Read Online Untamed Fire by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page A

mind. It didn’t matter that they had
just nearly lost their lives or perhaps his improper thoughts
actually reaffirmed that they were very much alive. And he was ever
so grateful.
    “Are you all right?” he asked gently.
    “Yes,” she sighed, her soft breath tickling
the skin beneath his wet shirt.
    “Can you stand?”
    She knew she could, but she didn’t want to.
It felt so good being in his arms, too good.
    “I’ll help you,” he offered when she didn’t
respond.
    Reluctantly, Gaby untangled herself from
him. He assisted her to stand and she steadied herself by holding
tight to his forearms.
    “Enrico, go inform my mother that we’re fine
and that we’ll be along in a moment.”
    Enrico nodded and finished wrapping the rope
then hooked it onto his saddle. He mounted and rode off, leaving
them alone.
    Gaby moved away from Rafael, suddenly
conscious of her appearance. She attempted to wring out her
drenched skirt, though it was her wet, white blouse that posed the
most problem. It highlighted her dark nipples, which had turned
stiff and erect and poked at the wet material.
    “You will stay away from the river,” Rafael
ordered in his usual stern voice.
    Gaby turned, forgetting her blouse revealed
more of her than she wished to show. “I am a good swimmer and I
wouldn’t have fallen in if you hadn’t interfered.”
    Rafael tried to remain a gentleman, forcing
his eyes to concentrate on her face and not drift to her taut,
perky nipples. “Perhaps you are a good swimmer, but not against the
current.”
    “I was doing fine until you grabbed me.”
    Rafael fought to unbutton his wet shirt,
thinking it would keep his hands busy as well as his eyes. “You had
gone under and were drowning.”
    “I was not. I was preparing to swim to the
riverbank.”
    “You weren’t strong enough.”
    “And you were? If it hadn’t been for Enrico
and that rope, we both would have drowned.”
    Rafael’s head snapped up as he tore his
shirt open and pulled the remainder of it from his pants. “Don’t
ever question my ability to save you from a difficult
situation.”
    The intensity of his eyes and the strength
of his voice gave Gaby pause. He had never doubted that he would
have saved her and recalling his struggle, she had to admit it was
possible that he would have. What she did question was his intense
need to protect a simple servant.
    “Don’t go by the river again,” he ordered
and this time with sternness that bordered on a threat.
    She opened her mouth to assure him, but he
obviously thought she meant to challenge him and took a hasty step
toward her. She tried to back away, but his hand shot out and
gripped her wrist. He pulled her toward him until her breasts were
flat against his chest.
    Her hard nipples pressed into his flesh,
stinging his senses. “You will obey me, Gaby.”
    Solid muscle pressed against her chest and
her body responded to his strength and power, sending a tingle of
fear or desire through her, which one she wasn’t certain.
    He leaned his face close until his lips sat
only a breath away from hers. “Fail to obey me once more and you
will suffer the consequences. Understand?”
    “Yes,” she murmured.
    Her warmth breath brushed his lips and his
body sparked to attention. He desperately wanted to kiss her, but
feared one taste would never be enough. He reminded himself that
she was his mother’s companion. It wouldn’t be proper . The
padre had told him that Gaby was a good girl. He wondered if that
meant she was a virgin, unspoiled.
    It wouldn’t be proper ; he reminded
himself once again, though his lips drifted closer to hers.
    It wouldn’t be proper to strip her slowly
and feel her wet, naked body next to his. To touch and taste every
inch of her until her flesh was hot and ready for the pleasure he
could bring her.
    It wouldn’t be proper.
    He released her with a jolt, taking a step
back and yanking off his wet shirt and handing it to her. “Cover
yourself.”
    Gaby was