Lost Princess Read Online Free PDF Page B

How she came by this advice she didn’t say. I could feel myself wanting to squirm, probably from fear, but I kept myself tightly stiff. Max suddenly released me, and I stumbled back.
    He slowly walked around me as if he was stalking me. I found my breathing unsteady and couldn’t help turning to keep my eyes on him. He took off his coat and tossed it aside thoughtlessly. “Tell me, Katrina, why did you run away?”
    I gulped. “I’m sorry, my lord, I shouldn’t have.”
    He came closer and pulled some of the pins from my hair. I have long chestnut hair, and it had been pulled tight and piled on top my head.
    I stayed still and watched him.
    “That does not tell me why,” he said, a silky threat in his voice.
    “I…I told you, I was wrong. I thought you were…I mean…“Max leaned in closer and spoke almost in my ear, his breath along my neck making the air catch in my throat.
    “Come now, you weren’t so reticent to speak yesterday.”
    “I wished only to protect Callista,” I finally managed to say.
    “Protect your cousin?” he said as he pulled the last pin out and my hair tumbled down my back. “From me?”
    I nodded dumbly as he put his hands into my hair and rubbed my scalp gently. It felt incredibly good, and I let out a small sigh of pleasure before I could stop it. Max let his hands slide down my neck very slowly, again causing me to shiver.
    “You feared I’d harm her? As you fear I’ll harm you?”
    I tried to tear my mind off his hands, which had now reached my shoulders and were continuing down my arms. “I…what was the question?”
    He had moved so he was behind me, and now that he couldn’t see my face, I let my eyes close and tried to ignore the pleasure. Max’s head bent so he could again let his breath tickle my ear. “Am I hurting you?”
    “N—no, my lord,” I said fervently.
    “Tell me what you feel,” he ordered.
    I swallowed, sensing a trap here. “Nothing,” I said.
    “Nothing?” he asked in a disbelieving voice.
    “Is nothing wrong?” I asked, bewildered now.
    His hands had reached mine, and he briefly let our hands twine together, squeezing gently before continuing his slow journey back up the insides of my arms.  “Tell the truth, Katrina. I can feel you shivering. Are you cold? Afraid?” His hands had reached my torso again and were slowly, so slowly moving down to my waist, where they cupped my hipbones through my dress.
    I knew I had to answer. “Afraid. Shouldn’t I be afraid?” I wasn’t sure what the right answer was, and couldn’t get my mind off his hands long enough to lie convincingly.
    “I think you’re lying to me, wife.” His hands moved as he came around in front of me again. “Do you like this?” He leaned down and gently but deliberately licked my neck. I shivered again.
    “No,” I said. Callista had told me that I must do as he wished, but never indicated I should enjoy what he did—quite the opposite.
    “Hmm,” he said. “I suppose you’re allowing me to do as I wish with you out of fear? Of duty? You do not care for it?”
    Again I sensed he was trying to trap me, but I couldn’t see where the trap lay. “Yes?” I said, uncertainty evident in my answer.
    He chuckled now. “What has your cousin been telling you?”
    I blinked at him. “I—I don’t know the right answer!” I finally said a little desperately.
    Max gave me one of his very rare smiles. “Should I tell you what to say?” he asked.
    “Yes, please,” I said, mesmerized by his eyes burning into mine.
    “That is the right answer,” he said.
    “What?”
    “You said, ‘yes, please.’ That sounds like the right answer.” He brushed my lips with his, just a touch, and I let my eyes close. “Now, it is up to me to ask the right question,” he added, giving me another soft kiss. “Katrina, do you want me to kiss you?”
    I opened my eyes to see his face close to mine. “Yes, please,” I said. His lips touched mine again, and again, each kiss