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both
    fury and surprise.
    Sputtering, completely naked and magnificent, she sat up and
    shook out her long golden tresses once he stopped a safe distance
    from the hut, looking confused and angry, her eyes sending sparks.
    “Are you insane?” she demanded, her breasts heaving, the golden
    triangle at her thighs visible from his viewpoint, the darkness
    between her legs intriguing at all times, even now.
    “Most days since I’ve been here,” he confirmed dryly,
    dropping her ankles, though admittedly enjoying the view of her
    silky tempting cleft. “Jenna, I apologize if I startled you.”
    “You apologize for waking me from a sound sleep by dragging
    me out into the mud like one of the Sabine women?” she
    demanded. “If you wish sexual congress so early, my lord, perhaps
    you could just ask me. I believe it is your turn.”
    Her scathing words brought the blood to his face, even though

    Savage Shores
    59
    he thought he was immune to anything as naïve as chagrin. “I do
    wish sexual congress,” he said evenly, “and in that interest, I prefer
    you to be alive so that I can take my pleasure. Forgive me, but the
    snake you were so cozily cohabiting with looked detrimental to my
    selfish desires. He didn’t bite you, did he?”
    The blood drained abruptly from her face. “What?”
    “You know, the one coiled right next to you inside.”
    “Oh, God.” She began to shake, her eyes widening. “I hate
    snakes…are you serious?”
    “It must have crawled in the door when Charles left you,” he
    explained, his voice softening. “The walls of the hut are down in
    the sand, but the doorway is open…Jenna, you are fine now…”
    “Oh.” She scrambled to her feet and flung herself at him with a
    sob, mindless of her nudity.
    “I am not one to fend off beautiful women in a state of
    complete undress, but you are covered in sand,” he murmured into
    her hair, lifting her up despite his words, the weight of her luscious
    body in his arms, her bottom satin and round, her breasts warm
    against his chest.
    “Wipe me off then,” she whispered, “but don’t let me go. This
    is your day…you can do whatever you like.”
    That suggestion went straight to his groin like a streak of
    lightning in a night sky.
    “I hate snakes, too,” he offered, smiling in relief that she
    wasn’t hurt, his heart slowing a little.
    “You do?” The general’s daughter looked very young with her
    trembling lips and ashen face. A golden mane of hair trailed over
    his arm and brushed his thigh.
    He gave a grimace. “Ask Charles. I am a complete quaking
    coward when it comes to the slithering things.”
    She swallowed, and then emphatically shook her head. “No,
    you aren’t, my lord. I don’t believe it. You are unfazed by
    anything.”

    60
    Emma Wildes
    Not by seeing her lying sleeping next to a deadly reptile .
    Relishing the feel of her naked body against his, Jonathan said
    neutrally, “Let’s say I would gladly walk through glowing hot
    coals to avoid one. However, I think we need to get this one out of
    your abode, so if you will stay here, I’ll take care of that
    unpleasant task.”
    “No.” Her arms tightened frantically around his neck. “Stay
    here and hold me.”
    Women often complained over how the world worked, with
    men in charge and their roles subject to male authority and
    privilege, but looking into the limpid eyes of the girl in his arms,
    Jonathan found he could not deny her anything she asked of him.
    “I’ll do whatever pleases you,” he said softly, meaning it. Then he
    added, “Now…and later. Did you miss me these past two nights?”
    “Yes.”
    “It didn’t sound like it.”
    Her cheeks grew pink but her gaze did not falter. “I did what I
    said I would do. Did you expect less of me?”
    The truth was, he thought her very courageous as well as
    sensuous. But it still annoyed him against his will that she had
    enjoyed the lovemaking of other men. He said shortly, “My
    expectations