Echoes of Magic by Donna Grant Page B

shouldn’t be abused.” She bent to gather the bowl and cup and
walked to the mare. “It’d be very easy for magic to rule everything
in my life.”
    He came up behind her, his hands on her
waist. “What would happen if you gave in to temptation?”
    For a moment, Adrianna couldn’t breathe. She
wasn’t sure if Grayson was asking about her magic or the attraction
between them. She turned and looked at him over her shoulder. His
eyes blazed with desire.
    “ I don’t know,” she finally
answered.
    A slow smile formed on his handsome face
before he effortlessly lifted her atop the mare and handed her the
reins. “You never know when temptation will get the better of
you.”
    He had no idea how right he was, but she
wasn’t going to tell him that. With one word, one motion, Adrianna
could let him know of her hunger. Temptation would be the least of
her worries after that. For she knew to give into the lust
thrumming through her would only complicate matters.
    And he needed a clear head when he faced the
evil.
    The last thing he needed to do was worry
over her, which is what would happen if they shared their bodies.
Yet it didn’t stop her from imagining what it would feel like to
step into his arms as they enfolded her in their strong embrace, to
lift her face and accept his kisses.
    Grayson didn’t bother to hide his desire
from her, so it was up to her to keep things as they were. She had
to stay strong and remember the curse and the evil. If they
survived the battle ahead, she would give in to his pull.
    He mounted and swiveled his head to her.
“Ready?”
    “ Aye,” she murmured but
didn’t meet his gaze. She feared if he saw into her eyes, he would
know she fought a losing battle.
    Grayson hadn’t tried to seduce her, but it
wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge. Already her body
hummed with need, her sex clenching at the thought of his cock
sliding into her, stretching her, filling her. Stroking her.
    She bit back a moan and licked her lips.
    With a tap of her heel, she put the black
into motion behind Grayson. She inhaled a shaky breath. It was
going to be a long day.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Grayson halted the grey outside of
Dirkshire.
    “ What’s amiss?” Adrianna
asked as she came alongside him.
    He shook his head. “Nothing that I see.”
    “ Were you expecting
something or someone?”
    “ I never know,” he said and
looked at her. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
    “ Agreed.”
    Without another word he rode into the sleepy
village. He made sure Adrianna kept close. The village was of
decent size with the inn toward the edge of the town. He turned the
grey toward the tavern, his gaze scanning the area.
    “ Do you smell
anything?”
    Adrianna snorted. “Rotten meat, foul body
odor, urine and vomit.”
    Grayson chuckled. “I meant the other.”
    “ Nay.”
    He let out a breath, pulled his mount to a
halt in front of the inn, and dismounted. When he turned to help
Adrianna, he found her already off the black.
    “ You feel better?” he
asked.
    She smiled brightly. “Much.”
    He glanced at the darkening sky. Once the
horses were seen to, Grayson offered Adrianna his arm before they
walked inside the inn. The main room was crowded with diners as
every eye turned to them as they entered.
    Adrianna stiffened. He leaned down so his
mouth was near her ear and said, “Many travelers stop in
Dirkshire.”
    She gave him a small nod of understanding
before he walked to the bar where a balding man with a thick, gray
beard watched them.
    “ My wife and I need
chambers for the night,” Grayson said.
    Just as he expected, her nails dug into his
arm. Thankfully, she didn’t call him a liar.
    “ I only have one chamber
left,” the owner said.
    He had no choice but to accept. Adrianna’s
gaze fairly burned him as he pulled his bag of money and paid the
owner.
    “ Where did you get the
coin?” she whispered.
    He grinned and winked. “How do you think I
paid for your mount?”
    They