Into Thin Air Read Online Free

jumped at the sound of her voice, knocked his razor from the sink, then grabbed the edges of the towel that had started to slip down his hips.
    "Christ's priests, girl!" he said, breathing hard. "You nearly—" He blinked. "How did you get in here?"
    "I don't know! God, I don't know anything!"
    He turned her around before she started that infernal pacing again. Then he gently shoved her out of the garderobe and into his bedchamber. He followed, clutching his towel, and pushed her down onto the bed.
    When she looked up, her eyes widened, then dipped from his face, clear down to his bare toes, then back to linger on his chest. While her voice remained silent, her lips mouthed the shameless word Wow.
    Gawan crossed his arms, determined to delve into her thoughts only when absolutely necessary.
    "Where'd you go?"
    Her gaze drifted across his upper body, affixed to the scores of symbols tattooed there.
    He supposed now was necessary.
    Sexy. Wacky, but definitely sex-y. Finally, she shook her head and looked at him. "I told you. I.
    Don't. Know." She stood and pushed past him. "One minute, I was standing in the middle of the room, wondering what the heck was happening and how the heck I even got here." She crossed the chamber, pulled back the mantle, and peered through the glass. "And why I couldn't remember my own name." Turning, she leaned her backside against the window frame and blew out a hefty breath. "I stole the name Eleanor Aquitaine from that big tapestry downstairs."
    Gawan smothered a smile. "Aye. I figured as much."
    Grasping the corner of his towel, he gave a short nod. "But until we get things sorted, Ellie will do, aye?"
    She nodded.
    "Good. Then we have an accord. Can you recall anything of import?"
    She thought a moment. "I remember floating in the water. Freezing-cold water. I don't know how long I was there, but I managed to get out, crawl up onto the beach, and then I was hit, I think."
    "Someone hit you?" he asked.

    The space between her brows crinkled as she frowned. "With a vehicle, maybe. I can't be sure. I remember flying through the air, and it hurt. I think someone must have tried to drag me to safety, and then I just passed out." She met his gaze. "Then you were there."
    They stood in silence for a moment; then Gawan nodded. "Right. Allow me to change and we'll sup.
    Nicklesby has food preparing as we speak. Then we'll talk. Mayhap you'll recall a bit more."
    Throwing her a grin he hoped would put her at ease, he ducked back into the garderobe. With haste, he used another fascinating invention—deodorant. Lo, how that ingenious stick of wax would have made the battlefield a much more enjoyable place to be. He pulled on the jeans and long-sleeved tunic he'd chosen, ran his fingers through his wet hair, and hung his towel over the shower stall.
    With a flick, he clicked off the light.
    Barefoot, he stepped into his bedchamber. "Just let me pull on my boots, then."
    He glanced around the large, open, empty room. "Ellie?"
    Oy. Gone again. Poor girl. From what he could tell, she hadn't even a hint that she was, as Lady Follywolle had put it, betwinxt the living and the unliving. Damn, he could barely believe it himself, and by the saints, he'd seen quite a lot of strange things. He was one of those strange things. But for a tangible body to appear and disappear? How could that be possible?
    Pulling on his socks and boots, Gawan thought of what Ellie must be like—taken out of the odd circumstance, of course. He'd seen a vibrant flash in her eyes, and she most certainly was quite bold of tongue. A quick thinker, too, by the way she'd scoured his great hall, found the tapestry of Eleanor of Aquitaine, then filched the name to use as her own.
    He grinned. Quirky, clever girl. Somehow, the two brave and tenacious women seemed strangely alike.
    Tying back his hair, Gawan hastened to the kitchens to satisfy his empty belly, and to hopefully hear a full explanation from Nicklesby as to why and how the comely