An Improper Wife (28 page)

A corner of his mouth twitched upwards. “So it is to be a stare, then?”

His deep voice, rich with amusement, befuddled her. She opened her mouth to reply, but her voice failed her.

“Surely you can speak?” he said.

She nodded, then realised the absurdity of the response and stilled.

He propped himself up on an elbow. “Forgive me, Lady, but to what do I owe the honour of this…visit?”

Her mind froze. How should she answer? Fear rammed through her. What would the duchess do now that her plans had gone awry? Had she left her seat behind the painting? When Sir Bryant had entered, Riana had closed her eyes and so been unaware he was the wrong man. The duchess might already be back in the great hall, looking for the older knight.

Calm yourself,
she mentally ordered. Anger or no anger, Her Grace would not so readily give up her anticipated night of debauchery, particularly if she had company with her behind the picture.

“Not that I’m a man to complain.” Sir Bryant brushed her cheek with a finger. “What man would not be pleased to find you in his bed?”

Something in his tone snagged her attention. Of course, he knew who—
what
—she was. Every man who entered Arundel knew.

“There is no need for you to sacrifice yourself to me,” he said.

Riana blinked. Was he refusing her? Mayhap he despised whores. Ridiculous. What man didn’t take a whore when the need arose? But a tavern wench was different than a
Lady
who allowed her body to be a tool. He shifted and she realised he was rising. Panic bubbled over. She seized his arm. He paused and looked at her. She shook her head.

His gaze sharpened. “Do not—”

She tugged the sheet from her breasts. He dropped his gaze, and her nipples puckered. He shifted his eyes back to her face and she stilled. There was no mistaking the desire that darkened his eyes, but why the anger that was just as obvious? Her heart beat faster. Whatever his mood, she must make him want her. Her plans were in a shambles. How long did Glen and Siusan have? Not all night as she’d planned, but at least the time she kept the knight in her bed. Riana cupped the back of his neck and drew him to her mouth. He stopped a hair’s breadth from her lips, eyes locked with hers. His eyes narrowed.

Did he not like women? No. The way he had sucked her breast told her he had no need for another man’s cock in his arse. What had changed? She lifted her face and brushed her lips against his. His full mouth covered hers without hesitation. Relief flooded her, and she arched so that her nipples tickled his muscled chest. The tips hardened and Riana undulated them in a circle against his smooth flesh.

She slid a hand beneath the sheet and relief intensified when her fingers made contact with his engorged cock. He jerked back, eyes blazing, and she couldn’t halt the recoil that pressed her into the mattress. What was wrong? No man whose cock grew to such a length didn’t want the woman lying beneath him.

“I have displeased you?” she whispered.

“I have never taken a woman who didn’t come to me of her own free will,” he replied.

Riana stared. No man turned away a naked woman in his bed. No man gave a damn whether the woman was there willingly or not.

But a little voice inside asked,
Wouldn’t Stuart have cared?

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About the Author

Tarah Scott

Award winning author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on books such as The Bobbsey Twins (yes, she is dating herself!) Nancy Drew, Aesop’s Fables, The Arabian Knights, and Grimms Fairy Tales. Authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Mark Twain filled her teenage years. Her favourite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. Favourite modern authors are Stephen King, Anne Rice, Amanda Quick, and Johanna Lindsey.

Born in New Mexico, Tarah grew up in the Southwest. Fifteen years ago, she relocated to Westchester County, New York, where she and her daughter reside in a lakeside community. When not working, writing, or reading—who are we kidding? She’s always working, writing, or reading. Oh! There is her daughter. They do manage to spend a lot of time together.

Email:
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KyAnn Waters

KyAnn Waters lives in Utah with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She spends her days writing and her evenings with her family. She enjoys sporting events on the television, thrillers on the big screen, and hot scenes between the pages of her books.

Email:
[email protected]

Also by Tarah Scott

A Knight of Passion

Hawk and the Cougar

Also by KyAnn Waters

Bent For His Will

Tarah and KyAnn loves to hear from readers. You can find their contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.total-e-bound.com
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