Free One Snowy Knight by Deborah MacGillivray Page B

her caress on his skin. There was no stopping his blood. His erection pounded with a growing intensity against the woolen blanket. Willing the insistent movement to cease proved futile.
    Her touch was soothing. Gentle strokes across his shoulders and arms soon had him relaxing. But then the minx grew bolder. Her thumb pad swiped the salve over his flat male nipple, paused, and then applied a stronger pressure as she became aware of his body’s small changes.
    Skena’s words came as a ghostly whisper, “Duine brèagha.”
    Beautiful man. The corner of his mouth tugged up. She called him beautiful after she had scolded him for using the word too much, by doing so diminishing its worth. Noel had a feeling Skena was careful with her words, which only made the spoken sentiment all the more intoxicating.
    Then the vexing woman dragged her hand down the middle of his chest, over his belly, and showed no sign of slowing. Oh, he did not want her to stop! He craved for her to keep on snaking that strong hand down his body, lower and lower. Howbeit, if she knew he was awake she would never risk being so bold.
    With the quickness of an adder, he opened his eyes as his hand shot out and locked hard about her wrist. “Stop.”

Chapter Six
    Skena jumped.
    She had believed Lord de Servian to be sleeping peacefully, lulled by the worts of the tansy. She learnt differently. In a move so quick she had no time to blink let alone react, his left hand shot out and wrapped around her wrist. His strength was terrifying. The grip was not hurtful, just blocked her from shifting her arm in any direction. She gave a small tug. Useless. The man was not letting go of her.
    The soft firelight cast flickering shadows across his handsome face, and illuminated those unearthly eyes. Their force, their magical ascendancy wove a spell, leaving her unable to move. All she could do was stare at his virile perfection and swallow back the desires clamoring inside her.
    Her cheeks burned bright, though she doubted he could see her embarrassment with her standing in half shadows. And did she burn with shame! She had given in to her foolish longing to touch him and caressed his strong body as she wanted, enjoyed stroking his warrior hard muscles. Now she stood caught like a child filching a tart from the kitchen.
    Her tongue swiped her lips to moisten them to speak. To cover for her brazen behavior she offered, “I merely wanted to apply the salve on your side, my lord. The worts will ease the distress you feel in the sore spot.”
    “Is that what you were doing?” Challenge flashed in de Servian’s eyes. He did not believe her, gave no polite pretense otherwise. Lifting her arm, he placed her hand next to the red patch and then released it. “You mayhap forgot where the said spot was?”
    She cautiously applied the ointment to the darker patch of skin. Not admitting any misdoing, she said, “’Tis hard to see in these long shadows.”
    A brash smile spread over his lips as his brows lifted. “Really? To the contrary, I found it quite easy to see.”
    Skena paused as her heart did a small roll, and then she sharply sucked in air. “You were never asleep? I…I…would not have bathed…. I thought the potion would see you resting deeply.” Her eyes skimmed over his body from head to toes and then back. “There is a lot of you. You are taller than most men I ken. Mayhap I should have mixed the tansy stronger.”
    “Could be. Could be something more potent hit my blood, overpowering its effect.”
    His direct stare bore into her, leaving her to feel like a timid hare caught in the hunter’s snare. Her heart dropped to the pit of her belly, slowing to a hard pagan throb. It was playing with fire, but she had to ask, “What is more potent?”
    The corner of his mouth quirked up smugly. Instead of giving her an answer, he came back with a question of his own. “Why do you not eat, Skena?”
    She glanced to the food growing cold on the table. “I…I was