“How?”
He stared down into her pure blue eyes. Like a cloudless day. “By sheer will.” His gaze moved over the curves in her cheeks, the straight line of her jaw and up to her full lips. “Ellie, I will land him in the dirt for you, for what he did to you.”
Her pupils were wide as she gazed up at him, and she leaned into him. “I would like that.”
He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her injury. He kissed it gently.
“Tell me his fault.”
Julian inhaled and exhaled slowly. “Like I said. He has many. But one of his biggest is he keeps his shield too low. It acts as a funnel to his right shoulder.” He smiled, brushing a kiss to her cheek. “That’s how I unhorsed him the first time.”
She tilted her lips up to his. “His right shoulder?”
“Aye. His right shoulder,” he whispered, his lips stroking hers. Her soft breath fanned his mouth. She was so delectable, like a morsel of a sweet pie that he could not get enough of. She was addicting. He pressed his lips to hers, stealing a kiss he knew would not be enough. He wanted all of her. He knew he should pull away, but he couldn’t. It was like ripping out his heart, anguish that wouldn’t cease. He deepened the kiss, coaxing her lips open, and when she parted them, he plunged his tongue into her warm recesses, tasting her. She smelled of roses, but she tasted of a potent blend of honey and wine. Nectar.
He pulled her closer, his hands sweeping up her back. He knew he should stop before it went too far.
She groaned softly, pressing her curvy body against his.
He could not stop. He was lost in the feeling of desire and arousal she stoked in him. The heated fire blazed through him, and his hands wandered over her hip and up the side of her body. So delightful. So tempting. So irresistible. He inched his hand up farther until he felt the swell of her breast at his fingertips. He was so hard, so agonizingly hard.
She moved against him, purring. Damn. He could not resist. He swept his hand over her breast.
She inhaled, pressing against him.
Oh Lord, he was lost. His mind focused on only one thing. One thing. Her. Always Elora.
“Julian!”
Go away, he thought but dropped his hand.
“Julian!”
Damn. He pulled back, holding Elora close, hoping the moment would not pass. He glanced over his shoulder. Gilbert stood near the tent with Sarah at his side.
“We should see the women back for their morning meal,” Gilbert explained.
Julian looked down at Elora with regret. He knew Gilbert was right, but he didn’t want to let her go.
She grinned with understanding, her eyes lidded, sultry, and tempting. “Always the wrong time.”
He placed a hand at her cheek. “Will you be safe?”
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Osmont,” he said through clenched teeth.
She lifted on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Yes. He is family. He would never harm me.”
Julian knew how wrong that statement was. Sometimes family hurt you the most.
Elora and Sarah walked through the corridors of the castle, concealed in their cloaks until they came to her chambers. She opened the door. A dark figure stood near the window. She gasped.
Osmont stepped into the light from the hearth. “Did you find out how he will beat me?”
Elora sighed and narrowed her eyes. She could not believe she was related to this… cheater. She lifted her chin and threw back the hood. She didn’t want to tell him. She didn’t want to betray Julian. But if she didn’t, he would inform Edward she had been out of her room with Julian the night before. She knew she should face her punishment and refuse Osmont the information. Her shoulders sagged. But she wanted—no,needed—to see Julian again.
She had no choice. “Yes.”
