She kicked again, but he didn’t budge. “I’m not strong enough.”
Gripping her elbows, he forced all of her weight to the side. “Pull your enemy’s weight onto one leg. Then take him down.”
While she was off-balance, he lightly tapped the back of her leg. Before she could drop to the grass, he caught her. Despite her strength, she weighed little to him. He meant to set her back upon her feet, but instead, he kept her in his arms, just holding her.
“What are you doing, Ewan?” she whispered.
He didn’t answer for a moment. His eyes searched hers, and in them, he saw the same confusion. He touched her hair, bringing his hand to her nape. “I don’t know.”
But he knew exactly what he’d been doing. He’d used this chance to hold her in his embrace, though it was wrong. Gently, he raised her back to a standing position.
Honora ventured a sad smile, when he sheathed his sword. She fumbled with the linen upon her wrist, saying at last, “Thank you for the lesson.”
“You did well,a chara, in spite of your wrist.”
She sobered at the endearment, her eyes turning serious. “Am I your friend? After all of this difficulty with my sister, will I still be that to you?”
Though he nodded, inwardly, he wasn’t sure that could be true. And from the way she was looking at him now, he sensed that she wasn’t immune to him either.
She gripped her wrists, her lower lip caught between her teeth like a guilty child.
“Stay here,” he said suddenly. “I’m going for a swim.” He needed the icy water to drown the painful desire he wouldn’t act upon. By God, he wasn’t going to lay a finger upon her, no matter how badly he wanted to.
Ewan lifted his tunic over his head, unbuckling his sword belt. She sat beside the bank, watching him while he undressed.
“You’d best hurry up, or your clothes won’t have time to dry,” she warned. “You wouldn’t want to return to my sister with soaked trews.”
There was an unspoken dare within the words, her green eyes full of amusement.
He didn’t shy away from her challenge. “That won’t be a problem, Honora. For I won’t be wearing clothes.”
Before she could voice a protest, he dropped his trews and walked into the water, completely naked.
Chapter Eleven
Honoradidn’tflinch,butlooked her fill. By the Blessed Saints, the man had a beautiful body. All lean lines and pure muscle. She’d felt it pressed close to her, and it had stirred her senses. Though it was terribly wicked, she wanted to touch him again, to fill her hands with his toned flesh.
Ewan swam long strokes through the water, crossing the narrow river to the opposite side and back again. Like the prow of a boat, he cut through the current, his golden skin sleek in the water.
Honora sat on the hillside watching, her hands resting against her cheeks. She really ought to feel guilty, but instead, she marveled at how much Ewan had changed.
The afternoon sun was growing hotter, and her hair was damp against the back of her neck. Her gown was sticking to her skin, and the water looked far more inviting than it should have.
What if she waded in to her knees? Surely she couldn’t drown in twelve inches of water, could she? And if a fish happened to swim close, she could run back to the shore. Though she knew it was ridiculous to be frightened of a fish, the idea of something cold and slimy, sneaking up to nibble her skin, made her want to yelp.
“Are you going to join me?” Ewan asked, slicking his hair back. Droplets of water glistened upon his chest. “It’s not as cold as it looks.”
“I was thinking of wetting my feet,” she admitted. “But that’s all.”
“Go on, then. No harm in it.”
She squinted at him, as if deciding whether or not he was telling the truth. The water did look refreshing. She took her shoes off, dropping them on the embankment.
“Are you afraid?” he asked.
“No,” she lied. Gingerly, she took a step forward. The sandy river bottom shifted against her feet in a silken caress. And the water, oh, the water was heavenly. Lightly cool with a hint of warmth. She took a few steps forward until it lapped against her knees. Holding her skirts up to her thighs, she managed to protect her bliaud.
Ewan started to walk toward her, and as the water grew lower, past his chest to his waist, she held up her hands. “You stay there.” She could almost see his hip bones, and God forgive her, she already knew what lay beneath the surface.
