Page 114 of Lionheart

"Verywell. I want to protect you," he said solemnly. "I cannot look at youwithout wanting to lay you down and thrust myself inside you. I admire yourcourage, your strength, your honor and your loyalty. Your beauty inspires me,and despite your sharp tongue, I enjoy your company."

He pausedthoughtfully before continuing. "My life would be dull without you. I wasdesperately unhappy when I thought you wanted Daffid." He frowned, thenbrightened. "I love making love to you."

Incrediblejoy suffused her features. "You love me, Lionheart. How can you doubt it?What you just described is exactly how I feel about you. 'Tis love, Lionheart.You are most definitely not unlovable, and I would challenge any woman,including your mother, who said otherwise."

The heatof his gaze slid over her with burning intensity. "I want to make love toyou, my fierce vixen. My arms ache to hold you; I want to see your pleasurewhen I drive myself inside you and bring you to climax. I have been too longwithout you."

"Aye,my love. If you cannot say the words, then show me."

Sweepingher into his arms, he carried her to the bed. As he began to undress her, hescowled, as if suddenly aware of the rough clothing she wore. "What is this?Why are you dressed like a servant?"

"Daffidwould not let me wear my armor. This was the best he could provide forme."

"Itoffends me," he said, and promptly removed the coarse tunic and shift,kissing the places where the rough wool had abraded her skin.

He lovedher body, all sleek curves and smooth, feminine flesh. He ran his fingersthrough her hair. He loved her hair, the color of dark sable, loved the way thesilky strands curled around his fingers. He loved the way she responded to him,the way she looked at him, her purple eyes dark with undisguised passion. Therewas naught coquettish or shy about her need for him.

He lovedher courage, the way she stood up to him and refused to bend beneath his will.He loved . . .

Vanora.

His thumbmoved along her jaw, and she leaned her cheek into his palm. "What are youthinking?" Vanora asked.

He did notreply. His emotions were too raw to reveal. Instead, he tilted her face up forhis kiss and settled his mouth very gently over hers. He could feel her pulsebeating beneath his fingers as he deepened the kiss. His own heartbeataccelerated. What if he had lost her?

He wasdesperate to love her, to show her how much she meant to him. He wanted her toforget whatever unpleasantness she had experienced at Daffid's hands . . . andhis own.

He kissedher shoulders, lowered his head and took one of her full breasts into hismouth. The tip crested quickly, a pebbled little bud that tasted sweet againsthis tongue. He licked the peak and felt a little shudder go through her. Herfingers moved to his tunic, working frantically to rid him of his clothing.

Reluctantlyleaving his succulent feast, Lionheart shed his mantle, tunic, chausses andboots. Then he returned to the bed, his face stark with need.

He kissedhis way from her breasts to her belly, moved lower, parted her legs and tastedthe tender skin on the inside of her thighs.

His handfound the soft nest of sable curls and spread her with his fingers. Then hekissed her there, his tongue parting her soft, slick folds, stroking her,devoting all his attention to the tiny feminine bud that seemed to swellbeneath his probing caress. Settling his mouth over her warm, wet center, hetook her with his tongue.

"Lionheart!"

Her cryspurred him as he used his mouth and tongue with consummate skill. Her bodyquivered, tightened. He felt the tension building within her, and the struggleto control his burgeoning passion was fierce. He did not stop. Not until shecried out in pleasure. Her release was swift and shattering, jolting her withthe force of it.

Cuppingher bottom, he brought her tight against his devouring mouth, holding hercaptive while his tongue ravished her again and again. She climaxed a secondtime, shaking and trembling and crying out his name.

His pulsesurged. Tension coiled in his gut as he raised himself above her, his bodyslick and glistening with sweat. His gaze held hers as he slowly filled herwith himself, slid deep inside, slid out again, then drove into her,heightening both their pleasure.

Hethrobbed, every part of him, from the roots of his hair to his toes. Heatflared between them as their gazes held and clung. Still he held himself back,gauging every penetration, bringing her slowly but surely back to the peak ofpassion, until he had her moaning beneath him, digging her nails into hisshoulders, his name like a litany on her lips.

He cursed,so close to the edge he feared he would expire. "Again, sweeting," hegroaned. "Come with me."

Shewhispered his name, then came apart. He drove into her one last time and losthimself to an all-consuming heat that scorched him from the inside out. Hisbody clenched and convulsed as pleasure spilled through him.

"Ilove you, Vanora."

Vanorawent still. "What did you say?"

"Aye,I love you. Only a fool could doubt it, and I am no fool."

Little bylittle his breathing slowed. Easing himself down beside her, he brought herinto his arms and listened to the pounding of her heart, smiling when herealized his own heartbeat matched hers.

"Areyou all right? I did not hurt the babe, did I?"