Rules of Attraction Read Online Free Page A

tale."
    Gruesome, to hear her own death discussed in such an inimical tone. "Why… how did such a story start?"
    Unmoving, he ignored her question while measuring her with his gaze. "Sit down."
    "Dougald, how could you have let such horrible gossip spread?" she insisted.
    "Take off your hat. Remove your gloves and your wrap. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. You'll be here for a long, long time."
    Straightening her shoulders, lifting her chin, she said with chilly, preemptory precision, "I don't intend to stay."
    His jaw hardened and he pressed his lips together. Abruptly, he strode across the room, taking huge steps, right toward her. Chills chased up her spine, but she held her ground. He halted in front of the chair, blocking out the fire's light. "You keep this chair between us like a shield that will protect you."
    His large hand reached out to her. She watched it and schooled herself not to flinch as he touched her. Touched her for the first time in so many years.
    He cupped her jaw, his blunt fingertips brushing her ear, his palm lifting her chin. He wasn't rough. He touched her as if she were still the tall, impressible girl he had married, and that one, meager contact brought her a pleasure as sharp as pain.
    "You hide behind that chair, but if I wished, I could pick it up and fling it across the room. I could take you to the floor and have you now, darling, and all your cries would be of delight." His thumb slid up and caressed her lips, and for the first time he smiled, a rapierlike smile of pernicious resolve. "But that would be too easy, so have a seat."
     
     

3
    H annah felt the stroke of Dougald's fingers on her face and stared at his grim, savagely satisfied features. All trace of the youthful, charming pirate had disappeared, leaving her confronting a brute so intent on vengeance and so puffed with importance he threatened her with subjugation and tyranny.
    But if he was no longer the smiling daredevil, neither was she the soft-spoken innocent.
    Wrapping her fingers around his wrist, she moved his hand away. "Be polite and I'll sit. Threaten me again, and I'm off to find Mrs. Trenchard and my supper."
    He blinked as if he'd not heard such a contemptuous response in a great many years.
    "Step back," she repeated.
    He did, one single short step away from the chair.
    Interesting. During the whole time she had lived with him, he had never, ever done anything she suggested or demanded, not even step backward to give her some breathing room. As far as he was concerned, he was always right, and he had cajoled or kissed or ignored all of her appeals and complaints. Now she wondered… had he learned compromise? Was he humoring her? Or had she learned to speak with such a voice of command that he actually listened?
    Although, truth to tell, he still stood too close. But she would be satisfied with even so small a gain. Lifting her arms, she pulled the long hat pin free. "It was a long trip, and I find I'm feeling peckish. Please call for a meal."
    He watched her body greedily, as if her raised arms had allowed him to view her naked glories rather than the formidable black wool of her winter cloak. She wasn't shivering anymore, she noted; the rush of anger and the uncomfortable brush with ancient passions had warmed her, and she was glad to place the hat on the side table and set about making herself comfortable. She unwrapped her soft wool muffler and removed her gloves, and stacked them atop the hat. Then, one by one, she slid the buttons of the cloak free.
    "A simple repast will suffice," she said pointedly.
    Dougald didn't seem to hear, hadn't even moved. He stared at her bare hands, at her long neck, and most of all at her face, his gaze lingering as if to compare the memory of what she had been with what she had become.
    About that, Hannah had no illusions. In her youth, Dougald had told her repeatedly how very much he loved the silky glide of her blond hair, the brown eyes with that startling slant and