of her vulnerability.
“ I thank you for your concern, Sir,” Gillian whispered. “And I place myself under your kind protection.”
Luke plucked her hands in his, bowed his head, and brushed a warm moist kiss on her palm. “We will be off. We will make it back to the encampment before dark if we leave immediately. Lady Anne, I shall protect you.”
“ No one can protect me now,” Gillian answered.
“ I said I will protect you and the maid, Frances, and I shall. Do you think I cannot manage to keep you from harm at Fairhaven manor?” he asked.
“ I have no doubts about protection from the folk at the castle, My Lord,” Anne soothed. “It is my family that causes me concern.”
Without any warning, Luke swept Anne into his arms and swiftly arranged her atop his destrier. The horse sidestepped under her unfamiliar weight, but Luke pulled the reins in and then swung himself up into the saddle behind her.
“ Sir, it is unnecessary for you to inconvenience yourself when I am quite sure I am able to sit on a horse.”
“ Well, I for one do not wish to take the chance that the movement might hurt your foot.”
Gillian held herself erect for some time. However, feeling Luke’s strong arms wrapped around her tiny waist as she rocked rhythmically to the horse’s cadence eventually caused her to relax. Soon after, Gillian gave in to the exhaustion of the day and leaned comfortably back against the strong knight. The top of her head snuggled into the hollow beneath his chin. At last she rubbed against his chest and dozed off to sleep.
Chapter Four
Simon received Lady Gillian’s sleeping form into his arms. Luke then quickly slid from his horse to relieve Simon of his burden. In spite of his fatigue, Luke had not been particularly anxious to remove his passenger’s body from contact with his own. In fact, Luke’s body had responded traitorously in the saddle as Gillian’s bottom had rubbed against his thighs. He only hoped his armor mesh had been enough to hide the evidence. And once she was asleep, her body had relaxed to the point that the soft heavy flesh of her breasts easily bounced against his arms as he held her body upright in the saddle. If only he could have added distance to their present journey, he would be the happiest of men. The urge to curl up next to her now was nearly overwhelming, and the knight had to summon all his practiced self-control to maintain his honor.
The lady was as enticing as she was infuriating. Discovering her gone had sent anxiety zipping though him. Why had she thought it necessary to run away? What was she running from? Or running to?
Everything about her stirred his curiosity. Her beautiful hazel eyes, specked with gold, held his attention without false pride or allure. Lush curves fit perfectly with his body, and the urge to hold her close nearly overpowered rational thought. Luke had occasionally looked over her shoulder to shamefully examine the large swells of her breasts. He struggled to clear his mind of happy but ungentlemanly dreams of tasting their sweetness. Her dark auburn hair shone with red highlights inspired by a summer sunset. Its thick braided rope stroked his hands as it bounced in rhythm with each step of his destrier. The lady was magnificent.
Luke had ordered sleeping furs to be placed near the fire. Anne had managed to put off sleep and stiffly made her way to her bed. Exhaustion, however, claimed her early. The events of the past few days had exacted a heavier toll on both women. Gillian was gently settled onto a softened pile of leaves and blankets. Under the guise of protection, Luke moved nearby.
Fresh wood placed on the evening fire crackled and hissed, and the popping drove its way into Lady Gillian’s overtired dreams. A low moan carried across the camp before she thrashed wildly, then screamed out as if in pain. One loud snap of the wood had brought her body straight up, her arms swinging wildly in the air. Dog spun around
“ I thank you for your concern, Sir,” Gillian whispered. “And I place myself under your kind protection.”
Luke plucked her hands in his, bowed his head, and brushed a warm moist kiss on her palm. “We will be off. We will make it back to the encampment before dark if we leave immediately. Lady Anne, I shall protect you.”
“ No one can protect me now,” Gillian answered.
“ I said I will protect you and the maid, Frances, and I shall. Do you think I cannot manage to keep you from harm at Fairhaven manor?” he asked.
“ I have no doubts about protection from the folk at the castle, My Lord,” Anne soothed. “It is my family that causes me concern.”
Without any warning, Luke swept Anne into his arms and swiftly arranged her atop his destrier. The horse sidestepped under her unfamiliar weight, but Luke pulled the reins in and then swung himself up into the saddle behind her.
“ Sir, it is unnecessary for you to inconvenience yourself when I am quite sure I am able to sit on a horse.”
“ Well, I for one do not wish to take the chance that the movement might hurt your foot.”
Gillian held herself erect for some time. However, feeling Luke’s strong arms wrapped around her tiny waist as she rocked rhythmically to the horse’s cadence eventually caused her to relax. Soon after, Gillian gave in to the exhaustion of the day and leaned comfortably back against the strong knight. The top of her head snuggled into the hollow beneath his chin. At last she rubbed against his chest and dozed off to sleep.
Chapter Four
Simon received Lady Gillian’s sleeping form into his arms. Luke then quickly slid from his horse to relieve Simon of his burden. In spite of his fatigue, Luke had not been particularly anxious to remove his passenger’s body from contact with his own. In fact, Luke’s body had responded traitorously in the saddle as Gillian’s bottom had rubbed against his thighs. He only hoped his armor mesh had been enough to hide the evidence. And once she was asleep, her body had relaxed to the point that the soft heavy flesh of her breasts easily bounced against his arms as he held her body upright in the saddle. If only he could have added distance to their present journey, he would be the happiest of men. The urge to curl up next to her now was nearly overwhelming, and the knight had to summon all his practiced self-control to maintain his honor.
The lady was as enticing as she was infuriating. Discovering her gone had sent anxiety zipping though him. Why had she thought it necessary to run away? What was she running from? Or running to?
Everything about her stirred his curiosity. Her beautiful hazel eyes, specked with gold, held his attention without false pride or allure. Lush curves fit perfectly with his body, and the urge to hold her close nearly overpowered rational thought. Luke had occasionally looked over her shoulder to shamefully examine the large swells of her breasts. He struggled to clear his mind of happy but ungentlemanly dreams of tasting their sweetness. Her dark auburn hair shone with red highlights inspired by a summer sunset. Its thick braided rope stroked his hands as it bounced in rhythm with each step of his destrier. The lady was magnificent.
Luke had ordered sleeping furs to be placed near the fire. Anne had managed to put off sleep and stiffly made her way to her bed. Exhaustion, however, claimed her early. The events of the past few days had exacted a heavier toll on both women. Gillian was gently settled onto a softened pile of leaves and blankets. Under the guise of protection, Luke moved nearby.
Fresh wood placed on the evening fire crackled and hissed, and the popping drove its way into Lady Gillian’s overtired dreams. A low moan carried across the camp before she thrashed wildly, then screamed out as if in pain. One loud snap of the wood had brought her body straight up, her arms swinging wildly in the air. Dog spun around
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