Authors: Tanya Anne Crosby
Once Upon a Kiss (41 page)
He grinned, his teeth flashing white, and his eyes
sparkling devilishly. “Since when?” he asked, spreading her legs suddenly, and
settling himself between them.
“Blaec!” she gasped, and frowned down at him,
scandalized that he would take such liberties here within the hall. “Not here!”
she cried softly, and peered over her shoulder.
“No one is watching, Dominique. I only wish to
hold you, at any rate,” he reassured her, his tone as innocent as that of a
little boy as he wrapped his arms about her waist. “Now tell me, when did you
first know?”
She shivered within his arms, loving the feel of
him so near. Wicked though it might be, there was something delicious about the
way he was settled between her thighs. “Since the moment I fell in love with
you, of course!” she answered flippantly, entwining her fingers within his
silky hair.
He gazed up at her, persisting, “And when was
that?”
Dominique sighed breathlessly, her heart racing
with his nearness. “In the forest... I first knew it then,” she confessed, her
voice husky and slightly flustered. He bit gently at her breast and she gasped.
“You are a wicked, insatiable man,” she accused him, but she wrapped her legs
about him, nevertheless.
He inhaled sharply, and tugged her down to sit
upon his lap. Dominique cried out, laughing. “And you are a tease,” he returned
huskily, leaning to touch the warmth of his mouth to hers. It seemed as though
when their lips met, a chorus rang out in Dominique’s head, a symphony of
heavenly voices that deafened her and infused her heart with joy.
“Stay with me, Dominique,” he rasped, “be my
bride... ’Tis God’s truth that I do love you, as well,” he murmured against her
mouth.
As she heard his profession of love, Dominique’s
heart flowered with a gladness unlike any she’d ever known. “I will,” she said,
wrapping her arms about his neck, embracing him, clinging to the promise of his
words. “Only tell me, my lord,” she ventured haughtily, “when did you first
know?”
“Know what?” he teased.
‘That you loved me, of course!”
“Hmmmm... did I say I did?” He peered into her
eyes, mischief dancing in his own.
Dominique laughed and smacked the back of his head
with her open palm—and none too softly. “Only just now!” she berated him.
“Aye! Now I recall,” he said, reaching back and
rubbing his head. “Mind you, demoiselle, that I am a wounded man!” he added
plaintively, but he chuckled richly.
Laughter bubbled up from the depths of her.
“When did I first know that I loved you?” He
repeated the question to himself, sighing. “’Tis quite simple.” He grinned,
forgetting his head and holding her close once more. He tightened his arms
about her, and lowered his head, nestling the scarred side of his cheek against
the pulse at her throat, listening to the quickening beat that matched his own.
And for an instant he merely held her that way, savoring the simple pleasure of
holding the woman he loved within his arms. He sighed then, and relented at
last, “There, too, in the forest... once upon a kiss...”
Dominique pouted. “Are you certain it was not
sooner?” she asked, her brows knitting. “Graeham said ’twas when you first
spied me.
He chuckled softly. “Ah... well, did he now? That,
I fear, was but a healthy dose of lust.”
She gasped indignantly, lowering her Up. “And how
is it you know the difference now, my lord?” she asked petulantly.
“Simple,” he revealed, his voice husky. “Because I
would be as content to hold you just so, Dominique... for the rest of my given
days.” And then he proceeded to prove his point, though he had designs in
haunting his own keep this night. He held her fast, till even the torchlight
exhausted and guttered, flickering out.
And still he held her in the soft light of the
candle that burned at their side; two figures entwined, sharing the same
heartbeat.
Farther up the stairwell, in the darkness, two
indistinguishable figures watched unobserved. And then even the two wearied,
and smiling, turned and mounted the tower steps.
“You did well, m’lord,” whispered the one.
“Aye,” agreed the other. “And now I deserve my
reward...”
There was a smile in the soft feminine voice as
she replied, “Again, m’lord? You will kill yourself yet.”
“And die a happy man,” he returned.
Quiet laughter drifted down after them, even as
their paces quickened upward, leaving the two below to follow their own amorous
pursuits.
Other e-books by
Tanya Anne Crosby
THE HIGHLAND BRIDES
THE MEDIEVALS
THE IMPOSTOR SERIES
SAGEBRUSH BRIDE
THE NOVELLAS
And don’t miss Tanya’s new romantic suspense…
Tanya has written seventeen novels, all of which
have graced numerous bestseller lists including the
New York Times
and
USA Today
. Best known for stories
charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels
have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her
husband, two dogs and two moody cats in northern Michigan.
For more information:
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A Gift
from the Jewels…
In this very special anthology, twelve
internationally bestselling, award-winning historical romance authors—all
Jewels—have selected their favorite scenes to share with you. Along with
Tanya’s, you’ll visit favorites scenes by
Jill
Barnett
,
Annette Blair
,
Cheryl Bolen
,
Lucinda Brant
,
Glynnis Campbell
,
Colleen Gleason
,
Danelle Harmon
,
Brenda Hiatt
,
Lauren Royal
,
Laurin Wittig
and
Cynthia Wright
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