
    “That she does.” Ewan pulled out his dirk and started sharpening it. He had no intention of airing how she’d provoked him, certainly not with her younger brother.
    “What was it?” the boy asked, unfazed.
    “It’s nae for ye and I to discuss.”
    Dejection immediately settled over Tristan’s face.
    Ewan cursed himself. Could he do nothing right today? “We had a philosophical disagreement.”
    “Philosophical?” The boy’s face scrunched in a thoughtful frown. “Did she lecture you? What did you do?”
    Ewan went back to sharpening the knife. “I dinnae ken.”
    “You tried to reason with her, didn’t you?” Tristan’s laughter hooted through the forest. “That never works. She’s got too much pride.”
    That revelation would have been extremely beneficial to Ewan a few hours ago.
    “Did she blow her stack? Do something drastic?” Tristan’s assumptions about his sister’s behavior were remarkably accurate.
    “Aye.”
    “You don’t need to worry about it then,” the boy said with a dismissive wave. “Pretty soon she’ll start feeling guilty and you’ll be in the clear.”
    “I dinnae want—” Ewan couldn’t believe he was discussing this with a lad who barely needed to shave. “I dinnae want her to feel guilty. I just want her to nae be cross with me.”
    “Well that’s simple then. Do something nice.”
    It certainly sounded simple. Ewan had a hard time believing it would be that easy. “Your sister doesnae seem to have much use for niceties.”
    Tristan shook his head. “She just wants you to think that so you don’t use it against her. She’s actually quite sentimental if you know what gets to her.”
    “Such as?”
    “Nothing flashy. Dee doesn’t trust flash.”
    No flash. Ewan didn’t imagine he’d find much that would qualify as flashy out here on the road anyhow. “What else?”
    “You gotta ignore her after you give it to her.”
    “That doesnae—”
    “Trust me. If she does like it, she won’t want you to see she likes it. Doesn’t like people knowing she’s susceptible.” Tristan’s posture and voice changed with the last word to mimic his sister.
    Ewan suspected she’d advised Tristan on the subject of susceptibility a number of times. “Something simple and nice, that she can appreciate in private.”
    “Yup. That ought to sort it out for you.” Tristan settled back into his bedroll. “Wake me up for breakfast?”
    “Aye.”
    Ewan wasn’t certain about the quality of the lad’s advice, but he was certain of one