My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) Read Online Free PDF

disconcerting.
    After taking a deep breath, Caroline walked to the window and stared out at the night. She should be concentrating on the things she’d heard, not Raff’s reaction to her. But she couldn’t quite separate one from the other.
    Especially when everything about him... about everything was so disturbing.
    “He hates his father. He’ll hate you, too.”
    Caroline couldn’t stop thinking of Rebecca’s words. If Raff disliked his father so, then why had he come to fetch her?
    With a sigh, Caroline sank onto the window seat and pressed her forehead against the cool pane. Her breath marbled the window. She’d never felt so alone, not even after her mother died. At least then she had Edward and her home. Now she was in a strange land, where war was a real threat and her only companion was a compelling man who seemed not to like her at all. Was it because she was to wed his father?
    Exhaustion overtook and while still trying to decide if she had any options at all, Caroline fell asleep.
    In the middle of the night she woke with a start. Though the flame of the bedside candle sputtered in the hot tallow, it emitted enough light for her to see she wasn’t alone. Her scream was muffled by a large hand held firmly over her mouth. Caroline’s eyes widened in panic even though she now recognized Raff MacQuaid.
    As disturbing as his presence in her room was, his touch still caused her light-headedness. Nothing in her twenty-two years prepared her for the depth of the emotions he caused her.
    “There’s no reason to be frightened. ’Tis only me.”
    Though the words were meant to be reassuring, it was his tone, soothing and smooth as silk that made her nod her head when he asked if he could remove his hand.
    “What are you doing in here?” she whispered. A quick glance toward the door reaffirmed that it was shut. She may not have had much guidance in the ways of the world, but Caroline knew it wasn’t acceptable for her to be alone with a man in her bedroom. Even if she was betrothed to the man’s father.
    “I came to tell you when we would be leaving in the morning.” Not entirely a lie.
    “Still...” Caroline shrank back against the window, wishing she didn’t feel so drawn to him. His scent. The magnetism of his dark eyes. “You shouldn’t be here.”
    Wolf shrugged and sat beside her, sensing the slight shiver that ran through her. The window seat was small and his hip pressed against her drawn-up knee. He could feel her warmth through the layers of petticoats. “I saw the light beneath your door, but when I knocked there was no answer.”
    “I heard no knock.”
    Fine white teeth showed against his dark skin when he smiled. “You were asleep.” Wolf’s fingers touched the collar of her gown. “Still dressed.”
    Caroline wondered if he noticed her racing pulse.
    “And sitting by the window,” Wolf continued, shaking his head. “Don’t you know what’s said about the night air? I wouldn’t want you catching your death. What would my father say?”
    “What would he say about your being in my room?” Caroline didn’t know what made her so bold, but she was rewarded by another smile, this one somewhat wicked.
    “Does it matter?”
    Before Caroline could think of a proper response to him his hand moved up to her hair. “You didn’t even take down your curls.”
    Goodness, she had to stop him from touching her, or soon she wouldn’t want to. Caroline pulled away, but the hours of sleeping, her head awkwardly bent against the chilled windowpane had taken their toll. She sucked in her breath as her stiff neck rebelled.
    “What is it?” His fingers curved around her throat.
    “Nothing... really.” There was no place to go to be away from him. She’d squeezed back in the corner as far as she could, and his large body blocked her escape into the room. “Don’t. Please don’t do that.” His fingers massaged the sore tendons from her ear to the lace bordering her shoulder. Against all