Read Online The Fire Lord's Lover - 1 by Kathryne Kennedy - Free Book Online

stop her from wanting to run her hands down that smooth, pale skin just to feel the texture of it.
       His lip quirked at her inspection and her eyes flew to his mouth, remembering his kiss, wondering if he would kiss her again. Hoping and dreading it all at the same time.
       "Turn around," he ordered again, then reached out, seized the cloth at the shoulders of her chemise, and ripped it off over her head.
       Lady Cassandra gasped and tried to cover herself with her hands.
       "Don't," he said, then spread his arms, and Cass felt the force of his magic. The fire flared to new life, lighting up the room, making her blink. She hadn't realized the strength of his magic and it made her fear him all the more.
       She kept her arms by her sides by sheer force of will, feeling a flush crawl up her body to her face. He studied her the same way she had him; but she had only a touch of the elven blood, couldn't compare herself to his beauty, and feared he found her lacking.
       Her goal had been to please her new husband, to gain his trust if not his affection. Cass lifted her chin. She needed to stop acting like some innocent schoolgirl and try to please him but didn't have the faintest idea how to go about doing that. Why hadn't Thomas taught her how to manage this?
       "Lie down," he said as he moved to the other side of the bed, released the tie from around the canopy curtain. The black cloth fell, casting her into shadow, making it easier to lie flat on her back, her body exposed to his gaze. He untied the curtain at the foot of the bed but held it for a moment, his black gaze fastened on her rigid body. "Spread your legs."
       Lord of mercy. Please help me. He would have a view of… She couldn't do it. The thought of her most private area exposed to his emotionless gaze set her trembling even harder. Did he purposely seek to embarrass her? Or did his mistress treat him to the sight this evening and he expected only the same from her?
       "I… I can't."
       His mouth twisted. "Don't you want to please your husband?"
       "No. I mean, yes. I mean—"
       He laughed, allowed the curtain to fall, cutting him off from view. "You are the innocent I was promised," he said from behind the barrier of the drapery, his voice low and muffled. "Well done, Father."
       When he appeared again next to her, she suppressed a yelp and chided herself. Her fear would only make this worse. She closed her eyes and froze. She would just hold still and endure. That's what the other girls in school had advised each other. There would be some pain, but if one held still and silent, the man would finish all the more quickly.
       And right now, all Cassandra could hope for was a quick end to her husband's attentions.
       The fire subsided to a normal glow and he sat next to her, dropped the one remaining curtain, shutting them inside the box bed, effectively cutting them off from the rest of the room, the rest of the world. Plunging them into complete darkness.
       Nothing could save Cassandra now.
       She widened her eyes, unable to see a thing, hoping he couldn't either regardless of his superior elven sight. It made her relax a bit, feel a little less exposed. She heard him move, felt the warmth of his fingers touch her arm.
       Cass jumped then froze again.
       She waited for him to give her another order. Waited for him to violate her with that cold harshness he always used with her.
       But his hand trailed up to her neck, gently stroking, smoothing back her tousled hair. His touch sent little shivers racing through her body and she gritted her teeth against the shock of it. He stilled, and she could hear only her little pants, the smooth rhythm of his breathing. She sensed a change in him, felt him relax, as if he released some barrier and it eased him.
       Then he curled one arm beneath her shoulders and his other beneath her bottom and gathered her up against the smooth warmth of his