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But then, she could not entirely believe last night had ever happened. Last night he had been a tender, persuasive, insistent lover. Today he was a stranger who was capable of forgetting she existed.
Royce had not forgotten she existed-not even on the second day of their journey. Memories of the way she'd felt in his arms, the heady sweetness of her kisses and tentative caresses, had kept him awake for two consecutive nights. All day yesterday, as he'd ridden past the columns of his men, he'd found himself watching for a glimpse of her.
Even now, as he rode at the head of his army and squinted at the sun, trying to gauge the time, her musical laughter tinkled like bells on the fringes of his mind. He shook his head, as if to clear it, and suddenly she was looking at him with that jaunty sideways smile of hers…
Why do you think I decided not to marry? he'd said.
Because no suitable lady has asked you? she'd teased.
He heard her muffled chuckle as she tried to look reproving: Do not ever attempt to dazzle your lady fair with your glib flattery, milord, for you haven't a prayer of success …
Based on what I know of you, I can only assume you'd toss the lady over your lap and attempt to beat her into submission …
He could not believe that one naive Scottish girl could possess so much spirit and courage. Royce tried to tell himself this growing fascination, this obsession with his captive was merely the result of the lust she'd fired in him two nights ago, but he knew it was more than lust that held him enthralled: Unlike most of her sex, Je
At midday, just as Je
Already accustomed to the blond giant's apparent unwillingness to utter more words than were absolutely necessary, Je
With his hand locked around Je
Sir Godfrey and Sir Eustace stepped aside, their normally pleasant faces stony, and Arik propelled her forward with a light shove that sent her stumbling into a little clearing.
Her captor was seated on the ground, his broad shoulders propped against a tree trunk, his knee drawn up, studying her in silence. In the warmth of the day, he'd removed his mantle and was clad in a simple brown tunic with full sleeves, thick brown hose, and boots. He did not look nearly as much like the specter of death and destruction he'd appeared to be yesterday, and Je
Pride prevented her from displaying any such emotion, however. Since she was completely uncertain about how she ought to act or feel, Je
For some reason her question brought a mocking gleam to his eyes. "You're right."
Flustered by his odd, mocking tone, she waited and then said, "Why?"
"Now there's a question."
"Are-are we having a conversation?" Je
Her face was a mirror of lovely confusion, and Royce sobered, taking pity on the i
If he hadn't said he enjoyed her company, Je
Royce knew exactly what he was doing, and why he was doing it, but he told himself that if by some holy miracle he were able to keep his hands off of her until he sent her either to her father or his king, then his efforts had not been wasted, for he was having a very pleasant and somewhat prolonged meal in a cozy clearing.
A few minutes later, in the midst of a perfectly impersonal discussion of knights, Royce suddenly found himself thinking almost jealously of her former suitor. "Speaking of knights," he said abruptly, "what happened to yours?"
She bit into her apple, her expression quizzical. "My what?"
"Your knight," Royce clarified. "-Balder. If your father was in favor of the marriage, how did you dissuade old Balder from continuing to press you?"
The question seemed to discomfit her and, as if stalling for time in which to compose an answer, she drew her long shapely legs up against her chest and wrapped her arms around them, then she perched her chin upon her knees and raised brilliant blue, laughing eyes to his face. Perched upon that log, Royce thought she looked incredibly desirable-a charming wood nymph with long curly hair, clad in a boy's tunic and hose. A wood nymph? Next she would have him composing so
"What an impatient nature you have!" she replied sternly, completely undaunted by his tone.
Her words were accompanied by such a wellbred, reproving look that Royce chuckled in spite of himself. "You're right," he admitted, gri