Page 37 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“I see,” she said, strolling over closer to the torch on the wall. “Did he say what he wanted to talk to you about?” she asked.

“Nay. But I’m sure it wasn’t important. Mayhap we should leave now.”

Her gaze fastened on him and her eyes narrowed. “Why are you wearing Orrick’s cloak?”

“His cloak?” Sir Rick looked down at his cloak and chuckled. “Oh, yes. I was chilled and Orrick left it for me. He said he had to . . . leave.”

“Something isn’t right here,” she said, walking around him in a circle. “Where is your horse?”

“My horse?” He turned around and smiled. “Oh, my horse. It went . . . lame. It’s close by. Orrick went to use magic on it to heal it. He left me his horse.”

“Is he coming back?”

“Nay.”

“Nay? Why not?”

“I’m supposed to meet him back at the castle. Shall we go?” He reached out to guide her, putting his hand at the small of her back, but she stepped away and looked up at the torch.

“Is that the Eternal Flame?”

“What? This? Nay,” he said, almost too quickly, once again, trying to lead her away.

“Wait,” she said. “I want to see it.” She reached up for the flame, but Orrick grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her to him, up close against his body.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I want to kiss you, Lady Hope. Since I’ve met you, I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”

“Really,” she said snidely, pushing him away. “Then why did you send your gift for me with the sorcerer instead of giving it to me yourself?”

“Your gift,” Orrick said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the heart necklace he’d meant to give her. “I’d like to give it to you now, if you’d allow me.”

“I – I don’t know.” She crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. “It seems like naught but an afterthought at this point.”

“Not so. Turn around,” he told her, holding up the two ends of the chain. “I want to put this on you myself.”

“Sir Rick, mayhap –”

He leaned forward and kissed her, mainly to keep her from protesting, partially because he was trying to distract her, but most of all because he really did want to kiss her. Once their lips met, her protesting ceased. He slipped his hands around her neck, managing to clasp the necklace even without looking.

“There,” he said, reaching out and picking up the heart, feeling a surge of energy go through him that seemed to be coming from her. He released it, dragging his fingers downward, letting them graze past one breast.

He heard her take a deep breath, and couldn’t help but notice her bosom rise and fall. Suddenly, he was thinking about her breasts instead of getting her out of the cave. Lust overtook him. He wasn’t sure if it came from need, not having made love in a hundred years, or if it was his dark self emerging again, wanting to ravish her body.

“Thank you,” she said, looking down, holding the heart in her hand. She rubbed her fingers over it. With each stroke, he felt it as if she were stroking his hardened length.

He couldn’t stop his want. Mayhap it was because he was too close to the flame. Even if it wasn’t, he no longer cared. He bent forward, kissing her deeply, getting lost in the taste of her honeyed lips. Her scent of fresh air and sweet lilies filled his senses, making him able to think of nothing other than her.

His hands skimmed down her back as they kissed, and he pulled her up against him. The heat from her body felt like he was walking through flames. Mayhap it was his own heat. He was no longer sure. His body ached to have her, and if he didn’t take her soon, he was going to burst.

Sliding his hands up her legs, he dragged her gown higher, picking her up to sit on the table, wedging his way between her legs.

If Hope hadn’t been so infatuated with Sir Rick and his kisses, she would have realized where this was leading. Normally, she wasn’t such a lusty girl, but something about being in this cave with the flickering of the torch and Sir Rick’s hot body pressed against her was driving her mad.

“Sir Rick,” she whispered through their kissing and his heavy petting. His hands slid up under her gown and she felt him tugging at the strings of her undergarments.

“Shhhh,” he whispered, managing to slip off her braies and pull down her stockings, leaving her backside bare but still hidden under her gown.