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Secrets of the Knight by Julia Latham (Gayle Callen) Book 3
of the "League of the Blade" series Desperate to keep him from discovering the truth, Diana attempts a daring abduction. But all her skills as a knight are no defense against the powerful, irresistible nobleman who has just become her prisoner. A man with a mystery of his own. A man who eyes her so hungrily, so wantonly, that he could tempt her to give up all her secrets for one wicked night in his arms...
"An amazing talent."
Kinley MacGregor NY Times bestselling author "Ms. Latham continues her League of Bladesmen series
with a tale of a remarkable woman
"Julia Latham has swiftly moved to the top of my auto buy list for
medieval romances." Excerpt (The following is the property of the author and Avon Books, and cannot be copied or reprinted without permission.)
Chapter 1
(The plot to this point: Diana has held Thomas prisoner for days, afraid he knows that she killed his brother and allowed him to take the blame. Thomas is ready to turn the tables on Diana and figure out what she's up to.)
“I will escort you to your bedchamber, Lord
Bannaster,” Diana said. “I,
too, am retiring early.” She ignored her sister’s
shocked fury, which wasn’t
well concealed. Cicely would think Diana was only doing this to have
the
viscount’s undivided attention. And Diana was, but not for
the reasons Cicely
would assume.
Bannaster gave her a polite smile. “You have my
thanks, Mistress Diana.
I am so tired that I might wander about and lose my way.”
“You seem to be good at that,” she
murmured, then held her breath,
wondering what he would do to her for her insolence.
He only grinned.
She turned away, knowing he was behind her, following too
close,
watching her. How obvious was he being, before all the castle
residents? But of
course, he had just told them all he would be looking her over, like a
prized
horse to be bought. Every maidservant and valet was grinning at her,
thrilled
that a viscount was noticing her—even if he was only looking
at her backside.
Diana’s anger and fear subsided in the face of her
people’s concern for her.
She had come here as almost a stranger a few years ago, and they had
become
like family to her. If only she could feel safe here, but she knew she
was at
Kirkby Keep only on her brother’s whim, and he could change
his mind whenever
he wanted.
And now another man controlled her fate.
She ascended the main stairs, then walked down the torch-lit
corridor,
past several servants, to the circular stairs going up to the next
floor. She
had earlier won a battle over Cicely, who had absurdly wanted the
viscount to
have a bedchamber near theirs.
On the next floor, Diana gestured to a closed door.
“Should you not open it for me out of
courtesy?” he asked, still
wearing that perpetual smile.
Shaking her head, she did so. Someone had come up the moment
he had
arrived at Kirkby Keep, for candles were lit, and a cheerful fire
already eased
the castle’s chilly dampness.
The door slammed behind her. Bannaster grabbed her about the
waist and
shoved her up against the wall. Stunned, she hadn’t imagined
he would punish
her physically. He pinioned her hips with his, spread her hands wide
when she
would have hit him—and then covered her mouth with his.
Her vaunted ability for self-defense fled, her mind went
blank, and she
forgot everything that had gone between them, except the pull of
awareness.
There were only his lips exploring hers, his tongue teasing and winning
entrance to her mouth. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss,
pressing his
body the entire length of hers. And though he was still almost cold to
the
touch, she burned where his hard flesh met hers. Her breasts ached
where they
were flattened against his chest; a feeling of hot need pooled low in
her
belly. He pressed his thigh between hers, sending a searing wave of desire pulsing through her, and she moaned her defeat into his mouth. |
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