Free Dare to be Mine by Kim Allison Page B

have been waiting over two hours for you."
    "Why?" she cried desperately,
wringing her hands and wishing she was anywhere else in the world but there.
    "I told you I have to leave
tomorrow on business."
    CHAPTER "> "I believe your offer was for a
late night ride, not a romp in the hay." Even as she spoke the blunt
words, Elyssa felt her face grow red in embarrassment. "It seems a bit
late for a ride now, don't you agree?" Daniel had
the devilish urge to tell Elyssa it was never too late for a ride, but he
doubted she would appreciate the comment. And he would have been shocked to
know Elyssa naively wouldn’t have understood the innuendo anyway.
    Tentatively lowering his arms, Daniel
took a step toward Elyssa. As if speaking softly to a skittish colt, he sought
to put her mind at ease. Now that she was here, Daniel refused to let her flee
again. "I understand your hesitancy, Revee. A woman needs to be romanced
and shown that she is appreciated." His lips curved up into a seductive
smile, for although she was presently acting offended at the conjecture he was
out to ravish her, Daniel needed only to recall their first encounter in the
thunderstorm to remember that this lady was no stranger to the art of
seduction.
    "I beg your pardon?" she replied
shakily.
    "I would not pressure you into
anything you are not ready for. After all, the fact shockingly comes to mind
that you don't even know my name." Bowing from the waist, he humorously
but gallantly introduced himself. "My name is Daniel, and I am most
pleased to make your lovely acquaintance."
    Daniel . The name
echoed dreamily in her mind, and Elyssa feared the name would be forever etched
across her heart, the sound of it to haunt her dreams. She gave no reply, only
continued staring at him with an unreadable expression. Reaching out for her
hand, Daniel pulled her fingers up to his mouth, softly kissing the end of each
one as he stared into her eyes. The air was charged with barely reined
recklessness and Elyssa watched hypnotically as his lips gave expert attention
to each and every finger.
    Daniel turned her hand over, looking
pointedly at the bandage covering her stitches. He slowly glanced up into
Elyssa's eyes, and she knew exactly what he was thinking. His hooded gaze dared
her to remember their earlier encounter. And remember it she did.
    Never would she forget the feel of his
hand against hers that day, the wickedness of his actions that had stirred
their blood together, binding them for all eternity, if his seductive words
were to be believed.
    Why did she have to feel this sinful
attraction toward a man she could not have? In that moment Elyssa faced the
astounding certainty, for it was true, she did want him. How breath drew in sharplythi could her morals
and conscience threaten to desert her so easily! For Elyssa's battle against
her temptation for the man was slowly being defeated.
    When he stared so longingly at her,
holding her hand the way he was, it took every ounce of willpower not to crush herself against him and kiss him with the sweet urgency she
was near bursting with. As the struggle continued within herself ,
Elyssa failed to note the change in Daniel's expression. His eyes narrowed and
he reached out to cup her chin. Turning her face just so, the faint light from
the moon displayed the dark bruise against her cheek. Daniel's
jaw clenched in barely suppressed anger.
    "You were struck," he stated
in shock. Having forgotten about her cheek, Elyssa realized it must be showing
a bruise by this time, and she felt humiliated at his knowledge of it.
    "No," she denied, turning her
face to block the sight of her cheek, "I...I hurt myself when I fell
today."
    "Who the bloody hell did this to
you?" Daniel demanded. "I will kill him."
    Stunned at the utter fury in his voice,
Elyssa attempted to divert his anger, for it would not do to have Daniel
confront her husband over something she herself had caused in a moment of
rebellion and frustration. His angry steps