Read Always Mine for Free Online Page B

unusual event.
    Galan called forth something lurking in the back of her memory. Flashes of a stolen moment in a draped window en-closure. The feel of his body as he clasped her to him. She blinked and shook her head. No way could that be a memory.
    How could she remember anything about Galan? This was a dream, for heaven’s sake. He ended his song with a flourish and returned to sit beside her.
    ALWAYS MINE
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    She leaned her head close to his and put her hand on his arm.“Galan, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a more beautiful song. I hated for it to . . .”
    Suddenly, her bench wobbled dangerously, almost spilling her onto the stone floor. She jumped up like a startled rabbit, lost her balance and landed on Galan’s firm thighs. As she scrambled off him, her nose bumped against a hard-as-marble chest.
    That impossible man again! She knew, for she had stared at that same chest earlier and recognized his clothing. And his enticing scent. Leaning back against the table while rubbing her nose, she tilted her head to look up at his face.
    Surely her eyes played tricks on her?
    “Ye will return to yer room. Now.” The words sounded forced between grim lips. He scooped her up in his arms and stalked toward the stone stairwell.
    Lydia struggled and pushed at his shoulders. His grasp tightened.
    “Keep ye still, or I will put ye o’er my shoulder.” He glowered down at her as an added warning.
    Lydia felt the blood drain from her face. Because of the Norman helm he had worn in the clearing, and because of the dark bedchamber above, she had not seen him clearly before.
    He couldn’t possibly be the man whom she thought she was seeing. Not even in a dream. No foggy mist that enveloped them in the antique shop separated them here. She could feel his heat, his flesh. She smelled his scent that caused her blood to race through her body.
    “Tell me your name, Demon. Tell me your name.” He couldn’t be the man in the ink drawing. It wasn’t possible!
    “Damron, woman, not Demon. My name is Damron, and well ye know it.” His words grated with impatience.
    “No. Not just Damron. Tell me all of it.” Her words quivered with apprehension. She had to be sure.
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    Sophia Johnson
    “Damron Alasdair, of the Morgans at Blackthorn Castle.
    What difference does my full name make?”
    “You can’t be. You’re dead!” Lydia gripped the neatly braided hair at his temples. She drew his face closer. Shock rippled through her.
    Her shout echoed off the stone walls. “How can you be here? You’ve been dead for centuries!”
    Chapter 4
    Damron surged up the stairway two steps at a time, wanting to get Brianna to her bedchamber and out of his arms as quickly as possible—before he shook some sense into her.
    From his first sight of her riding toward him days before, she had acted nothing like the biddable young woman he was promised. She had enticed Galan, leaning toward him when she spoke. Even touching him familiarly. Damron’s stomach churned, remembering Brianna’s rapt expression when the young man sang.
    Why, she did not act like a meek lass who had lived in an abbey, but like a headstrong lad who thought to ignore his authority. She would have found herself soundly thrashed as soon as she had disobeyed his orders and appeared below—
    were she a lad.
    Damron kicked the heavy door to her chamber. It crashed back against the stone walls for the second time in her recent memory. Quick strides took him across the room, where he dropped her on the bed.
    “Ack!” She spread her arms and clutched at the covers.
    Elise ran through the doorway and skittered around him as he whirled and stalked from the room.
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    Sophia Johnson
    “Oh, Brianna, whatever will you do?” Elise twisted her hands together and looked about to cry. “Everyone heard you yell that Lord Damron has been dead for hundreds of years. Why, he would be dust by now. He was furious. I am afeared they will lock you in a tower like they did Great-grandmother