Read Online If Love Dares Enough by Anna Markland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anna Markland
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leave quickly,” Antoine suggested. Hugh nodded, tore off his shirt and jumped into shoulder-deep water, swimming the several yards to the beach. Devona ran to meet him. He wanted to wrap her in his arms as he strode from the water.
“I want to greet you warmly, Lady Devona, but if you return to the house with your clothes wet, Torod will want to know why. He was watching you.”
“I shall tell him I fell into the sea,” she laughed, throwing her arms around him.
Hugh felt his knees go weak and his spine tingle and hoped she couldn’t feel the swelling in his leggings. He looked up as a raucous seagull swooped overhead.
She too looked up at the bird and seemed to realize what she’d done. Her face reddened and she pulled away abruptly. “I suspected he was there,” she said shyly.
By now Antoine had joined them on the beach.
“My Lord Antoine, I can’t believe your brother has talked you into helping with this dangerous scheme.”
Antoine smiled. “Well, Lady de Maubadon, we Montbryces must stick together!”
“Please, call me Devona. I hate Renouf’s name.”
Antoine nodded. “As you wish. Now where’s this cave?”
“Come, I’ll show you.” She took Hugh’s hand. Her warmth penetrated the chill caused by the water cooling on his body. “You can’t be long in wet clothing. The sun will set soon.”
Hugh barely heard her words, his gaze fixed on the compelling sight of her bare feet and the glimpse of her slim ankles as she raised her skirts for the run across the sand.
***
When Devona had seen the rowboat turn into shore, she’d known Torod must have left his post at the top of the steps.
The sight of Hugh de Montbryce tearing off his shirt and jumping into the sea had sent shivers up and down her spine. When he strode on to the beach, rivulets of water running off his long black hair, down his perfect face, across his broad shoulders and over his well-muscled chest to his—oh my! Desire had swept over her.
He wasn’t even breathing heavily after his swim, but she was panting. He’d used his big hands to wipe the water from his eyes and combed back his hair with his elegant fingers. She’d wanted to lick each long finger in turn—slowly, and trace her finger along the jagged scar that betrayed where a weapon had torn open his bicep. She ached for the pain it must have caused him.
He must think her a wanton the way she’d thrown her body at his. What had come over her? It was such an overwhelming relief to see him, she’d needed to feel him as well. And feel him she had as his erection swelled.
Whenever she saw the same happen to Renouf, she was filled with revulsion, but her breasts had tingled and she’d felt wet heat between her legs, and not from the seawater dripping off Hugh. The amber rays of the dying sun had reflected off his sculpted wet body. He was like a statue cast in precious metal emerging from the mould.
My golden god!
At the sight of his long toes curled into the wet sand, an urge had swept over her to drop to her knees and trace his footprints. She’d almost swooned, but Antoine’s arrival had brought her to her senses. She’d said something, but had no idea what. The word cave penetrated.
“Come, I’ll show you.” She’d taken Hugh’s hand without thinking. The warmth of his skin flowed through her. “You can’t be long in wet clothing.”
She saw that Hugh was aware his arousal showed only too clearly in the wet leggings. His blush excited her.
“The sun will set soon. The cave is over here, at the end of our beach.”
The three ran along the sand, scattering startled sandpipers in their wake, to the mouth of the cave, Devona and Hugh hand in hand. She’d not felt so exhilarated and carefree since before the advent of the Normans.
The narrow opening widened into a large cavern. The temperature inside was considerably lower and Hugh and Antoine shivered. She felt the chill of the wet spots on her clothing. “We must be careful of fever.
“I want to greet you warmly, Lady Devona, but if you return to the house with your clothes wet, Torod will want to know why. He was watching you.”
“I shall tell him I fell into the sea,” she laughed, throwing her arms around him.
Hugh felt his knees go weak and his spine tingle and hoped she couldn’t feel the swelling in his leggings. He looked up as a raucous seagull swooped overhead.
She too looked up at the bird and seemed to realize what she’d done. Her face reddened and she pulled away abruptly. “I suspected he was there,” she said shyly.
By now Antoine had joined them on the beach.
“My Lord Antoine, I can’t believe your brother has talked you into helping with this dangerous scheme.”
Antoine smiled. “Well, Lady de Maubadon, we Montbryces must stick together!”
“Please, call me Devona. I hate Renouf’s name.”
Antoine nodded. “As you wish. Now where’s this cave?”
“Come, I’ll show you.” She took Hugh’s hand. Her warmth penetrated the chill caused by the water cooling on his body. “You can’t be long in wet clothing. The sun will set soon.”
Hugh barely heard her words, his gaze fixed on the compelling sight of her bare feet and the glimpse of her slim ankles as she raised her skirts for the run across the sand.
***
When Devona had seen the rowboat turn into shore, she’d known Torod must have left his post at the top of the steps.
The sight of Hugh de Montbryce tearing off his shirt and jumping into the sea had sent shivers up and down her spine. When he strode on to the beach, rivulets of water running off his long black hair, down his perfect face, across his broad shoulders and over his well-muscled chest to his—oh my! Desire had swept over her.
He wasn’t even breathing heavily after his swim, but she was panting. He’d used his big hands to wipe the water from his eyes and combed back his hair with his elegant fingers. She’d wanted to lick each long finger in turn—slowly, and trace her finger along the jagged scar that betrayed where a weapon had torn open his bicep. She ached for the pain it must have caused him.
He must think her a wanton the way she’d thrown her body at his. What had come over her? It was such an overwhelming relief to see him, she’d needed to feel him as well. And feel him she had as his erection swelled.
Whenever she saw the same happen to Renouf, she was filled with revulsion, but her breasts had tingled and she’d felt wet heat between her legs, and not from the seawater dripping off Hugh. The amber rays of the dying sun had reflected off his sculpted wet body. He was like a statue cast in precious metal emerging from the mould.
My golden god!
At the sight of his long toes curled into the wet sand, an urge had swept over her to drop to her knees and trace his footprints. She’d almost swooned, but Antoine’s arrival had brought her to her senses. She’d said something, but had no idea what. The word cave penetrated.
“Come, I’ll show you.” She’d taken Hugh’s hand without thinking. The warmth of his skin flowed through her. “You can’t be long in wet clothing.”
She saw that Hugh was aware his arousal showed only too clearly in the wet leggings. His blush excited her.
“The sun will set soon. The cave is over here, at the end of our beach.”
The three ran along the sand, scattering startled sandpipers in their wake, to the mouth of the cave, Devona and Hugh hand in hand. She’d not felt so exhilarated and carefree since before the advent of the Normans.
The narrow opening widened into a large cavern. The temperature inside was considerably lower and Hugh and Antoine shivered. She felt the chill of the wet spots on her clothing. “We must be careful of fever.
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