The Bride and the Brute(20)

“He needs to be loved,” she added softly.

The words pried the fracture open wider. He knew the woman he held in his arms was unlike any he had known before. Brave and kind and beautiful. And thrust upon him by evil coercion. The thought that she had somehow worked her way into his mind, infiltrated his body like an invader, angered him. “Stay away from him,” Reese growled. “He’ll cause you nothing but misery.”

Jayce turned her eyes to his. Again, he felt that wash of affection overtake him and race through his veins, filling his very blood with the spirit of her being. Her eyes were large and trusting, her nose pert and turned up just a bit, her cheekbones high and well-defined. But it was her lips that attracted his attention. They were red and full and parted. Wisps of her hair curled forward, framing her face. A lovelier portrait of a woman could never be painted. Reese found himself lowering his head to hers, moving his own lips closer to hers, as if caught in some kind of magical bliss.

Satan pawed the ground, snorting, white puffs of steam erupting from his nostrils. The spell broken, Reese jerked back from Jayce, startling his horse, who lurched forward, slamming Jayce against his body.

Was that disappointment that filled her eyes? Or relief?

“I’ll take you back to the castle,” he said, and spurred the horse on.

But Jayce slipped from his grasp and his fingers brushed her breasts, sending a jolt of desire flaming through his body. She landed smoothly on the ground. “I have to put the blanket on Satan,” she insisted.

Her determination made Reese furious. Hadn’t he just told her the creature wouldn’t let anyone near it? Didn’t he just tell her it was dangerous? Reese quickly dismounted and stormed over to her, ripping the blanket from her hands. “You will stay away from that monster,” he commanded. He put his hand on the top rail and easily hurdled the fence, cursing silently as he landed just inside the pen.

How had he gotten himself into this position? He gritted his teeth as the warhorse turned surprised eyes to him.

“Come here, you damned beast,” he snarled, unfurling the blanket before him.

“No,” Jayce urged from behind him. “Speak softly to him. As if he were a friend.”

“I would speak softly to no friend of mine,” he growled, approaching the horse. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her pulling herself onto the gate. “All right!” Reese called, holding his hand out to stop her. He locked gazes with Satan. “Wretched beast,” he grumbled. He cleared his throat. “Ummm. It appears to be a chilly night.” Reese scratched at his cheek. He glanced back at Jayce to see her watching him expectantly.

He felt ridiculous.

She urged him on with a gentle wave of her hand.

Reese turned back to the horse. “Why don’t you wear this?”

The horse snorted and took a step away from him, pawing the ground.

“This isn’t working,” Reese growled immediately.

“Yes, it is,” Jayce answered in a soft, coaxing voice. “You’re doing fine. Try again.”

Reese looked at the horse. “We wouldn’t want you to catch your death, now would we?” There was thick sarcasm in his voice. “Now just stay put and we’ll have this on you in a---” He took a step closer.

The animal whinnied and reared slightly. Reese stubbornly refused to move as the horse pranced closer to him.

“Not this time,” he warned. “I won’t tolerate your temperament. I know you don’t much like me, and I could care even less for you. But it’s for Jayce. Just stay still a moment longer and let me put this on you.” He took a step closer, mumbling so only he and the horse could hear, “You wretched beast.”

The warhorse swung his snout forward and hit Reese hard in the stomach. The air exploded out of his lungs and he fell backward onto his backside. Reese looked up to see the horse’s sharp hooves pawing the air above him, kicking wildly just above his head.





Chapter Fifteen





Satan’s hooves slashed the air. But then the beast was gone, and in the animal’s place was the apparition Reese had seen on the fence. He lay still for a moment, a stunned grogginess clouding his thoughts. The vision was standing very close to the horse. Then he realized this seraph was Jayce! The thought of her in the demon’s pen sent tremors of terror racing through Reese’s body. His mind cleared instantly, and he lunged forward, pulling her against his chest, rolling away from the monster. When his momentum stopped, Reese lifted his head to find Satan at the other side of the pen.

“I guess you’re all right,” Jayce murmured.

His gaze was drawn to her. She was trapped beneath him, and Reese became instantly aware of the press of her breasts against his chest. Desire flared in his veins. He scowled, angry that any woman could arouse his passion so completely and uncontrollably quick. “I told you to stay out of the pen,” he growled after catching his breath.