"By the blood of God, woman, you are more troublethan you are worth!" Guy roared, slamming his fists on the wooden armrestsas he rose from the chair. "I will listen to no more of your absurdranting!"
Leila gasped and shrank back against the pillows, hereyes lit with fear, which only angered him further. What did she think hewas,a rutting animal? A wild beast? Surely she did notthink he would ever strike her.
Taking care to keep his head down, Guy stormed to thecabin door but swung around just before he reached it. "If my intent wasto rape you, my lady, I would have done so already, for believe me, there havebeen plenty of opportunities. Yes, I desire you! I want you! I will not denyit. Your beauty would drive any man to distraction. But I do not prey uponwomen, as you so mistakenly believe, nor did I trick your mother. My hate foryour brother runs deep, but I would never use an innocent to seek my revenge.That will come inits owngood time. My only intent isto get you quickly to Edward's court and be well rid of you!"
Guy made as if to turn, then changed his mind andwalked back several steps toward the bed, his eyes boring into hers. He wasbreathing so hard his taut chest muscles were clearly accentuated beneath hisfitted tunic.
"A note of caution, my lady, especially since youare so quick to accuse. Perhaps you should concern yourself with your owndesires. I, too, have felt your lust!"
"What are you saying?" Leila snapped,her face flushed with heat and embarrassment. "Youare mad if you—you think that I could possibly want . . ."
She faltered, unable to finish and sick at heartbecause deep down she knew he spoke the truth. Nothing in her upbringing couldhave prepared her for the emotions this man aroused in her. Rage, frustration,bewilderment, hatred, and worst of all, desire—each one so acute she felt shewas teetering on the brink of losing control whenever she was near him.
Even now, when she so desperately wanted to contradicthim, she could not. He would surely see through her lie and expose her accursedvulnerability all the more.
"Your wanton kiss that night atRefaiyeh'sgave you away, Leila. If you do not wish toencourage my unwelcome attentions again, or those of any otherknightwhen we reach Westminster, you would do well to keepyour mouth chastely closed when you're kissed!"
Before she could fling a retort, he turned on his heeland strode to the door. "Get some rest, my lady," he advised darkly. "Inthree days we will reach Marseilles, and then the difficult part of our journeywill begin. I guarantee that our pace will be relentless." The plankedwalls shook as he slammed the door, wood dust sifting down from the rafteredceiling.
Leila yanked the velvet spread up under her chin,preparing to scream out her fury when the bed seemed to dip beneath her. Shemoaned as her stomach pitched and roiled, her outrage quickly vanishing as shefought the urge to retch.
It soon became clear that the ship was bucking highseas. Leila grew fearful. She felt as if the vessel were riding atop a writhingserpent. Flashes of lightning eerily illuminated the darkening cabin,portending an approaching storm.
As the bed dipped and swayed again and again, she wasgrateful the stout corner posts were bolted to the floor or it would have gonecrashing into the walls. Thesterncastlewhich housedthe cabin began to creak ominously while tall waves dashed against the orielwindow with suchfury,she thought the glass might shatter.She crawled into the corner and crouched there with her knees drawn tightly toher chest, feeling terribly afraid and helpless.
Dear God, could the ship weather such ferocity?shewondered wildly, her stomach lurching as it pitched intoanother deep trough. Surely it would split apart and they would all perish!
Thunder exploded overhead, a great booming crash. Leilashrieked in terror and wrenched the bedspread over her head, huddling beneaththe covers in total misery as nature went mad all around her. She did not hearthe cabin door open, nor did she hear it slam shut over the resoundingthunderclap which made the whole ship shudder.
All she knew was that one moment she was alone and thenext Guy was throwing back the covers and gathering her into his arms.
She did not protest as he lay down beside her. She wasso horribly frightened she sought to lose herself in the compelling comfort ofhis embrace. Clutching his tunic, she squeezed her eyes shut to blot out thejagged lightning. He was so big, so overwhelmingly strong. Surely he wouldprotect her from the storm's ferocious wrath.
"Shhh, Leila, it's allright," came his fervent whisper in her ear.
She pressed her cheek to his hard, muscled chest.Hearing his steady heartbeat, she concentrated desperately on its rhythminstead of on the crashing thunder. She inhaled his warm, musky scent and feltstrangely reassured.
"Hold me," she pleaded, even as his powerfularms tightened around her. Her renewed sense of security was shaken when theship plummeted into another seemingly bottomless trough. "Please . . . don'tlet me go."
"Never," Guy murmured, kissing the top of herhead. "We'll endure this together. Do not fear, Leila, the ship is sound.It will ride out the storm."
Holding on to him for dear life, she felt his handsgently stroking her back. It was a caress she remembered well from her longdays of seasickness, tender and soothing, though she could recall little else.Huge, gentle hands and blue, blue eyes.
Leila nestled as close to him as she could, his body sowarm it seemed to melt away her fear, so hard and solid she could not help butbelieve his words.
***
The storm lashed viciously at the ship until well intothe night, but eventually the wind and waves subsided. Now only a light rainstill pelted the window. It provided a lulling sound that Leila foundcomforting since she had pulled away from Guy's arms, the heat of his embracehaving become too much for her.
She lay on her side with her back against the cabinwall, her arm curved beneath her head, staring at his massive form in thedarkness.
The bed seemed very small with him in it.Suffocatinglysmall. She had not noticed before because ofher illness, but she was very much aware of it now. If she barely reached outher hand she would touch him, so she was careful not to move. She did not wantto touch him. She did not want to rekindle the desire that had forced her toleave the solace of his arms long before the storm had lessened its fury.
Leila knew he was awake. His breathing was irregular,and she sensed a taut alertness in him, as if he was thinking about somethingthat would not let him sleep.
So was she. After the worst of the storm had passed,she had given a great deal of thought to what Guy had told her about Roger andwhy he had said nothing to her mother. She had to admit his angry outburst hadconvinced her he meant her no harm. He wanted to be rid of her. He had madethat quite clear.
And she wanted to be rid of him.
