Concentric Circles Read Online Free

can’t be answered by Mum.”
    “What makes you think…”
    He stopped her words. Warmth and softness consumed his mouth. He moaned when her arms rose to embrace his neck. He dipped his tongue, and tasted ambrosia.
    She fit him, melding into perfection.
    Longing for deeper penetration, he explored with languid strokes.
    Shayla groaned and wove her fingers into his hair.
    He clasped her, hands spread beneath her jacket, energy spiking, igniting urgency.
    “Ohh.” She drew away, her breath brushed his face in lover’s caress.
    “Rec’n,” he said, placing his forehead against hers, “that answers the first question.”
    Shayla gazed deep into his eyes, searching. Gentle hands smoothed his hair in petting motions, and she whispered, “I thought it was just me—my imagination.”
    She paused to kiss him quickly. “Adrenalin after what happened.”
    He didn’t want to speak so he returned to her luscious lips.
    Eagerly, she responded.
    “Nice to see you're getting acquainted,” Chaeli said.
    Shayla jumped backward, embarrassment overwhelming her features.
    He laughed.
    With an intense glare of defiance, she flipped a long curl over her shoulder.
    Humm .
    “Should I have Mari remove lunch?”
    “That’d be fine, Mum. I think I’ll take Shayla for a walk. Show her some of the finer points of Glastonbury Abbey and Chalice Well.”
    “All right. Be sure to visit the Tor. I’m sure she would enjoy that.”
    “Aye, Mum. We’ll wait for sunset to go there. Come on, my little Fae,” he said teasing and folding her hand in his. “Ye have much to learn.”
     
    * * * * * *
     
    Okay, so the hunk can be annoying, too . Shayla stepped into the central foyer of Chilkwell Manor and glanced around inquisitively at the understated elegance.
    Antique rugs graced the shiny wood floors with regal elegance. Two life-sized portraits caught her attention. The one to her left presented a view of the Chalice Well Gardens.
    In the other portrait, a warrior dressed in full Highland regalia sat astride his horse, and leaned down to kiss a mysterious maiden.
    Shayla froze in step while the sight of the portrait's scene made her heart race. Somehow, her breath became lost outside her body as she studied the life-sized man and woman.
    Meekal laughed. “Aye, I know. Spooky.”
    Shayla attempted to swallow.
    Glistening black hair topped the warrior. That wasn't unusual. The angle of the portrait allowed a slight view of brilliant cobalt blue eyes.
    However, the maiden’s back faced the foyer. Her waist length tresses showed garnet red highlights mingled with opulent black.
    Shayla could not draw herself away from the discovery. The likeness was too much like her own hair. She had never seen that before.
    “Come on,” Meekal said, in a low voice.
    “Who are they?” she asked.
    Meekal lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “Ancestors.”
    They stepped outside into the fall sunshine, a new and oddly disquieting silence between them.
    Shayla stopped. Unspoken words left heaviness and abounding questions welling in a spiraling rush through her mind. Feet rooted to the portico floor, she insisted, “Meekal.”
    He faced her, biting his lower lip.
    She swallowed and pulled eyes away while trying to escape the memory of those lips.
    He squared his shoulders and locked their gaze. “That was Dhu Bry. Black Bryan. He was the first Guardian of the Well. Morna was his wife.”
    “Why does the Well need guardians?”
    He inhaled sharply, released the air with slow deliberation and caressed her hand with strong fingers.
    The new tattoo tickled and anticipation boiled. She tugged his hand to remind him of the question.
    He shrugged and scanned the street. “There have been people, wicked criminals who attempt to steal its Power.”
    “Power?”
    “Aye.”
    She stepped down the stairs, floating in a daze. First, she experienced strange vibrations at the Vesica Pisces Pool. Then the miraculous appearance of the White Lady. Her mind spun in