Read Online A Dark Guardian by Donna Grant - Free Book Online

her head, not wanting to hear the words.

    “Last eve, I dunked him in the water trough to shake off the effects. Apparently, he went to bed without any ale and only had a little this day. It was enough to show him what was going on around him.”

    “Who would drug him?”

    “Whoever called forth the creature.”

    Her eyes snapped to his face. There wasn’t gentleness in his handsome face now but truth. “I shouldn’t believe you. I don’t know you, yet I find myself taking your words as certainty.”

    “Bernard asked that no one be allowed in his chamber until he could get through the worst of this.”

    “For the first time in my life my brother saw me, spoke to me. Don’t make me leave,” she pleaded with him.

    Hugh should refuse her, but he found he didn’t have the heart. Besides, he was fast losing what energy he had with his loss of blood.

    Despite all of that, he didn’t think he could stand the look in her eyes if he told her no. She gazed upon him as if he was a savior, and God help him, he needed that from her. He opened his mouth to answer but remembered that Bernard had made him promise no one would be allowed in.

    Surely, though, Mina wouldn’t have drugged the ale. Or would she?

    Hugh’s instincts, which he relied on so heavily, were failing him now. For a moment, he forgot everything but the swell of Mina’s breasts through the tunic that molded to her perfectly.

    “Please,” she begged and touched his arm.

    His body silently roared its need to have her touch more of him. It was always so after a battle.

    Answer her and get away. Quickly. Before you do something stupid like kiss her
[_full, ripe lips or cup her breasts. _]
    __
    By the saints, he couldn’t remember a time when a woman had held him captivated so. An answer. He had to give her an answer.

    But what was the question?

Chapter Six
    Mina wasn’t used to dealing with men of any sort, that was Theresa’s expertise, but she wasn’t going to give up easily. When Hugh didn’t respond, she pushed away from her chair and fell to her knees before him.

    “You saw for yourself how he treated me last night and the difference today. I will not leave him when he needs family.”

    His eyes shifted slightly as if weighing her words.

    “’Tis not as if I’m asking to be alone with him. Just allow me to stay near him in case he needs me.”

    “It’s not going to be a pretty sight,” he warned, his eyes flickering to her mouth briefly. “Bernard might say things he doesn’t mean and some that he does.” She swallowed hard and met his steady gaze. “I’ve listened to many things my brother and sister have said to me. What comes out of his mouth this night will not affect me.”

    “I hope I won’t regret this,” he said slowly. “You can stay.” She smiled and grabbed his hands. Without thinking, she brought them to her lips and kissed them. “Thank you. Thank you.”

    After a moment of silence, she looked at the hands within her grasp. They were balled into tightly clenched fists. The triumph she had felt at being able to stay vanished in a wink. How could she have forgotten so easily how repulsive she was?

    “I’m sorry,” she said and began to turn away when he grabbed her shoulders.

    He wouldn’t allow her to look at him, but he brought her ear close to his lips.
    “Roderick did not lie this morn. Do not listen to the foul words your sister spouts. You are neither homely nor ugly.”

    “I—” she began, but he put a calloused finger over her lips. For a moment, she forgot everything but the heat of his body and his finger touching her mouth.

    “You have been told for so long that they think you are homely that you believe it. I have nothing to gain from telling you otherwise.” She closed her eyes against his words. He couldn’t know what they did to her.
    She almost cried out when he took his finger from her lips, but he only moved it to her chin so he could turn her face to his.

    “Open