Still, when he looked at her, it was hard to remember that. Hard to think of things other than just losing himself in the comfort she offered.
It’s not meant to be.
Nay. He closed his heart. He would do as he must and when he was through here, he would return to England. Alone.
It was the way of it. He wouldn’t fight destiny.
Fourteen
Callie watched as Sin dressed, his muscles rippling with every move he made. He was gorgeous and yet as unreachable as the sky above them. How she wished she could think of some way to breech the distance between them.
“‘Tis amazing how well you can lace your armor without assistance. I thought knights usually had a squire to help them.”
Sin paused, then returned to lacing his hauberk. “I’ve never had a squire.”
“Truly?” she asked, surprised by his confession. He was always so patient and calm with Jamie that she couldn’t imagine why he detested being around children as much as he did. “Why not?”
He shrugged.
Before she could stop herself, she moved forward and poked him in the ribs.
Frowning, he rubbed his hand over the place where she had poked him. “What was that for?”
“You’ve got that serious face again. Remember what I said I would do to you should you get it?”
“You said tickle me, not poke me.”
She smiled impishly. “In that case...” She rushed him.
Sin stumbled back as she tickled him even through his armor. He laughed, trying to catch her hands to stop her, but she moved even faster than he did. His spur caught in the rug on the floor and sent him crashing to the ground with Callie on top of him.
Still laughing, he rolled over and pinned her to the floor beneath him. “You are the Mistress of Madness, aren’t you?”
“Aye, and I am maddest of all for you.”
His eyes were gentle and kind as he stared down at her with a hot look that made her breathless and weak. Leaning down, he rubbed noses with her, then he dipped his lips to kiss her.
Callie sighed at the passion she tasted. Och but he felt good on top of her even with the weight of him in his armor crushing her. He nibbled and teased her lips as his tongue swept against hers.
She buried her hands in his silken hair and held him close, delighting in the feel of him. The warm, masculine scent of him. Don’t leave me...
The silent plea burned through her and she wished she could bind him to her. Wished she knew the words or actions that would make him want to stay with her as much as she wanted to stay with him.
If only it could be.
Sin closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet lavender scent of her. Felt her breasts pressing against him even through his heavy armor. He wanted inside her so badly that he shook from it.
He would give anything to have her. Anything to run away from what Henry wanted him to do.
She saw only the best inside him and it scared him to think of the day her opinion of him would change.
Sooner or later the fresh bud of love always changed into something else. If a man was lucky, it blossomed into a lasting friendship, but many more times it became hatred. He was new to her now. Yet should he stay, and she learn more about him, she would see his faults with clarity and she would grow to despise him.
It was a chance he couldn’t take. For in his heart, he knew she alone could destroy him. She held the power in her eyes to do him more damage than any enemy or army.
She, alone, held his wary, shriveled heart.
“They will be waiting for us below,” he whispered, moving to rise from her.
