Read The Charmer for Free Online Page B

the night chose that moment to flash in technicolor glory
through her mind.
    A reckless thrill raced through her and
flashed in her transparent face, and she prayed he wouldn’t notice.
She didn’t want to feel this way.
    The answering flare of heat in his eyes,
quickly banked, said he knew.
    “Justice is swift,” he continued, forcing
them both to focus on his point. Whatever it had been. “Punishment,
often cruel.” His dark gaze swept her, sizzling with what lay
unspoken between them. “So reckless, little dragonfly. So eager to
tease danger.“ He stepped back, holding out his hand. “Give me your
sash.”
    Jasmine’s hands clamped protectively around
the sash at her waist. She took a step back. “Why?”
    Arctic chill slipped into his voice. “Do you
give it to me, or do I take it?”
    She wanted to believe he wouldn’t really hurt
her. Swallowing hard, she slowly unwound it and gave it to him, her
arm at full extension.
    He grasped her wrists and raised her arms
above her head as he bound them to a convenient branch.
    At that point Jasmine should have struggled.
She knew it. Maybe he knew it, too. She told herself he was bigger,
and stronger, and she’d never get away. All lies. None of that had
stopped her before. None of it would have stopped her now if she
hadn’t wanted…
    The air was warm, but she shivered. Let
him think it’s fear, she begged silently, closing her eyes. Just this once I don’t want to think about it. Besides, it
was too late.
    His eyes on hers, he flicked open the clasp
of her overnji. She flinched.
    As if he owned her, he leisurely trailed his
fingers over the fluttering vein in her neck, pausing just a moment
to trace the dragonfly on her necklace. Her breathing picked up,
and he smiled at the unmistakable scent of charmer desire. For a
moment he forgot it was terror and not passion he was supposed to
inspire, and he reveled in her response. With his eyes half closed,
he drank deeply of her intoxicating perfume.
    Whether he knew it or not, Keilor wasn’t a
man in control. No man could be so close to a charmer and remain
his own.
    He shook his head as he remembered this was
supposed to be a lesson, not a seduction. He moved to kiss her.
    She snarled at him.
    “Behave,” he warned her with sensual promise,
“or I’ll bite back.” She nipped him anyway, and he nipped her back
sharply on the bottom lip, careful not to damage her tender skin.
She gave a shocked whimper and jerked back. “Behave,” he repeated,
and licked the small hurt to soothe it. The soothing turned without
warning into a commanding kiss, full of hot persuasion.
    Jasmine was having second thoughts. Whatever
had possessed her to let him do this? The man was arrogant enough
as it was without her giving in to him like a fool. Now was a fine
time for fear to start speaking sense! Never mind that it was a
fear born of inexperience.
    She tried to bite him, but it took only
moments for thoughts of revenge to be swept away by the siren call
of their desire. His was a kiss specially designed to overcome a
woman’s objections. She moaned and kissed him in return, then
jerked back with a mortified gasp.
    He laughed softly against her ear, and she
shivered. Her response to him was flattering, and he knew she
wasn’t happy about it. It was not what he’d intended. He’d have
done nothing more than scare her into obedience if she hadn’t
betrayed herself with her unmistakable desire. Now heat like a
river poured through him, consuming restraint, daring him to test
her limits.
    Pulling back, he flashed her a predatory
smile, and untied the knot of her bandeau. He left the ends draped
loosely over her neck, still protecting her from his eyes, but the
slightest movement on her part would cause them to slide right off.
She held very still, but her pupils smoked over, and her body spoke
of anticipation, not fear.
    Barely breathing, she watched him warily as
he traced a finger across her lips, to her temple and down her