Page 57 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
But he did not mock her, he simply nodded. He seemed to say that she could have killed him if she had really wanted to. The hold on her arm didn’t loosen, but she did not want him to let her go. She was mesmerized by the way his long fingers wrapped around her wrist.
“If you do not want to take revenge on me anymore then you don’t have any reason to remain here. And I have no cause to keep you,” he said slowly.
Had she imagined the note of regret in his voice? It could be that she attributed to him the feelings she felt herself, for she did not want to leave.
“No, I have no reason to stay.” The idea that they would soon be parted made her breath catch in her throat. Then inspiration struck. Surely there would be other meetings with Saxon lords in the weeks to come, considering what he was trying to do. “Except… Didn’t you need an interpreter?”
The request would be odd, possibly even seen as begging, but she cared not. If it earned her another few days with him, it would be worth it. She was not ready to go just yet, not like this.
He shook his head but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. “I told you, I already have more interpreters than I need. However, if you wish to remain with me, I am sure we could find a way to accommodate you.”
This time she knew she had not imagined the fire in his eyes. “I’m not sure I should—”
“To hell with what you should do! We are past all this, you and me,” he cut in roughly. “Nothing of what is happening is what should happen. You tried to kill me, and yet I feel for you a desire such as I have never felt before. After what we’ve been through together, I think we can afford to be honest with each other. Don’t you feel this connection between us? Don’t youwantto stay with me? That’s all I’m asking. If you want to stay, then…” The grip on her wrist tightened possessively. The heat in his eyes took on a new intensity. “Stay. For another night at least. Stay. Please. You and I are not quite done yet.”
Rowena could not ignore the meaning of his words. It was all she had been able to think about for days. Her mouth opened and she tried to speak but she had no idea what to say so she closed it again and instead nibbled at her bottom lip.
As she did, William’s gaze fastened on her mouth. A flame she had no difficulty identifying as desire lit up in his eyes. Heart thumping, she understood his control had finally snapped.
Before she could protest, he drew her into his arms.
“I’m going to kiss you now. Speak now if you don’t want me to touch you because I can’t help it, I’ve held the need to do so in check for far too long,” he warned before placing his lips on hers in a searing kiss.
Even if she had wanted to, she could not have drawn away. He kissed her with all the passion she imagined a man was capable of. After the iron restraint he had exercised over his urges in the past week, it was as if a dam had burst. Delight made Rowena’s chest warm.Sheprovoked his desire,shewas the one making this virile, measured man lose all control.
The idea was intoxicating.
In his arms, her world changed, became brighter. His mouth worshipped hers, his lips caressed hers, and his hands held her fast against his hard body. He kissed her until her body grew limp, like a man determined to win her over, desperate for her to stay. Keeping her close, he drew back and stared deep into her eyes, as if to will her to accept his offer.
And she knew she would not be able refuse.
“Does that help you make your decision?” A long shiver traveled up and down her body. Oh yes, it did. A thousandfold.“Come back to the castle. Stay with me tonight. Sleep with me, in the real sense of the word. At least once. Please. I need you.”
Rowena felt the heat of his body and the strength of her own desire for him. Added to the sensations his kiss had awoken in her, it made his offer impossible to resist. She made a strangled sound he obviously interpreted as an agreement and kissed her again. This time it was not a plea but the seductive ploy of a lover. She wondered briefly if he was not about to take her right here, on the grass. The notion sent a flutter of anticipation low in her belly. If he wanted to make her his, she would allow him.
But he drew away.
“I have to go,” he rasped, leaving his forehead in contact with hers.
Yes, he had to, Rowena agreed, otherwise she would be the one tumbling him onto the ground, out here in the forest for all to see. She cleared her throat and clenched her teeth before she could grab his tunic and draw him into another kiss.
William shook his head. “There is something I must do today, but I will be back before nightfall. Wait for me in bed.”
In bed.
The words were heavy with promise. They caused a quiver of anticipation to flutter inside her. “I will.”
He gave her one last, desperate kiss before disappearing through the bushes the way he had come, leaving her panting with a longing mingled with familiar anxiety. Until her encounter with William, she would never have thought such a thing possible, but she actually wanted a man to make love to her.
Thisman.
His kiss had been almost like lovemaking, and what she remembered from his caresses told her she had nothing to fear from him. He would be gentle. He would be patient.
And in his arms, she would finally overcome her fears.
*
“William. Over here.”
