Free Sizzle All Day by Geralyn Dawson

in her voice as she said, "But I am an evil wicht. I can be more wicked than you. Answer my questions, or I shall prove it."
    He shrugged as best he could manage tied spread-eagle to the bed. "One problem here, ma'am. You haven't asked any questions yet."
    This time he heard a definite feminine growl before she snapped, "Why did you search our library?"
    "Didn't your mother teach you it's not polite to spy on a person?"
    "I could ask you the same question, but that is not an answer I seek. Who are you? What is your real name, Mr. J. A. K. Delaney, and why have you come to Rowanclere?"
    Jake debated his response. He wasn't about to tell her he was here for the Declaration, but his story of writing a book about castles obviously wouldn't hold water anymore. What would? To buy time, he said, "My name is Delaney. James Allen Kenneth Delaney, but you can call me Jake. And you are right. I am not an author."
    Smug satisfaction filled her tone. "Then what are you?"
    A dozen different possibilities floated through his mind. He chose the one most outlandish, the one that made him smile. "I'm actually Father Delaney, a Benedictine monk, and I've come on the trail of a rare manuscript stolen from a church outside of Rome during the second Crusade."
    "You a priest? Hah." Scorn lashed like a whip. "And I am the Queen of England."
    "I thought you were a ghost."
    Fabric rustled, then he sensed a presence. He tried to peer through the blindfold, to no avail.
    "Actually, I am the Scourge of Rowanclere and I'm running out of patience. Answer my question. Why were you searching our library?"
    Her voice sounded different now and came from his right. Damned if she didn't sound like Mrs. Dunbar. But the scent was different. Not roses, but something else. Something more complicated, more exotic. More erotic. "What's that perfume you're wearing? It's different. Jasmine and spice."
    "You are a lunatic."
    "It's wonderful, though. You smell wonderful."
    "It's called Coffin Cologne. Now tell me why you are here."
    Coffin Cologne. He grinned. Wasn't she something?
    Damn, he wanted to touch her. Maybe if he made her angry enough... "Fine. I'm a robber. I was looking to steal your jewels."
    "My jewels?" Now she laughed, low and husky; and the sound sent a seductive shiver up his spine. "If that is the case, you are out of luck. Any jewels owned by this family were lost by Brodie ancestors long ago."
    "So you are a Brodie, then?"
    "A Ro—" She broke off and went silent for a long minute. "You tried to trick me."
    "Yes ma'am, I did. Almost worked, too."
    He heard her mutter something beneath her breath and the sound of her footsteps as she paced in a circle around him. Then suddenly, the air seemed to bristle. He felt her presence as she leaned near. Menace loomed in her voice as she spoke into his ear. "I have been told that in Texas you have spiders as big as a man's hand. Tarantulas, I believe they are called? Is that correct?"
    "Yeah."
    She moved away again, chuckled softly. "I am certain they are most frightening, but can they possibly be as wicked as my wee little friends here? Let me show you, Texas. You decide."
    He caught a whiff of her heady scent and felt the heat from her body as she leaned over him once more. Closer, honey. Stay awhile. It's drafty down here and I purely hate the cold.
    Then he heard the twist of a jar lid.
    He felt it first on the back of his left hand. Tiny brushes that seemed to barely touch his skin. They moved up his finger, then played across his knuckles.
    Jake frowned. This didn't feel like little spiders or any type of bug, for that matter. In fact, it felt rather... intimate.
    That wasn't too surprising. After all, he was alone with a woman in what amounted to the dark from his vantage point. While he didn't engage in bondage games as a rule, Jake wasn't unwilling. Especially when an intriguing woman was involved.
    The featherlight strokes moved higher, toward where the rope bound his wrist. Jake concentrated on the