Baron straightened, a wild, unguarded hope lighting up his eyes. He stepped closer, and my pulse leapt. The hungry lookin his eyes was the same expression he’d had the first time we kissed, only deeper now, heavier with more weeks of wanting.
I couldn’t hold back. I didn’t want to.
Baron reached for me, and I met him halfway, sliding my hands up his chest and around his neck. He pulled me in by the small of my back, and I rose onto my toes, heart pounding, the world narrowing to the space between us.
Any previous doubt I may have ever had about Baron’s loyalties and lineage suddenly seemed unimportant and blew away with the warm spring air that swirled around us.
His first kiss was gentle, almost reverent, but then the dam between us burst.
His lips crushed against mine with months of restrained longing behind them, and heat rushed through me, dizzying and bright. I kissed him back without hesitation, gripping the fabric of his shirt as though it could anchor me to the earth.
Baron kissed me as if I were the only antidote to some malady he had and was desperate to be rid of, and I welcomed it, wanting him every bit as badly as he wanted me.
It was an exhilarating, sweeping feeling that I didn’t want to ever stop. What I wanted was to stay there forever, mouth to mouth with Baron and mind wiped blissfully blank.
Baron abruptly pulled back.
“What—?” I began, reaching to pull him in again, but he stared over my shoulder with a mortified expression, face turning scarlet.
I turned.
Father and the Merry Men were plastered against the cottage windows—like overgrown children, their noses pressed firmly to the glass—or hanging out of the open door, all staring at us with wide eyes. When they saw us looking, several men made kissy faces. One waggled his eyebrows. Will Scarlet gave an enthusiastic double thumbs-up. Someone wolf whistled.
Heat flooded my face so fast I thought I might combust. I dropped Baron’s shirt like it had burned me and snatched up the egg basket.
By the saints! Why had we chosen such a conspicuous spot? Would weeverhave a moment alone together? Baron and I exchanged one fleeting, guilty look before we went back to the house to drop off the eggs.
CHAPTER 35
“What? That starved for entertainment that you spy on other people’s private business, huh boys?” I asked loudly when we got closer to the cabin.
“We couldn’t help it, you two put on agoodshow!” Dale called. Several men whistled in agreement.
“Besides,” added Little John, “that was the first time we’ve seen you kiss anyone and not club them over the head immediately after! We wanted to make sure you weren’t about to be taken advantage of!”
Baron looked at me curiously. “How oftenhaveyou clubbed someone you kissed over the head?”
I refused to answer the question. And, technically, I hadn’tclubbedany of them.
The moment we walked in, the men crowded around Baron, either slapping him on the shoulder and congratulating him for being the first man ever to hold my attention, or else loudly threatening him never to harm me.
“He’s the only one not terrified of her,” Dale laughed.
“Well, he better be terrified of what we will do to him if he ever breaks her heart.”
“Don’t be jealous, Baron. She never kissed any of the others likethatbefore.”
“Best keep that one happy. I’ve seen what she can do when she’s mad.”
“I could tell what you were thinking out there, boy, and you’d better keep those thoughts under control, or you’ll haveusto deal with. You probably need to chat with Friar Tuck as it is.”
“Aw, leave him alone, Little John. He’s a red-blooded male like the rest of us.”
“But this is our Laurel we’re talking about! He can’t think thosetypes of thoughts about our girl.”
“I’m right here,” I said loudly. “I have a say in this, too.” But everyone ignored me.
Baron, at a complete loss for what to do, shifted from foot to foot, his hands awkwardly bouncing against his legs. He bobbed his head at the men’s teasing grins and sometimes attempted a stiff smile in return, but mostly defaulted to a guilty, overly respectful nod. His complexion remained a deep, embarrassed shade of crimson.
