Free Her Galahad by Melissa James Page B

stare—stare at the only man who knew her heart, who saw through to her soul, and still thought her lovely and desirable. A memory floated through her mind, of loving so tender, so giving and generous she'd become its addict with one taste. Addicted to him. Ngaya jirrah, my wild lover of the sea…
    He crouched before her, his eyes steady, asking the question. Waiting for her permission.
    Terrified of the touch, longing for it. Wanting to feel like a woman, denying she could want to be touched by a man again. She hated her confused reactions, but couldn't control them. She'd felt less than human for so long. Cameron's degrading ideas of sexuality had turned her into a pathetic mockery of a woman, hating male touch; her family's disbelief and loving guilt trips created a travesty of the trusting, loving girl she'd been.
    Somewhere, somehow, it had to end; and only she could make the change. She closed her eyes, and nodded.
    A tender hand caressed her cheek—just her cheek; and dark magic whispered through her, warm and soft like the touch of a firefly in the night. Giving, not demanding. Asking, not taking.
    She couldn't stand it Trust and tenderness of touch had been denied too long. She pulled back, turning her face from a beauty too vivid, too strong to bear. "Don't touch me," she whispered.
    Silence, long and total. When she finally opened her eyes, he was still there before her, watching her with little expression. "It'll never go away until you take control, Tess."
    "I know what you want, and you can't have it!" Sudden fury flared at the grief filling her, hard, hurting. "I can't be that girl again. Don't you get it? She's gone!"
    He shook his head. "No. You are a wild swan, Tess, still and always—the wild, beautiful girl who braved the world to follow her heart. We will be lovers again, but it'll be your choice—when and where you want to make love, it's your call. I can wait until you trust me." A finger touched her mouth before he moved away; yet her body betrayed her, quivering with a single caress.
    The arousal she thought she'd never know again.
    She got to her feet. "You don't get it. Being lovers isn't a game—not when Emily will be the one to pay the price for it. We can't afford to want each other. Making love is not an option when it puts our child in danger!" Her sleeve jerked back as she pulled at the door. "I don't know if I can go through with this—not if that's what you want."
    The door closed with a quiet click behind her.

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    Chapter 6
    « ^ »
    " T ess, no! Come back! Beller could be on the main road. He could find you." Jirrah yelled, racing after her in desperation as she strode down the stairs. "Emily might need us—both of us. You grew up without your mother. Do you want that for Emily? Can't we show her a united front? For Emily's sake…"
    Then he skidded to a halt, shocked by the words pouring from his mouth. Damn it, he was using blatant blackmail on her. Just like them. Suddenly he hoped with all his heart that she wouldn't fall for it. Go on, Tess, keep going. Find somewhere where you won't have to run. Find your strength and healing far away from your damnable family and what they want from you—and, yes, damn it, even from what I want. Even getting revenge on Beller isn't worth what it would do to you, my lovely wild swan.
    But after a second's hesitation Tess froze. Her back was stiff, yet quivering, as if waiting for a blow—or worse. Jirrah cursed beneath his breath, wanting to kill Beller with his bare hands for what he'd done to his beautiful, trusting girl…
    "Iwasn't leaving. I know the danger." Then she dragged in a breath. "I want a few minutes alone to think. My whole life's gone inside out in a day, and you want something I don't."
    He sighed, recognizing the validity of her words. "I've had years to get used to all this. I shouldn't have said anything. Sorry." The word croaked out, thick with the rust of reluctance.
    She gave an infinitesimal nod. "No more