Read Online Celtic Maid (Roman Love ~ Pict Desire Series Book 2) by Amy Jarecki - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amy Jarecki
Ads: Link
in yer highborn finery. Though I am a simple maid, I aim to keep me virtue intact.”
Ashamed, Titus dropped his hands to his sides. At one-and-thirty, he had enjoyed pleasuring many women in his lifetime, but he would never force himself upon one who was unwilling. He sighed, well aware that any relationship with Elspeth could not become serious, nor could he make her empty promises. As his servant, he must respect her virtue and cast his ardent feelings aside.
He backed toward his chamber. “Apologies.” He grasped the door handle and jutted out his chest. “I will see you in that gown on the morrow,” he said with more conviction than he felt. If she couldn’t be his, he must treat her like he would any other servant. It would be best for them both.
As the door slammed, the last thing Titus saw was raging fury spread across Elspeth’s face. For a moment, he thought she hated him. His heart twisted. Had he misread her? He had given the girl work, food, a safe place to sleep. Was that indeed all she wanted from him and nothing more? But she kissed me back . He touched his hand to his lips, Elspeth’s taste lingering.
A loud clank pummeled the door. Her helmet? Titus raked his fingers through his hair. What internal battle warred inside the woman? He knew she was attracted to him—he sensed it every time their gazes collided from across the room. But perhaps their current situation was beyond repair.
Chapter Five
Elspeth yanked off her helmet and threw it at the door. The resounding clatter gave her no satisfaction. The helm was the only useful item of the entire ensemble, but she left it where it lay. It had been hewn by Roman hands. She unclasped the heavy collar and dropped it on the floor, yanking the frilly drapes from her shoulders.
She spun to the pallet and pulled the grey woolen blanket over her shoulders. How dare he entice me with his fiercely handsome looks? Elspeth swiped her hand across her lips. They still tingled from the sensation of his mouth pressing against hers. How could she erase his kiss from her mind? Never before had a man made such advances.
Her body had completely betrayed her. Her legs had turned to boneless limbs, she could think of nothing but how much she wanted his hands upon her. It had taken every bit of willpower she could muster to pull away. She could not allow herself to be affected by such frivolous emotions. Soon she would return to Dunpelder, and when Titus realized she had infiltrated his headquarters as a spy, he would detest her very memory.
He’d hate her. The thought made her insides twist into a sickly knot, but she had to stand firm on her convictions. If she allowed her feelings to take over and her kin discovered her betrayal, her brother would kill Titus, and then he’d lock her away in Dunpelder’s tower, never to be released. She groaned. All the time she’d spent polishing and cleaning, she’d imagined what it would be like if the lines that made Romans enemies with Picts disappeared. Then she wouldn’t feel guilty about holding Titus in her arms and kissing him—about how much she wanted him . What it would be like if she could strip away the uniform and gaze upon the man—the powerful arms, the well-muscled chest—a man who could protect her with one swing of his sword? A man who could make her soar to the heavens with a single kiss.
Elspeth slammed her fist into her pillow. However colorful her dreams, it was hopeless. This infatuation wasn’t real. It could never be real.
Blast King Taran for sending me on this mission and blast Queen Valeria for training me in the ways of the Roman army . She thought of the first of many lies she had told Titus in such a short amount of time. Her father hadn’t taught her to care for Roman weapons. Queen Valeria had. Before becoming a Pict, the queen had been the daughter of the former Dux Britanniarum , Argus Fullofaudes himself. At the time, it had seemed like such a grand idea. Now,
Ashamed, Titus dropped his hands to his sides. At one-and-thirty, he had enjoyed pleasuring many women in his lifetime, but he would never force himself upon one who was unwilling. He sighed, well aware that any relationship with Elspeth could not become serious, nor could he make her empty promises. As his servant, he must respect her virtue and cast his ardent feelings aside.
He backed toward his chamber. “Apologies.” He grasped the door handle and jutted out his chest. “I will see you in that gown on the morrow,” he said with more conviction than he felt. If she couldn’t be his, he must treat her like he would any other servant. It would be best for them both.
As the door slammed, the last thing Titus saw was raging fury spread across Elspeth’s face. For a moment, he thought she hated him. His heart twisted. Had he misread her? He had given the girl work, food, a safe place to sleep. Was that indeed all she wanted from him and nothing more? But she kissed me back . He touched his hand to his lips, Elspeth’s taste lingering.
A loud clank pummeled the door. Her helmet? Titus raked his fingers through his hair. What internal battle warred inside the woman? He knew she was attracted to him—he sensed it every time their gazes collided from across the room. But perhaps their current situation was beyond repair.
Chapter Five
Elspeth yanked off her helmet and threw it at the door. The resounding clatter gave her no satisfaction. The helm was the only useful item of the entire ensemble, but she left it where it lay. It had been hewn by Roman hands. She unclasped the heavy collar and dropped it on the floor, yanking the frilly drapes from her shoulders.
She spun to the pallet and pulled the grey woolen blanket over her shoulders. How dare he entice me with his fiercely handsome looks? Elspeth swiped her hand across her lips. They still tingled from the sensation of his mouth pressing against hers. How could she erase his kiss from her mind? Never before had a man made such advances.
Her body had completely betrayed her. Her legs had turned to boneless limbs, she could think of nothing but how much she wanted his hands upon her. It had taken every bit of willpower she could muster to pull away. She could not allow herself to be affected by such frivolous emotions. Soon she would return to Dunpelder, and when Titus realized she had infiltrated his headquarters as a spy, he would detest her very memory.
He’d hate her. The thought made her insides twist into a sickly knot, but she had to stand firm on her convictions. If she allowed her feelings to take over and her kin discovered her betrayal, her brother would kill Titus, and then he’d lock her away in Dunpelder’s tower, never to be released. She groaned. All the time she’d spent polishing and cleaning, she’d imagined what it would be like if the lines that made Romans enemies with Picts disappeared. Then she wouldn’t feel guilty about holding Titus in her arms and kissing him—about how much she wanted him . What it would be like if she could strip away the uniform and gaze upon the man—the powerful arms, the well-muscled chest—a man who could protect her with one swing of his sword? A man who could make her soar to the heavens with a single kiss.
Elspeth slammed her fist into her pillow. However colorful her dreams, it was hopeless. This infatuation wasn’t real. It could never be real.
Blast King Taran for sending me on this mission and blast Queen Valeria for training me in the ways of the Roman army . She thought of the first of many lies she had told Titus in such a short amount of time. Her father hadn’t taught her to care for Roman weapons. Queen Valeria had. Before becoming a Pict, the queen had been the daughter of the former Dux Britanniarum , Argus Fullofaudes himself. At the time, it had seemed like such a grand idea. Now,
Similar Books
