She met his smile. “You’re serious?”
“Very.”
“I guess...if you insist.” Her smile grew a little. “Any preference to which thigh?”
“None at all.” Both if he had his way. Preferably spread wide and wrapped around him. “Whichever you prefer.”
Her smile inched up a wee bit more, and her cheeks pinkened. “You have a dirty mind,m’Lord.”
“When it comes to you, ‘twill likely be unavoidable however hard I try.” His smile inched up as well. “So what thigh will it be?”
She lifted her dress and gave him the right thigh of her wonderfully shaped leg. “I guess this one will do.”
“This one it is.” He manifested a leather strap to hold the blade and took his time wrapping it around her delicate flesh. Had he ever been so aroused? He would have thought so several times over since meeting her, but this truly tested his resolve. He wanted to run his hand up further. Touch her warm center. See how ready she might be for him.
“A little too ready,” she said hoarsely. Honestly, because of who she was. Because of how connected they were. “Despite having met you hours ago.” She squeezed her eyes shut as if struggling, then met his gaze again. “Why are you doing this when we can’tdothis?”
“Doing what?” he asked innocently.
“You know full well what.” She braced her hand on his shoulder to keep from falling over when he took his time sliding her blade under the strap. “Why are you acting like there can be something beyond friendship between us when you can’t know that for certain?”
Madison shook her head before continuing. “Sure, the gods might let us in the end now that we know what I am, but that’s a bigmight, isn’t it?” She pressed her lips together. “Andwhydoes it feel like I’ve known you long enough that it’s cool you’re doing this? Because I don’t hook up with guys this fast.” Despite her confusion, her smile didn’t entirely vanish. “Especially guys from another century.”
“I don’t know why we’re connecting so quickly, nor do I care.” He allowed his fingers to slide over her warm skin as he finished tucking her blade into position. “As to hoping we can find more? It seems impossible to do anything but. Because I want more. So Iwillhope.” He met her eyes, never more serious. “And Iwillrisk my heart.”
“When it could so easily be broken?”
He had a feeling it would break anyway at this point, so what difference did it make? Would it not be best to enjoy this while it lasted?
“Yes, I would risk my heart being broken.” Though tempted to pull her back into his arms and kiss her, he stood and kept his distance. He wanted their first kiss to be somewhere other than the armory. Because therewouldbe a first kiss. He would at least get that before she might be taken away from him. “Everything is left to chance. ‘Tis hard to know what will happen. Even when it comes to your blade staying strapped to your thigh.”
“Come again?”
He led her toward the exit before he ended up pulling her into his arms and never letting go. “’Tis said the blade of the Unnamed One likes to be seen. That those such as you can no more hide your blade than you can tell a lie.”
“Super.” She stopped him, concerned. “So, what does that mean exactly?”
“It means an Unnamed One is not to be hidden or shy but a strong, fearless warrior who everyone must recognize.” He shrugged. “So it could be your blade will not stay strapped to your thigh for long.”
“That’s a little unnerving.”
“Yet ‘tis the way.” He cupped her cheeks and used magic to calm her. “The more you bond with the blade and who you really are, the easier t’will become.”
“I hope so because the whole kneeling thing is awkward.”
“At first.” He caressed her cheek. “But it does become easier.”
“So people are going to bow if they see it?”
“Quite likely.”
She gazed into his eyes for a moment, seemingly soothed by his touch, before she finally came to terms with it and nodded. “Okay.”
“Ta?”
She smiled and repeated yes in his language. “Ta.”
He searched her eyes. “You’re sure?”
