Read Online Devil's Angel by Mallery Malone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mallery Malone
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another tried to rape me. The third, who guards your door, would have slain me without hesitation if you had but half-formed the request on your tongue.”
Her hands fluttered against the collar about her neck. “You promised me a measure of freedom, Conor mac Ferghal,” she said, her voice low with intensity. “I would have you keep your word.”
Conor would keep his word. He would give her the freedom she craved. But the desire he felt upon seeing her again became an implacable thing, holding him more fiercely than the fetters held her. The Valkyrie was his prisoner, yet he was chained by his overwhelming desire for her. As long as it held him, he would never let her go.
Chapter Eight
He would keep her, but how?
An idea came to him. “You are right, my lady,” he finally said. “I did promise you a measure of freedom, and I am a man of my word. I will free you from your chains, and I will take you to see your brother.”
Joy burst like sunrise over her features, blinding him. That joy was followed by wariness. “Why would you do this?”
Never trusting. He could not blame her for that. “To prove to you that the people of Dunlough are not the ogres you believe us to be. Besides, I would not want to be kept from my sister, were our positions reversed.”
She considered that, her eyes never halting their frank appraisal of him. “I will not lie with you.”
Had he been in the process of drinking ale, Conor would have splattered it over both of them. As it was, it took him a few moments to collect his thoughts. Blessed Danu, the wench was plainspoken!
Recovering, Conor managed what he hoped was a formidable frown. “Have I asked you to lie with me?”
“No.”
“And what makes you think that I will?”
It was her turn to sputter. “Most men want that.”
His frown almost slipped into a smile. “I am not most men.”
Her brows drew together in consternation for a moment. “Ah, you prefer other men.”
“What?”
His roar caused her to wince. “Do not worry. It is a common enough practice in some places I have been, but it is passing strange.”
Conor forced evenness into his tone. “No. I do not prefer men.”
“Boys, then?”
He threw his arms wide. “Just because I did not ask to lie with you doesn’t mean I would not.”
That stopped her. “But you will not force me to your bed?”
Laughter welled inside him, rueful and biting, but he didn’t let it out. “Despite my frightening countenance, I have never had to force a woman to lie with me. Your virtue, if you have it, is safe from me. You will come to me willing.”
“Never!”
“Life is too uncertain for absolutes, lady warrior. Now, if you wish to see your brother, I need to remove your chains. Then you may refresh yourself.”
His no-nonsense tone and seeming disinterest reassured Erika, and she forced herself to relax. At the same time, she felt a curious disappointment. Conor wasn’t interested in her. She didn’t know why, but that rankled.
Pulling a key from his tunic, he moved towards her. She shrank back, and he stopped. “I cannot unlock your shackles from across the room, Erika.”
“I know that,” she retorted, more angry with herself for her momentary fright than with him.
“Then let me do the deed and be done with it.”
Instead of answering, Erika folded her arms across her chest and slowly, deliberately, turned her back to him. Even though she could not see him, she could feel the air stir as he moved behind her to unlock the heavy iron collar. She was instantly on the defensive, but not from the threat of physical harm.
His presence flowed around her, raising the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. She forgot how to breathe as his fingers lifted her braid over her shoulder to allow him better access to the lock.
Instead of releasing the braid, he began to run the silken length between his fingers. When he spoke, his breath caressed her nape, sending a fire coursing through her.
“I admire your
Her hands fluttered against the collar about her neck. “You promised me a measure of freedom, Conor mac Ferghal,” she said, her voice low with intensity. “I would have you keep your word.”
Conor would keep his word. He would give her the freedom she craved. But the desire he felt upon seeing her again became an implacable thing, holding him more fiercely than the fetters held her. The Valkyrie was his prisoner, yet he was chained by his overwhelming desire for her. As long as it held him, he would never let her go.
Chapter Eight
He would keep her, but how?
An idea came to him. “You are right, my lady,” he finally said. “I did promise you a measure of freedom, and I am a man of my word. I will free you from your chains, and I will take you to see your brother.”
Joy burst like sunrise over her features, blinding him. That joy was followed by wariness. “Why would you do this?”
Never trusting. He could not blame her for that. “To prove to you that the people of Dunlough are not the ogres you believe us to be. Besides, I would not want to be kept from my sister, were our positions reversed.”
She considered that, her eyes never halting their frank appraisal of him. “I will not lie with you.”
Had he been in the process of drinking ale, Conor would have splattered it over both of them. As it was, it took him a few moments to collect his thoughts. Blessed Danu, the wench was plainspoken!
Recovering, Conor managed what he hoped was a formidable frown. “Have I asked you to lie with me?”
“No.”
“And what makes you think that I will?”
It was her turn to sputter. “Most men want that.”
His frown almost slipped into a smile. “I am not most men.”
Her brows drew together in consternation for a moment. “Ah, you prefer other men.”
“What?”
His roar caused her to wince. “Do not worry. It is a common enough practice in some places I have been, but it is passing strange.”
Conor forced evenness into his tone. “No. I do not prefer men.”
“Boys, then?”
He threw his arms wide. “Just because I did not ask to lie with you doesn’t mean I would not.”
That stopped her. “But you will not force me to your bed?”
Laughter welled inside him, rueful and biting, but he didn’t let it out. “Despite my frightening countenance, I have never had to force a woman to lie with me. Your virtue, if you have it, is safe from me. You will come to me willing.”
“Never!”
“Life is too uncertain for absolutes, lady warrior. Now, if you wish to see your brother, I need to remove your chains. Then you may refresh yourself.”
His no-nonsense tone and seeming disinterest reassured Erika, and she forced herself to relax. At the same time, she felt a curious disappointment. Conor wasn’t interested in her. She didn’t know why, but that rankled.
Pulling a key from his tunic, he moved towards her. She shrank back, and he stopped. “I cannot unlock your shackles from across the room, Erika.”
“I know that,” she retorted, more angry with herself for her momentary fright than with him.
“Then let me do the deed and be done with it.”
Instead of answering, Erika folded her arms across her chest and slowly, deliberately, turned her back to him. Even though she could not see him, she could feel the air stir as he moved behind her to unlock the heavy iron collar. She was instantly on the defensive, but not from the threat of physical harm.
His presence flowed around her, raising the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. She forgot how to breathe as his fingers lifted her braid over her shoulder to allow him better access to the lock.
Instead of releasing the braid, he began to run the silken length between his fingers. When he spoke, his breath caressed her nape, sending a fire coursing through her.
“I admire your
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