Wace gulped and nodded. “I know, milord.”
Valteri met her gaze. It was her fault, she knew. She only hoped Valteri would continue to hold to the gentle scolding in his gaze and not turn toward anything more sinister.
He looked back at his squire. “But then my dearest lady is rather impossible to argue against. I have a feeling that had you not returned to seek help as she asked, the three of us would still be up on that hill trying to decide who should go and who should stay.”
A smile broke across Wace’s lips. “Then you’re not angry at me?”
Valteri shook his head. “Nay, I owe you my life, lad. How could I fault such noble actions? Besides, I have yet to ever win an argument with her, either.”
Wace smiled.
“But,” Valteri said, and immediately Wace’s expression sobered. “In the future I would have you seek others when dealing with milady’s requests. Though you should always obey her, I would not have her harmed, no matter what argument she may give. I trust her safety to you, and I’d be much sorrowed to have that bond of trust broken.”
“Aye, milord.” Wace clapped his fist to his shoulder and gave a sharp bow.
She wanted to say something to ease the sting of Valteri’s words, but any argument she gave would undermine his authority. Pressing her lips together, she forced herself to silence.
“May I take my leave, milord?”
Valteri nodded.
With one last curt bow, Wace made a quick exit.
Even so, she noticed the lightness of his step. The boy was happy again.
Like her.
Ariel shook her head and smiled. Well, maybe the chastisement hadn’t been so terribly bad after all.
No doubt his dread of the encounter had been far worse than the actual experience.
She turned back toward Valteri and saw the paleness of his cheeks.
He was tired and needed his rest. The voice she’d heard meant nothing. He wouldn’t perish from his wounds.
Here, he was safe, and in little time he’d heal and be just as he was. Only better, because now she was going to make him grateful that he’d decided to stay.
As she moved away, he stopped her. “I would have you join me.”
Ariel nodded. Returning the platter to the table, she doused the candle, removed her kirtle, and joined him in the bed.
He wrapped his strong arms about her, drawing her closer to his warm, fevered body. She trembled at the foreign sensation of his heat against her bare flesh. Not since the night he’d taken her innocence had he held her in such a manner, and she found the reality far better than her weak memory.
Indeed, she burned from the desire his touch wrought. She longed to rollover and bring his body back into hers, to ease the throbbing ache inside her to have him. Her stomach pitched and tightened from the weight of her desire, but she reminded herself that she must remain still. His wounds were far too fresh for him to carry out her fondest desire.
“Ariel?”
“Aye?”
“Why do you weep?”
“I’m merely happy to have you home and in one piece.” Grateful that he was giving them a chance.
He rolled her onto her back and kissed away the dampness on her cheeks. “I would never have you shed a single tear on my behalf,” he whispered, his voice bringing a flood of joy to her breast. “I would never willingly cause you pain.”
His lips covered hers and she reveled in the taste of warrior, the taste of wine on his tongue. Chills shot the length of her.
Valteri slid his body against hers and she moaned from the pleasure of his weight. It seemed like an eternity since he’d held her. She ran her hand over the strange circular scar on his chest that seemed so out of place with the others.…
