Knight's Prize Read Online Free Page B

and distaste and
amazement, stood suffering in indecision, his fingers clenching reflexively
around the dagger handle.
    Helena 's wonder quickly turned to
disgust. She silently fumed, her pride doubtless stinging from the fact that Rand had gained the upper hand. Her humiliation was made
complete when Rauve called out from the fence, "Do you require assistance,
my lady?"
    "Nay!"
she snapped. Then she muttered to Miriel, "Now see what you've done? Why
did you come between us?"
    Miriel's
jaw dropped. That Helena would so readily lay the blame at Miriel's feet only made her more determined
to defy her sister once and for all. "Because, you overbearing, meddlesome
wench," she snarled, "this is not your affair. 'Tis mine."
    The
shock on Helena 's
face was priceless.
    Before
she could lose her nerve, Miriel turned to Rand, who looked as bewildered as a
fox cornered by a pair of mad hens. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she
reached forward, snagged him by the tabard, and hauled him toward her. Then she
planted a kiss hard on his mouth.
     
    Chapter 3
    M iriel
intended to lay claim to Rand before Helena could gainsay her.
    She
didn't anticipate becoming waylaid.
    But
she'd never kissed a man before. Once she pressed her lips against Rand 's, a wave of amazing sensations that completely
distracted her from her purpose began to wash over her.
    A
man's mouth was much warmer and softer than she'd imagined,
and he tasted faintly, pleasantly of honey. His ragged sigh of pleasure sent a
sultry shiver along her flesh.
    Curiosity
compelled her to tilt her head, deepening the kiss, and as she did, a strange,
delightful warmth flooded her body.
    "Here
now!" someone scolded.
    But
Miriel was too engaged to pay heed. She felt as if she quenched an unknown,
eternal thirst. She drank more and more, happily drowning in the dizzying wake.
    "Stop
that!" came the irksome protest again.
    Rand , unresponsive at first, now
returned the kiss, slanting his mouth over hers, and suddenly the current
swirled to sweep her away completely. The real world diminished around her as
she swam in a languorous pool of feeling.
    Gone
were the spectators at the fence.
    Gone
was Helena .
    Gone
were the tiltyard and the keep and all of Rivenloch.
    The
only thing left was this kiss.
    He
parted his mouth as if to taste her, grazing her bottom lip with his tongue
and sending a lightning strike of desire through her loins that turned her
knees to custard. 'Twas as if her very soul gasped, and the heat fortified her
passions even as it melted her bones. She clutched Rand 's
tabard tighter, no longer to keep him near but to keep herself aright.
    Sweet
Mary, this was divine. She never wanted this moment to end.
    ************************************
    Rand knew, when the dagger fell
from his limp fingers, he'd gone too far. He was fast losing control. This was
no way to gain the trust of the people of Rivenloch, by ravishing one of their
maidens. Especially when he'd claimed to be here to court Lady Meryl... Marion ... Mirabel.
    But
Lord, this wench's kiss was sweet. And wet. And hot. And arousing.
    It
took all his strength of will to pull back, to break contact. When he did, the
hungry glaze over her smoky blue eyes and the inviting curve of her open mouth
made him long to assail her again.
    But the
sharp length of steel that suddenly intruded to separate them brought him back
to his senses.
    "By
Lucifer's ballocks, cease!" Helena commanded for the third time, narrowing suspicious eyes to glance back and
forth between them, finally focusing on the lass. "What do you think
you're doing? Do you know this man?"
    The
lass, still swooning from the effect of their kiss, didn't answer at first.
    Helena thumped her on the
shoulder. "Do you know this man?"
    The
maid blinked the mist from her eyes and raised her chin in defiance.
"Aye," she boldly lied.
    "How?"
    "I
met him..." Her voice was rough with desire, soft and ragged. "I met
him at the tournament."
    Rand was stunned