Read Online Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe - Free Book Online Page A

was naught but a blur to her dazed eyes.

    She had never ridden at such a pace in her life. It was most exhilarating.

    Despite the trauma of her wedding and near bedding, Abigail felt a smile of pure pleasure steal across her face and laughter welled up inside her. She realized it had not been silent when the body so close behind her stiffened as if in surprise.

    She cocked her head back and turned it so she could see Talorc's face. Sure enough, he had a questioning look on his darkly handsome features.

    "What?" she asked.

    "What has you laughing?"

    "I believe I enjoy riding Scottish horses, my laird."

    "This is no mere horse; 'tis a beast worthy of a Chrechte warrior."

    His arrogance made her laugh again. "No doubt."

    To have his confidence would be a wonderful thing. Abigail spent so much time in fear of revealing her true self, she rarely felt confidence in the company of others. But right at this moment, she knew unadulterated joy as they rode away from a life and family that had caused her pain and pain again.

    "You surprise me, lass."

    "Perhaps that is a good thing." She could not believe her own temerity, but Abigail felt freer than she had since waking to a silent world as a terrified young girl.

    "Aye." He looked quite serious. "I believe it is. I would not have you eaten, lass."

    "The Highlanders are cannibals, then?" she asked with undisguised humor, knowing they were no such thing.

    He stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. "Nay, but my clanspeople have little tolerance for weakness."

    "You think I am weak?" She did not know why his judgment should surprise her so.
    She worked hard not to be noticed; it would be a true shock should he realize the woman under the exterior. So, rather than be offended by his assessment, she found in it her own private joke.

    Though in this case, she did not let him see that.

    "There is much fear in you."

    She could not deny that. She lived in daily terror. "I am not afraid right now."

    "I can see that."

    "I was afraid when I thought you would bed me with brutal expediency," she admitted, still grateful he had not done so.

    "Aye. You were terrified." No worry at that truth showed on his features, yet he had protected her.

    "You alleviated my fear."

    He shrugged, causing her body to move against his.

    Quite unsettled, she gasped. "I have not been this close to another person since my sister left our home."

    "No one else will hold you thus."

    No, really? She was no wanton to allow another man to touch her. She rolled her eyes at him, but then had a thought. "I will hug Emily when I see her again."

    "You dare to defy me?" Was that a twitch at the corner of his lips?

    "In this instance, yes."

    "If you think to let another man touch you . . ." He let the rest of his clear threat remain unsaid, but a fury completely unjustified by their current talk glowed in his blue gaze.

    "Do not be daft. I'm not fully reconciled to you touching me."

    "You will grow used to my touch." There was that amazing confidence again.

    "It is your responsibility to make it so." Had she truly said such a thing aloud to him? But it was no more than he had claimed when explaining what the marriage bed would be like for her.

    "Aye."

    "What is Chrechte?"

    He did not answer but stared into her eyes with an expression she could not read, no matter the time she'd spent learning how to do so.

    "You said the horse was worthy of a Chrechte warrior. Is that another word for a Highlander?"

    He shook his head.

    "Then what does it mean? Chief? Laird?"

    "Do you always ask so many questions?"

    "In truth?"

    "I will always expect the truth from you."

    Her heart twinged at his words. She determined right then that though she could not tell him her secret, she would never lie to him. "I often wish to know things I do not ask about."

    "Yet you do not hesitate to query me."

    "Should I?"

    He did not answer immediately.

    "Well?" He could not know how important his answer was to her,