The Warrior's Forbidden Virgin by Michelle Willingham

whatever piece of her heart she was willing to give.
    With his hand clenched around his sword hilt, he remembered there was one way she could save herself.
    “Katherine, the sword!”
    Whether or not she heard him, she fought to free herself, knocking her head against the soldier’s nose. The guard loosened his grip, and Katherine reached for the man’s blade.
    Swinging it upward, she knocked the dagger from the other man’s hands. A second later, Ewan MacEgan broke through, killing the two men.
    Jealousy ignited within Ademar, that he hadn’t been the one to save her. Damn it all, he should have been there to protect her, not Ewan.
    He half expected her to fall into Ewan’s arms. And God help him, he would sooner see the Irishman dead than have him lay a single hand upon Katherine.
    Ewan stared at Katherine as though he were stunned at her behavior, but she was speaking to her sister. Ademar didn’t hear the conversation between Katherine and Honora, but he sheathed his weapon and pushed his way toward her.
    “Katherine,” he said softly.
    She turned, and he could see the wonder dawn in her eyes. He could hardly breathe when she flew into his embrace. Ademar held her so fiercely, he was afraid of hurting her.
    “You’re alive,” she breathed. “I can’t believe it.”
    She lifted her mouth to his, kissing him. He tasted salt and wiped her tears away, before conquering her mouth with his own.
    Mine.
    The word of possession made him soften his kiss, and he gripped her tightly. Below, on the beach, Trahern had arrived with the villagers. Behind them were Lord Ardennes’s men.
    Surrounded by his enemies, John of Ceredys stepped backwards into the sea water, cursing and making demands of the people.
    Ademar covered Katherine’s eyes so she would not see the bloodshed, tucking her face into his chest.
    “You’re safe from him,” he told her, when it was finished. “Ceredys won’t harm you or Honora again.”
    “Thank God.” Her arms wound around his neck, and when she raised her face to his, he noticed that her face was thinner. The need to take care of her, to ensure that she was all right, overrode any other thoughts.
    He kissed her temple, smoothing her veil, then reaching beneath it to the dark silk of her hair. “I’ll never let anything happen to you,” he swore.
    The words tangled up inside, stumbling upon his tongue. “And I—that is, I want to tell you that I-I’ve always—you’re everything I dreamed—”
    She covered his mouth with her hand. “Kiss me again, Ademar. I don’t need the words.”
    He did, not caring that others were around them watching. She pressed close to him, and at the touch of her body, his desire blazed into life.
    “Are you still going…to wed me?” He settled his hands about her waist, hopeful at her answer.
    She nodded. “You’re the man I want. Because you love me for who I am.”
    “I do.”
    She’d guessed the words he couldn’t quite voice. Ademar pulled her into his arms, carrying her up the hill toward his horse. She never tore her gaze from him, and in her eyes, he saw the promise of hope.
    “When I thought you were dead, it was as if part of me had been ripped apart,” she said, touching his face with her hands. “I never felt like that with Ewan. I was hurt that he loved Honora, but in the end, he wasn’t the right man for me.”
    “And now?” He lifted her in front of him on his horse, still holding her close.
    She smiled, kissing him again. “I’ve found the right man. And I’ll never let him go.”
     
    Read Honora St. Leger and Ewan MacEgan’s story (part of the MacEgan Brothers miniseries), in TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR, available in print and eBook format from Harlequin Historical October 2009.

Read the
     rest of Michelle Willingham’s MacEgan Brothers miniseries from Harlequin
     Historical and Harlequin Historical Undone, always available in eBook
     format:
    The Viking’s Forbidden
     Love-Slave
Her Warrior
     King
Her Irish