Read The Forgotten for Free Online Page B

get along like two peas in a pod.
    Breaking out of the water, she rubbed her hands over her eyes and blinked the water away. The heavy scent of lavender that permeated the air made her sleepy. She’d love to have a lay down and snooze the afternoon away.
    Unfortunately, she still had things to do and as much as she wished she could hide away from the world for a few hours, she couldn’t.
    Standing up on wobbly legs, she reached for a towel and wrapped it around her body. The air was still quite chilly. Her helper, Bianca had obviously not been tending to the fires properly, which meant the storm shutters in the other rooms would not be drawn. She was more than likely passed out in the kitchen downstairs, a state she was normally in, as she was of the sort to believe that she could drown her sorrows in the bottle. She just hoped that someone was tending bar—if not Bianca, then her sister, Christi.
    Not that she could totally blame Bianca—she was horribly disfigured thanks to the bloody bastard, Lord Ulwyn.
    Neri washed her chemise out in the sink and hung it to dry. Reaching for her bracelets she put them on her wrists. Leaving the bathing room, she padded across the hall to her bedroom, shut the door and latched it securely so she wouldn’t have any unexpected visitors.
    Lightning once again lit up the bedchamber, as the thunder rumbled through, vibrating the Tavern.
    Neri had grown accustomed to locking her door as many a ruffian had attempted to steal into her sanctuary thinking they could get a piece of her tail, and they had gotten the shock of their lives. She didn’t take kindly to anyone invading her privacy. The huntress blood in her veins allowed her the ability to defend against anyone who decided she was an easy mark.
    The room was unusually warm, it felt as if a fire had been started in the hearth. She looked to the fireplace and sure enough, a fire did crackle in the hearth.
    “This used to be my bedchamber.”
    The deep rumbling familiar male voice made her jump, and she let out a little scream.
    She’d almost dropped the towel to the ground. Whirling about, she clutched the towel to her body as if her life depended on it.
    “How the bloody hell did you get up here?” she demanded, gasping at the sight that awaited her on her bed.
    It was as if all her fantasies had finally come true. He was a perfect specimen of man. She licked her lips, wincing when she realized what she’d just done—hoping he hadn’t seen it.
    She met the gaze of Sir Lucan Wylde, newly invested Duke of Cambria. He stared at her intently and then broke the connection as he moved to draw the storm shutters across the windows. He’d made himself comfortable.
    He was bare chested, obviously the heat from the fire had turned out to be too much for him. The muscles on his chest made her want to rub her hands over them, and kiss a trail down to his….
    She started. She had to snap out of the dreamy haze he’d put her in.
    His black hair was dishevelled and Gods help her, his vibrant brown eyes were filled with a burning longing that crept into her and touched her soul. She shivered at the soul altering sensation.
    “I was born in this Tavern, how do you think I got up here?”
    She groaned and rolled her eyes. “The secret passages.”
    Dash it all, she’d forgotten about those.
    “How about you drop that towel?” he asked, his eyes dancing. She wanted to obey him, and actually had to check herself before she complied.
    He had a bewitching way about him, one that affected her deeply. If she wasn’t careful, he’d have her climbing into bed with him. Allowing him to completely ravish her body seemed like a rather good idea at the moment.
    Her cheeks blazed red, and she bit her tongue, to keep herself from responding.
    Lucan it would seem, was going to be the death of her.

Chapter Four
     
    “You need to leave now,” Neri said, taking a step toward him, and then feeling the undeniable sexual energy crackling between them,