Elizabeth Mayne Lion's Lady

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

wouldn't—"
"Oh, but I would."
"Dare you smile at me while you make such obscene remarks?"
"I dare to do whatever I want to do, Christina." He rubbed his thumb across
her mouth. Christina felt like biting him.
Then her shoulders sagged in defeat. All the man had to do was touch her, and
her rational thoughts went flying out the window. God help her, she could feel
the shivers gathering in her stomach now.
She let him kiss her, even opened her mouth for his tongue, then let him coach
all the anger out of her.
Lyon didn't let up on his tender assault until Christina was responding to him
with equal ardor. He ended the intimacy only after she'd put her arms around
his shoulders and was clinging to him.
"The only time you're honest with me is when you kiss me, Christina. For now,
that's quite enough."
Christina rested her head against his chest. "I will not give my heart to you,
Lyon. I will not love you."
He rubbed his chin against the top of her head. "Yes, you will, my sweet."
"You're very sure of yourself," she muttered.
"You gave yourself to me, Christina. Of course I'm sure."
A loud knock on the door interrupted them. "Lyon, unhand that maiden
immediately. Do you hear me?"
The question was unnecessary. Aunt Harriett had shouted loud enough for the
neighbors to hear.
"How did she know you were holding me, Lyon? Does she have the sight?"
Christina asked, her voice filled with awe.
"The what?" Lyon asked.
"Open this door. Now."
"The sight," Christina whispered between Aunt Harriett's bellows. "She can see
through the door, Lyon."
Lyon laughed. The booming sound made her ears tingle. "No, my love. My Aunt
Harriett just knows me very well. She assumed I'd be holding you."
She looked disappointed. When Aunt Harriett shouted again, Christina turned to
go to the door. "If you give me one or two promises, I'll wed you Saturday,"
she said.
Lyon shook his head. The little innocent still didn't understand. Promises or
not, he was going to marry her.
"Well?" she asked.
"What promises?"
Christina turned and found Lyon standing with his arms folded across his
chest, waiting. His manner seemed condescending to her. "One, you must promise
to let me go home when my task is done here. Two, you must promise not to fall
in love with me."
"One, Christina, you aren't going anywhere. Marriage is forever. Get that
little fact in your head. Two, I don't have the faintest idea why you wouldn't
want me to love you, but I'll try to accommodate you."
"I knew you'd be difficult. I just knew it," Christina muttered.
The door suddenly opened behind her. "Well, why didn't you tell me it wasn't
latched?" Aunt Harriett demanded. "Did you get this misunderstanding
straightened out, Christina?" she asked.
"I have decided to marry Lyon for a little while."
"A long while," Lyon muttered.
The woman was as dense as fog. Lyon felt like shaking her.
"Good. Now come along with me, Christina, and I'll show you your room. It's
next to my bedroom," she added, with a long, meaningful look in Lyon's
direction. "There will be no private meetings during the night while I'm
about."
"She'll be there in just a minute," Lyon said. "Christina, answer me one
question before you leave."
"I shall wait right outside this door," Aunt Harriett announced before pulling
the door closed.
"What is your question?" Christina asked.
"Are you going to change your mind before Saturday? Do I have to keep you
guarded inside the townhouse until then?"
"You're smiling as though you'd like to do just that," Christina announced.
"No, I won't change my mind. You're going to be very sorry, Lyon," she added
in a sympathetic voice. "I'm not at all what you think I am."
"I know exactly what I'm getting," Lyon said, trying not to laugh. She was
giving him a forlorn look, telling him without words that she felt sorry for
him.
"You're marrying me because you realize how good it was when we slept
together," he announced.
It was an arrogant statement, and he really didn't think she'd bother to
answer him.
"No."
Christina opened the door, smiled at Aunt Harriett, then turned to give Lyon
her full answer. "The full truth, Lyon?"
"That would be nice for a change," Lyon answered with a drawl.
"In front of your dear Aunt Harriett?" she qualified, giving the perplexed
woman a quick smile.
Aunt Harriett let out a sigh, then pulled the door closed again. Christina
could hear her muttering something about not needing her fan what with the
door flapping back and forth in her face, but she didn't understand what the
older lady meant.
"Answer me, Christina, with your full truth."
His sudden impatience irritated her. "Very well. I'm marrying you because of
the way you fought the mischief makers."
"What does that have to do with marriage?" he asked.
"Oh, everything."
"Christina, will you make sense for once in your life?" Lyon demanded.
She realized then she should simply have lied to him again. The truth was
often more upsetting, more complex than a simple fabrication. Still, it was a
little too late to fashion another lie now. Lyon looked as if he wanted to
shout. "I'm trying to make sense, Lyon. You see, even though the battle wasn't
much to boast about, you did fight like a warrior."
"And?"
"Well, it's perfectly clear to me."
"Christina." His voice was low, angry. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

pobieranie @ do ÂściÂągnięcia @ ebook @ download @ pdf