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.A smile touched her lips, and she quickly grimaced to disguise it.There was no reason to take his pride.She did, however, intend to make him work for forgiveness.She swept past Krayne, leading the way inside the castle and up the stairs to his chamber.He could easily have overtaken her, of course, grabbed her arm and forced her into the role of captive, but she wasn’t in the mood to feel any appreciation for him not doing so.In the chamber, her eyes found the massive bed and the memory of their kiss resurged as a flush on her cheeks.Was she brave enough to submit to his desire?Was she strong enough to resist?She curled her fingers into tight fists as she watched him walk over to the bed.If she gave in to him, was she truly any better than the whore she swore she wasn’t? How on earth did this man manage to strip her of her very moral fibre every time he came close? Krayne heaved the bed down the length of the wall to unblock the mysterious door she’d tried earlier.One way or another, thought Amber, this would soon be over.Once the exchange failed, which it certainly would, Krayne must admit that she was of no further use and return her to Spedlin.And why wouldn’t he? She’d never been his responsibility.She had other plans, anyway.Once she’d freed Stivin, she was taking Mary and herself back to England.Her future might be uncertain, but she had a fair idea of how she intended to shape it.As Amber catalogued her future, she watched Krayne collect a key from a nearby chest and unlock the door.Curious, she followed to peer inside the back room.It was a fair size, and well lit with two uncovered windows, but it was completely bare.And dusty.And cold.Krayne went to one of the windows and looked out.“I’ll send Isla up with cleaning things.”“You expect me to clean for you?”Krayne turned.“It will keep ye out of trouble.”“I think not.”“As ye like.I’ll see ta a bed and coverings, but if yer happy ta sleep in dust and cobwebs, so be it.”“Sleep? I’m to sleep in here?”“I want my bed back,” Krayne said bluntly.He met her arched brows with cool detachment.What had she expected?What had she wanted?To have her morals and inhibitions swept away, Amber admitted ruefully as she allowed herself to be drawn into the depths of his steadfast gaze.Tomorrow she’d be gone from this place.Tomorrow her new life would begin, and end with marrying one of the boring old toads her father had turned down countless times before—the young admirers she’d left behind in England were subject to their parents’ will and she was in no position to plead with William for her dowry.Still, old and boring was a vast improvement over the men her uncle was offering.But tonight…Tonight she wanted to relive that kiss a hundred times over.She’d been stubborn and highhanded, when all she wanted was to fall into Krayne’s arms and submit.Even as the bold thoughts tumbled inside her head, the heat of shame flared up her throat.But why not? She’d safeguarded her maidenhood, and for what? To give to Sir John Langdon, a man well into his sixties who’d never been married and needed a nursemaid more than a wife? Or Lord Carraway, thrice married with eleven children?Should she—could she—truly deny herself one night of passion that would have to last a lifetime?As if he could read her mind, Krayne’s eyes darkened.His jaw clenched, setting his expression in stone.Whatever she wanted to offer him, his answer was clearly, Don’t.“Very well,” Amber said in a surprisingly normal voice.“I’d best start then if this chamber is to be readied by nightfall.”She strode deeper into the room and walked up to the opposite wall so she wouldn’t have to face him.Krayne had brought her to life in a whirl of emotions, everything from fear to fury to desire.In his arms, she felt safe and cherished.At his kiss, her world had melted and reformed.It made no sense.She knew he was cold-hearted, arrogant and dangerous.She didn’t want sense.She heard him leave and held her breath to listen.There were no sounds of a door closing or a lock turning.There’d be guards, she was sure, but the unlocked door gave her the pretence of freedom and she welcomed it.Amber sighed as she crossed to the window he’d recently deserted and stared out over the battlement wall to the rugged outline of mountains that seemed to go on forever.She shouldn’t welcome anything to do with Krayne and she certainly shouldn’t want him the way she did.What she should be, was grateful for his noble decree.A young, virtuous lady did not jump into bed with the neighbouring laird without severe consequences.Chapter 6Krayne stopped in the passageway and let out a low curse.The lass sent out signals that could pump life into a dead man’s cock.His fist smashed into the stone wall and his knuckles came back bloody.The pain had a soothing effect and he continued walking, away from temptation [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]