Page 35 of A Touch So Wicked

“Never! The verra fact that you’re an Englishman makes that unlikely.”

His inflexible stance should have warned her. Silent tension stretched between them. She knew she should say something to break the taut silence but the words died in her throat when she realized he was going to kiss her. Though it was the last thing Elissa wanted, her face tilted upward and she moistened her parted lips with the tip of her tongue.

“Vixen,” he said in a low, driven voice. “While you batter me with words, your body bids me welcome. Do you enjoy teasing me?”

Elissa blinked. Why did she let him do this to her? He seemed to take great pleasure in leading her down the path of betrayal. She had to be more vigilant in the future. The darkly seductive Demon Knight mustn’t be allowed to destroy her pride, her very honor.

Shaking her head to clear it of Damian’s tantalizing scent, Elissa fought to free herself. “Go away!”

Damian laughed as his arms closed tightly around her. “Not yet,” he growled.

She closed her eyes as his mouth took hers. His lips were soft but the rest of his body was stiff and unyielding. Clutching awkwardly at his shoulders, she fought his desire as well as her own. It shouldn’t be like this. She couldn’t…shouldn’t want him. She’d spent most of her life hating Englishmen. What made this man different?

Abruptly Damian broke off the kiss and stepped away, his expression strangely tender. But his voice held a hard edge as he said, “We’ll see who can hold out longer, my lady. Compared to me, you’re a novice at this game.”

Elissa regarded him with derision. “I’m playing no game, my lord.”

“Women always play games. ’Tis their nature.” His grin unnerved her. “My chamber door will always be open to you. Come to me when you wish to learn more about the pleasure I promised.”

She turned her head away. “I will never come to you.”

Then a strange thing happened. From the corner of her eye Elissa noticed a man who seemed oddly familiar enter the courtyard with a group of tradesmen. He wore Fraser plaid and a bonnet pulled low over his forehead. But for one spellbinding moment, the man raised his head and looked directly at her and Damian.

Recognition shuddered through her and she felt the warmth drain from her face.

Tavis Gordon!

“What’s wrong?” Damian asked sharply. “Are you ill?”

Did Damian suspect the reason for her distraction? “Naught is wrong. ’Tis time I found Lora and returned to the keep to begin her lessons.”

Damian released her instantly. “Lora’s a bright child, she’ll do well at lessons. Will you teach her yourself?”

Elissa nodded. “If you have no objections.”

“Nay, ‘twill keep you out of trouble.”

Elissa hurried off. She’d never understand Damian. He was a hardened soldier, an unrelenting adversary and ruthless in many ways, but he seemed genuinely concerned about Lora and Marianne. It was almost as if he were two different men, and the face he showed her was not the same one he presented to her mother and sister. But Elissa had other things to worry about. What was Tavis Gordon doing at Misterly?

Tavis appeared from nowhere as she rounded the corner on her way to the stables to find Lora. He grasped her arm and roughly dragged her into the shadowy interior of the building.

“Tavis, you shouldna be here.”

“I had to see you. Are you all right? What has the English bastard done to you?”

Elissa wondered if Tavis had seen Damian kiss her. “He’s done naught. I was supposed to be sent to the convent but Lord Damian dinna think that was a good idea. I may yet be sent to London for the Hanover to deal with me. The English donna want us to wed and unite our clans.”

“They canna stop us,” Tavis said fiercely.

“What can you do? ’Tis dangerous for you to be here.”

“’Tisna safe to talk here,” Tavis hissed. “Meet me in the stables tonight, after the evening meal. Donna let anyone see you. I’ll explain everything then.”

They heard voices and Tavis stepped deeper into the shadows. “Tonight, lass, donna fail me.”

He disappeared around the corner just as Lora and her friends appeared.

“Lissa, you should see the kittens! They’re adorable.”