“They punished you because I serve the king?”
She nodded weakly. “Aye. Were you not loyal to Edward, perhaps things would be different, but I think they somehow feel our acquaintance somehow jeopardizes Clarence’s cause. They seek to ensure my loyalty, I suppose, though I’ve truly done nothing wrong.”
“Then I will go now and swear fealty to your uncle.”
She looked at him, sharply. “What?”
“I would serve the cause you stand for, so there will be no suspicion.”
She could see that he was doing it to save her from the marriage. But he simply didn’t understand. She put a soft hand on his cheek, watching his eyes close at the gentleness of her touch.
“That is very sweet,” she whispered. “But it would not matter. What is done is done.”
His eyes opened, the deep blue orbs fixing on her. “You would still marry him?”
“I do not believe I have a choice.”
He just looked at her. “Then I will go swear allegiance to this Aubrey. I will at least be able to serve you if I do.”
Her brow furrowed. “Brogan, why would you do this? You are speaking of pledges and loyalty as if we have known each other all our lives and there is something to be gained by it. I am simply a woman whose life you saved. I am not worth altering your entire existence for.”
He lowered her hand from his face. It was clear that he was struggling for words. “You are more than that,” he rumbled. “You have brought something to me, something I do not want to lose. I know I have only known you for a few hours, but those have been the most glorious hours of my life. You have given me hope, my lady.”
“Hope for what?”
She could feel his big hands on her waist, the heat from his palms searing her skin through her surcoat. The hands moved to her back and she was being pulled into a massive embrace. Then the timid hold grew bolder and he pulled her against his enormous chest, wrapping his arms around her slender body. It was like being swallowed up by a mountain of warm, musky, wonderful flesh. She collapsed into it, relished it, the first trueembrace she had ever had from a man that she was attracted to. It was enough to make her head swim.
“You give me hope that this glory you have brought to my life will last,” his big face was looming over hers, his warm breath on her face. “My mother tried to explain it to me once. She felt this glory with my father. Each day, each step, brings you closer to it. She called itschritte der herrlichkeit.”
She was breathless with his massively overwhelming presence. “What does that mean?”
“It means the steps of glory.”
A smile crept onto her lips. She couldn’t help it. He was holding her so closely that he was nearly folded over in half, his face very near to hers. Avalyn reached up a timid hand, touching the weather-tanned cheek. He smiled and the flesh folded into deep grooves, which she traced with a finger. It ran from his cheekbone all the way to his chin. When she finished inspecting the dimple, she focused on his eyes.
“Brogan, I do not know why I feel such attraction to you, but I do,” she whispered. “I’ve known you a scant few hours and already I feel as you do. I feel glory and I do not want to lose this.”
His response was to lower his head and very gently rub his nose against hers. Avalyn sighed raggedly, closing her eyes at the fresh delight of the sensation. She could feel his breath on her face, his lips just a few short inches from her own. She found herself wishing he would claim her with those lips, those wonderful lips that had kissed her cheeks earlier and left an indelible mark. Just as she wished it, he took a deep breath and slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her more tenderly and deeply than a man had a right to. She responded naturally, as if she had been doing it all her life, her arms winding around his massive neck and her slender body pressed up against his.
The gentle suckling turned open-mouthed and his tongue gently demanded entrance. She opened her lips instinctively and he plunged into the sweet pink orifice, licking and suckling her until her knees gave out and he had to support her. Even then, he continued to kiss her until her face was red from the stubble on his cheeks and even then, he did not stop until he forced himself pull away or risk abandoning all self-control. He had, in fact, already lost it.
When the kiss ended and his wits halfway returned, he realized that he had her squeezed tightly against him. He didn’t even know if she was breathing except for the fact that her arms around his neck still held him fast. His face was in her fragrant hair as he spoke.
“Perhaps I should not have done that,” he said hoarsely. “Forgive me if it was too bold. I could not help myself.”
Avalyn heard his word and almost laughed, for she knew that she was in a good deal of trouble. She never wanted to leave the safety or strength of those massive arms, ever, nor leave those lips that had twice branded her.
“You were not too bold,” she murmured, her lips on his ear. “I wanted you to do that.”
His response was to hug her tightly. Avalyn clung to him, savoring the sensation of his massive body in her arms, wishing with all of her heart that it was Brogan she was betrothed to and not the red-faced baron. He felt so good against her, creating a feeling of security and safety and euphoria. And there was a distinct feeling of belonging, feeding an emotional need she never knew she had. He seemed to feed all of her.
But her wits gradually returned and she opened her eyes, seeing the tall structure of the White Tower behind them. It reminded her of where they were, and that at any second they might be discovered. Now, more than ever, she did not want them to be exposed.
“Brogan,” she said softly, and he released her enough to look at her. “It is not safe for us out here. You must return to the barracks and I must return to the feast.”
She could tell by his expression that he did not like that suggestion. “But…but your entertainment…?”
“Not tonight. It is too dangerous.”
