Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] by Crystal Flame Page A

her future, she promised herself. What was
    happening now had nothing to do with her duty or her heritage. This moment existed only for her.
    The wide sleeping pallet was on a low, raised dais of richly carved wood. Ridge lowered Kalena to her
    feet, letting her body slide along his own until she was standing in front of him.
    "I'm glad Arrisa and the others didn't get around to cutting your hair," he muttered thickly, burying his
    fists in the mass of curls. He used his hold to tilt her head back for his kiss.
    Kalena trembled again as she sensed the full force of his barely leashed desire. Her nails sank urgently
    into his shirt, seeking his hard, muscled shoulders under the fabric. Ridge groaned and deepened the kiss.
    His tongue surged into her mouth and Kalena got a sample of the fire in him. She whispered his name, her
    voice hoarse with pleasure.
    Page 42
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    Eyes closed, her mouth flowering under his, Kalena was only dimly aware of Ridge's hands on the
    fastening of her tunic. A moment later she felt the beautiful material slip to the floor, forming a pool of soft
    color at her feet. She was left wearing only thin, narrow trousers and soft velvet boots. Kalena was bared
    to his touch from the waist and the knowledge made her insides tighten with anticipation and desire.
    "You have a dancer's back," Ridge murmured wonderingly, letting his fingers knead the sensitive curve
    above her lush buttocks. "Very proud, very elegant. How did a farmer's daughter absorb such pride and
    elegance into her very bones?"
    But he wasn't waiting for an answer. He urged Kalena closer until her nipples touched his chest through
    the opening of his shirt. Crisp, masculine hair teased the sensitive tips of her breasts until she couldn't tell
    if the sensation was exquisitely exciting or exquisitely painful. She sucked in her breath and pulled back
    slightly.
    "Don't be afraid of me, Kalena. I'm going to be your husband. It will be my duty and my pleasure to
    take care of you. Relax and learn to trust me, sweet wife-to-be. You must learn to trust me."
    Ridge lowered her down onto the pallet and knelt on the rug in front of her. Steadying herself once more
    with her hands on his shoulders, Kalena watched through heavy-lidded eyes as he carefully removed her
    boots.
    "Are you very sure, Ridge?" She wasn't certain of the exact nature of her question, but knew that she
    needed some kind of assurance from him.
    "I'm very sure." He eased her back against the pillows and flattened his hand on her soft stomach. When
    she looked up at him with a wordless longing, he murmured something under his breath and stroked the
    delicate trousers down to her ankles in one easy, sweeping motion.
    For a moment he simply gazed at her, and then, sitting on the pallet, he impatiently yanked off his own
    boots. He got to his feet, golden eyes gleaming down at her in the shadows. He discarded his shirt and
    unbuckled his belt. The sheathed sintar clattered lightly as it struck the floor beside the pallet. With one
    last, swift movement, he was naked.
    Kalena looked at Ridge, fascinated by the hard, male shape of him. She had lived all of her life in the
    country and had been raised by a professional Healer, but she had never seen an unclothed man before.
    She was absorbed by the sight of Ridge, and put the image of him into the only context she knew.
    He was a fine male animal in his prime, smoothly muscled and boldly, aggressively formed. The taut
    planes of his chest gave way to the flat, hard surface of his stomach. Below that the powerful outline of
    his manhood was enlarged and heavy with the unmistakable evidence of his desire.
    "Do you like looking at me, country girl?"
    "Yes," she whispered, vividly aware of his strong hands on her waist as he came down beside her.
    "Then we're in luck. Because I like looking at you. Very much."
    He moved his hand to her breast, cupping her gently as he