“My squire.”
“Ah…” She finished her ministrations. When she bent down to reach for the towel, her hip inadvertently grazed his inner thigh.
He hissed sharply, then sprang to his feet so quickly she gave an involuntary shriek.
Before she could apologize, he was out of her hearing range.
Draven took long, deep breaths as he struggled with the fire coursing through the entire length of his body. His thigh ached as if someone had placed a hot iron to it.
Had he stayed one more instant with her, he would have dishonored them both.
With no thought save to put as much distance between them as possible, he headed into the stable which unfortunately was occupied by Simon.
“I thought you were in the donjon,” Draven snapped at his brother who was standing over the makeshift pallet Draven had made the night before.
“I heard from Druce that you had moved your things in here and sought to verify that fact.”
Draven tried to ignore him as he removed his surcoat. “Where is my squire?”
“Eating last I saw. Here, let me assist you.”
Draven gave him his back so that Simon could unbuckle and unlace his armor.
“Why did you give the lady your solar?”
Draven felt his jaw flex. “‘Tis none of your business.”
“I know, but I’ve never seen you act so strangely.”
Closing his eyes, Draven wished for once that Simon would just go away. But he knew him well enough to know Simon wouldn’t leave until he had whatever answers he sought. ‘Twas the most annoying habit of a man who had numerous annoying habits. “If I stay away from her, I won’t be able to harm her.”
He felt Simon grip his mail hauberk in his fist. “How many times must I tell you, you are not your father?”
Draven shrugged his grip off, then jerked the heavy hauberk over his head. “You don’t know me as well as you think, brother.”
Simon gave him a feral glare of anger. “I’ve never once seen you strike out in anger, why?—”
“What of your back?” he asked, interrupting him.
The anger fled from his features as his face paled considerably. “We were children, Draven, and I hit you first.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He tried to banish the sight of his brother bleeding on the ground, wounded by his own hand. “I almost killed you that day.”
“You’ve never raised a hand against me since.”
“Because you’ve never made me angry.”
Simon snorted. “Well, it certainly wasn’t from lack of effort on my part.”
“I don’t find you amusing.”
“See,” Simon said triumphantly. “You’re angry at me now and yet you do nothing to harm me.”
“‘Tis not the same,” he insisted. “I cannot, nay,” Draven corrected, “I will not take such a chance.”
Simon shook his head and sighed. “More’s the pity then. You deserve someone to love you, Draven. I’ve tried, but you push me away as you do anyone who tries to get close to you.”
His brother leaned against the stall behind him and folded his arms over his chest. “I was only thinking that mayhap this woman could be the answer to my prayers. That at last you would be forced to see that you can be with a woman and not hurt her.”
