Free The Untamable Rogue by Cathy McAllister Page B

the exact opposite of what I had always dreamed of in a husband. He was neither a gentleman, nor was he gentle. Never before had I met a man who had earned the name
Devil
more than him.
    I worked with determination so that I could escape the bewildering proximity of the gypsy as quickly as possible. Who knew what else could happen if I stayed here any longer. He could act upon his threat and carry on there where he had last stopped. The thought alone made my blood heat and my sex pulsate expectantly – yet another reason to flee as quickly as possible from his domain.
    Suddenly I felt a hand on my arm and I froze immediately. With my breath held, I waited to see what would happen, whilst my thoughts wandered to our last confrontation and Ivo’s passionate kiss. Fear and arousal fought within me. I felt as if I were about to faint, I was so very giddy. I was filled with panic. I was not to allow that to happen again under any circumstances! I never again wanted to lose control in such a way.
    “No!” I gasped finally, as Ivo tried to pull me to him. “Please don’t!”
    “But you want it! You’re no different from the other women.”
    I looked at him aghast, then smacked him hard in the face. With his remark he had brought me back to reality and that had made it easier for me to react.
    “How dare you! Let me go at once!” I shouted at him. How could he speak to me as if I were a common whore.
    ‘
Because you’re acting like one!’
    Ivo showed no expression as he held my arms and held them behind my back. He had far too much strength for me to be able to release myself from his grasp. He pressed his mouth hard against my lips. He was rough, just like the last time and his stubble scratched my sensitive skin. In desperation I tried to defend myself but his grasp was too firm.
    ‘Not again! This time he definitely won’t let me go, but will simply take what he wants.’
    This thought aroused me against my will and a sweet weakness overcame me. Contradictory emotions fought within me: fear and arousal, reason and curiosity.
    Suddenly he let go of me and his dark eyes sparkled dangerously.
    I swallowed. A tear came from my eye and rolled over my cheek.
    Ivo smiled cynically.
    “You’re nothing special. I can get one like you anywhere. Take your roots and go!”
    I felt as if I had been knocked for six. For the second time he was pushing me away from him. Nervously I sorted out my clothing and gathered up the rest of the roots, throwing them hastily into the basket. I forgot Grandmother Aneta’s instructions about filling the hole again and jumped up quickly, took hold of the basket and ran away. I did not look back. Never in my life had I felt so humiliated!
    *
    I ran. Tears of shame and anger filled my eyes and blurred my vision. A few times I nearly stumbled but I did not slow my speed until I got near Grandmother Aneta. I only hoped that the old woman would not notice anything different about me and would ask no questions. Right now I really did not feel like answering questions. I took a deep breath and tried to stop crying.
    Grandmother Aneta was still sitting where I had left her. She had laid her hands in her lap and closed her eyes. She sat so still that I thought for a horrible second that she was dead. But then she turned her head in my direction.
    “Is that you, Liz?!
    “Yes, grandmother,” I answered, and I was cross that my voice was trembling. The old woman would definitely realise that there was something wrong.
    “Do you have the roots, my child?” she asked, without any sign that she had noticed anything wrong with me.
    “Yes, I found them. It wasn’t hard.”
    “Good, my child. Let’s go back to the camp,” said Grandmother Aneta, getting up from where she had been sitting.
    *
    Lost in thought I walked next to Grandmother Aneta. The meeting with Ivo had really churned me up. I wanted to hate him for the way he had treated me but instead of that I felt a strange yearning that did not