Bound By Temptation Read Online Free PDF

to hearing he lived in a backwater. And it really would complicate everything.”
    “Robert?”
    “My stepson—the current Earl of Westington—and the local magistrate.”
    “Ah.” That explained so much.
    “Yes, ah. Normally I would not object to his being summoned. He would vouch for my honesty and none here would gainsay him. The situation is, however, complex. I would rather he not be involved at present.”
    “I can well understand that. But in truth, my interests are not in what pleases you. I am rather more concerned with justice. And I have only your word that he would speak for you, and I am not inclined to accept that at present.” Again he saw that flash of worry.
    “You doubt me, but of course you do.” She lifted her head and stared at him. Her eyes spoke of knowledge beyond her years. She smoothed a hand across her temple once more and then straightened. He could almost see her muster her forces. “If you are going to summon him, then do so. It will be of inconvenience to me and embarrassment to him, but you have already said that my pleasure does not matter.”
    There was something in her tone that made him think of other pleasures. She did not speak seductively or with flirtation, but somehow he wasleft wondering if she doubted him as a lover. He actually opened his mouth to reply to this baseless accusation. He slammed it shut. This was why he hated dealing with women. They confused the issue even when they did not mean to—although it was hard to tell exactly what she meant.
    “Well, are you going to summon him?” She sounded suddenly tired. He found he preferred her full of fight and ire. He did not wish to win so easily.
    “Jake, the landlord’s son is normally about,” she continued, rubbing her temple again. “He’d know where to find Robert.” Then she changed. Her eyes came up and met his. The fight was not over. She took a step toward him. Daring him on. “Would you like me to call down? Or perhaps I should scream? It isn’t acceptable to abduct a lady, you know. I wonder which Robert would find more persuasive—that you claim I took your watch, or that I was found in your rooms after being tied to your bed?”
    “Are you sure he’d find it unusual to find you tied to a bed in a strange man’s room?”
    Oh, she didn’t like that one. She spun on her heels away from him. He could hear her pull in each angry breath.
    “Then do it. If you do not, I am leaving. And if you try to restrain me I will scream. Based on your words, I no longer have much to lose.” She waited a moment and then marched to the door.
    Without even trying the handle, she held out her hand to him. “Key.”
    The command was back in her voice, and it was enough to make him hesitate. He did not want to give in to her.
    His mind sped. He could see no point in continuing. He was not going to call the authorities; in truth he had never been going to. Doing so would only delay his journey and complicate matters. Explaining the true situation to her stepson would not be easy.
    “Key,” she demanded again. “I am weary of this game.”
    It was only as she spoke the words that he realized how much he had enjoyed the battle. He resented it. He fought against it, but he could not deny that he relished it.
    He reached into his trouser pocket and drew out the key. He held it out to her, not moving toward her.
    Another of those heavy breaths passed her lips. She measured the distance between them with her eyes and then moved toward him warily. Her wrist shook as she reached out for the key, and he wondered if she thought he’d grab her. Surely, she must know that if he’d been willing to resort to physical force the game would have been long over.
    With extreme care she lifted the key so that only the tips of her fingers brushed his palm. Even so, a shiver of awareness ran through him.
    He held his palm flat even after she had lifted the key. He watched her walk to the door. When her hand was on the handle he