Read Online Strictly Forbidden by Shayla Black - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shayla Black
Ads: Link
parishioners. He deserves a woman who can give
him the whole of her heart, not one who is merely accepting his charity. James deserves
a woman who comes to him unsullied, who can remain faithful— ”
“How dare you!” Hot and cold shot through her in a shock of sensations. Kira bolted
to her feet, glaring, chest heaving with angry breaths.
Cropthorne stood and stepped toward her, purposely close so he might tower above her.
He speared her with a stare that suddenly melted the ice from his eyes. In those dark
orbs where only chilliness and disapproval had inhabited, a new, heated expression
took over. Anger and frustration… and something else. A tingle danced along her nerves.
She registered his closeness, the musk of his scent, the bold slash of his mouth.
Then she looked away.
“I dare,” he said, “because I know who and what you are.”
Contempt colored every syllable. Each word felt like a slap. Kira all but vibrated
with anger. “You know nothing about me.”
The duke raised a challenging brow. “You, Miss Melbourne, are the kind of woman who
will seek a greener pasture one day and break James’s heart.”
“Never.”
“Within a year, for certain. You are not made for a man like James, a man both meek
and gentle in his service to God. Every one of his parishioners will know that, especially
the men. He will be unable to serve his community because— ”
“Whatever you think, I am not a whore!”
Her temper erupted. Kira knew she should hold her words, but she resented Cropthorne’s
attitudes and those of people like him who assumed any half-Persian woman must be
a slut.
“Do not judge me by petty gossip! I’ve done none of the things Lord Vance spews with
his foul mouth, though I am not surprised that a narrow, judgmental man like you would
believe the word of such a man over a mere woman. I will be good to James and his
parishioners, and that is all you need ever know.” She took a deep breath, willing
herself to calm. “Good day.”
Kira brushed past him and headed for the door.
Cropthorne grabbed her arm and stayed her. She drew in a deep breath to rebuke him.
As she did, his knuckles brushed the side of her breast. The jolt of his touch reached
all the way to her belly. Kira smothered a gasp. Her gaze shot up to the duke’s face.
His eyes held fury, even as they glowed with awareness.
Timeless heartbeats passed. Her belly tightened with something reckless. Kira stared
at her adversary, drawn to the roiling heat and icy scorn in his fathomless dark eyes.
He looked to be at war with himself, and she felt triumph. He should know how it felt
to dislike someone, even as something drew him nearer. She certainly understood.
Mouth dry, Kira wet her lips. Cropthorne followed the gesture with his methodical
stare. His fingers tightened about her arm. He was going to pull her closer, perhaps
even kiss her. Her heart pounded in a wild thump against her chest. She inched closer…
To her surprise and disappointment , Cropthorne released her.
“Think about James, rather than yourself. You’re not good for him.”
His words were a slap in the face, and Kira intended to slap him back. “Neither are
you. He’s a man full grown, capable of making his own decisions. If you truly cared
for him, you would see that.”
Before he could reply, Kira gathered her skirts and ran for the door. At the portal,
she paused. She knew she shouldn’t, but could not stop herself from turning to gaze
at Cropthorne. He watched her still, fists clenched at his sides, hot eyes upon her.
Disturbed as much by his conversation as his gaze, Kira fled the room.
Chapter Four
The hour was barely polite for morning calls when Mrs. Baycliffe and her pale daughter
visited Norfield Park two days later. Gavin suspected the busybody had merely come
to gawk at their scandalous houseguest. As much as he disliked Mrs. Baycliffe, Gavin
loathed even more
him the whole of her heart, not one who is merely accepting his charity. James deserves
a woman who comes to him unsullied, who can remain faithful— ”
“How dare you!” Hot and cold shot through her in a shock of sensations. Kira bolted
to her feet, glaring, chest heaving with angry breaths.
Cropthorne stood and stepped toward her, purposely close so he might tower above her.
He speared her with a stare that suddenly melted the ice from his eyes. In those dark
orbs where only chilliness and disapproval had inhabited, a new, heated expression
took over. Anger and frustration… and something else. A tingle danced along her nerves.
She registered his closeness, the musk of his scent, the bold slash of his mouth.
Then she looked away.
“I dare,” he said, “because I know who and what you are.”
Contempt colored every syllable. Each word felt like a slap. Kira all but vibrated
with anger. “You know nothing about me.”
The duke raised a challenging brow. “You, Miss Melbourne, are the kind of woman who
will seek a greener pasture one day and break James’s heart.”
“Never.”
“Within a year, for certain. You are not made for a man like James, a man both meek
and gentle in his service to God. Every one of his parishioners will know that, especially
the men. He will be unable to serve his community because— ”
“Whatever you think, I am not a whore!”
Her temper erupted. Kira knew she should hold her words, but she resented Cropthorne’s
attitudes and those of people like him who assumed any half-Persian woman must be
a slut.
“Do not judge me by petty gossip! I’ve done none of the things Lord Vance spews with
his foul mouth, though I am not surprised that a narrow, judgmental man like you would
believe the word of such a man over a mere woman. I will be good to James and his
parishioners, and that is all you need ever know.” She took a deep breath, willing
herself to calm. “Good day.”
Kira brushed past him and headed for the door.
Cropthorne grabbed her arm and stayed her. She drew in a deep breath to rebuke him.
As she did, his knuckles brushed the side of her breast. The jolt of his touch reached
all the way to her belly. Kira smothered a gasp. Her gaze shot up to the duke’s face.
His eyes held fury, even as they glowed with awareness.
Timeless heartbeats passed. Her belly tightened with something reckless. Kira stared
at her adversary, drawn to the roiling heat and icy scorn in his fathomless dark eyes.
He looked to be at war with himself, and she felt triumph. He should know how it felt
to dislike someone, even as something drew him nearer. She certainly understood.
Mouth dry, Kira wet her lips. Cropthorne followed the gesture with his methodical
stare. His fingers tightened about her arm. He was going to pull her closer, perhaps
even kiss her. Her heart pounded in a wild thump against her chest. She inched closer…
To her surprise and disappointment , Cropthorne released her.
“Think about James, rather than yourself. You’re not good for him.”
His words were a slap in the face, and Kira intended to slap him back. “Neither are
you. He’s a man full grown, capable of making his own decisions. If you truly cared
for him, you would see that.”
Before he could reply, Kira gathered her skirts and ran for the door. At the portal,
she paused. She knew she shouldn’t, but could not stop herself from turning to gaze
at Cropthorne. He watched her still, fists clenched at his sides, hot eyes upon her.
Disturbed as much by his conversation as his gaze, Kira fled the room.
Chapter Four
The hour was barely polite for morning calls when Mrs. Baycliffe and her pale daughter
visited Norfield Park two days later. Gavin suspected the busybody had merely come
to gawk at their scandalous houseguest. As much as he disliked Mrs. Baycliffe, Gavin
loathed even more
Similar Books
