Read Online Impostress by Lisa Jackson - Free Book Online Page B

mouth, the tight, white fury he could no longer contain.
    "I meant not to—"
    "Liar!" His whisper was harsh as sand. His eyes flew open and he lunged suddenly, leaning over her, grabbing her wrists. "Something is amiss here," he accused, his nose nearly brushing hers. In the half-light his eyes were nearly black, so large were his pupils.
    The fingers surrounding her wrists were manacles. The arm she'd injured long ago on the night that she'd lost Obsidian ached, reminding her of the night another man had hurt her, a dark, faceless attacker who had never been captured. She swallowed back fear though inside she shuddered at the memory.
    "What is it, wife? Do you find me distasteful?"
    "Nay," she said, her lungs constricting. That she remembered the attack now was unsettling.
    "Unattractive?"
    She swallowed. "Nay," she whispered and reached for the coverlet again, but his unforgiving fingers forbade any movement. The fire spat noisily and from the hallway she heard the sounds of footsteps as the guard changed.
    "Then what, Elyn? You're acting like a frightened foal."
    She met his gaze. "I have never been with a man before," she said, stalling for time.
    "I expected you to be a virgin," he said, but she saw the unspoken questions and she knew that in the back of Kelan's mind, he wondered if his wife's skittish behavior stemmed from fear that her new husband would discover she was impure.
    Boldly she lifted her chin. "But I know you are not so innocent, husband. You have had others. Mayhap dozens of others."
    "Which should please you. Do not try to make us equal, Elyn. You are a woman, and I am man. 'Tis different we are."
    "So I should not judge you, but you have the right to judge me?"
    He didn't answer, didn't have to. He just stared at her and her brassy impudence with night-darkened eyes, eyes she was certain could see into her soul and carefully ferret out all of her lies. His gaze roved over her face and body, silently claiming her. Oh, Lord. Her breath got caught between her throat and lungs, and when he closed the distance between them, his lips hovering over hers, she heard her own heart knocking. Wildly. Loudly. Wantonly. She wanted him to kiss her, wanted to feel his lips against hers again. Oh, this was madness! With the tiniest of smirks, as if he guessed what she was thinking from the fluttering of the pulse at her throat, he lowered his head. Hot breath seared her skin. She fought the urge to writhe.
    The kiss was a light brush of skin to skin, hard lips grazing hers ever so slightly, ever so seductively.
    Oh, by all that was holy, no!
    As he lifted his head to stare at her, his features seemed less severe, softer, the dim room a little fuzzy. He glanced down at her breasts, to her traitorous nipples pointing hard against the thin silk of her chemise. His grip loosened, letting her go.
    "May-mayhap another cup," she suggested, barely recognizing her own husky voice as she reached for the jug.
    A big hand covered hers. "I'll get it, wife."
    She cringed at the endearment, then realized the word had been spoken without any hint of kindness or affection, as if he was trying it out, trying to impress it upon his memory.
    "I realize you are no more happy about this marriage than I am," he said as he handed her the mazer. When was the last time she'd added the potion ... would it linger in the cup? Why the devil wasn't he falling asleep?
    He was staring at her. Again. She blinked against suddenly heavy lids. Oh, no ... he couldn't memorize the lines of her face.
    "Well?" he demanded.
    "Well, what?" Had he asked her something? Her brain seemed to be swimming.
    "The marriage. You opposed it."
    "Oh! Yes."
Remember, you're Elyn.
    "Why?"
    "I ... I didn't want to be ..."
To be what?
"... wed."
    "But you're of age. Past."
    She remembered Elyn's fantasies. "But ... I think ... 'twould be nice to be ..." She felt her face flood with color. How could she admit her sister's dreams, dreams she didn't trust? He was waiting. She