from the bodies of the two men, their blood staining his mouth. She understood he was merely of a different breed, as she was, and that he was not some soulless, undead creature from an unblessed grave who fed upon the living. However, knowing of his nature and seeing it displayed were two different things. Jankyn knew it would pain him far more than he cared to think about if she turned from him in fear and loathing. What he felt for her had obviously far surpassed lust and liking.
He pressed his lips to her forehead and inhaled deeply of her sweet scent. Even David's mother, a woman he had wanted to marry and claim as his mate, had never moved him as deeply as this delicate woman did. Efrica truly was his mate, and yet even as he held her in his arms, he did not think he had ever felt so alone, for he could never claim her. It made his past sense of loneliness seem like no more than a bad mood. Although he felt certain she cared for him in many ways, and desired him, he was going to have to resist the temptation to try to win her heart. She was a woman who loved the garden, the sun, and children. He could give her only shadows, windowless rooms, and quite possibly, an empty womb. He could not do that to her.
She stirred in his arms and slowly opened her eyes. Jankyn stared into those warm, soft amber eyes and felt such a confusing wealth of emotion he was tempted to toss her to the ground and run for the hills. Instead, he kissed her, even as a mocking voice in his head called him an idiot.
Efrica was startled when Jankyn's lips met hers. For a very brief moment, she resisted the temptation of welcoming and returning his kiss. As she slipped her arms around his neck, she told herself the occasional lapse in good judgment would not hurt her. When she parted her lips to allow the kiss to become more intimate, it took but one stroke of his tongue to banish the last twinge of caution. The heat of desire burned away all thought of anything besides how good he tasted and how alive he made her feel. His hands stroked her body and soon had her trembling with need, aching for him to touch those places he was so carefully avoiding. She was just thinking of how much she wanted to feel his skin beneath her hands when he burrowed his long fingers into her hair and pain shot through her head.
Jankyn heard her moan, and she jerked slightly in his arms. Since he felt a little dazed himself, it took him a moment to understand that it was not passion that caused her to do so. He quickly turned her around on his lap to examine the back of her head. He was relieved to discover that the swelling there was not too great, but there was a cut that needed to be cleaned.
"I thought we werenae going to do that anymore," Efrica said when she felt she could speak calmly.
"We werenae and we arenae," responded Jankyn as he set her on her feet and stood up. He quickly wrapped a steadying arm around her slim shoulders when she swayed slightly. "'Tis unwise, especially since we will be spending time together. Where are your chambers?"
Efirica asked him as he escorted her back into the castle, "Why are we to spend time together?"
"Aside from the fact that ye have two men hunting ye?" He nodded when she frowned and then quickly told her what Malcolm had said. "In some ways, I need your protection as much as ye need mine. Ye cannae denounce or accuse those two bastards for what they have done, for unfair though it is, ye could easily be blamed for their actions or forced to marry one of them. I must needs play the courtier more than I have. My retirement from all gatherings has given the rumors and dangerous whispers fertile ground to grow in." Stopping before the door to her chamber, he opened it and gently but firmly pushed her inside. "I will see ye on the morrow. Be sure to clean the cut upon your head."
He shut the door, not surprised to see that she looked startled. It had been an abrupt leave-taking. Although he knew she was bruised and
He pressed his lips to her forehead and inhaled deeply of her sweet scent. Even David's mother, a woman he had wanted to marry and claim as his mate, had never moved him as deeply as this delicate woman did. Efrica truly was his mate, and yet even as he held her in his arms, he did not think he had ever felt so alone, for he could never claim her. It made his past sense of loneliness seem like no more than a bad mood. Although he felt certain she cared for him in many ways, and desired him, he was going to have to resist the temptation to try to win her heart. She was a woman who loved the garden, the sun, and children. He could give her only shadows, windowless rooms, and quite possibly, an empty womb. He could not do that to her.
She stirred in his arms and slowly opened her eyes. Jankyn stared into those warm, soft amber eyes and felt such a confusing wealth of emotion he was tempted to toss her to the ground and run for the hills. Instead, he kissed her, even as a mocking voice in his head called him an idiot.
Efrica was startled when Jankyn's lips met hers. For a very brief moment, she resisted the temptation of welcoming and returning his kiss. As she slipped her arms around his neck, she told herself the occasional lapse in good judgment would not hurt her. When she parted her lips to allow the kiss to become more intimate, it took but one stroke of his tongue to banish the last twinge of caution. The heat of desire burned away all thought of anything besides how good he tasted and how alive he made her feel. His hands stroked her body and soon had her trembling with need, aching for him to touch those places he was so carefully avoiding. She was just thinking of how much she wanted to feel his skin beneath her hands when he burrowed his long fingers into her hair and pain shot through her head.
Jankyn heard her moan, and she jerked slightly in his arms. Since he felt a little dazed himself, it took him a moment to understand that it was not passion that caused her to do so. He quickly turned her around on his lap to examine the back of her head. He was relieved to discover that the swelling there was not too great, but there was a cut that needed to be cleaned.
"I thought we werenae going to do that anymore," Efrica said when she felt she could speak calmly.
"We werenae and we arenae," responded Jankyn as he set her on her feet and stood up. He quickly wrapped a steadying arm around her slim shoulders when she swayed slightly. "'Tis unwise, especially since we will be spending time together. Where are your chambers?"
Efirica asked him as he escorted her back into the castle, "Why are we to spend time together?"
"Aside from the fact that ye have two men hunting ye?" He nodded when she frowned and then quickly told her what Malcolm had said. "In some ways, I need your protection as much as ye need mine. Ye cannae denounce or accuse those two bastards for what they have done, for unfair though it is, ye could easily be blamed for their actions or forced to marry one of them. I must needs play the courtier more than I have. My retirement from all gatherings has given the rumors and dangerous whispers fertile ground to grow in." Stopping before the door to her chamber, he opened it and gently but firmly pushed her inside. "I will see ye on the morrow. Be sure to clean the cut upon your head."
He shut the door, not surprised to see that she looked startled. It had been an abrupt leave-taking. Although he knew she was bruised and
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