His Unwanted Touch: Her Deepest Secret

ribs, a cage of fabric that made ev

slip away from the nobles gathered for the welcome banquet.

y, escaping the b

the natural grotto spring marked on a map of the estate. It was a place reser

filtered through a hole in the stone ceiling, shatter

buttons of her riding vest and shirt. The tailored menswear f

her lips. The freedom was dizzying. Red welts bloomed on

ders, the water a gentle caress. She closed her eyes. Her brother's

m the entrance sh

d by a man's r

ower into the water like a startled deer, only her eye

was contorted, flushed and slick with sweat. It was Auguste de Montgo

he shrank back, trying to merge with the shado

invisible fire. He stumbled toward the pool, des

aint hiss rose as the cool spring met his feveris

eneath the water, a pale form distinct from the dark rock. A pre

or. She wanted to flee, but fea

His palm was a branding iron.

that stole the air. His reason was gone, devoured by what

ed, but the difference in their strength

nd terrified female face gave his clouded mind a moment's pause. He

is sanity knew something was wrong, but the

hance to resist. A brutal, po

ion and fear made her dizzy. She clawed at his

movements grew rougher. Pinned against th

opped fighting. Tears mixed wit

and stifled gasps. Christal's consciousness drifte

ouded instinct, Auguste had pulled the heavy signet ring fro

first. A sharp pain wracked her body, pulling her back to consciousness.

ation of who she had just spent the night with-Auguste de Montgomery, her

imbs. Fearing what would happen if she lingered even a second longer, she snatched her r

worn off. He sat up, his brow furrowing as h

is wine, then an uncontrollable fire, and a mysterious woman. But he had not

sual cold authority returning like a mask. He glanced at t

but he vividly remembered one thing: in the depths of his delirious