Read Online Cursed Kiss (Paranormal Romance) by Helen Scott Taylor - Free Book Online
Authors: Helen Scott Taylor
Tags: Romance
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strolled to the edge of the terrace. The golden glow of the setting sun gilded the Spaniard's lean frame. Luka knew he should apologize, but after so long together every platitude had been said. Words never lessened the pain.
Out of a sense of obligation, Luka allowed Pablo little intimacies. But it felt like lying, to Pablo and himself. Touching Clare yesterday had stirred Luka's real needs and emotions and made his relationship with Pablo even more of a strain.
He closed his eyes against the rush of frustration. "If only there were a way to break this damn curse that binds us."
"You want the Moray woman rather than me." Pablo swung around, his cheeks flushed with emotion.
"That's not what I said." But it was what he'd been thinking. Pablo knew him too well.
"She'll hurt you, Luka."
"No. She won't." Because nothing would come of it. "Now let's drop the subject."
Pablo ambled closer, shoulders slumped with dejection. He dropped into the chair at Luka's side. "Please let me come to Taldom with you."
This had been an ongoing bone of contention. When Luka left, Pablo could have all his wealth and property, but all he wanted was to accompany Luka through the portal. Luka couldn't guarantee Pablo's safety, but he didn't have the strength to keep arguing about it.
"Very well."
"Really!" Pablo's expression morphed into a grin and he clasped Luka's arm. "You'll not be sorry, amigo . I'll continue to serve you in any way I can."
Luka summoned a smile and hoped he had not just condemned his friend to a miserable future.
***
Clare slept twenty-four hours straight. She didn't believe it until she found Madame Rousseau in the kitchen on Saturday morning and realized a whole day and night had passed since her conversation with Luka.
At the mention of Luka's name, the old woman pointed her towards a door that led to a stable yard. A young man in stained jeans set aside his broom and beckoned her to follow him. He led Clare through the formal garden of brightly colored flowerbeds bordered by neatly clipped box hedges. They reached a dusty lane and he stabbed his finger towards a vineyard. "Mr. Vlad is there. You walk."
" Merci ." Clare saw Luka and another man among the rows of vines.
She raised her arm and shouted his name.
He turned, the light glinting off his sunglasses. He lifted a hand in recognition, exchanged a few more words with his companion, then walked towards her. Clare set off to meet him, enjoying the fragrance of the fruit-laden vines around her.
"You look well this morning," Luka offered as he approached. "The rest has refreshed you, yes?"
"I've never slept so long before." She shaded her eyes and smiled up at him. He stood with a casual elegance, debonair in a jacket, slacks, and open-necked shirt. The sun picked up chestnut highlights in his hair as his bitter chocolate gaze swept over her with approval. His natural air of nobility suited the opulent splendor of the château. In the more earthy setting of the field, he appeared out of place.
"Would you like to walk?" He pointed towards the river that meandered along the bottom of the valley. "It's shady along the riverbank."
As he lowered his arm, the sunlight picked up a nasty scar on his palm. "What happened to your hand?"
He pushed the hand in his trouser pocket. "It looks worse than it was. Now, shall we go?"
Clare followed him down the gentle slope, admiring the easy swing of his stride and the way his trousers hugged his backside. She'd felt the firm contours of lean muscles when he'd picked her up in Scotland. How she'd love to see him without his shirt and maybe even his pants. She smiled to herself.
Then her smile faded. For a moment she'd forgotten she couldn't touch him again. The longer she spent with him, the more she wanted to.
They reached the river and walked side by side along the grassy path beneath the trees. A companionable silence settled between them. She was comfortable with him, despite everything that had happened.
For a
Out of a sense of obligation, Luka allowed Pablo little intimacies. But it felt like lying, to Pablo and himself. Touching Clare yesterday had stirred Luka's real needs and emotions and made his relationship with Pablo even more of a strain.
He closed his eyes against the rush of frustration. "If only there were a way to break this damn curse that binds us."
"You want the Moray woman rather than me." Pablo swung around, his cheeks flushed with emotion.
"That's not what I said." But it was what he'd been thinking. Pablo knew him too well.
"She'll hurt you, Luka."
"No. She won't." Because nothing would come of it. "Now let's drop the subject."
Pablo ambled closer, shoulders slumped with dejection. He dropped into the chair at Luka's side. "Please let me come to Taldom with you."
This had been an ongoing bone of contention. When Luka left, Pablo could have all his wealth and property, but all he wanted was to accompany Luka through the portal. Luka couldn't guarantee Pablo's safety, but he didn't have the strength to keep arguing about it.
"Very well."
"Really!" Pablo's expression morphed into a grin and he clasped Luka's arm. "You'll not be sorry, amigo . I'll continue to serve you in any way I can."
Luka summoned a smile and hoped he had not just condemned his friend to a miserable future.
***
Clare slept twenty-four hours straight. She didn't believe it until she found Madame Rousseau in the kitchen on Saturday morning and realized a whole day and night had passed since her conversation with Luka.
At the mention of Luka's name, the old woman pointed her towards a door that led to a stable yard. A young man in stained jeans set aside his broom and beckoned her to follow him. He led Clare through the formal garden of brightly colored flowerbeds bordered by neatly clipped box hedges. They reached a dusty lane and he stabbed his finger towards a vineyard. "Mr. Vlad is there. You walk."
" Merci ." Clare saw Luka and another man among the rows of vines.
She raised her arm and shouted his name.
He turned, the light glinting off his sunglasses. He lifted a hand in recognition, exchanged a few more words with his companion, then walked towards her. Clare set off to meet him, enjoying the fragrance of the fruit-laden vines around her.
"You look well this morning," Luka offered as he approached. "The rest has refreshed you, yes?"
"I've never slept so long before." She shaded her eyes and smiled up at him. He stood with a casual elegance, debonair in a jacket, slacks, and open-necked shirt. The sun picked up chestnut highlights in his hair as his bitter chocolate gaze swept over her with approval. His natural air of nobility suited the opulent splendor of the château. In the more earthy setting of the field, he appeared out of place.
"Would you like to walk?" He pointed towards the river that meandered along the bottom of the valley. "It's shady along the riverbank."
As he lowered his arm, the sunlight picked up a nasty scar on his palm. "What happened to your hand?"
He pushed the hand in his trouser pocket. "It looks worse than it was. Now, shall we go?"
Clare followed him down the gentle slope, admiring the easy swing of his stride and the way his trousers hugged his backside. She'd felt the firm contours of lean muscles when he'd picked her up in Scotland. How she'd love to see him without his shirt and maybe even his pants. She smiled to herself.
Then her smile faded. For a moment she'd forgotten she couldn't touch him again. The longer she spent with him, the more she wanted to.
They reached the river and walked side by side along the grassy path beneath the trees. A companionable silence settled between them. She was comfortable with him, despite everything that had happened.
For a
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