Free Forbidden Magic by Catherine Emm Page A

revenge."
    "Spared?" she rallied, staring into his eyes. "I would welcome it knowing the price had been your blood upon the sod."
    A chuckle sounded deep in his chest. "Such a brave one who threatens me while she lies stripped of all protection."
    Jewel's face flamed with his reminder. "Methinks 'tis the only foe you can defeat, a helpless woman. And had I not been disrobed when you entered my chambers, your quest would have been much greater!"
    "As your loss," he added. He grinned at the questioning look she gave him. "I would simply have torn your clothes from you and they, as well as your pride, would have been in ruins, 'Tis not a better lot at least, to save one?"
    "I hate you," Jewel ground out between clenched teeth.
    He pulled back as if offended. "'Twas not my intent to spur your love, only bed you. But have no fear, sweet one. I care no small amount for you either."
    As if the heavens wished to verify his claim, a loud volley of thunder rumbled overhead and lightning flashed silver strips of light between the shutters, tight that spilled across the floor to fall against the couple. Jewel squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the vision, for at that moment she did not know if she feared the storm and its intensity more than the stranger who held her captive. When the tempest had subsided a degree, she opened her eyes and found him staring, a quiet, almost sympathetic, look on his face. But the compassion she saw faded and his lust again burned vividly in his dark, green eyes. Tears sprang to her own and a sob shook her.
    "Nay, m'lord, please," she begged, cursing her fleeing courage.
    "I will not hurt you if you do not fight," he whispered against her cheek as he buried his face in the softness of her hair.
    Her breath caught in her throat when his lips softly caressed her ear and the flames of passion sparked anew. "I would be ... a whore if... I did not. Please!" Frightened of her own responses to his kiss, she jerked one hand free and struck her fist against his shoulder. "Nay! Unhand me!"
    She raised the fist again to strike a second blow to his head but gasped in pain when he caught it in his hand and dragged it beneath her. Trapped, she arched her back to push him from her and managed only to impassion him further when her naked breasts pressed full against the hard muscles of his chest. She opened her mouth to scream her loathing of him, but her words were smothered when his lips hungrily crushed down on hers. His touch branded, her, left her feeling suffocated, and her head began to spin, for she knew her fate would soon be sealed. Panic rising, she tore her lips from his and jerked up, her shoulder connecting with his jaw. He straightened sharply, only slightly stunned, and smiled almost evilly at the horrified look in her eyes. Then without a word or warning, he lifted himself from her, her wrist still seized in one hand, and yanked her to her feet with him.
    Her shame heightened when she realized she stood naked before his consuming gaze, and rather than allow him a moment's pleasure, she brought back her free hand to slap his face. But sensing as much, he merely leaned back to miss the attack and in doing so, Jewel simply spun herself around and found herself trapped in two strong, unrelenting arms as he crushed her to him. Lifting her from her feet, he effortlessly carried her, kicking and screaming, to the bed, there to heartlessly throw her upon it. The unexpected jolt when she landed knocked the breath from her and she lay gasping for air until her eyes focused on the man hovering near. He had stripped himself of the loincloth and stood unmoving, as if proud of the display he presented, a wicked, satisfied grin kinking one corner of his mouth.
    "Oh, dear God ..." she whimpered, twisting to escape the feathery softness of the bed.
    But before she had traveled an inch, two powerful hands caught her ankles, pulled her down, and forcibly rolled her onto her back. She screamed, arms flailing and eyes clamped