Ian seized her wrists. "Don't you ever take a risk like that again!"
"I will do anything for my freedom," she whispered. "Anything!"
Though he would not have thought it possible, Ian became even more outraged. That she could so easily dismiss her life as meaningless without freedom infuriated him. That she cared so little for his feelings hurt more than any physical wounds.
Ian pinned her wrists against the wall by her head. When Rory tried to avoid looking at his face, Ian let go of one arm and caught her chin.
Rory used the freed hand to hit his flank. Ian hardly noticed the blow.
Using his body to pin her completely, Ian brought his face down near hers. "If you are so willing to trade for your freedom, then perhaps it's time for me to claim the rest of my terms in this deal of ours."
Holding her chin, Ian lowered his mouth to hers. At first, her lips were tight and her jaw clenched, then he felt her muscles relax and her mouth, soften. He released her other wrist and brought his hands up to the sides of her face.
Pulling back, Ian tilted her head to one side. He whispered her name into her mouth as he covered her lips again with his own. He felt her hands slide around his torso to his back. She wasn't tense or fighting him, in fact, she was welcoming him.
When he nudged her lips with his tongue and she didn't respond, Ian broke the kiss long enough to tell her what to do. Her lips parted and Ian dipped his tongue into her mouth. He tasted the faint smokiness as he explored the recesses of her mouth. Her tongue met his and began a duel that exploded Ian's desire.
He wanted her. He wanted to see and touch every inch of her body, to reassure himself that she was unharmed. He wanted to arouse her, to have proof that she was alive, that he hadn't come close to letting her die, hadn't almost lost her.
)
Ian McKenna is on his way home to the family Kentucky horse farm when he acquires indentured servant Rory Worth. The feisty woman has one year left on her contract and jumps at the deal he offers to cut it in half--Pose as his wife to prove to his family that he has settled down. The newlyweds arrive home to discover Father is dead and has left a will keeping Ian from inheriting the farm unless he can prove himself. Attraction grows between Ian and his business savvy pseudo-wife. But Rory has promised to free a slave friend and has been stealing from her owners to finance it. Ian wants her to want to stay more than she wants to be free. Rory wants to keep her promise and spare Ian heartbreak. Can love make it all possible?
