Page 24 of Promise of a Knight
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“Shouldyou like to take a turn about the court?”
Alex glanced up from where she was sitting at the high table on the dais, picking the seed out of an orange. Alaric appeared, a devastatingly handsome grin on his face and his hand reaching toward her.
Setting her orange down, she nodded and pushed back her chair. The music, dancing and feasting had taken its toll on Alex. She was thoroughly exhausted and sweat trickled down the back of her spine. The Great Hall of Holyrood Palace had long since grown steamy with the hundreds of bodies packed into its midst. The king had pronounced he would soon undergo the task of renovations and Alex thought perhaps, if they were to have a court so big, that was a good idea.
“Bring your orange, you can eat it while we walk. I want to show you something.” Alaric led her through the Great Hall and out into the courtyard toward the front gates.
He tugged her up a flight of stairs at the gate tower and out onto the castle ramparts. Several guards looked at them quizzically, but when they saw it was Alaric, they simply nodded and let them pass.
“Where are ye taking me?” Alex asked, feeling exhilarated and cooled by the nighttime air. She popped a slice of orange into her mouth.
“You’ll see.”
They must have gone halfway around before he stopped.
“Look.”
He pointed up at the stars which blanketed the dark sky. A sliver of moon cast its silver light down on them. Alex leaned against the rampart, staring up at the nighttime sky, fairly certain she’d never be able to look at the stars again the same way.
“’Tis beautiful.”
His hand slid around the small of her back sending a shiver over her limbs.
“Can I have a slice?”
Alex handed him a wedge of orange but he simply opened his mouth and closed his eyes. She swallowed hard, then slid the slice between his lips. Zounds, but she’d never done something so sensual before.
“Mmm… That’s good.”
Alex nodded, putting another piece into her mouth and chewing, tasting perhaps for the first time. She’d never be able to eat an orange again without thinking about this moment.
Alaric glanced back up at the sky. “There is a place at Castle De Garde, on the ramparts, that I like to go to think. And this reminds me of it. I wanted to share it with you.”
Alex smiled, liking very much that he thought of her. “Thank ye.”
“Look out into the land beyond. Into the darkness there. The tiny twinkling of candlelight. What do you think people are doing?”
“Perhaps they are looking up at the sky. Or mayhap they are looking toward the castle, wishing to be where we are.”
“Maybe so.” He pressed her a little closer, the sides of their hips touching. “Or mayhap they are all alone with the only person in the world they want to share the quiet with. Like me.”
Alex pressed her lips together, stole a glance at Alaric. He was gazing down at her intently and she felt her heart skip a beat. Her breath hitched, and she felt herself turning toward him, his hands anchored on her hips.
“I like that a lot better,” she whispered. Would he kiss her? Zounds, but she hoped he would.
“Maybe they are growing close, like this.” Alaric’s hands slid up to the small of her back and he tucked her closer to him, the heat of his body seeping through her gown, making her shiver but hot all over.
“I like that, too,” she murmured, her gaze once more riveted to the lion’s head on his brooch.
“Do you think”—he leaned down, his face coming within inches of hers—“they might be kissing?”
Alex couldn’t speak. Her tongue refused to move. All she did was nod, slide her finger over the lion, while in her head she shouted,Aye, kissing, lots of kissing.
“Me too,” Alaric whispered, his mouth only an inch from hers. “And I think we should be, too.”
Finally her voice reached her, though it was only a heady whisper of a sigh. “Aye.”
