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Naked, was all he managed, a picture of her naked with rain running down her
soft swells into delicious, hidden crevices rising to tantalize him.
Shocking. She shook her head sadly but her eyes sparkled, belying the
soberness of her tone and face. But you asked and I crumbled beneath your
charm.
Heddam scrutinized her face. You re not going to tell me, are you? He felt
like shaking her, amongst other things.
Her lashes dropped demurely. Will you still love me when I m old and fat and
have a lot of lycats and insist on running my fat arse naked in the summer rain?
Still bent down enough so that they were almost eye level, Heddam braced his
hands on his thighs and studied her face. She still had her head bent slightly,
lowered eyelashes making black crescents against her pale golden skin. Her lips
trembled slightly and she bit them lightly, and when she raised those thick
eyelashes to peek up at him, merriment danced in the depths of her eyes.
He should have been angry. The wench wasn t telling him any of her secrets.
She was laughing at him.
Tasi, he began.
Yes, Heddam? She smiled winningly.
That smile took his breath away. Mischief danced in her eyes and her kyrat
sparkled. He had to fight an answering smile and remain focused on the main
topic. You re wanted by the High Emperor. Why?
Maybe he wants to see me dancing naked in the summer rain?
I don t think so.
You never know. Maybe he wants to find out where I stashed my hoard of
chocolates. That d be a secret worth dying for.
Reaching out, Heddam caught her chin gently between thumb and forefinger.
Nothing is worth you dying for.
Well, he s not going to find out where my books are. He wants them, he fights
me for them.
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A mixture of tenderness and frustration whirled through Heddam. Be serious,
Tasi.
That s not as much fun. The sparkle in her eyes faded. You have to laugh
sometimes, Heddam.
In a situation like this, tis not much to laugh about.
If you don t laugh, you cry. I d much rather laugh.
The simple words touched him deep inside. The sparkle of her kyrat dulled to
the normal soft golden glow. The curve of merriment left her lips and her face
grew serious once more.
The silence in the cabin wrapped around them both as they gazed at each other.
Running his thumb down across her jaw line, Heddam felt the frustration slip
away as he faced the truth. You re not going to tell me, are you, Tasi?
No. She continued to look at him without flinching.
You don t trust me?
It s not safe to get mixed up with me, Heddam.
Too late, lass. Much too late.
Simon will drop me off on your next stop and you can continue your life. She
gave a small smile. Go back to your brawling and wenching and trading. Find a
nice woman who ll do what you want and never give you a hard time. I just know
there s any number of them out there who will come running at one crook of your
finger. You can have your pick and live happily ever after.
He thought about it. Long years stretching ahead with a biddable wench who
lived to please him. Who smiled and hungered after him, who would raise his
children and keep his house.
Only it wouldn t be a home. It wouldn t be the wench he wanted to have carry
his children and raise them. It wouldn t be a wench with mischief dancing in her
eyes and the confidence in herself to tell him no, and who would drive him to
distraction. It wouldn t be the wench he loved.
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Heddam looked at her. The wench wouldn t be Tasi, and he would settle for no
other wench but Tasi.
There was no doubt she knew exactly what he was thinking when she said,
No.
Without a word, Heddam slid his fingers down her throat and around her nape.
I m not the one for you, Tasi stated.
There were no words he could say that would convince her. It made no
difference. Heddam knew who he wanted. Tasi was meant for him and there would
never be another wench in his life. His need for her rose up in him. Her look, her
scent, her humour, her stubbornness... he wanted it all. He wanted her.
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