Chapter 1

A soft breeze blew gently against silken tresses. The stirring of her long locks tickled her side and she moved, brushing at the disturbance without opening her eyes. She'd been lying out there for a while, enjoying the heat of the sun against her long limbs and the wonder of being stationary without having anyone harping at her.

The silence was almost a friend. Long lost and often sought, it shuddered through the clearing making her realize that the passing of time was as swift as the water rushing across the smooth pebbles in the brook. Rising seemed almost impossible, her limbs lethargic and heavy but she managed, leaning down to pick up her shawl. She used the well worn piece of fabric to cover her head, hiding her pink cheeks and bright eyes.

"There you are!"

Kendra glanced up, little moved by the harsh voice. She barely acknowledged the man until he grabbed her arm.

"Momma's been calling for you for over an hour." His voice was an angry growl, his hand rough against her skin, digging into her flesh with little care of how he hurt her. "Where have you been?"

"What business is it of yours?" Kendra snapped, regretting her hasty words when his grip tightened even more.

"It is my business, especially if you were causing trouble again. Don't think Momma doesn't know of the way you flit back and forth between the grocer and the baker. I've seen the eyes you make at them, shameless and disgusting it is."

"I've never..." she began, only to be interrupted.

"Don't you even think of trying your lies out on me," he hissed. "I know what lies inside of you, what sins you will commit. I know of your plans."

Kendra shrugged, pulling against his grip. When he got this wound up, it was almost impossible to calm him down. "Let me go." She stood her ground, not allowing herself to be dragged further.

"Slut, Harlot," he cursed softly, his eyes on the people passing around them now. "If you do not move on your own volition then I shall have to let the good people of town know of your wickedness. Then they can help me move you."

"Why Daniel?" she cried suddenly, knowing he wasn't bluffing. "Why do you treat me with such disgust and hatred? I'm your only sister."

"Look to yourself for the answer, Kendra," Daniel growled, shaking her. "You look the part of town slattern; you open your thighs for any man who has the price. But not your brother, no, I'm not even allowed to look."

"I've ... I've never," she said, grabbing his arms to slow the shaking he was giving her. "I've never so much as kissed a man," she moaned.

"Lies," Daniel cried again. "I've heard the men speak of you, I've heard them tote on about their explicit affairs with you and how much you like it. Only a slut would allow herself to be passed around in such a way.

"They lie!" Kendra dug her feet in and refused to move an inch. "I've never lain with a man, Daniel. I wouldn't lie to you about that." She stared up and into her brother's expressive face, seeing the doubt there. "What will it take for you to believe me?"

Daniel smiled, his lips twitching as she said the exact words he'd been waiting to hear. He paused for just a moment before he lifted her bodily out of the way of the foot traffic around them and into a doorway that was quiet and semiprivate. "You can gift me with your veil of innocence," he said softly and in her ear. "Let me be the first and then I will know you're not the slut others have been calling you."

"B-but ... but you are my b-brother. It is a sin." Kendra shook her head emphatically, her hands clasping each other and wringing under the cover of her shawl. "We would be damned."

"Who'll know beside the two of us? I don't plan to tell." Daniel twisted so that she was trapped between him and the door, his fingers pulling at her shawl. "Come on, Kendra, prove your innocence to me. Make me believe."

"No, Daniel. Stop it!" Kendra tried to make herself a piece of the wooden paneling behind her, slapping at Daniel's hands when he wouldn't leave her be. "What would Momma say?"

Daniel dug his hand in the heavy hair at the nape of her neck, holding her face still so that he could find her lips. "She would say that it was about time," he rasped. Then his mouth came down hard upon the softness of hers and she squealed in fright and pain even as she fought to turn her head away.

His lips were hard and wet. They seemed to encompass the lower half of her face, leaving it wet with his drool. His hand was torturous, grabbing a fist full of her hair and holding her still, yanking even more when his tongue pushed against her lips, trying to find a way inside.

Kendra whimpered at the pain, her hands in fists pushing against his chest. But he seemed like a bolder, unmovable, impenetrable, and unwilling to hear her cries. His other hand ran down her body, pinching and probing at her flesh. He thrust that hand down the back of her skirt, his fingers moving over the softness of her buttocks even as she screamed again.

"Excuse me."

The voice was quiet, melodic but filled with an unassuming strength. The interruption caused Daniel to lift his head and Kendra wiped at her face with one corner of her shawl, not hiding her disgust from either man standing near her now.

"What do you want?" Daniel asked harshly and with little gentlemanly décor.

"I couldn't help but note that your lady does not seem to be willing party here." He nodded his head at Kendra.

"I'm not," she said quickly, before Daniel could put lies in her mouth. Kendra reached out to touch her savior and felt him take her hand to pull her away her brother. She shivered as the coldness of his touch startled her and her eyes flew to his face.

