Read Online The Claiming by Kaitlyn O'Connor - Free Book Online
Authors: Kaitlyn O'Connor
Tags: Science-Fiction, Romance
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that teased at her memory. "I'm sure I don't know you," she said finally.
"No?" he said coolly, but then he seemed to find something about the conversation amusing. "You're quite certain? I did identify myself. But then you were rather preoccupied amusing yourself with Blane, weren't you?"
Jana felt a surge of indignation. He was accusing her of improper behavior. Blane had warned her that learning proper behavior was crucial. If she behaved in a way considered improper, then everyone would tell everyone else and no one would treat her kindly or even speak to her. She would be ostracized from society, whatever that meant.
She wondered if this was what Blane had meant when he’d explained that improper behavior on her part would lead men to behave in a way she would not like.
"I was not behaving improperly. Blane said it would be acceptable for me to ride the … uh … thing.” He ignored her and after a moment she gave up trying to reason with him, closing her eyes and leaning her throbbing head on his shoulder as he entered the house and made his way to the main staircase. “I did not find it at all amusing, especially when Blane landed on top of me. And there was noise in my ears. I could not hear anything.”
He didn’t seem to have a response for that and she fell silent, preoccupied with the throbbing in her head and ankle. It wasn't until she realized he’d begun to ascend the stairs that she thought to protest. This she knew positively was not something she should allow. "This is not at all proper."
He gave no indication of even having heard her. On reaching the second floor, he made his way unerringly to her room. He placed her gently on her bed. Then, without saying a word, he unceremoniously flipped her skirts up over her knees.
Jana was so stunned it took her several moments to remember what Blane had told her was a proper response to an improper advance. She slapped his hand and jerked her skirts down, covering her feet. He not only ignored her efforts to behave modestly, he placed one large hand in the middle of her stomach and shoved her flat, tossing her skirts over her head.
Jana bounced back up and jerked her skirts down again. That time she got a definite reaction. He turned and gave her a narrow-eyed glare that sent a chill zigzagging down her spine.
Her eyes widened, panic scattering her thoughts as it occurred to her to wonder if the man was under the impression that she would share herself. Was she supposed to allow it? Blane had spent a great deal of time explaining how she must dress, how she must behave, how she should talk and what was forbidden. He had not once said that she would be expected to share herself with men as had been expected of her before. He had, in fact, specifically said that it was absolutely forbidden for any man to expect her to share herself, unless he was her companion. He had not, however, explained to her how she was supposed to prevent it if a man carried her off with that apparent purpose in mind.
She had slapped his hand. She had firmly placed her skirts down over her ankles in compliance with ‘modesty’. What was she to do now? “This is forbidden,” she said in a voice that sounded far more shaky with fright than firm.
“Not, from what I just witnessed, to my brother.”
She frowned, searching her memory for the meaning of that word. She found it, but like much of the other useful information the data banks had supplied her with, the definition was almost as confusing. She didn’t know what sibling was either. “Who are you?” she asked finally.
For a long moment, he merely stared at her, his lips drawn into a tight line of annoyance, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Slowly, the amusement of before crept back into them, displacing much of the hard, angry glitter. Some of the tightness left his hard mouth. It twitched with amusement. "Alain Camar. By Orleans law, your husband," he replied coolly.
***
“I wonder if I might have a word with
"No?" he said coolly, but then he seemed to find something about the conversation amusing. "You're quite certain? I did identify myself. But then you were rather preoccupied amusing yourself with Blane, weren't you?"
Jana felt a surge of indignation. He was accusing her of improper behavior. Blane had warned her that learning proper behavior was crucial. If she behaved in a way considered improper, then everyone would tell everyone else and no one would treat her kindly or even speak to her. She would be ostracized from society, whatever that meant.
She wondered if this was what Blane had meant when he’d explained that improper behavior on her part would lead men to behave in a way she would not like.
"I was not behaving improperly. Blane said it would be acceptable for me to ride the … uh … thing.” He ignored her and after a moment she gave up trying to reason with him, closing her eyes and leaning her throbbing head on his shoulder as he entered the house and made his way to the main staircase. “I did not find it at all amusing, especially when Blane landed on top of me. And there was noise in my ears. I could not hear anything.”
He didn’t seem to have a response for that and she fell silent, preoccupied with the throbbing in her head and ankle. It wasn't until she realized he’d begun to ascend the stairs that she thought to protest. This she knew positively was not something she should allow. "This is not at all proper."
He gave no indication of even having heard her. On reaching the second floor, he made his way unerringly to her room. He placed her gently on her bed. Then, without saying a word, he unceremoniously flipped her skirts up over her knees.
Jana was so stunned it took her several moments to remember what Blane had told her was a proper response to an improper advance. She slapped his hand and jerked her skirts down, covering her feet. He not only ignored her efforts to behave modestly, he placed one large hand in the middle of her stomach and shoved her flat, tossing her skirts over her head.
Jana bounced back up and jerked her skirts down again. That time she got a definite reaction. He turned and gave her a narrow-eyed glare that sent a chill zigzagging down her spine.
Her eyes widened, panic scattering her thoughts as it occurred to her to wonder if the man was under the impression that she would share herself. Was she supposed to allow it? Blane had spent a great deal of time explaining how she must dress, how she must behave, how she should talk and what was forbidden. He had not once said that she would be expected to share herself with men as had been expected of her before. He had, in fact, specifically said that it was absolutely forbidden for any man to expect her to share herself, unless he was her companion. He had not, however, explained to her how she was supposed to prevent it if a man carried her off with that apparent purpose in mind.
She had slapped his hand. She had firmly placed her skirts down over her ankles in compliance with ‘modesty’. What was she to do now? “This is forbidden,” she said in a voice that sounded far more shaky with fright than firm.
“Not, from what I just witnessed, to my brother.”
She frowned, searching her memory for the meaning of that word. She found it, but like much of the other useful information the data banks had supplied her with, the definition was almost as confusing. She didn’t know what sibling was either. “Who are you?” she asked finally.
For a long moment, he merely stared at her, his lips drawn into a tight line of annoyance, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Slowly, the amusement of before crept back into them, displacing much of the hard, angry glitter. Some of the tightness left his hard mouth. It twitched with amusement. "Alain Camar. By Orleans law, your husband," he replied coolly.
***
“I wonder if I might have a word with
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