Free Desire's Release (Damning Desires) by Bliss Silentstar Page B

smile.
                  “Good evening, sir. What may I get for you?”
                  “Ale, if it please you,” he replied, sliding into a chair as the bar. “I’ve just arrived in town and travel dust has made my tongue thick.”
                  She nodded and rose from her seat, retrieving a tankard. Rheya filled it with ale from the cask and placed it in front of him.
                  The stranger took a healthy drink before he sat the tankard down with a satisfied sigh. “That’s the thing, right there. Nothing like cool ale after a long journey.”
                  “Where have you come from?” she asked, returning to her seat.
                  “ Lanwyn , from the east. Tracking bandits that attacked a merchant caravan.”
                  “Did you catch them?”
                  “Indeed, I did.” The man took another drink. “My name is Collum . What may I call you?”
                  “ Rheya .” He seemed friendly enough and she could do with a pleasant conversation to help the time pass.
                  “ Rheya . A lovely name, though not nearly as lovely as the woman.” He grinned. She noticed he had bright green eyes that seemed to sparkle when he smiled. “Are you here alone, Rheya ?”
                  “Yes. I own and operate this place myself.”
                  “A dangerous time for a woman to be alone. Any old brigand could wander in here and have his way with you.”
                  If only, Rheya thought to herself. Perhaps it would help drive Ryder from her mind. “Lucky for me, you aren’t a brigand.”
                  Collum laughed. “Why don’t you have a drink with me, Rheya ?”
                  “Oh no,” she shook her head quickly. “I never drink while I’m working.”
                  “And I never drink alone.” His expression turned pleading. “Share a drink with me, fair lady. I don’t think your other customers will mind.”
                  Rheya hesitated. Truth be told, she’d never been able to handle her alcohol well. But Collum seemed friendly and she wasn’t likely to see any more business tonight.
                  “Oh, very well.” Rheya rose from her chair. She’d never acclimated to the taste of ale, so instead she selected a bottle of wine and filled two glasses.
                  She filled the glasses and deposited one in front of him. Collum abandoned the ale for the wine. “Strawberry. Good choice.”
                  Rheya took a healthy drink of her own, hoping the wine would dull her thoughts and allow her to sleep tonight.
                  Collum kept up a steady stream of conversation, telling her about Lanwyn , which she’d never visited before, and regaling her with tales of chasing bandits and outlaws. He filled her glass whenever it looked slightly low, asking her what sort of people came into her tavern. That stream of conversation soon had both of them laughing as she told him some of the odder people she’d encountered.
                  A warm glow spread through her and Rheya soon realized she’d drunk too much. Her chest and face felt flushed. The wine had the intended effect of dulling her thoughts, but it almost made her hot at the apex of her thighs. Every time she shifted her legs, a thrill shot through her body. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to feel Ryder’s fingers thrumming against her nub as he forced his way inside her. Rheya’s eyes fluttered closed at the thought.
                  “You’ve a scratch on your clean bar,” Collum said, jerking her to attention.
                  “Where?” Her eyes snapped open and leaved over the bar to look.
                  Collum’s hand shot out, wrapping around the back of her head. He