1 TEASER

“What’s it going to take for you to realize there is a time when you must obey me? For your own good.” He growled through gritted teeth. Glaring at me heatedly.

“There is nothing I must do.” I snapped impudently. Meeting his glare levelly.

He grunted. “Damn you, Belle.”

He reached over and yanked the handle of my chamber door. Pulling it open he shoved my hip until I slid through it. Once inside he ripped it closed and began descending on me.

I backed up reflexively. Having never seen him so aggressive before.

“What are you doing?”

“You’ll figure it out.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked worriedly.

He moved slightly to the right and left and I veered to keep him in direct eye line as I retreated.

Yelping as my legs hit the foot chest at the end of my bed.

Without missing a beat, he caught up to me and grabbed my waist tossing me backward onto my bed. And putting one foot on the chest to hop up after me. Ducking the canopy as he crawled over me.

I sunk into the bedding with my arms at my side.

“What are you doing?” My voice was rising.

“Bodin!” I squawked as he landed over me. Only his palms on the bed on each side of my shoulders keeping our foreheads from crashing.

He was so close I could feel his breath along my cheek. His brown eyes were so dark right now they were nearly black. His jaw was ticking like it did when he was annoyed.

For the first time, I had no choice but to really see Bodin Charters. He was tall and slim. Over six foot by a bit. His body was hard honed from the archery and fencing I knew he often spent time doing with his little brother, James.

James had been sickly many years when we were young, from being bit by an insect and his mother had often kept him home while Lord Charters came to visit my father.

I’d only met James a handful of times. But I knew that as soon as he was well enough, Bodin had been dragging him outside to get him moving and into the sunshine.

To help him heal, Bodin had said.

I realized I was determinedly trying to think about anything but Bodin laying atop me. His hard body resting over mine. And his eyes boreing into me.

I had been looking everywhere at him but I finally met his look. Forcing mine to be fierce.

To scare him off.

He always backed down to me.

But now he laughed. “That isn’t going to work anymore Belle. I’m tired of your push and pull games.”

He lifted his body and fisted my skirts. Dragging them methodically up my legs while he met my gaze.

“Bodin! What you’re doing is quite improper.”

“Yes.” He acknowledged. “It is. But what are you going to do now, Belle?”