From Kiss to Queen Read Online Free PDF Page B

assassins, had crashed his plane, and had been rescued by a guardian angel he was tempted to keep.
    Not completely understanding the sentiment, Mark only knew he had powerful feelings for Jane Abbot. Not only was he in awe of the woman—he found himself wanting to possess her with such an overwhelming passion that he was in awe of himself.
    Which might seem strange to some, but not to the men in his family, who had a history of stumbling onto their life-mates—usually at the damnedest times and in the damnedest places. And whenever they gave in to the tug on their hearts, they were blessed with happiness, love, and lots of male children. Always males. If the Lakelands wanted a female, they basically had to import one into the family through marriage.
    Mark had always scoffed at the notion of the men in his family so abruptly falling prey to passion’s magic, but there was no denying his attraction to this volatile, independent, bossy woman in his arms. No, Jane would not join the past women of his life as a fleeting passion. In fact, fate had likely taken that choice away from him this afternoon.
    Jane Abbot wasn’t going to like it, but she had sealedher own fate when she’d sealed her lips to his and saved his life. She was now in as much danger from the men in the second plane as he was. Mark knew they would have noted her license plate before they’d blown up her car, and by morning they would know Jane’s identity. And he didn’t doubt they’d retaliate against her for her role in depriving them of their goal today.
    So Mark fell asleep without questioning his feelings for Jane. His only thought was how he was going to hold on to the dynamic little wood-sprite long enough to keep her safe.
    He’d have to hold her tightly, of course, and very, very carefully.

Chapter Three

    J ane stirred to the oddest sensation. Her chest felt warm and tingling and her heart was racing, her back was pressed against a blast furnace, and her nose felt so cold it was numb. Every muscle in her body ached, and she had an overwhelming urge to sneeze.
    Which she did, bringing her completely awake.
    Which made her remember.
    Which made her gasp at the realization that a good amount of her discomfort was being caused by the large, rather possessive
male
hand covering her left breast. During the night, Mark-with-no-last-name had somehow managed to sneak his hand under her shirt.
    Jane’s racing heart skipped several beats. Was he awake? Was he aware of where his hand was? Was that her nipple she felt pushing through her bra against hispalm? And why did she want to wiggle her backside more firmly into his lap?
    No, the real question was would Katy believe her when Jane told her best friend—okay, her only
real
friend—that she had spent an entire night sleeping in the arms of a man? And that instead of giving the guy a black eye for copping a feel, she’d just lain there like some sex-starved hussy hoping he didn’t wake up anytime soon so she could savor it?
    Naw; she’d never even get to that part, because Katy would be too busy laughing her head off after Jane told her the guy had actually kissed her, and that she’d just gotten up the nerve to kiss him back when he’d suddenly stopped. Darn. If she had her cell phone, she could have taken a picture of Mark when he was in the front of the canoe today to prove she wasn’t lying. It would only be of his back, but at least Katy couldn’t say she’d made him up.
    Oh, wait; maybe she could sneak a picture of him using Silas’ cell phone when they got to Twelve Mile Camp. Yeah, and Silas could back up her story. Well, not the part about them sleeping together, because she sure as heck wasn’t telling that gossiping old rooster she’d—
    Jane sneezed again.
    The hand on her breast gently tightened and started to knead.
    Jane closed her eyes as she felt the heat of a thousand suns rush to her cheeks. Holy