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She stopped in front of him, and his decision to have her, no matter how much trouble she put him to, now became an unshakable resolution. A slow, admiring smile drifted across his face as he said, "What a chameleon you are!"
Her eyes snapped with indignation. "Lizard?"
Royce bit back a laugh, trying to keep his eyes off the alluring display of smooth flesh exposed by the neckline of her gown, and to remember how justifiably a
Je
It finally dawned on her he was looking at her hair, and Je
"It's lovely," Royce said, watching her, "but I'd prefer to see your hair uncovered."
He was bent on charming her again today, she realized with a sinking feeling; she found it easier to deal with him when they were engaged in open hostilities than when he was being nice. Forcing herself to confront only one problem at a time, Je
"Charms?" Royce provided, his appreciative gaze sliding over her hair and face and breasts.
"Yes."
"Because 'twas Eve who tempted Adam?" he speculated, stating what he knew was a religious belief.
Je
"It has always seemed to me," he mockingly observed, "that what tempted him was an apple, in which case, 'twas gluttony that caused his downfall, not lust."
Knowing how she had twice fallen into his arms after just such lighthearted discourse as this, Je
He quirked a speculative brow at her, "Has your disposition improved?"
His infuriating, unshakable calm, combined with his arrogance, nearly choked her. After a long moment, while she fought to dislodge the word from her throat, Je
Satisfied, Royce looked round at the serf hovering near his elbow and said, "Tell Lady Bre
"I was waiting for you to begin."
"I'm not hungry." An hour ago, he'd been ravenous, Royce thought wryly; now the only appetite he possessed was for her.
Famished from her self-imposed fast, Je
Whatever answer he'd been about to give was interrupted by the serf who came rushing up to Je
Je
"What do you mean?" Accustomed to dealing with every sort of emergency on a battlefield, Royce calmly put a restraining hand on her wrist.
"Bre
She tried to tug free of his grasp, but Royce stood up and accompanied her from the hall. "There must be some way to ease her."
"Not here!" Je
"What's in it? Perhaps-"
"I don't know!" Je
Royce pushed open the door to Bre
"Je
"Don't worry," Je
Bre
Her heart hammering in mounting fear, Je
"Nay, I think-"
Beside herself with fear, Je
Royce did not entirely believe the blond girl was actually in danger of death, but it was obvious Je
Je
Royce glanced down at the small, delicate hand laid upon his chest; heat was seeping through his tunic, desire already tightening his loins-and that with only her hand upon his chest. He didn't understand why she had such a volatile effect on him, but he understood that he wanted her-he wanted her willing and warm in his arms. And to accomplish that, he was prepared to do the first truly irrational thing in his life: he was prepared to let his most valuable hostage go-for despite Je
Je
He finally spoke and Je
She nodded vigorously. "Anything-I'll have this castle set to rights and ready to receive a king within a few weeks, I'll say prayers for you each-"
" 'Tis not prayers I want," he interrupted.
Desperate to reach an agreement before he changed his mind, she said, "Then, tell me what it is you do want."