A Wanton's Thief Read Online Free

seemed to glow about him. Her body obeyed and she sat in the chair, mute. Panic began to churn into something altogether different. Unable to move or speak, she kept her gaze fixed on the dancing inferno within the stone hearth. Anger simmered inside her, rolling to a full boil.
    Her unblinking stare moved to him. She watched, helpless as he stalked to a coffer and flipped open the lid. Hurriedly, he yanked his gunnysack from his shoulder, pulled it open and set it on the floor before the chest. Immediately, several familiar items caught her eye when he rummaged through the sack seeming to make room for more bounty. She saw her brother’s large medallion amulet, her father’s solid gold bookends, their ornate silverware passed down through many generations of Tremaynes and, collectively, worth a pretty pound.
    Her face warmed when he tossed and dug through the contents of her personal storage—oh, how she hated this man! He drew out a pair of her riding boots, two of her older gowns she normally wore for gardening and several grooming and toiletry articles. Mortified, she watched as he held up various undergarments, burying his face in the fluff of them before stuffing them into his bag.
    What was this man doing? Heavens help her, she was under the complete spell of a madman! She longed to scream, to demand answers to her questions. To flee!
    But she had no strength in her legs, no voice, no answers and he offered no explanations. Many more questions jumbled in her brain as he continued his free rein of her suite.
    He didn’t stop with her personal hidden items. Next, he crossed to the wall and plucked her thickest cape from a hook. Taking long strides, he breezed by the chest and snatched up his sack, then came to stand before her. Kneeling, he shoved her feet into the boots and fastened them. “Stand up.”
    Again, her body obeyed while her mind shouted in silent protest. He rose and swirled the fur-lined cloak around until it covered her shoulders. Fastening the wrap, those long, adept fingers moved up her collarbone to her neck. Even as gentle heat embraced her and slid down reluctantly into her womb, she could have sworn he was about to choke her. But instead, he raised the hood of the wrap and covered her head. His scent, now warmed by the fire at his back, incensed her, abducting her olfactory nerves in such a way that she longed to pinch her nose against the pleasing aroma of him.
    And she wondered with a mixture of amazement and ire how it could be that this man could instill fear in her one moment, and yet shocking desire the next.
    It was this dark magic of his. There could be no other explanation. If he didn’t possess these tricks of wizardry, he would not be able to possess her in any manner whatsoever!
    Footsteps fell upon the wooden plank of the outer threshold. Her eyes widened and hope flourished in her chest. Yes! I’m inside. I’m here. Please, Sheldon, Edwina, someone help me!
    He narrowed his eyes as they riveted toward the door. Once again, beams of energy shot from them. The footfalls stopped in the corridor outside her chamber. She heard voices, then an abrupt silencing. And the sounds of help, of her one salvation, retreated into the quiet of the hall.
    “Just a bit of gentle persuasion,” he said with the flash of a wolfish grin. “Now, we must go.”
    He quietly settled the fully stuffed gunnysack over his shoulder. His eyes held her spellbound, and he spoke with a deep, almost intimate command. “Turn and cross to the door. Open it. Check for servants, family, anyone. If and only if there is no one about, you will exit into the corridor, turn right, and descend the rear servant’s staircase. I will follow immediately behind you. Once we reach the lower level, you will lead me outdoors through the safest rooms and portals. You will only go where there are no other people about. When we reach the outdoors, you will allow me to escort you to my steed. And then together, we will mount and