Read Online Dark Lord of Kismera: Knights of Kismera by Tamara H Hartl - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tamara H Hartl
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you too greatly, my Lord,” came a soft voice. Drace’s eyes flew open to gaze into amber ones. “I believe I’ll live,” he returned slowly, his deep voice also soft.
Ki eyed his physique appreciatively and touched the tattoo of a Scottish lion that started below his left collarbone and extended almost to his nipple. She leaned in for a better look.
Drace had not thought of her as soft before, but he studied her closer while she was distracted. Her golden eyes were cat-like and surrounded by long, dark lashes. Her hair was loose and still damp from her own bath. She wore a lightweight dress of a gauzy-looking emerald green material that was long and flowing. He caught a whiff of a light citrus scent that became her. At that moment, he saw her as an exotically beautiful woman; he flushed slightly, but said nothing, as he, nonchalantly as possible, moved to cover his groin with his washcloth. His body had reacted rather strongly to the picture she presented sitting beside him.
She looked up to see him watching her intently. Ki caught her breath at his hungry gaze, his eyes more blue than gray. He reached up and gently touched her soft hair. “I wanted to do that the first time I saw you,” he whispered, his voice husky with the beginnings of arousal. “You really have incredible hair.”
She cleared her throat, suddenly strangely nervous. “My Lord…,” she started.
“Drace,” he said simply, his intent look not wavering.
She raised her eyebrows, her gaze questioning, “My Lord?”
He still held a lock of her hair. “My given name is Drace. At least when there is not a zillion people around, please call me by my first name.”
Ki tried to lean back and felt the tug of his hand in her hair. Reluctantly he released her. “If it pleases you, my Lord,” she said, strangely compliant at his request.
“It would please me a great deal.” Then with a wry grin he added, “You know, you are a very lovely woman when you’re not trying to kill me.”
At that moment Estelle entered the room with towels and fresh clothes. Despite the urge to jump to her feet, Ki rose slowly. Drace thought she would have looked rather majestic if not for the furious blush staining her cheeks.
As she left his chamber, she paused in the doorway, “I shall see you at dinner, Drace.” It was phrased both as a question and a command.
With a lazy smile, he answered, “Of course, my Lady.”
“Ki,” she corrected, then turned and left him, Drace catching the glimpse of a fleeting smile.
Estelle turned to look at Drace, puzzled as she heard him chuckle. So, the tough-as-nails Lady can be soft after all, he thought.
Ki stopped about halfway down to the next floor, before reaching Vashti and Ka’Ril’s door. She leaned against the wall, a hand to her chest, feeling her hearts’ still frantic pace. She closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself. By the gods, what is wrong with me? she thought. It was not like she had never seen a naked male.
Once she was again in control of her emotions, she continued downward, meeting Vashti and Ka’Ril just exiting their room.
“Are you alright, my Lady?” Vashti asked, stopping Ki with a hand on her arm.
“Of course, why ask you this?” Ki answered, too quickly.
“Well, you are rather flushed,” Vashti answered, then raised her pale brows as Ki’s color turned a deeper crimson.
“Perhaps my bath was a bit too warm.” She sounded peevish, even to her own ears. “Come, let us go down now. I am famished.”
Vashti hid a smile behind her hand. “Yes, let us.”
Ki continued down, Vashti and Ka’Ril right behind her. Vashti gave her husband a knowing look. “What?” he asked, obliviously.
She beamed a brilliant smile at him, “Nothing, love, nothing.”
The tables in the main hall were mostly filled with the normal diners in attendance. Most of the higher-ranking men and Ki’s officers, many with a woman at their side, were already seated. The children
Ki eyed his physique appreciatively and touched the tattoo of a Scottish lion that started below his left collarbone and extended almost to his nipple. She leaned in for a better look.
Drace had not thought of her as soft before, but he studied her closer while she was distracted. Her golden eyes were cat-like and surrounded by long, dark lashes. Her hair was loose and still damp from her own bath. She wore a lightweight dress of a gauzy-looking emerald green material that was long and flowing. He caught a whiff of a light citrus scent that became her. At that moment, he saw her as an exotically beautiful woman; he flushed slightly, but said nothing, as he, nonchalantly as possible, moved to cover his groin with his washcloth. His body had reacted rather strongly to the picture she presented sitting beside him.
She looked up to see him watching her intently. Ki caught her breath at his hungry gaze, his eyes more blue than gray. He reached up and gently touched her soft hair. “I wanted to do that the first time I saw you,” he whispered, his voice husky with the beginnings of arousal. “You really have incredible hair.”
She cleared her throat, suddenly strangely nervous. “My Lord…,” she started.
“Drace,” he said simply, his intent look not wavering.
She raised her eyebrows, her gaze questioning, “My Lord?”
He still held a lock of her hair. “My given name is Drace. At least when there is not a zillion people around, please call me by my first name.”
Ki tried to lean back and felt the tug of his hand in her hair. Reluctantly he released her. “If it pleases you, my Lord,” she said, strangely compliant at his request.
“It would please me a great deal.” Then with a wry grin he added, “You know, you are a very lovely woman when you’re not trying to kill me.”
At that moment Estelle entered the room with towels and fresh clothes. Despite the urge to jump to her feet, Ki rose slowly. Drace thought she would have looked rather majestic if not for the furious blush staining her cheeks.
As she left his chamber, she paused in the doorway, “I shall see you at dinner, Drace.” It was phrased both as a question and a command.
With a lazy smile, he answered, “Of course, my Lady.”
“Ki,” she corrected, then turned and left him, Drace catching the glimpse of a fleeting smile.
Estelle turned to look at Drace, puzzled as she heard him chuckle. So, the tough-as-nails Lady can be soft after all, he thought.
Ki stopped about halfway down to the next floor, before reaching Vashti and Ka’Ril’s door. She leaned against the wall, a hand to her chest, feeling her hearts’ still frantic pace. She closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself. By the gods, what is wrong with me? she thought. It was not like she had never seen a naked male.
Once she was again in control of her emotions, she continued downward, meeting Vashti and Ka’Ril just exiting their room.
“Are you alright, my Lady?” Vashti asked, stopping Ki with a hand on her arm.
“Of course, why ask you this?” Ki answered, too quickly.
“Well, you are rather flushed,” Vashti answered, then raised her pale brows as Ki’s color turned a deeper crimson.
“Perhaps my bath was a bit too warm.” She sounded peevish, even to her own ears. “Come, let us go down now. I am famished.”
Vashti hid a smile behind her hand. “Yes, let us.”
Ki continued down, Vashti and Ka’Ril right behind her. Vashti gave her husband a knowing look. “What?” he asked, obliviously.
She beamed a brilliant smile at him, “Nothing, love, nothing.”
The tables in the main hall were mostly filled with the normal diners in attendance. Most of the higher-ranking men and Ki’s officers, many with a woman at their side, were already seated. The children
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