And she was lost. He had the face of an angel, his hair dark and long, touching the wide shoulders of his coat. Sharp cheekbones slashed below devilish eyes that seemed almost to dance in laughter at her reaction to his skin. They were deep blue, unreal looking in that face that would confound any woman. His lips were pink, held in a smile that she wondered was supposed to placate or because he couldn't help his amusement at her reaction.

"Will you come with me?" he asked softly, for her ears only.

"Yes," she sighed, unable to say anything but. His hand pulled hers under his arm and he helped her down the two steps that her brother had forced her up, gliding almost carelessly back into the foot traffic that clogged the streets as people hurried home.

"Where are we going?" he asked, his eyes on her face.

"I-I don't know," she admitted, her eyes seeking the comfort of his face.

"Don't you think we should take you home and inform your father of that man's attack upon your person?"

Kendra shook her head frantically, pushing a tress of her red hair out of her face. "He ... He ... he is my brother," she was finally able to say, feeling his cold fingers hook the unruly lock of hair behind her ears. "My father is dead."

"What of your mother, then?"

"Stepmother, his mother." She sighed, seeing the comprehension on his face.

"And she'll believe anything he tells her." He didn't need to see her shake her head yes, he already knew the truth. "No other family?"

"N-no." She moaned when she felt Daniel's hand grabbing at her arm but her savior was already in motion. He easily pulled her out of the way and then his fist flew, landing with audible force and turning Daniel's nose into a flattened tomato, blood gushing.

"Sir, that was your only warning," the man said, watching as Daniel stumbled for a moment before he fell to the ground. "She said no and she meant no."

Kendra felt laughter bubbling, slightly hysterical at the sight. She turned away from Daniel's eyes, wanting to be away from the crowd of people that were now gathered around the three of them. She didn't slow until she felt the icy touch of her rescuer's fingertips on her hand.

"I hope that didn't disgust you," he said in that silky smooth voice.

"N-no. I must thank you again. I've never seen him act this way." She felt his hand take hers and shivered slightly.

"Well, I can say I understand his motivation." He chuckled, a husky sound that trickled over Kendra's spine making her want to hear it again.

"Motivation?" she asked, perplexed.

"You are quite lovely."

Kendra felt the heat of her blushes against her cheeks and dropped her eyes, staring at the shiny leather of his boots.

"Oh no, now I've embarrassed you." His finger touched the tip of her chin, lifting it until he could see in her eyes. "I'm sorry I was so candid, Miss ... ahh..."

"Kendra Smalley," she supplied.

"Miss Smalley," he finished, his finger slipping over her bottom lip. "Kendra is such a beautiful name."

"I was named after a friend of the family," she said. "But you have me at a disadvantage. You are my savior and I have no idea what to call you."

He lifted her hand, tugging a bit to get her moving. "I am Lucien Davalos. My family and I have just moved here."

"Family?" Was he married then and completely out of her reach?

"My parents and my siblings. I come from a big family and we enjoy being together so we had to find a bigger place to store us all." He smiled down at the curiosity in her eyes. "You'll enjoy them."

"Is that where you're taking me? To your home?"

"The sun is beginning to set, Miss Smalley."

"Kendra," she said softly. "Please."

"How can I resist when you ask so sweetly, Kendra?"

"Thank you." She could feel the heat of another blush cover her cheeks and hear his soft laughter.

"That is so wonderful," he said almost to himself.

Kendra looked up from beneath her thick lashes, gray/green eyes curious even as her cheeks turned rosy. "You like my blushes?"

"Yes," he answered simply. He raised her hand to his lips and she shivered again at their icy touch.

"Why are you so cold?" she asked bluntly.

"The evening air does have a bit of a bite," he said smoothly, moving her hand out of his and onto the sleeve of his jacket. "Come, we should get you someplace warm and find you something to eat."

"I don't want to be a burden." Kendra could feel the long lean muscles flexing under her fingers. They were almost like rock, so hard she couldn't help but wonder if anything would cut him.

"You are no burden, Kendra. My family will enjoy you. I promise you that. No one will hurt you or force you to do anything you don't want to do. You can trust me."

Kendra closed her eyes, letting out a small sigh. "But I'll still have to go home some time." Her voice was quiet and he bent his head closer to her.

"Not until we are sure you'll be safe. I won't send you back to those people who wanted to hurt you. You can trust me, Kendra."

Her small tongue slipped out to wet her lips and she opened her eyes just in time to see a pained look cross his face and his own eyes shut for a moment. Then his face smoothed out and he opened his own eyes, that look gone. "I do trust you, Mr. Davalos."

"Lucian," he said softly. "I'd love to hear my name upon your lips, Kendra."

"Lucian," she repeated. "I do trust you, Lucian."

His eyes closed again and a small moan seemed to come from deep in his chest. "You are a temptation, Kendra. You could tempt a man to lose his soul for you."