Page 67 of Enamored
Her breathing quickened against my skin, sending a delicious shiver up my backbone.
“Are you going to say something?” Her whisper turned shy, as though her admission now embarrassed her. “Or maybe you did not truly mean what you said earlier when you were riding off to find the king.”
What had I said? I tried to make my mind work, but it was sluggish with wonder, amazement, awe.
She started to loosen her threaded fingers, and her warm breaths dropped away from my cheek. I could feel her pulling away emotionally too. And I didn’t want her to. I wanted her to stay with me, right beside me, for the rest of my life.
Such a dream was impossible. But I couldn’t think of that right now. All I knew was that I couldn’t let her out of my reach.
Before I could stop myself, I lifted my hands to her face, cupped her cheeks, and guided her back. This time, I wasn’t content to feel her breath upon my cheek. I wanted her breath upon my lips. I paused for several heartbeats, let her soft gasp welcome me. Then I closed the distance and fused my mouth with hers.
At the touching, heat charged through me, moving through my body into my limbs, warming me faster than friction or even a fire. When she pressed in and met me eagerly, hungrily, I angled so I could feast for as long as she would allow it.
Her hands found my cheeks. Her fingers grazed the stubble over my jaw before gliding up and into my hair. As she delved in, her kiss turned more passionate. I responded in equal measure, hoping I left her with no doubt about how much I loved her.
A sharp prod to my back stopped me short, and I broke the kiss.
The prick belonged to Halvard’s knife.
Elinor’s swollen lips brushed mine, and her ragged breathing beckoned me to kiss her again. But another sharp prod of Halvard’s weapon kept me from doing so.
“Release her.” Halvard’s voice was low and stern.
Slowly, I lowered my arms. The darkness wasn’t so dark anymore. My eyes had adjusted to the cavern, lit only by the faint light coming from the distant opening, enough light that Halvard had witnessed our kissing and was angry about the intimacy. And rightly so. He was tasked with protecting Elinor and keeping her safe, even from ardent men who loved her, like me.
“Please, Halvard.” Elinor released me too, her eyes widening at the sight of Halvard’s knife against my back. “Do not harm Maxim.”
“I don’t intend to harm him.” Halvard didn’t shift his blade. “As long as he vows he won’t touch you again...”
Could I vow such a thing?
“But, Halvard.” Elinor’s tone contained censure. And disappointment?
“Nary a touch. Until you are wed.”
“Wed?” This time Elinor’s voice rose with surprise, and dare I say hope?
“You’ll stay away from her”—Halvard bent in and spoke to me—“until the priest declares you husband and wife. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“If I find you so much as lay a finger on her before then, I’ll tie you up and leave you that way until your wedding day.”
Halvard spoke as if our marrying was a foregone conclusion. Was it?
Chapter
26
Elinor
Marry Maxim?
Next to me, he stiffened and shook his head. “No. I cannot marry Elinor.”
As confused as I was about Halvard’s suggestion, I certainly didn’t want Maxim to object to it right away. Didn’t he want to be with me? Wasn’t he willing to find a way to be together?
At Maxim’s declaration, Halvard finally backed up and sheathed his knife. While the cavern was tall enough that the horses could rest comfortably out of the water, the jagged ceiling made standing difficult for a large man like Halvard. Though he resumed grooming the horses, he remained nearby, clearly intending to follow through on his word to tie Maxim up if he touched me again.
