Chapter 14
The moon was high overhead when Marcusfinally continued teaching Sage to read. It cast muted light over them as he scribbled letters into the dirt. He concentrated on teaching her sentences and putting words she knew together. After that, they worked a little on decoding the book.
Now, he sat against a tree across from Sage. She stared off into the distance, the book wrapped in her arms. Occasionally, she lifted her gaze to him. He knew he should be concentrating on their attackers, on trying to figure out who they were and if there were more of them coming.
Sage had kissed him. He couldn’t get the thought from his mind. She had pressed her soft lips to his. And his response had been instantaneous. Desire had pounded through his veins. Yet, he knew by her reaction to the kiss that she was innocent. No man had kissed her as he had. The thought was intoxicating.
He mentally shook himself. He had to think of something else.
Her legs were bent, and she hugged the book protectively. His gaze roamed slowly over her body. Firm and yet curvy. He had felt her curves against his form, his arms around her, pulling her to him. Even now, heat churned in the pit of his stomach, a heat that demanded he go to her and kiss her again.
His eyes moved leisurely over her knees and down her legs. He licked his lips. He wondered if he tilted his head if he could see between her legs. He shook himself. She had breeches on! Good heavens, he thought.
His plan for the upcoming days, he reminded himself. Yes. Think of that. Rest for the night in the forest. Then, find the cave he had discovered near the stream as a child. Hopefully, they could rest a day there, where he would spend part of the time teaching her to read and part of the time making love to her delectable body. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. He meant, part of the time deciphering the book. Then, they would head to the town of Les Labadous where he would meet Guillume at the inn near the border.
They could ride the horse together, and he could feel her delectable bottom…
He ground his teeth. He would meet Guillume near the border. And then, he and Sage could go off, and he could explore her body the way he wanted to.
He felt his cock shift. He expelled a breath through clenched teeth and altered his position, recrossing his legs. Think of something else. Focus, Marcus warned himself. He opened his eyes. Something poked him in the back, and he reached behind him to grasp the item. A small twig. He twirled it in his fingers.
Oh, how he wanted to gather her into his arms and taste her lips again.
He gritted his teeth and tossed the stick aside. The book. Yes, he was thinking about decoding it. He would hand the book over to Guillume regardless of whether they had deciphered it or not. He hoped that together, he and Sage could crack the code. Guillume would be so surprised that Marcus had brought it to him decoded. Guillume would shower riches and gold upon him. Rose would never want for anything.
His little Rose. He didn’t even know what she looked like. He knew she had blonde hair, but she had been too far away in Emma’s arms to see her truly. He wished he could hold her. But then he recoiled at the thought. He remembered her piercing cries as he rode through the night.
As much as he longed to be a present father to her, he knew that could never happen. It would have to be enough to leave the coin. It would have to be enough that another man was raising her. The fact that Ross was bringing up his daughter grated his nerves. Yet he was grateful and hoped Ross treated her like his own. He hoped Ross loved her as Emma did.
No one but Emma and Ross knew that Rose was his. And of course, Cassandra, Marcus thought bitterly. But he knew she would never care for Rose or him. Marcus had often thought of confiding in Guillume about Rose, but he had never told his cousin about his daughter. The image of his dream came to mind, Guillume with sharp teeth and red eyes. He was suddenly grateful Guillume did not know about Rose.
There had been a time growing up when he and Guillume were close. Very close. They told each other their most treasured secrets and desires. Marcus couldn’t recall what his aspiration had been, but he remembered Guillume’s. It had startled him. Marcus had expected wealth or strength. But Guillume had proclaimed his most treasured desire was power.
Was that what the book contained? Power? Prickles raced along his shoulders, and he rolled them to rid himself of the anxious feeling. This trepidation must be because of the dreams he’d been having.
He opened his eyes. Sage had lowered one of her legs, resting the book on the other one. Her sword lay in the scabbard beside her on the ground. But her eyes were locked on his. When she saw he was staring, she grinned and then lowered her gaze to the book.
Marcus’s mind began to wander over her body again.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
At first, Marcus wasn’t certain he had heard her. “Sorry?” he asked in confusion.
“For what I said. About your daughter being better off with someone else. Someone who doesn’t lie. Everyone lies.”
“You were angry,” he justified.
“Don’t do that. Don’t make excuses for the bad things I do.”
Marcus nodded.
“But you’re right. I was angry. That doesn’t excuse it. I shouldn’t have said it.”
She had admitted her fault and apologized. It was more than many others would do. Marcus admired that. Silence spread around them. Crickets chirped in the distance. The leaves of the trees above their head rustled in a gentle breeze.
“You must miss her,” Sage stated.
Marcus bobbed his head. “When I am not being attacked.”
