Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
It brought to her a sense of adventure, freedom and peacefulness. All things she’d never gotten at her childhood home. She began walking after opening her eyes, and headed to the bridge. Four split rails and it boasted one tree on either side of the bank.
“I suppose they offer shade in the warmer months.” In her mind, there would be fragrant flowers adding their perfume to the air, mingling with the sweet grass smell.
At the beginning of the bridge, she skimmed gloved fingers over the ice-covered wood. Gripping the rail, she bent over and peered down at the frozen water below.
How deep was it? Had they played in this during the summers here, growing up? What would it have been like to experience such freedom?
“What thoughts are going on in your head?”
She should have jumped. He should have shocked her, but her body’s reaction to his proximity had alerted her long before he rested beside her.
“Thinking about how beautiful this place is, and how much I would love to travel.”
A rough, sad laugh escaped.
“Of course, my father said I get to travel all the way to Italy when he marries me off like the property I am to him.”
The man beside her stiffened and she angled her head to look at him. His strong jaw, covered with a hint of scruff, was clenched, and a muscle worked tautly beneath the skin. No hat on his head, allowing all his thick, dark hair to move in the wind.
Her fingers itched to push through the strands and simply allow herself to feel.
“Anyway,” she said, looking forward once more. There were little dips and swells on the top of the river, like it had been a windy day when it froze. “I was imagining you and your siblings playing in this river.”
“We did a lot of that. Mama had a hard time keeping us inside.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go?”
“Everywhere.” She didn’t hesitate, there wasn’t one place she longed to go more than others, she longed to travel. Plain and simple.
“Any place more than another?”
“Not at all. I’ve been a total of two places, well, three now, in my life. To be able to see mountains, the oceans, desert.” She lifted a shoulder. “It would be incredible.” Taking a chance to steal another peek, she did her best to hide the moan of appreciation this man pulled from her.
His gaze focused on her mouth and she felt an answering tug between her thighs.
“I’m sure you want to spend time with your family. I’m going to take a walk.” She made sure her smile didn’t falter until she had her back to him while she crossed the bridge.
“Scared to be alone with me, lioness?”
How was it possible for this man to surround her with warmth and not even touch her?
“And why would that be? We have a deal set between us. We’re helping each other to get what we want.”
Proud of herself for not whimpering with the need this man never failed to rouse within her, she continued walking.
“Are we, though?”
That stopped her. Spinning back, she slipped on her boot heel and Bryn snagged her around the waist, hauling her to the hard planes of his body without hesitation.
He moves me around like I’m a thin girl. And he’d done this more than once, always making her feel tiny and beautiful.
His beryl gaze burned into her as he put them nose to nose. Warm puffs of his breath fanned over her skin and she inhaled deeply of his minty scent.
Rosamunde gulped, scrambling desperately not to lose control and close the distance and press her lips to his firm ones. Arching one eyebrow, she braced her hands against his chest. Better not let him think he had the upper hand. Even if he did.
Seriously? How is he so fit?
Oh, that’s right, his boxing.
“Something wrong with the terms we already set?” She nearly rolled her lower lip while waiting for him to respond.
Holding her breath, she watched him. Indecision scampered over his features before that arrogant smirk lifted one half of his mouth.
“Maybe I want to tweak them.”
Encouraging him was poor judgment, however she loved bantering with him. The thrill she received from his reaction to her every time they exchanged taunts and more was addicting. Couldn’t get enough of how he watched her like she was the only one in the room, or in his focus. Arrogant and stupidly selfish? Sure. Was she going to change that? Nope. Not at all when her future was so bleak.
With that in mind, she didn’t pull back from her proximity to him, nor did she demand he release her. Of course not. Instead she curved her fingers into the scratchy wool of his coat.
Bryn waited. For her to slap him across the face for his forward commentary. For her to jerk her knee toward his groin to remind him of what was proper. She did neither. His heart kicked up as her grip tightened on his coat, keeping them pressed close to each other.