Read Online Seducing the Knight by Gerri Russell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gerri Russell
Ads: Link
that would bring them close once more.
She took that step. His arms encircled her and a warm, searching mouth descended on hers. Parted lips, both tender and insistent, stroked hers, molding them, shaping them to his. Just when she felt she would melt in his arms, the kiss deepened. His hands tightened on her back, her shoulders, caressing and possessive.
A needy sigh escaped her as she reached up, her hands grasping his broad shoulders, clinging to them for support in a world where nothing mattered anymore except experiencing more of this dangerous passion.
When he finally dragged his mouth from hers, he kept her close in the circle of his arms. She laid her cheek against the rough texture of his robe, feeling hislips brush the hair atop her head. His heart thudded in his chest, matching the cadence of her own frantic heartbeat.
What had just happened? Never had she felt so swept away by a force outside herself. She drew a shuddering breath. Was this the kind of passion her mother and father had shared? The kind of overwhelming desire that stole logic and reason—the kind of madness that had made her father give up his crown in order to spend his days in exile with her mother?
“That was a mistake,” he whispered into the darkness. “God help us both.”
“You’re right,” she admitted, placing distance between them. “That was a mistake.”
When Jessamine felt more in control, she brought her gaze to his. “We…” She spoke the word with emphasis, praying she would find the strength to put into words what must be said. “We must never give ourselves over to such abandon again. From this point on, we need to behave with proper decorum.”
The glint of his smile shone in the dark. “Is that how it’s done in Spain?”
“We need to behave twice as properly now to make up for our lack earlier.”
“If you insist,” he said, bowing, then extending his arm out to her. “Milady, it would be my pleasure to escort you to your bed for the night.”
His words were probably not the most proper, but she understood his meaning. She placed her fingers on his arm and allowed him to walk her to the outcropping. In the moonlight, she could make out a smooth patch below it. She released his arm and settled on the ground. Jessamine curled her legs beneath the skirt of her gown. She leaned her head back against the rock outcropping. “The moon and the stars are so beautiful tonight.”
He settled on the ground beside her, careful to maintain a proper distance. “That is one thing we all have in common.”
“What is that?”
“The night sky. The moon and the stars follow us wherever we go.”
“That’s a comforting thought.” She tipped her head back and concentrated on the stars. She searched for familiar star patterns. Instead, her attention was caught by a strange blue star that hovered slightly lower than all the rest. It hung in the night sky just off to her left. Now it shifted its position to directly above them.
A chill moved along her flesh. “That star…” She pointed to the small blue orb, which moved yet again to her right. Jessamine tensed. “Are stars supposed to move?”
Alan must have seen it too, because he got to his feet. “I’ve seen flashes of light in the night sky that were falling stars.”
Jessamine stood beside him. “This one isn’t falling.”
“Nay, it’s slowly spiraling downward,” he agreed with a note of wonder. “Perhaps it’s lightning. I’ve heard tales of lightning that forms in balls instead of streaks across the sky.”
Jessamine stepped closer to Alan’s side as the orb descended toward them. She reached for his arm, needing the feel of something solid as she realized that the star was actually a blue light no larger than her fist. “Alan—”
“I see. It is no star.”
Chapter Eight
The fist-sized orb of blue light came closer, until it hovered at Alan’s eye level. The odd light hung there, as though waiting. Alan stepped away from
She took that step. His arms encircled her and a warm, searching mouth descended on hers. Parted lips, both tender and insistent, stroked hers, molding them, shaping them to his. Just when she felt she would melt in his arms, the kiss deepened. His hands tightened on her back, her shoulders, caressing and possessive.
A needy sigh escaped her as she reached up, her hands grasping his broad shoulders, clinging to them for support in a world where nothing mattered anymore except experiencing more of this dangerous passion.
When he finally dragged his mouth from hers, he kept her close in the circle of his arms. She laid her cheek against the rough texture of his robe, feeling hislips brush the hair atop her head. His heart thudded in his chest, matching the cadence of her own frantic heartbeat.
What had just happened? Never had she felt so swept away by a force outside herself. She drew a shuddering breath. Was this the kind of passion her mother and father had shared? The kind of overwhelming desire that stole logic and reason—the kind of madness that had made her father give up his crown in order to spend his days in exile with her mother?
“That was a mistake,” he whispered into the darkness. “God help us both.”
“You’re right,” she admitted, placing distance between them. “That was a mistake.”
When Jessamine felt more in control, she brought her gaze to his. “We…” She spoke the word with emphasis, praying she would find the strength to put into words what must be said. “We must never give ourselves over to such abandon again. From this point on, we need to behave with proper decorum.”
The glint of his smile shone in the dark. “Is that how it’s done in Spain?”
“We need to behave twice as properly now to make up for our lack earlier.”
“If you insist,” he said, bowing, then extending his arm out to her. “Milady, it would be my pleasure to escort you to your bed for the night.”
His words were probably not the most proper, but she understood his meaning. She placed her fingers on his arm and allowed him to walk her to the outcropping. In the moonlight, she could make out a smooth patch below it. She released his arm and settled on the ground. Jessamine curled her legs beneath the skirt of her gown. She leaned her head back against the rock outcropping. “The moon and the stars are so beautiful tonight.”
He settled on the ground beside her, careful to maintain a proper distance. “That is one thing we all have in common.”
“What is that?”
“The night sky. The moon and the stars follow us wherever we go.”
“That’s a comforting thought.” She tipped her head back and concentrated on the stars. She searched for familiar star patterns. Instead, her attention was caught by a strange blue star that hovered slightly lower than all the rest. It hung in the night sky just off to her left. Now it shifted its position to directly above them.
A chill moved along her flesh. “That star…” She pointed to the small blue orb, which moved yet again to her right. Jessamine tensed. “Are stars supposed to move?”
Alan must have seen it too, because he got to his feet. “I’ve seen flashes of light in the night sky that were falling stars.”
Jessamine stood beside him. “This one isn’t falling.”
“Nay, it’s slowly spiraling downward,” he agreed with a note of wonder. “Perhaps it’s lightning. I’ve heard tales of lightning that forms in balls instead of streaks across the sky.”
Jessamine stepped closer to Alan’s side as the orb descended toward them. She reached for his arm, needing the feel of something solid as she realized that the star was actually a blue light no larger than her fist. “Alan—”
“I see. It is no star.”
Chapter Eight
The fist-sized orb of blue light came closer, until it hovered at Alan’s eye level. The odd light hung there, as though waiting. Alan stepped away from
Similar Books
