Page 120 of The Robber Knight
“Why, for heaven's sake?” she demanded, halfdesperate, half ecstatic. “Why would you want to stay?”
He shrugged, but then fixed her with a verydetermined, very intimate gaze. “I just think there are things hereworth staying for. Unfinished business.”
Ayla's heart jumped with hope andanticipation. “Like what?” she whispered.
Reuben's grin turned mischievous. “Like mycompensation, for instance. I still haven't received a penny forall my lost wares. I can't go without my compensation, now, can I?”Cocking his head, he threw her an innocent look.
Ayla didn't know whether she wanted to kissor kill him in that moment.
Finally, she leaned closer, grasped hiscollar and with his face barely two inches away from hers,breathed:
“I have to go save my people now. When I getback, we'll see about your compensation.”
God! What had possessed her to say that? Shewas not even sure what his words had meant—and even less sure whathe would make of her response. Oh dear Lord...
“Ayla?”
She blinked, interrupted in the middle of herthought—and thankful for it. She had to go! She had to ride, or herpeople would be lost. But she was so close to his beautiful face,and it was so easy to get lost in his gray eyes...
“Y-yes, Reuben?”
“I love you.”
For a moment, Ayla thought that time stoodstill—or maybe just her heart did. Had she really just heard that?Three little words that turned her world on its head? No, shecouldn't think, couldn't indulge. Not now. She had to ride!
Impulsively, she threw her arms around Reubenand hugged him close. “Thanks!”
Then she was on her feet and out the door ina flash. She had to ride! A horse! A kingdom for a horse!
High RoadUp
Reuben stared at the door Ayla had left open,listening to her receding footsteps, completely dumbfounded.
Thanks?
What the hell wasthatsupposed to mean? Reuben had extensiveexperience in romance, garnered in his time at the Imperial Courtwhere his charming smile had been the talk of all the ladies. Heknew his business. When you told somebody you loved them, youexpected an answer like “I love you too” or “Well, too bad” ormaybe “Go fornicate with yourself!”
But “Thanks”?What was he supposed to make of that? It was no way to answer a manwho had just opened his heart to you!
All right, maybe he hadn't chosen quite thebest time for his confession. She had been in a bit of a hurry tosave her people from sudden and violent death. But she could havestayed for a quick “I love you too.” It would only have meant twodead peasants, at most.
Or, an unwelcome thought intruded, maybe shewould not have said that, even if she'd had all the time in theworld...?
Reuben shook his head.
No. She had said thanks. That had to mean shewanted this, wanted him—didn't it? No woman had ever been able toresist his charms before, and neither would Ayla.
Probably.
His gaze returned to the open door. Herfootsteps were almost inaudible now. So faint, then even fainter,then... gone.
His hands clenched into fists.
Oh, how he burned with the wish to go withher. And yet, he had held his tongue, had stayed where he was,knowing all too well why.
He was only one man—out there were hundreds.He was still sick—they were fit and strong. As much as Reuben hatedto admit it, he couldn't protect Ayla from the Margrave's men allby himself. Not yet.
Worse than not being able to protect her, hewould have hindered her. He might be recovering, but he still wasnot fit to ride at full gallop. The damned weakness was still inhis bones, by Satan's warty prick and all the pricks of his littledemons! If he had ridden with her, and then had fallen off hishorse, she would have stopped and he would have been her doom. Sheneeded to be fast now, faster than she had ever been.
