Hazel's Promise (The Fey Quartet Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

away.
    “Don’t frown, sweet Hazel.”
    To her annoyance, Hazel felt herself flush. “I’m not sweet,” she said shortly.
    “Tart Hazel, then. Prickly Hazel. Cross Hazel.”
    She was all of those, right now. And she knew why: the kiss Tam had asked for. She wanted it over with. Hurry up, curse it . She blew out a breath. It was foolish to be prickly about something as minor as a kiss. So what if she’d not kissed anyone since Drewet? So what if it felt like a betrayal of sorts? Tam had saved her life; if he wanted a kiss, she owed him one.
    She just wished he’d hurry up and get it over with.
    Hazel fished in the sack for her blanket. The kiss was unimportant. Tomorrow I see Drewet . Ten years since they’d pledged themselves to each other. Ten years since he’d left the vale. Ten long years of hoping and waiting and silently despairing.
    “You want any more food?”
    She glanced at Tam, shook her head, and looked for a flat spot to spread her blanket. Her thoughts returned to Drewet. So handsome, with his green eyes and curling black hair, so mature, so wise. She longed to hear his voice again, longed to be held by him. Tomorrow, Hazel told herself, brushing a twig out of the way.
    When the blanket was spread to her satisfaction, she turned back to the fire. Tam had rewrapped the bread and meat in their cloths. “Here.” He held the pewter flask out to her. “There’s still a mouthful left.”
    “You have it,” Hazel said, feeling ashamed of her prickliness.
    Tam drank the last of the cider and rinsed the flask in the creek. The back of her head ached, Hazel realized. She fingered her scalp. It was tender.
    “Sore?”
    She glanced up to find Tam watching her. There was no amusement on his face now. He looked grim.
    “A little. It’s nothing.”
    Tam’s lips tightened, but he didn’t say anything. He dried his hands on his tunic and sat down again.
    Hazel watched him across the fire. I owe him so much . Perhaps Drewet could pay him? Money was a better reward than a kiss, and Tam clearly needed money.
    The cider hummed in Hazel’s veins, making her warm and drowsy. She rubbed the back of her head again. When she looked up, Tam was watching her, his face grave, his eyes dark and unreadable. They stared at each other for a long moment, and then Tam said quietly, “I’ll take that kiss now.”
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    HAZEL’S MOUTH WAS abruptly dry. “Now?”
    Tam shrugged with one shoulder. “If it pleases you.”
    Pleases me? Hazel flushed. “Now is fine,” she said primly. She climbed to her feet, walked around the fire, and knelt beside Tam. Her heart was beating faster. She felt suddenly shy and self-conscious. It’s just a kiss .
    She glanced at Tam’s face. Her gaze skidded away from his dark, watchful eyes and settled on his mouth. As mouths went, Tam had a nice one. Well-shaped. It would be no hardship to kiss him.
    Hazel inhaled a shallow, nervous breath, and leaned closer to Tam. She pressed her lips to his for several seconds, and drew back.
    Tam tutted under his breath. “That doesn’t qualify,” he said, capturing her chin in his hand.
    Hazel stiffened in alarm.
    “Relax,” Tam said. “I don’t bite.” And then he leaned closer and kissed her.
    His lips were warm and surprisingly gentle. There was nothing forceful about his kiss. It was slow, tender, comforting.
    Hazel relaxed. I am safe with this man . She closed her eyes and let Tam kiss her.
    Seconds slowly passed. A minute trickled by. Tam’s hand slid along her jaw to the nape of her neck, pulling her closer. The mood of his kiss changed, became less comforting and more playful. He teased open her lips and delved into her mouth, touching her tongue with his.
    Pleasure shivered through her. Tam must have felt her tremble, for he kissed her more deeply, more persuasively. It was impossible not to respond to that invitation. Impossible not to kiss him back.
    Heat built between them. Tam cradled her nape with one strong, warm