Free Blood Lust by Jamie Salsibury Page B

him on the shoulder, then began to shake him. “Wake up, my lord. You’re having a nightmare.” She screamed as he jerked, bolting upright and wide-awake, his hand reaching out to grab her.
    “It’s me, Katherine!” She cried out. “Let me go!” It took him a moment to get his bearings.
    “Christ,” he bellowed, releasing his hold on her, wiping his sweat from his face with his hand. “What are you doing down here?”
    “You were tossing and turning, talking in your sleep. I thought perhaps you had fallen ill.”
    He leaned back, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” she rubbed the bruise forming on her arm.
    “You didn’t mean to. It’s all right.” She saw him frowning. “It must have been a horrible nightmare.”
    “I’ve had worse. I’m sorry. Now go back to bed.”
    “You’re sure you’re all right?”
    “I’m fine.” His eyes looked away from her face, running down her body, barely covered by a nightgown. He glanced away, fixing his attention on a spot above her head. “I said go back to bed. You should not have come down here.”
    She then realized that standing in front of the low burning fire, he cold perhaps see through her nightgown. She blushed and turned away, heading toward the stairs.
    “We’ll leave here early,” he called after her. “You had better get down here well before dawn or I shall come up and get you out of bed myself.” He gave her a half wicked smile.
     
    “Perhaps that is the better idea. I promise you that would be a far more enjoyable way to begin the day.”
    A hot heat rose in her cheeks. Turning away from him, she crossed the room and quickly climbed the stairs. When she reached the bedchamber, she closed the door, feeling breathless and far too warm.
    He wouldn’t come up here. Surely he would not dare! But for the remainder of the night she needed her rest, but she tossed and turned, unable to think of anything but the handsome bandit coming into her room as she was sleeping, of him awakening her with his scorching kisses.

Chapter Seven
     
    Katherine walked down the gleaming tile floored entry-way of Sussex Manor. She was heading to the extraordinary library and her meeting with Benjamin Spencer. She had asked him for a place where they could meet in private. This was not a conversation for servants or anyone else to overhear.
    Her footsteps quickened as she approached the tall doors leading into the large room. She had arrived two days earlier and had been greeted with tears by her brother Thomas, who promptly forgot that she had been missing.
    She had ridden to Sussex Manor on the back of her abductor’s horse. He had left her at the edge of the tree line, making sure she could see the back of the manor. His face had been unreadable as he bid her goodbye.
    “I guess this is goodbye, Duchess. I cannot say I enjoyed our time together.” He looked at her and flashed her a self-important grin. “But then, I cannot say that I did not.”
    Knowing that he was thinking of the intimacies they had shared, she found herself turning red. “You are quite a scoundrel, my lord.”
    “And you are quite a remarkable woman.”
    She smiled, unable to resist the compliment. “I suppose I am better off for the adventure. If Sussex Manor is in as bad a shape as you say, you have saved me from a devastating marriage. That in itself is enough to earn my silence and a measure of my gratitude.”
    His eyes looked over her face, taking in her features. “Oddly enough, I believe I shall miss you as well, my lady.”
    A lump rose in her throat. She felt the sting of tears rise up in her eyes. “And I you, my lord. God protect you.”
    He didn’t say a thing for the longest time. Katherine turned away, trying to ignore the feeling that had settled in her body. She started across the fields toward the mansion, her slippers growing wet with the early evening dew, but the thunder of galloping hooves coming up from behind took her by surprise. She turned