Love's Fiery Jewel Read Online Free PDF Page B

lure.
    The running footsteps continued behind him, as did
the small, determined summons which grew annoyingly
louder. "Captain Straith...please wait... Captain
Straith, I must talk to you..."

    "Damn the blasted boy!" Damien cursed softly under
his breath. "If he keeps this up, the entire island will
know I'm here!" Shooting one more glance around and
satisfied that the street was indeed deserted, Damien
turned the corner, simultaneously stepping into an
alleyway and drawing back into the shadows as he did.
Expectedly, within a few seconds the boy turned the
corner. In a swift movement, Damien's strong, powerful
arms snaked out, covering the insistent mouth with one
hand as the other wrapped around the boy's waist,
jerking him full back against his body in the darkness of
the alleyway.
    "Now, what is it that you want?" he hissed menacingly
into the boy's ear as the slight figure squirmed and
wriggled in his grasp in an effort to break his hold. "Are
you the lure for some sort of trap?" he growled. "Well, if
you are, it would seem that the tables are reversed,
wouldn't it?"
    The boy continued struggling and kicking, his thin
arms flailing about ineffectively, his feet kicking wildly
in an effort to land a few savage kicks in his vulnerable
shins. Despite his great strength, the boy's unyielding
resistance was seeing results. Damien's grip around the
boy's narrow waist began to slip and the boy suddenly
turned and began pounding and scratching fiercely at his
chest and face, while directing sharp, well aimed kicks at
his legs.
    Momentarily stunned at the fierceness of the child's
attack, Damien dropped his defenses, only to receive an
unexpected, well aimed kick to his knee that sent sharp
shooting pains the full length of his leg and left him
gasping.
    "Damn the little bastard!" he swore under his breath,
simultaneously raising his hand to deliver a hard,
resounding slap to the angry face of his small opponent.
The blow connected squarely and the boy staggered backwards, his small fists dropping lifelessly to his sides
in prelude to complete collapse. Realizing he had almost
knocked the boy senseless with his light blow, Damien
grabbed him quickly around the waist, jerking him
forward against him before the wobbling legs buckled
completely. For a few seconds the boy's weight hung
lifelessly against him, his head laying lightly against his
chest as he struggled to regain control of his senses, and
Damien froze with momentary shock. Were those
budding breasts pressing so intimately against his chest?
Suddenly jerking the boy away from him, he held the
slight figure at arms' length. Still supporting him with
one arm, he raised his hand to jerk the hat from the boy's
head. To his amazement black, silky curls tumbled down
around the slender slumped shoulders, and realizing
he-or she-was found out, the child raised slightly
dazed but furious eyes to his. The moment of contact
with the enraged glance sent an inexplicable jolt through
Damien's body. Unable to explain the peculiar sensation,
still holding the girl at arm's length, Damien took a few
quick steps to the right and thrust her face out of the
shadows and into the brightening light of morning.

    The dazed expression had left the small, pointed face,
and raging lavender eyes glared into his. Immediate
recognition surged through him for all the girl had grown
since Damien last saw her. Amethyst.. .the child
named for the color of her eyes.. .how could he ever
forget the little brat?
    Jerking her roughly back into the shadows of the
alleyway, he growled into her furious face, "I see you
haven't changed a bit since we last met, Amethyst Greer.
Still the same thoughtless little idiot you were four years
ago. What were you trying to do, bring the whole street
down on me?"
    "No, I was not, Captain Straith." Amethyst could not
stop herself from sneering in return, but suddenly realizing she would have to change her