A Night of Forever Read Online Free PDF Page B

overstep your bounds.”
    And once again she baited him and he just couldn’t
help himself. He’d kept silent far too long. “Do I?”
    Her eyes sparked with ire. “What are you
implying?”
    He saw the way she looked at him. He could smell the
desire on her even now. She wanted him as much as he wanted her and
that was what taunted him most of all. But how could he possibly
explain? “I imply nothing at all.” He bowed low and turned,
determined to be rid of her once and for all. “I shall leave you to
your reading.”
    “Oh no.” She started after him, the leaves crunching
underfoot warned of her arrival. “I insist you tell me.” When he
didn’t pause, she actually reached out, latching onto his wrist.
Her bare fingers pressed into his skin and he froze.
    He lowered his gaze to her hand. Her simple touch
sent his heart racing, his skin afire. The beast cried out,
screaming and clawing its way to the surface. “Don’t,” he
hissed.
    The look upon his face must have been startling
indeed for she quickly drew back. Hell, he hadn’t meant to frighten
her. Never wanted to scare her, but perhaps it was best that she
understood now before it was too late. Yet, as he realized that the
look in her eyes mirrored the look he’d seen in his fiancé’s those
years ago…his chest felt tight and the monster abated. He assumed
there was a reason Meg hadn’t told her sister the truth…because
they didn’t think Mary Ellen could be trusted. And if her own
sister couldn’t trust her…
    Damn it all, why the hell couldn’t he fall for his
own kind?
    “You shouldn’t have touched me,” he snapped. “You
have no idea…”
    A low rumble of thunder shook the forest, giving him
pause. An eerie sound, almost as if a warning from the heavens. The
thunder faded and the world grew entirely too quiet, too still.
Slowly, ever so slowly he scanned the dark woods surrounding
them.
    “What?” she said, glaring up at him. “Do go on.
Please don’t stop on my account. I believe you were going to
explain why my touch is so repulsive.”
    Good God, the woman just wouldn’t let him be. He
started to turn away, intending to get as far away from her as
possible when he heard an unmistakable howl, a sound that lifted
the fine hairs on the back of his neck.
    This time when Mary Ellen clenched his wrist it was
out of fear, not anger. “What was that?”
    He knew exactly what it was, but he sure as hell
couldn’t tell her the truth. Her wide eyes and pale face sent his
heart lurching into his throat. Oh God, she was frail, so damn
frail, anything could happen to her. Frantic, he jerked his gaze
toward the woods. Yellow eyes peered at him through the trees…
glowing, piercing eyes.
    “Shite.” He jerked his gaze back toward Mary Ellen.
“Go.”
    “What?”
    “Go! Run!” He shoved her toward the trail, hiding
her behind him.
    “No! I won’t leave you!”
    “Damn it, Mary Ellen, don’t be a bloody martyr.
Go!”
    The wolf would go after the weakest prey…Mary Ellen.
He knew she wouldn’t escape unless he stopped the dog completely.
Aidan moved toward the middle of the clearing. The animal would
have to kill him first. Branches rattled, parting, the dog growled
as he stepped into the clearing. Quickly Aidan weighed his options.
Glowing eyes, black wolf larger than most, hungry…he could sense
the animal about to pounce. But he wasn’t looking at Aidan, no he
was focused on Mary Ellen who stood across the clearing staring at
the wolf in horror.
    “Hell.” Without thought to consequences, Aidan raced
toward Mary Ellen, so fast she didn’t notice him until he was
wrapping an arm around her waist and jerking her behind the large
boulder where she’d been sitting only moments ago. They fell to the
ground with a thud that sent a cloud of dust into the air.
    Mary Ellen’s cry resounded in his ear, part surprise
and part pain. He was crushing her. He rolled away and got to his
feet just as he saw the streak of black fur leap