She rested her hand on his engorged crotch and nearly purred in satisfaction, not realizing his erection was for Madelaine.Her fingers closed over him, causing pain that made him gasp in pleasure.“She was never the one for you.”
No matter how hard he fought his body’s reaction to Giselle’s touch, it wouldn’t heed his commands.He waged an internal battle against the hold she had on him, knowing it was useless.He would succumb like he always did.And he hated her for it.He wished with all his might that she’d never been present when the demon offered them the chance to be immortal.He wished he’d killed her when he had the chance.For seven hundred years he’d despised her and lusted after her.
“It’s always been me you’ve turned to, Etienne.Always me.”She lifted up on her toes and brushed her lips against his.Lucheux’s heart beat hard.His cock throbbed at the scent of Giselle and the knowledge of the release he’d find in her body.No, she wasn’t Madelaine, but she was Giselle and, my God, how she played his body.
“Who’s been with you all these years?”Her breath fanned lightly across his face.Her hands skated over his chest and back.His body ached to be inside her, to find the release she promised in her voice, but he held back, still furious.
“Who’s been here for you, Etienne?”She bit his earlobe and he groaned, closing his eyes, feeling the sensations Giselle wanted him to feel and listening to her soft hypnotic voice.
“Etienne?Look at me.”
He opened his eyes, his gaze filled with Giselle’s timeless beauty, her gorgeous body pressed against his, moving sensuously until every nerve tingled with the awareness of her and with a need that roared through him, demanding satisfaction.
She cupped his face in her hands, her lips lifting on his in a carnal kiss that made him whimper.When she pulled back, her lips glistened.The imprint of his hand on her cheek called to him, demanding he imprint her in other ways.
“It’s always been me, Etienne.Always me,” she whispered softly.“Say it, Etienne.Say, ‘It’s always been you, Giselle.’”
His throat worked and the words escaped against his will.“Always you.”His voice came out harsh, guttural.He took her in a bruising kiss, swallowing her shout of triumph.
Chapter Eleven
France 1307
Madelaine arched her back, attempting to buck Lucien off her.The room spun.Black dots danced before her eyes.She only had a few precious seconds before she passed out.Thoughts of what he would do to her while she was unconscious prodded her terror to another level.Her body fought for its next breath.Her lungs screamed in agony.
Mon Dieu,she was going to die.
With the last of her strength, she raked her nails down his face, opening the skin on his cheek.Beads of blood popped up and he cursed.Vile words no religious man should ever utter flew from his mouth but his hold did not weaken.
His face swam before her, his mouth twisted in an ugly sneer, his eyes snapping with excitement and anger.
She wanted death, even prayed for it during the last few nights, but she didn’t want Lucien’s evil face to be the last thing she saw.She closed her eyes and pictured Christien as he was in the keep the day after she met him.With the sun shining down on his black hair and a smile on his face.She recalled his laughter and how it made her tingle.
Suddenly the pressure on her throat disappeared.Lucien flew backward, landing on the ground with a loud rush of air.The deadly tip of a sword pressed into his throat.Christien stood above him, his chest heaving, his expression fierce, brows drawn, lips pulled back into a snarl.
Madelaine scrambled to the corner of the room and tucked her knees to her chin, breathing sweet air through her raw and bruised throat.
“What in thebloody hellis going on?”Christien growled.
Lucien rose up on his elbows and dug the heels of his boots into the rotted rushes, trying to scoot back.“I was sent here by the count to drive the demons from her.”His words were bold but his tone wavered.
Christien cast her a quick look.“Demons?”He laughed, but cut it off abruptly and pressed his sword into Lucien’s neck, causing the man to gasp.“Try again.”
“By all that is holy, I swear.The count feared she’d been possessed and implored me to rid her of the evil inside her.”
One black eyebrow rose.“By strangling her?Is that how you perform your exorcisms, brother?”
Lucien swallowed.The tip of Christien’s sword bobbed with the movement, drawing blood.Lucien shot Madelaine a look filled with such vitriolic hatred she had to look away and take another deep breath.
Christien leaned down, his face filled with seething fury.“Come near her again and you are a dead man, brother or not.”
Lucien nodded and Christien removed his sword.“Leave before I change my mind and skewer you.”
Quickly Lucien scrambled to his feet and scurried out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Christien sheathed his sword, but it took a moment for him to turn around and face her.His shoulders rose and fell in even breaths.His fingers curled into fists at his sides.
Madelaine pressed her chin to her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs to keep from trembling.
