My Rebellious Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

clear and translucent as a rushing mountain stream, gazed mutely into his. Al that was male and primeval within Thorne clamored to the fore. A surge of desire, potent and unchecked, heated his veins. He damned the concealing hood that hid the glory of her hair; what little he could see was rich and tawny-gold.
     
    But she wanted something from him, he realized curiously. And al at once he wondered just how far she would go to achieve her purpose ... whatever that purpose might be.
    So it was privacy she craved, was it? Nay, he decided with a touch of cynicism, in this he was not averse to obliging her. Nor would she be the first to ply her body in exchange for some smal favor. Privacy would indeed suit what he had in mind.
    "Come," was al he said. A single movement flattened her hand against the crook of his elbow. With the pressure of his palm, he fettered her to him as surely as a shackle encircling her wrist. He paused only for a word with a young serving girl Another twenty paces took them to a tower door and through. Before she knew what he was about, he was leading her up and around a winding stair, through yet another door and into a large chamber.
    The door swung shut behind them with a dul
    thud.
    There Shana gaped in shock, the beat of her heart wild and rampant. Her gaze skimmed the huge curtained bed, then the shield propped against the far wal —it bore the same two-headed beast as his pennon. Mother of Christ, this was his private chamber! She'd been prepared to come face to face with a savage lion. She had not been prepared to face the lion in his den.
    She dare not stay with him here, a man with his reputation yet! With a gasp she pulled free.
    "This is your bedchamber!"
    "You would berate me for honoring your wishes? Milady, you wished to speak with me in private. This is the one place where we may achieve at least a semblance of privacy."
    Without further ado, her hood was plucked from her head. She could only stand in shocked disbelief as warm fingers deftly freed the brooch
    that held her cloak in place. She felt it whisked from her shoulders and then he raked her with a glance so unabashedly brazen it stripped the color from her cheeks. It lingered on the shining coronet atop her head, the thrust of well-rounded breasts beneath her gown, the sweep of gently rounded hips.
    No man had ever dared to gaze upon her thus—as if she were a common strumpet—and by God, none would ever do so again!
    Both his gal and his utter calm were maddening.
    "Milord," she chose her words careful y, "I fail to see why we cannot conduct this meeting elsewhere."
    "And I fail to see why we cannot conduct it here. Or do you fear I wil think you make advances no proper lady should make?"
    Fire sparked in her eyes. " 'Tis not my conduct I question!"
    Jet brows shot up. "What! You question mine? Lady Shana, surely you cannot think my intentions less than honorable."
    Less than honorable. Aye, he had that right! But his mockery kindled a ready indignation.
    "You mistake my reasons for accompanying you here. 'Tis not for such—" to her horror she felt herseh0 falter, "such sport as you may think."
    His parry was swift and unrepentant. "And why should I think thusly? After al , milady, might I remind you, 'twas you who sought me out. Though I must say, I do wonder that you dared to come to Langley unescorted."
    Shana flushed. She could find no words to refute his, for he was right. Usual y only a woman of questionable virtue dared to travel alone.
    "Indeed, milady, it occurs to me that mayhap you are in need of a protector ..."
    Her chin came up and she fixed him with a
     
    glare both chal enging and defiant. "I fear no one," she stated clearly, "least of al any man.
    And I have no need of a protector."
    No, Thorne thought slowly. She did not. Her annoyance did not escape him. She was, he realized, not used to being questioned.
    He was both piqued and irritated, though he knew not why. The color of her hair was unusual, a dark