"Lord of Desire"
A Warner Forever Release
August 2005
ISBN: 0-446-61594-3
©2005 by Paula Quinn
Page 2
Brynna spun around and blushed at the servants huddling behind her. She shooed them away, entered the room, and slammed the door shut. “There,” she fired at him. “Are you happy now?”
Brand leaned up against the hearth mantle and studied her. Enfer, but she was lovely. He never expected his prize to be such a fiery little hellwitch with eyes that promised sweet pursuits. He was enjoying the challenge that sparked her temper so much that he decided not to tell her just yet that she was staying. He gazed boldly over her body in the same way her eyes had surveyed him. He smiled when she blushed again, but his eyes revealed something far more feral than humor. “You have no relatives with whom you can live? A sister or brother? Aunt or—”
“I said I am not leaving Avarloch, you simpleton. Are you hard of hearing?”
Brand took a step toward her. “You’re cheeky for a woman with no choice.”
The room grew smaller as he came closer. Brynna had the urge to draw her hand to her throat; he had the look of a wolf, dark and hungry for blood. “I have a choice, Lord Brand.” Her heart pounded hard in her chest when he reached her. So close was he now that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. She looked at his chin rather than into those beautiful, deceptive eyes. But she quickly discovered her mistake when she noticed the sexy dimple in his chin. A dimple that accentuated his sinfully full lips.
“What choice is that?” His voice was low, husky, and infuriatingly arrogant.
Brynna braced herself and tipped her head back to meet his gaze. Her head spun and her breath grew heavy. When she’d seen him in the lake, she had been too captivated by his pleasure to realize the full impact of his features. His clean, male scent hadn’t covered her the way it covered her now. When she spied on him, she had no idea of the sheer, dominating size of him and the effect it would have on her senses standing so close. She bit her lip, determined not to lose herself to a dream. This man was real, and he was going to make her leave her home. “I will fight you for Avarloch,” she told him, managing to lift her chin in defiance of the power he had over her.
For a moment, Brand looked too stunned to speak. Then he laughed right in her face.