Read The Key for Free Online Page B

he would not have it. If he had treated her roughly last night, he would
     correct that now, before she could wake up and give him one of those looks. On that
     thought,Duncaneased the bed linens down to her waist and gazed at what he had revealed.
     The women had dressed her in a gown of purest white, but the material was so thin and
     diaphanous it looked pink where her skin showed through.
    For a moment,Duncansimply stared. His father had called her “bonnie but no beauty” when
     she had first
    arrived and mayhap he was right, but at that moment, she looked as good to him as a
     platter of haggis to a starving man.
    Iliana was seated in a small clearing on the edge of a river. The sun was warm and
     soothing. Sighing as the breeze caressed her flesh, she closed her eyes and lay back on
     the soft grass, allowing the sun to warm her body. She had not lain there long when a hand
     began to smooth its way along her cheek.
    Opening her eyes, she peered at the man-at-arms kneeling over her. He looked vaguely
     familiar and it seemed perfectly natural that he should be there. His hand ran along her
     neck, then slid between her breasts, and Iliana purred. Stretching where she lay, she
     reached her hands above her head, her body arching upward. A moan slipped from between her
     lips when the hand finally moved to cover one breast, kneading and plucking at her nipple
     through the material of her gown When Iliana moaned again, his lips lowered to cover hers
     and somehow, in her dream, that seemed natural, too. Her mouth opened beneath his when his
     tongue sought entrance, her own lips and tongue mimicking his and setting about a love
     play that had her curving into the body that now moved to cover hers.
    When his lips left hers and began nibbling a path down her throat, she took a deep breath
     and opened her mouth to protest at the loss, then froze as the rank smell of sweat mixed
     with ale began to tug her out of her sweet dream.
    Frowning, Iliana waved a hand vaguely in front of her nose, trying to dispel the smell and
     return her attention to the sweet caresses moving along her throat, but it would not go
     away. Murmuring aloud, she brought herself fully to wakefulness and forced her eyes open.
    Even then it took a moment for her to realize what was happening. She was not on the bank
     of a river. She was lying abed. And the familiar-looking man now nibbling away so
     industriously at her flesh was her great reeking oaf of a husband... and on her mother's
     clean linens, no less!
    Duncansmiled against her skin appreciatively.
    His little wife was like a red-hot fire, the flames twisting and flickering this way and
     that in his hands. Murmuring appreciatively at the sweet smell and taste of her, he moved
     his lips along her skin.
    When he reached the neckline of her gown, he began pushing at the flimsy material,
     fretting over it until her left breast popped free, presenting itself for his attention.
     Releasing a victorious exclamation, he dropped his mouth on the rosy aureole at once, then
     stiffened as his little wife let loose a scream loud enough to deafen him. 'Twas a scream
     a woman loosed only when in horrible peril. Thinking there must be some danger in the
     room,Duncanreleased her at once and whirled about. Only there was no danger.
    Frowning as he saw that the room was empty but for her chests and a full tub of water, he
     turned back to his wife. His eyebrows rose when he saw that she was no longer staked out
     on the bed, but had scooted up into the top comer of it and now knelt there, eyeing him as
     if he was a madman bent on dismembering her.
    “What?” he asked in bewilderment. Then, thinking he understood,Duncanslumped. “I feared I
     may have been less than gentle with ye yester eve, lass. Tis sorry I am, I was fair foul.
     I promise I'll not be so rough this time.”
    Iliana's eyes widened. “You did naught last night,” she said curtly. Shocked, his