Page 105 of The Robber Knight
Reuben burst out laughing. “You're tellingme! I'm the one who has had to bear the stench for the last coupleof days. It's disgusting.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Really? You seemextraordinarily amused about something so disgusting.”
He shrugged, still grinning. “Well, you getused to it after a while. And...” he hesitated. Compliments andhints to desirable girls had always come naturally to him. So whywas it now, when he desired this girl more than he had desired anyfemale ever before, that he felt awkward about expressinghimself?
“And what?”
“And... I'm just very relieved you didn'tflinch away from me for another reason,” he whispered.
He saw her face relax immediately and shemoved closer, taking his hand again. “I would never flinch awayfrom you, Reuben,” she said, her eyes big, and clear, and blue.They were filled to the brim with earnestness, and something more.Reuben was just about to respond when she added: “Why should I? Iknow that you're a very, very good man.”
Reuben's heart contracted painfully. Shehonestly thought that? How little she knew.
He was no good man. He had lied to her. Ifshe ever found out... Well, she mustn't ever find out. If she everhad any idea who he really was, she would have him killed.
“Really? A good man?” Trying to disguise hisanxiety, he smirked at her. “I thought I was a soulless bastardwith the empathic capacity of a dung-beetle.”
“That, too.”
“And how exactly are the two compatible?”
Ayla smiled down at him, sweetly. “Haven'tthe foggiest.”
They just sat like that for a while again,gazing at each other and holding hands. Reuben couldn't get enoughof looking into her eyes. And the feeling of her small hand in his?He never wanted to let go again. It felt right. Secure. He wonderedwhether she could possibly feel the same.
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla didn't know exactly how long she had satthere, just enjoying the feeling of being with Reuben. Butsuddenly, she was ripped from the quiet contemplation of the ruggedbeauty of his face and thrown back into reality.
With a small outcry, she ripped her hand fromhis and slapped it over her mouth. “Oh my God. Reuben, I'm sosorry! I've been sitting here all this time worrying you with mytroubles, when you're sick and really it's me who should be takingcare of you, not the other way around.”
“It's no trouble, Milady. You can come andworry me any time again.”
“No, I shouldn't...”
“As long as you throw yourself at me again,that is.”
“Reuben!” This time she really did smack himon the arm.
He shook his head earnestly. “No, not likethat. You need to put both your hands around my neck. Come on. Youmanaged it last time.”
“Reuben, sometimes...”
“Yes?”
His devilish grin was so hopeful, she justcouldn't be angry with him. Not when she had thought, not too longago, that she was never going to see that grin again, the one thatlit up her soul like the sun did the sky.
“You are so exasperating sometimes.”
“We dung-beetles are like that.”
“Just be quiet, will you? I've exhausted youlong enough with all my talk. I need to change your bandagesnow.”
Reuben shook his head. “We should talk a bitmore first.”
Ayla frowned. For a change, he seemed to beserious. “What about? Your tendency to make inappropriate remarksin the presence of a lady?”
“Well, we could talk about that, too. Butactually I was thinking we should talk over what happened down atthe bridge.”
