Read Online The Heat of the Knight by Scottie Barrett - Free Book Online Page B

certainly taming her body. She felt sinuous and feline as she arched toward him, taking all of him. Lifting his head, he peered down at her.
    Beneath his heavy lashes, his eyes were slivers of gleaming onyx.
    “Who are you?” she whispered. The heaviness and heat of his body, the size of his cock inside her, the tantalizing feel of his thumb stroking her, and his delicious masculine scent enveloped her senses. The man was completely intoxicating.
    “Come with me, Tiana,” he said, his breath warm against her mouth. Her body seemed instinctively to know what he meant, and she followed. Heavenly spasms overtook her pussy. Shuddering in her arms, he spent himself outside her body.
    “So that is satisfaction,” she said in awe. Her body thrummed with pleasure.
    His chest heaving, he rolled onto his back.
    She traced the design on his neck; the mark spoke of violence. “Is this a souvenir from King Peter's crusade?”
    “Aye.”
    “When you left to join the campaign, I was certain it was the last I'd see of you.” She lifted his heavy arm and found the other inked scar. A Jerusalem cross he'd had carved on the underside of his forearm; a crusader's mark to ensure a Christian burial.
    “Hopefully, you weren't too disappointed I'd survived.” He scooped her up and settled her atop his hot body.
    Blinking hard, she prevented tears from chasing down her cheeks and onto his chest.
    She trailed her finger over his Adam's apple to the hollow at the base of his throat. She concentrated on slowing her breathing until she was calm enough to speak. “I want a garden.” The words shot out louder than she expected.
    He propped his arm behind his head and peered down at her. “Mercenary little thing, aren't you? I've never had to pay for these favors before.”
    With a cry, she tried to shove herself off his body, but he'd anticipated her outrage and clamped his hand on her bottom, holding her fast. “Not that you aren't worth it.” His deep voice resonated through her.
    “'Twasn't meant as payment. I wanted something to occupy my time. Or am I to lounge naked in your bed all day?”
    “I suppose that was too much to hope for,” he replied with a roguish smile.
    “You are a very wicked man, Beckett de Saxby.”
    “So you keep telling me.” His big hand kneaded her bottom. “A garden you shall have, but within the castle walls. I don't want you going beyond the moat. 'Tis a dangerous time.”
    “And I want my hives moved. You haven't destroyed those, have you?”
    “I haven't.” He was twisting tufts of her hair forming the ends into points. “But I told Thomas, the boy you entrusted with them, that they were his to keep. Reckoned it would keep him from poaching from my rivers.”
    “I'm glad for Thomas.” She swirled her fingers over his chest. Beneath all that hard muscle, there actually beat a heart.

Chapter Five
    “Out! Out! You clumsy dog.” Christiana waved her arms at the lanky, gray hound.
    “You'll crush all the new seedlings.” Chastened, Christiana's new, long-nosed companion lowered his head and walked forlornly out of the garden. He pushed his head up against her hand for a pat. “You surely are starved for attention, Sir Rascal. I know exactly how you feel.” His tail wagged at the knightly name she'd dubbed him. Reaching down, she gave his neck a hearty rub. “Now stay out of my garden.” With a tiny whimper, the dog sat obediently by her feet.
    Christiana surveyed the freshly sprouted rows of herbs and flowers. The dainty plants were thriving in the warm afternoon sun. By midsummer, people would be begging her for sprigs of lemon balm for fevers and marjoram for poultices. Christiana knelt in the dirt to wrench free some of the scraggly weeds that had pushed through the freshly plowed earth. The rosemary and mint were already releasing whispery hints of fragrance. More than half of the garden had been planted with lavender, for no other reason than it was her favorite. And this was her garden