Draven looked askance at her. “None, ‘tis what squires are for.”
She laughed at his answer. “That’s good, but the answer is one. However, the candle must accept the blow.”
Draven rolled his eyes.
Emily huffed at him. “Do you find nothing amusing?”
“Aye,” he said in a whisper. “I find you very amusing.”
By the shocked look on her face he could tell he caught her off-guard.
She leaned forward. “Draven?—”
“Nay.” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “Say nothing more and don’t try your wiles on me for I am weak and in no condition to fight you.”
“My father says that is the best time to press the advantage.”
“But it wouldn’t be very chivalrous of you.”
She moved to sit next to him. And before he could move, she pressed her lips against his. Draven opened his mouth to taste her and balled his fist in her hair.
Glory, but she tasted of heavenly delights and earthly desires. Her arms surrounded him with warmth, and he pulled her fully against his chest. He was all too aware of the fact he wore nothing more than a sheet and that she would be more than willing to have him take her.
Her tongue stroked his an instant before she pulled back. “Tonight I will let you escape,” she whispered against his lips, “but on the morrow when your strength is back, I will again challenge you.”
He frowned at her words, not understanding why she didn’t press her advantage now while he really was too weak to deny her. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“Because I want you to have no excuse to deny me later. I’ll deal with you fairly and when you laugh, you will be my husband.”
He was so tempted to ask her to marry him anyway. But he couldn’t. There was his oath to the king and the little matter of the fact her father despised the very ground he trod upon.
Even if Henry willed it, her father would never approve, and Draven refused to put her in the position of choosing between them.
“You need to sleep.” He touched the dark circle beneath her eye.
She moved back to her chair.
“Not there!” he snapped. “Go to your bed. You’ve earned a good night’s sleep.”
“But if you need something?”
“I assure you I can shout down the walls if needs be.”
She gave a short laugh. “I have no doubt about that.”
“Then go.”
“Aye, Lord Ogre. Your wish is my command.”
Draven watched her leave, his chest tight. More than anything he wanted to call her back. To feel her against him once more. But what was the use?
He leaned his head back and felt the pain swell inside him.
“God,” he whispered quietly. “I beg You, give me peace. Please take this heart from me and kill it now before ‘tis too late. I don’t want to harm her, yet You of all people know what I would do to her. Please help me. Please.”
Closing his eyes, Draven clenched the sheet in his fist. He would harden his heart to her. From this moment forward he would spend no more time with her. He would make certain she stayed far away from him. Forever.
Emily awoke just after the midday, but when she tried to see Draven she found herself barred from his room.
