The Vengeance Trilogy by Lana Williams

Author:Lana Williams [Williams, Lana]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Love Story, Romance
Publisher: Lana Williams
Published: 2014-02-12T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Icy shards of rain pelted Nicholas’s face. He scanned both sides of the path as he rode, hoping for a glimpse of Elizabeth, certain he’d find her cowering in the trees, but to no avail. His concern grew. Where could she be?

More importantly, why had she left?

The rain made it difficult to see and hid any tracks he could’ve followed. His worry mounted the farther he rode. He hoped she’d had the sense to find a dry place out of the storm.

An old, abandoned cottage on the edge of the woods near the north end of the valley would be the most likely place for her to seek shelter. If she’d gotten that far, she might have noticed the small building tucked among the trees.

He rode as hard as he dared in the slick mud toward the cottage, arriving as the deluge began in full force. The narrow lean-to attached to the small hut would shelter his horse. As he rounded the corner of the cottage, relief filled him at the sight of Elizabeth’s horse already tethered to a post under the roof. He drew a deep breath as the urgency of his mission eased, then looped his horse’s reins around a post alongside hers and headed toward the door of the cottage.

Thunder rumbled as Nicholas entered. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness of the interior.

Elizabeth knelt in the middle of the floor, those long competent fingers tending a small fire on the raised hearth. The low flames indicated that she’d recently lit it and, based on her satisfied smile, seemed quite proud of her accomplishment.

Surprise filled him. Why wasn’t she upset? A crumbling heap upon the floor awaiting his rescue? Why couldn’t she ever do what he expected her to?

She looked up and caught sight of him, obviously shocked by his appearance. “My lord? What are you doing here? You’re soaked even more than I.”

Her words barely registered. All his senses were overwhelmed by the sight of her. Perhaps because he’d been so worried. He hated to think it was for any other reason.

She’d loosened her damp hair from its normal braid, and somehow seeing her in disarray changed everything. The long strands fell to her waist in soft waves. The wet fabric of her pale golden gown pulled taut and clung to every curve as she knelt by the fire. The gown that had appeared a bit worn this morn was nearly sheer now that it was damp. Her nipples were clearly visible, making him catch his breath. The fire faltered, and she turned back to it to blow into the flames, her mouth forming a perfect circle which each breath.

Damn.

The blood in his head moved south so quickly, it left him lightheaded.

With a watchful eye on the now steadily burning fire, she rose, her gaze scanning his face. “What is it?” The firelight behind her silhouetted her long legs through the thin dress and turned her curling hair to burnished gold.

He tried to pull his thoughts to what she’d said.

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