Taken and Seduced Read Online Free Page A

to touch him.
    “Is there another blanket?” she asked.
    “No.”
    Of course not. She didn’t believe him, but what could she do? He was punishing her for her disobedience, which she so little deserved. She was a prisoner—she was supposed to try to escape. He would do the same thing!
    Feeling foolishly brave, she ignored his offer of warmth and lay down with her back to him, leaving a foot of space between them. She thought she heard an evil chuckle behind her, which only made her clench her jaw with determination. She was close to the fire; it would keep her warm. But soon enough the wind seemed to infiltrate that small space behind her. Her front was almost too hot, her back freezing cold. But every time she glanced at the rope binding her wrist, and thought of all it represented, she swore to herself that she would bear the cold. Soon she couldn’t control her shivers.
    Suddenly he was right behind her, not quite touching, and she hadn’t even felt the blanket shift. She gave a little start, but he did nothing else. How did he move so silently?
    “Ready to give up?” he asked in a soft voice from above and behind her.
    His breath puffed gently against her ear, and she had the strangest urge to shudder. ’Twas the cold.
    He didn’t wait for her response. She gasped as he tucked his body behind hers, knees in the bend of her knees, hips pressed to hers. After he pulled the cloak over and around them both, his arm came to rest over her waist, his big hand near her stomach. She forgot how to breathe, even as she heard his even breathing behind her.
    Though warmth seeped into her bones, she couldn’t relax. What did he mean to do to her under cover of darkness? His companions would see nothing—would say nothing. She was only a pawn to them. Though she tried to hide her fear, she couldn’t stop the occasional quiver.
    “Are you still cold?” he asked.
    She could feel the rumble of his voice where his chest met her back. She shook her head, not trusting her own voice. His hand at her stomach frightened her. He could move it…anywhere.
    But after several long moments, she realized he didn’t plan to do anything. He’d fallen asleep. She stifled a groan and closed her eyes at last. She’d never been the kind of woman men made fools ofthemselves over. Even her close proximity didn’t affect Sir Adam.
    But he affected her, and she didn’t like it.
    It was a long time before she could sleep, and even then her sleep was fitful. She awoke every time Sir Adam moved, as if she expected him to pounce. At one point, someone was rebuilding the fire, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Sir Robert glance at her. To her astonishment, he winked, as if this were all a game to him. She gave him the most intense glare she could manage and slammed her eyes shut.
    Some time before dawn, she must have finally fallen into a deep sleep, for she only awoke groggily when Sir Adam shook her arm. She blinked, feeling stiff and exhausted, and opened her eyes to the gray light. Sir Robert and Sir Michael were already up, only flattened grass the proof that they’d slept.
    But Sir Adam was still behind her, she thought uneasily, wondering why he, too, hadn’t left her alone. And then she remembered the rope at her wrist.
    She could feel him coming up on his elbow behind her, the way his chest slid up her back. Though she didn’t want to, she looked over her shoulder to see his face above hers. For a moment, he wasn’t looking at her, and she was able to study him. His black hair was rumpled from sleep, and there was a crease along his cheek where he’d rested against his arm.
    And then he met her gaze. For a frozen moment, neither of them said anything. His blue eyes, the color of frigid lake water, seemed to bore into hers, and she wondered what he was looking for, what he saw. His hand rested on her hip. She realized she could feel the length of each of his fingers, holding her as if she were his possession.
    And then he slid