Free Halcyon Rising by Diana Bold Page A

had been her doing and which had been his. She risked a glance in his direction, expecting him to still be sound asleep, only to find him staring back at her.
    Their gazes locked, and he flinched, obviously seeing the truth in her eyes. “You were in my dream…. Bloody hell! How did you get in my dream?”
    She shook her head, trying to deny it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Do not lie to me, Rhoswen!” He rose from his pallet with predatory grace and crossed the room to her side, staring down at her in mingled fear and dismay. “Tell me you did not touch me. Tell me you did not pleasure me some fanciful rain box.”
    “You were in so much pain. I only wanted to help.”
    He gave a harsh laugh and scrubbed his hand over his face, his big body trembling. “Do not mistake me — I enjoyed every moment of it. It is merely that… if you were in my mind, what did you see? Jesu Christ, what did you see?”
    She reached for his free hand, wanting to reconnect with him in some way. “I saw nothing but good, Sebastian.”
    He shook his head, but closed his fingers around hers, holding on so tight her hand ached. “How did you do it? How did you enter my mind?”
    “I have a gift. Even among my people, it’s rare. And I don’t use it often. I just needed to know if I could trust you. I meant to slip in quickly, unnoticed.”
    He stared at her, obviously wondering what to believe. His reaction surprised her. He didn’t seem horrified by her ability, just embarrassed and ashamed that she’d picked through his memories.
    “Who are you?” he whispered. “And from what fey kingdom did you come?”
     
    * * *
     
    Sebastian stared down at the lovely witch in his bed, wondering if he still dreamed. Her pale, moon-spun hair flowed around her shoulders in wild disarray, and her deep blue eyes held fathomless secrets.
    He could not shake the image of her nude, lithe body, or the way it had felt, dream or nay, when she had smoothed those small hands over his bare skin. No woman had ever stroked him with such blatant sensuality.
    “I can’t tell you where I come from,” she whispered. “But I did not come here to harm you or your people. I wish only to observe.”
    “For what purpose?” Agitation laced his voice. If he were wise, he would give her back to his brother and wipe his hands of the entire matter. He had kept himself apart from humanity for far too long to let this lovely siren lure him under her spell.
    She sighed and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear with a delicate motion of her slim wrist. “Sit down beside me,” she coaxed. “We have much to discuss.”
    He hesitated, unwilling to do as she asked when arousal still pulsed so heavily within him. For so long, he had kept his passions under tight rein, but she made him far too aware of everything missing in his life. His books and experiments could never replace simple companionship.
    “Please. Sit with me.”
    With an inward groan, he allowed her to draw him down on the bed beside her. He sank down on the furs, facing her, one knee drawn up in an effort to hide the fact that he still ached with need.
    She gave him a weak smile. “Don’t worry. You were dreaming. You’ve nothing to be embarrassed about. We both created those moments in the shower. I wanted you every bit as much as you wanted me.”
    That was supposed to soothe him? He burned to press her down in the soft furs and continue what they had started in their minds. Hearing that she wanted it as well nearly snapped the last thread of his tenuous control.
    He cleared his dry throat. “Dream or nay, I cannot get the feel of you out of my thoughts.”
    “I’ve never felt that way before.” She bowed her head with apparent shyness. “I never knew such passion existed.”
    Unable to resist, he put a fingertip beneath her chin and tilted her lovely face toward his. Her eyes flared with heat, and her tongue traced her bottom lip, leaving it wet and succulent. With a