Borderland Beauty by Samantha Holt Page B

her throat. “Good morrow, Dominic.” Drawing up her shoulders, she shook her head. “Nay, I only wish to offer up my prayers for those less fortunate. And for those who have sinned,” she added archly.
    His lips tilted as he considered this. “Am I to assume you pray for me?”
    “You assume much, my lord. But I pray for all those who have sins upon their soul.”
    He leant forward with a slight smile. “Will you not cast aside your judgements, Luce? You have spent time enough with me these past days to see past the idle gossip of frivolous ladies. I regret my behaviour those many summers ago, you should not have had to endure it, but surely you can see I am not the same arrogant youth?”
    Tilting her head up to meet his gaze, she narrowed her eyes at him. “You are no longer a youth, that much is true, but as for arrogance? I see no change.”
    “Mayhap, you are right. If I see something I want, I get it. Always. You may count that as arrogance, lass, though other women may think it strength of character.”
    “Other women? I am sure they have much to say on your character, though I doubt it to be to do with the strength of it.”
    Dominic edged closer, forcing her to crane her neck to look up at him. Her throat tightened as his wide torso bore down on her, made all the more intimidating by his heavy hauberk and leather armour.
    “You care a great deal about the ‘other women’. ‘Tis odd when you profess to care little about my affairs.”
    “I care not what you do. You are a free man and may lie with whomever you choose.”
    His lips slanted into a wry smile. “And yet the mere mention of other women sparks anger in your eyes. I told you before, your eyes give you away. ‘Tis more than indignation that ignites the fire in your eyes, ‘tis jealousy.”
    “Jealousy?” she spluttered. “Why should I be jealous?”
    As he leaned closer, Lucy edged away, gasping with surprise as her back hit the cold stone wall. With nowhere to escape, Dominic moved closer still, bringing his mouth to her ear. His cheek brushed hers and she shuddered as his breath swept over her.
    She supposed she could probably shove him away but her hands would not cooperate and instead clung to the stone, as if the rock could somehow provide her with the strength needed to deny him.
    So easy. It would be so easy just to turn her head and kiss him. It would take only the smallest of movement. His lips grazed her exposed neck, so briefly that she would not have been sure it happened were it not for the scalding imprint his mouth left.
    “You are jealous because you wish to be one of those ladies,” he breathed into her ear.
    She gulped and shook her head but any words of protest died on her lips as his hand came up to the other side of her neck and curled domineeringly around it.
    He kissed her ear. “But ‘twill not happen.” He kissed again as she frowned. “For you would not be just one of those ladies.” His lips sealed around her lobe, nipping briefly at it and extracting a choked cry from her. “You would be the only lady.”
    “Oh…” she moaned as Dominic’s mouth pressed to her jaw. He did not seek her lips but instead let his kisses trail along her cheek to the corner of her mouth.
    Unable to bear it any longer, Lucy jolted towards him and their lips met with the lightest of touches. Her nails dug into the wall behind her and her eyes fluttered closed as a rumble of appreciation emanated from Dominic. An inferno of longing assailed her, but Dominic kissed her lightly as if savouring a delicacy. The back of his free hand danced over her cheek, his fingers caressing carefully, as if she might bolt at any moment. If she only could. She was a prisoner of her desire for him.
    When she realised he would take the kiss no further, she grabbed at his neck and pushed her lips hard against his. Dominic growled and immediately took her lip between his teeth, nibbling until she surrendered her mouth entirely to him and his kiss