Bold (The Handfasting) - By Becca St. John Page 0,33

from the depths of her, poured out, wave upon wave. Her body stretched toward the sky, a plea, to carry away the keen that came from the darkest corner of her soul.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Trained warrior, a seasoned fighter who could act without thought, Talorc froze, unable to move. His heart plummeted to the bowels of hell.

He’d thought she was going to ride straight off the rise. He was certain of it, was too far away to stop it. His men thought it a trick, did not interfere. They had applauded and cheered. And then her mount rose on its haunches danced a dance, made a show.

Had she heard the thundering cries from her clansmen? Had she done it on purpose, as his men thought? If she had, he’d kill her with his own bare hands, after he’d clung to her.

She was more than he could handle.

“You’ve got yourself one hell of a lassie, boy!” Thomas shouted.

Talorc was too shaken to respond. She’d already charged off madly beyond sight, east when they were headed north. He was capable of no more than pointing toward the proper route. His men followed with alacrity, he set off to find his mate.

She hadn't gone far, straight down into the valley below, no further. The sight of her, a crumpled heap upon the ground, racked with dry sobs, tore a brutal hole in his anger. He dismounted, crossed to her and lifted her into his arms. She fought him, fought to be free.

Ignoring her meager blows, he sat upon a large boulder, Maggie cradled in his lap.

“Don’t you dare think to comfort me.” She punched his chest. “This is your doing." She pounded him again. "What do you care that I have no one? What do you care?”

With a fell grip. he captured her hands, “I care.”

“Hah!”

She strained against his hold, his handfasted, his partner, his helpmate. Did she not feel the invisible bond wrapped around them?

“Look!" He pressed their clasped hands against his chest, "You have me lass! You have me, here, for you." Frustrated anger rode high in his blood.

"You?" She shouted back, "I have you? What good is that? You who create changes so drastic, my own clan don't know me anymore."

“You are changed.”

“Never!”

“No?” His smile mocked. “You don’t think so?” She stilled, guarded. So she should be. He had waited a lifetime for this woman, hungered for her before he even knew of her existence. Now that he had found her, his loins ached, urged for release, anything, even the simple taste of her lips.

Ravenous, he would wait no more, could not bear to. She was his, to love, honor and take. Past time she knew of it.

“You,” he stopped, to settle the race of blood that challenged his lungs. “You,” he started again, “changed the moment we touched.”

He tugged at her hair, pulled her head back, looked into her eyes. Wary, aye, for she saw the truth in his words.

“From the moment you landed in my hands, you knew, you sensed, you felt what you’ve never had before.”

Unwittingly she licked her lips, wetting his desire. Still, he didn’t kiss her, though he imagined doing so.

Not just yet. She had relaxed. He would use that, eased his hold, lifted a finger to trace her mouth, felt her soft huff of breath. Again, she moistened her lips, only this time she found the tip of his finger. He eased it inside.

“Taste me.” He ordered. She hesitated then nipped, nearly undoing him. “Do you know what you’re about?” He wondered out loud.

“No,” she whimpered, and buried her head in his shoulder. “I don’t. You are right, I am not who I was. I am a stranger with strange thoughts, wants . . .”

“You've nothing to fear with me.”

"It's not the fear that frets me."

Gentling himself, Talorc stroked her back, fought his need to have her closer. "We're handfasted, no need to feel shame."

Face still pressed to his collar, she shook her head.

He cupped her chin, tilted her face to his, to see the thoughts written there. “Maggie, what do you know of what's between us?” Before the words could be asked, Maggie jerked from his hold, indignant, proud. She looked straight at him and he had his answer.

She would not shy from what she felt, but she'd never felt it before. “Ah, lass,” his words a smile, “You have old knowledge, but it’s all too new to you. Confuses a body. We