Christmas At Thorncliff Towers Read Online Free PDF

Karina’s place setting. Topping off the perfect meal was the cup of Earl Grey tea Mrs. Tidwell set in front of her. Now that she was stuffed, she sat back in her chair and glanced around for Constantin. He’d never shown up for dinner. Had he foregone the meal to avoid her?
    Well, she planned on having a word with him about that.
    Scooping up a few pieces of bread, she slipped out the back door. With the aid of the cane, she made her way to the stable house, where the windows flashed a brilliant orange glow.
    Hearing the crackle of a fire, she entered, uninvited. Constantin had his back to her. Shirtless from the waist up, as he’d been when she had spied on him earlier, he was brushing a pewter-colored mare. The chore set his tendons into a fluid stretch and his biceps into a rippling bulge.
    Karina shut the door with a loud clatter. He whirled around—his foul expression softening as he perused her new appearance.
    “Karina. You look . . . nice.” Then he seemed to remember that he was angry with her. Resuming his task, he spoke in an icy tone. “Christ, woman. I came here to be alone.”
    She ignored his comment. “I brought you some bread, since you missed dinner.”
    “Thank you,” he said curtly. “Leave it on the workbench, please.”
    She did and strode toward him. Gathering her courage, she released the cane and touched his solid shoulder. “Do you like my dress?”
    He snatched a look at her, then avoided her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
    “You hardly saw it. Come. Take a long look.”
    His stare swept over her tiny waist, rounded cleavage, and elegant hairstyle. He gulped. “You look very—different.”
    She smiled seductively. “Is that a compliment?”
    “Yes.” His voice was a growl. “You’re stunning.”
    Motivated by the jealousy she felt over his connection with Lydia Brentwood, Karina slid both hands up his chest and laced her fingers behind his neck. “You’ve always been my friend, Constantin. But I missed you in another way when you left camp.” She paused. “Did you miss me?”
    He untangled her fingers. “I’ve missed your companionship. That’s all.”
    “Is that all I’ll ever be?” Frustration coated her voice. “A companion? A friend?”
    He held her by the arm and she could swear she saw agony in his forest-green eyes. “We lost our parents at a young age,” he said. “That’s why we became friends, Karina. We had that in common.”
    “You never thought I was pretty?”
    “I’ve always thought you were beautiful, but you scared me. I had to grow up and be a father figure to Viktor. I couldn’t afford to let your rebellious ways distract me.”
    “So that’s the reason . . .” her voice trailed off.
    He released her arm and anchored his hands on his hips. “You were always defying authority and getting into mischief. I was too straitlaced—too responsible—to join in.”
    “Sometimes, opposites attract,” she suggested. “Besides, you’re a grown man now. Are you still scared of me?”
    His gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth. Attraction replaced the agony in his stare. He moved closer. “I’m not afraid. But I am lonely.”
    “I can see why,” she murmured. “These people lack the Gypsy fire you’re accustomed to.”
    Their lips hovered, inches apart. A whisper of air slipped into her mouth as she parted her lips. He nearly kissed her. But then he stepped back.
    She wasn’t giving up that easily . “I liked the feel of your hand on my leg,” she purred. “If you let me touch you, I can erase some of that loneliness.”
    As slowly as a ribbon flutters in a quiet breeze, she feathered her fingertips up his arm. Under her touch, his skin burned as hot as lava. She knew at that moment that he was going to kiss her.
    With eyes blazing with desire, he craned his neck forward and clamped his mouth onto hers. Karina’s whole world changed in that moment. Responding to his warm lips, she pressed herself to his chest. And when she allowed his