“The count.”
The bastard.He cursed out loud and willed his erection to subside.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and Christien closed his eyes.His erection would never go away as long as she nibbled on her lip.
“I truly want to know,” she said softly.
“Know what?”Except he knew and his pitiful attempt to buy some time was just that—pitiful.
“I want to know what lovemaking is all about.I want to lie with you, even if it is just once.I want to learn you.”
He stepped back, but this time it was his body pinned against the wall.“This is not the best idea.”
“Please, Christien.What if we never see each other again?What if, God forbid, something were to happen to you on the battlefield?”
Unspoken between them was the thought,What if something happened to her?She seemed resigned to the idea she wasn’t going to be of this world much longer and he refused to lie to himself anymore.Lucien wasn’t going away.He would do one of two things, stalk her until he found her alone and unprotected, or tell her husband, whose vengeance would come down on both their heads.Christien was betting on the former.Lucien wanted her for himself.He lusted after her, wanted a taste of her beauty and would not tell her husband, for to do so meant she would be out of his reach.
“Why do you call me ‘my love’?”
Her question took him by surprise.
“Because you love me?”she asked, advancing on him.
He saw no reason to deny his love or fight it.“Yes.”
“And I love you.”
“Don’t,” he said.
“Don’t what?Don’t love you?’Tis too late, I’m afraid.I fell in love with you in the garden that night so many months ago.Do you remember?”
Remember?The moment was engraved upon his brain.He would never forget the ripeness of her breasts pressed against him or the lavender-and-roses scent of her skin.He would forever remember the taste of her lips upon his and the small hands that held him tight.
She slid her hands up his chest.
He grabbed them and pressed them together to halt her erotic explorations.“I thought we decided we wouldn’t do this.”
“You decided.”
“We are both damned if we continue.”
“And damned if we do not.”
He closed his eyes and rested his head against the stone behind him.He wanted nothing more than to throw her on the bed and show her what a man could do to pleasure a woman.He was up to the task.So what was holding him back?
The fact she was married?’Twas true he stayed far from other men’s wives, but that wasn’t the reason.Simon of Flandres didn’t deserve her, but neither did she deserve to roast in the fires of hell for making love to him.He was unworthy of the sacrifice and maybe that’s where his hesitation came from.He was her inferior in so many ways.
She kissed his chin, sliding her body up his to reach it and he groaned, pouring all of his frustration into the sound before he stepped away.Her hands fell from his body.Her brows creased in confusion.
“I will not do this to you,” he said.“I will not compromise you.”
Her chin lifted and her eyes flashed in defiance.“We love each other, is that not enough?”
He shook his head.“If your husband were to find out—and make no doubt he will—he will kill you.”
“I am already doomed,” she said softly.
“Stop this,” he hissed, taking an angry step toward her.“I will not hear of this any longer.You will be safe.I am leaving a man behind.His sole purpose will be to guard you.”
