Passionate Pursuit Read Online Free Page B

to the dining hall or meal sacks and animal carcasses to the kitchen. Although he was a handsome young man, she found his attention off-putting. Since she’d arrived at the castle, he’d haunted her every move.
    He smiled slyly. “Better not let old Nuncio catch you spying on our betters.”
    She warned herself not to show any reaction he could use against her. “What are you doing in here?”
    “Talking to you.” He edged closer, danger in his black eyes, hard lust in his expression.
    Her pulse jumped. She couldn’t run with naught but the window behind her even though flight was her duty in order to save men from their vile natures. If she didn’t accomplish such a worthy goal, Nuncio would toss her out in a second, smiling evilly. She lifted her chin and made certain to show no fear. “Step aside.”
    “Why?”
    “I need to get back to work, the same as you.”
    “No one will miss me for some time.” He glanced at the bed.
    Disgusted, she slammed her hands on his chest and pushed.
    He flailed his arms to right himself. Once he had, he was still in her way, not giving an inch.
    “Stop following me.” She spoke quietly to avoid anyone overhearing. “Nuncio is on to you.”
    “What if he is? Means nothing except we have to be more careful. We can do all sorts of things without him ever knowing. Same as the other servants.”
    Not her. Never with him. He was too careless with his passion, too crude. He’d made it quite clear she meant nothing to him except as a warm body to ease his lust. The same as the man she’d escaped from. “That will never happen between us.”
    He glared and crowded her. “You too high and mighty for such things or too good for me?”
    His anger alarmed Beatriz more than his base desire. He seemed the sort who’d exact revenge if anyone dared mock him, whether the insult was genuine or only in his mind.
    “You misunderstand. I need this work to support my mother. Nuncio has his eye on me already. I have to take care.”
    “Why would he worry about you? He attends to Don Tomás’s affairs, not…” Sudden understanding registered in Rufio’s eyes. “He caught you trying to seduce our master.”
    She forced herself not to react. “Why would Don Tomás ever notice a mere servant? Nuncio caught me sitting in a chamber. I was resting when I had no right. Since then, he hounds me, showing up without warning. I need to watch my step.”
    Rufio’s grin returned. “Not with me.”
    She wanted to scream. “If anyone finds the cloth I dropped outside, I could be dismissed.”
    “Let me fetch the thing for you. Once I do—”
    “No.” She inched past him, praying he wouldn’t touch her. “I have no intention of putting you at risk. Please, return to your duties before Señora Cisneros or Nuncio asks where you are.”
    Beatriz bolted from the room and down the hall.
    * * * *
    Tomás slumped in his chair. A lone candle barely illuminated his desk, leaving his study in shadows. The hour was late, moon high, silvery rays bleeding around the window screen. His guests were finally in their bedchambers, asleep or devising plans to trap him.
    He hardly cared anymore. To have these few seconds without them was a relief, though he didn’t want to be alone, and wouldn’t be for long if history proved him correct.
    He relaxed as much as he could, waiting, wanting.
    Light tapping sounded in the hall. Beatriz’s footfalls, as he’d expected.
    Each workday before retiring, she came to his study to dust and straighten up. At least he supposed that’s what she did in here. He’d always waited in another chamber to hear her leave. Once she had, he’d return, hoping to catch her clean scent.
    Sometimes he did. Most often, he did not.
    Knowing her schedule, he took to straightening up before she arrived, hoping to ease her burden so she could go to bed sooner. Even with his efforts, she often spent close to an hour in here. Perhaps curled up in his chair, napping, because she preferred his