In Love With A Warrior (Gunn Guardsman (Book 4)) by Kara Griffin Page A

another, what with the loss of her precious virginity. No man would be as accepting of her now.
    They probably would ask questions, which she wasn’t wont to answer. She didn’t believe there was another man who would be as tolerant as Bevan. The only hope she had to avoid marriage was to stay out of her father’s view, and that was an easy task since he was preoccupied with the recent fracas betwixt him and Marshall.
    “I want a man who knows his way around the bed. Aye, I wouldn’t mind a handsome face either.” Delyth said.
    Emlyn laughed. “You would.”
    “Tell me that is not preferable to the unkempt men we have to contend with here. I vow they’ve no care of their looks and act as though we should kiss their feet.” Delyth scooped water with her hands and trickled it over her breasts.
    “I wish they’d have a care about their appearance,” Branwyn said. “Cranog refuses to remove the whiskers on his face. I told him he must do so before our wedding or he’ll be sharing his own marriage bed. You should’ve seen the look upon his face.”
    “Who cares? A man is a man, and they all come with the same equipment.” Emlyn screeched when Delyth splashed her with a good bit of vigor and blinded her with a hefty stream of water.
    Branwyn snorted. “Nay they don’t. Haven’t ye seen them bathing? Aye, I’ve seen every shape and size. I vow their equipment is verily varying.”
    “Honestly, you two addle me with this talk. I wish not to speak of men’s pricks or their hairy faces.” Emlyn glared, tiring of the subject. “But I agree. A man with a smooth cheek is more appealing. I could do without prosy speech though.” She laughed thinking of such a man. A man akin to that wouldn’t last long in her presence.
    Delyth made a face and Branwyn giggled.
    She thought she heard a noise nearby and turned to spy the surrounding trees.  “Shhh.”
    Her friends ceased moving, but the sound of the waterfall was too loud for them to hear anyone or anything if it was close by.
    “It must’ve been my imagination.” Emlyn hoped it wasn’t the army that was expected any day, for danger might be lurking in the surrounding forest. She regretted not keeping her sword within reach.
    “We shouldn’t have come here this late. We should return.” Emlyn left the water and shook to dispel water droplets from her naked body. She found her sword in the pile of garments and set it upon the rock should she need it. Using her shift, she dried herself and donned her breeches and tunic.
    “We’ll have to sneak back inside the walls,” Delyth said.
    “The watch will give us away if we enter through the gate. Come, I know an easier way where we’ll not be noticed. No one will see us.”

Chapter Five
     
     
     
     
     
    James stood in the adjacent woods, captivated by the sight before him.
    He swore they were water nymphs, or faeries, or kelpies. Their discussion likewise held him and his comrades enthralled. If someone forced him to move he would have balked, for all he wished at that moment, was to view the naked faerie and bask in her glory.
    The lass brazen enough to wear breeches drew his attention the most for even in the dim light of dusk, he could see how red her hair was. He had a fondness for red-haired lassies. They were definitely more willful and always set his blood to heat. Even now, he grew hot from watching her.
    Her lovely body was exposed for all to see, and he almost insisted the men accompanying him turn their gazes. Were that he claimed her as his; he’d demand his friends’ chivalry. Alas, she was not his. But sure enough, his mouth hung open when he watched her naked body leave the water.
    James wished he could’ve ventured from his hiding place so he could feel her against him, to cover her delectable body, and to ensure for himself that she was real. Never had he seen such breasts. Perfection couldn’t describe them and his body grew rigid.
    “James, we’re leaving,” Colm called in a