Page 22 of Desire

“Let me think of an option that does not give a hint,” he said. “Perhaps I should kiss you and then release you so it’s both and neither at the same time.”

He captured my chin with one hand and kissed me soundly before setting me on my feet.

“There. No hint given,” he said with a grin.

“You make me want to kick you in the shin,” I said without rancor.

“Will you bestow another kiss if I’m injured?”

“Unlikely,” I said. “But I can brew more tea after I request your brothers beat you.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Truce, Lamb.”

I pivoted to walk away but crashed into Darian.

“He’s a scoundrel, to be sure,” Darian said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Come sit with me, Princess. I’ll vow to protect your virtue from his advances.”

He spun me around and tugged me onto his lap. I arched my brow at him.

“Do I look like a loose woman to you?”

“Never.”

“Then why do you continue to treat me as such after I’ve clearly stated my view on the liberties I’ve allowed?”

“Release her, Darian,” Garron warned.

Darian made a face.

“Princess, you wound me with your disregard.” As he spoke, he stood with me. “Can’t you see you’ve won a place in our hearts? Can we not win a place in yours?”

“Enough, Darian,” Edmund said sharply. “Leave her be.”

With a wounded look, Darian let go of my hand and retreated to his strung bed.

“I’ll be inside reading,” I said, returning to the cottage.

The sun was sinkinglow in the sky when I heard the sounds of their return.

“Kellen, come see what they’ve brought,” Garron said from the door.

I set the book aside and stood. Stiff from the hours I’d spent reading, I stretched. Garron quietly watched me, waiting for me to join him. When I did, I wrapped my arm through his.

“I forgot to ask if Brandle removed your stitches.”

“Not yet. He worries that it might be too soon even with the tea.”

“Do they itch?”

“Fiercely,” he admitted.

“They should be removed soon then."

The others waited around the table where they’d set everything. They’d procured more eggs, cream, sugar, honey, and a new water pitcher. Next to everything were two cloth-wrapped bundles.

“For you,” Eadric said.

I opened the smaller bundle and found two books.

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