Gaston came up behind her as she tried to figure out what she was going to do about sleeping arrangements. “It appears that you are left out,” he said softly. “But my men have made a couple of shelters that should prove satisfactory.”
In truth, she wasn’t at all concerned. She knew Gaston would look out for her. In fact, she wasn’t at all tired, either. The moon above was bright and she did not feel like sleeping. She felt like staying up all night next to Gaston, even if they did nothing more than sit in silence.
“Are you going to sleep or are you going to stand guard,” she asked him.
“I shall stand guard for a while,” he said. “That is why Patrick and Antonius are trying to get some rest, so that they can relieve me in a few hours.”
She glanced over at the two knights, lying down on the earth not far from the fire. “Where are Sir Roald and the other soldiers?”
“Around,” Gaston’s eyes grazed the dark forest. “Probably resting, too. Why do not you get some sleep as well?”
“I am not tired,” she moved away from the wagon and back to the fire. He followed.
“You have had a busy day,” he said, standing next to her as she warmed her hands.
“So have you,” she looked at him pointedly. “You killed two men.”
She had not said anything about those events all day and he wondered if it was because she was trying to forget the horror of it. He could see plainly that she had not forgotten.
“I had to,” he replied simply.
“For me?” she asked.
“In a sense. ’Twas your honor I was defending both times,” he crossed his arms, staring into the fire.
“I have never had anyone defend my honor,” she said faintly.
He did not know what to say. Silently, she went back over to the wagon and fumbled about. He continued to remain by the fire, staring at the flames as he listened acutely to everything around him. He had learned a long time ago that his sense of hearing was nearly as valuable as his sense of sight when it came to guard duty.
Remington appeared beside him, her cloak open. “Can you smell it?”
He sniffed the air. “Smell what?”
“The perfume.” she insisted, opening her cloak wide and lifting her chin to reveal her neck. “Can you smell it now?”
He eyed her a moment before slowly lowering his head. He buried his face in the soft white crook of her neck and inhaleddeeply. Roses, lavender, and lily of the valley filled his nostrils. And the scent of Remington.
“Aye, Remi,” he whispered against her skin. “I smell it.”
She closed her eyes at the feel of his face against her; this is what she wanted, what she had planned. It was as close as she could come to seducing him, for she knew nothing of the art of seduction. She could only go with her natural instincts, and her instincts told her to put on the perfume he had bought her.
She was suddenly shameless. She was confused, aye, but she knew how badly she wanted to feel his touch. Her fear of men, of being close, was evaporating by the second. She had never in her life wanted to be held until this very moment.
Her arms went around his neck and she threw her head back, pressing his face into her skin. All armor and cold steel, he responded with a fierce passion and clutched her tightly enough to crush her.
“Remi, Remi, my angel,” he whispered. “By God, I want you.”
She felt his lips roving over her neck, the swell of her breasts, and hot shivers rippled down her spine, kindling a fire in her loins the likes of which she had never felt before. Coupling, however, still frightened her a great deal and she suddenly pulled back from him as their heat intensified.
His gaze was inquisitive, lusty. “What’s the matter?”
She was hesitant to answer him, not sure of where to begin. He saw her reluctance and read something else into it.
“I am sorry, angel,” he said softly. “I shouldn’t have done that here in the open, for anyone to see,” he glanced over his shoulder and took her hand. “Come with me.”
She opened her mouth to protest but the words refused to come forth. She wanted to tell him of her fear, her reserve, as he led her into a darkened thicket, but she choked out of pure bewilderment. Where on earth to begin?
They were well secluded from the rest of the camp when Gaston suddenly went down on his knees, running his hands down her thighs. Already, his attentions had her hot but she fought to maintain her calm.
