No danger then.Still, the enchantment was broken.Her relieved sigh was shaky.And she was mortified by how unguarded she’d allowed herself to become.
She wiped a trembling hand across her lips.Whether to erase his kiss or to calm her hunger, she wasn’t sure.
“We should go,” she decided hoarsely.
He nodded in agreement.“Or at least change our disguises.”
Eve was too upset by her own lack of awareness to appreciate his gentle humor.
What was wrong with her?She’d always managed to stay out of trouble by exercising caution.She was always aware of her surroundings.Attuned to sights and sounds and instincts that warned her of danger.
But this man—this beguiling man who could enthrall her with a kiss—left her devoid of sense.
She dared not let it happen again.
It was more than a matter of sinful longing.
It was a matter of survival.
Adam tightened his jaw as he stuffed the vessel of verjuice and the mule-hair beard into his satchel.
He had to be careful.
This woman was bringing out something dangerous in him.Something that made him act foolish.Take risks he shouldn’t.And left him woefully oblivious to the outside world.
That squirrel could have been the prior.Or an outlaw.Or a lawman.
Anyone stumbling upon two monks in each other’s arms could have meant death for them.At the very least, their true identities might have been revealed, and that would have been the end of Adam’s livelihood.
The kiss was his fault.
She’d just been so damned irresistible.
And once he’d removed that ridiculous mule-hair beard, he hadn’t been able to keep from leaning in toward her delicate chin, silky cheek, and yielding lips.
He hadn’t expected to have such a strong reaction.
It wasn’t as if he was inexperienced when it came to kissing.After all, he was a Rivenloch.Though his need for anonymity meant he tended to distance himself from others, sometimes he did exist as Sir Adam la Nuit.And as an unmarried warrior from a respected clan, he attracted a certain amount of female attention.Most of it from unclaimed lasses drooling over the wealth and status that would accompany marriage to a knight of Rivenloch.
He’d done his share of flirting and fondling.He’d swived more than a few maids in the course of his journey to manhood.
Still, he’d never had his blood simmer so quickly.Never been left so breathless with desire.Never had his body rouse so hastily to the point of near pain.
Most critically, he’d never had his mind emptied so completely of rational thought.
It was irresponsible.Perilous.Life-threatening.
Adam had to refocus his brain.
The lady needed to get out of her monk’s attire.And it would be best if he did as well.
“Perhaps ye should change back to yourself,” he suggested.
“Myself?”
“Lady Aillenn?”
“Oh.Aye.”
