Page 14 of Lionheart

"'Twas I," Ren said.

Lionheartraked him with a contemptuous glare. "Think you I am stupid? If you refuseto reveal the knight's identity, mayhap you would be more inclined to tell meif the castle has a secret exit."

Ren's lipsremained tightly clamped.

"Verywell, so be it. I shall find the knight without your help and search for theexit myself."

So saying,he exited the chamber, leaving the disgruntled Welshmen to mull over his words.

Vanora hadno idea that half of Cragdon's defenders had pledged themselves to the enemy,but even if she had known, it would have changed naught. She had but a sennightto find a way to free her loyal warriors. Should she fail, she would have norecourse but to become Lionheart's leman and destroy her hope of marryingDaffid ap Deverell, for she refused to go to her betrothed soiled by anEnglishman.

Damn allEnglishmen! Damn Lionheart!

* * *

Thefollowing days were a trial for Vanora. Lionheart's dark, intent gaze seemed tofollow her everywhere. Though she tried to avoid him, their paths seemed tocross far too often for her liking. The only peaceful moments she had were whenhe went hunting or joined his men on patrol, or when she hid from him in herchamber.

Vanora hadto admit that the castle was running smoothly, but a good deal of the creditwent to Penryn, who had the ability to hold her people together. Though shewished it otherwise, rebellion was not feasible with the castle's defendersimprisoned in the tower. Regrettably, Vanora's plan to free the prisoners hadbeen shot down by Father Caddoc. He had insisted it was too dangerous.

Vanorawould not give up, but time was running out for her.

One dayLionheart cornered her in the gallery. A thin beam of waning daylight streamingthrough the high arched window slanted across half of his face, painting itwith harsh strokes, delineating the aggressive thrust of his chin and thegleaming silver of his narrowed gaze. The other half remained in broodingdarkness.

"Haveyou been avoiding me?" he askedharshly.

"I amsurprised you noticed," Vanora shot back.

He crowdedher against the cold stone wall. "I notice everything about you. Have youcome to a decision yet?"

"Yougave me a sennight."

"Whydo you refuse to accept the inevitable? I will settle for no less than totalsurrender. Your protectors cannot help you, and your mercenaries have abandonedyou."

"Youlie!"

"Ispeak the truth. There are but a handful of stubborn Welsh knights remaining inthe tower. The others were wise enough to accept my terms. They chose life overdeath."

"Damnyou!" She tried to maneuver away, but his hard body blocked her retreat.

"Notso fast," he growled. "Mayhap you need a sample of the pleasure to behad in my bed."

Grabbingher about the waist, he pulled her to him for a hard, thorough kiss. Shestruggled against him, keeping her mouth firmly closed as he tried to pry itopen with his tongue. Then he urged her hips against his, forcing her to feelhis arousal, and to her utter shame her hips surged forward against hiserection. When she realized what was happening, her resolve grew firmer and shestomped on his foot with her heel.

Laughing,he broke off the kiss. "You cannot hurt me, vixen."

With thesupreme confidence of a man accustomed to getting his way, Lionheart's mouthclaimed hers again. This time he showed no mercy, forcing her mouth open andstabbing his tongue inside. He kissed her like a lover instead of an enemy, hotand deep, his hands sliding down to cup her buttocks and mold her against thebulge straining his chausses.

Trying adifferent tactic, Vanora bit down on his lip, hard. It worked. He reared back,roaring in outrage. "Bloodthirsty wench! Yield to me."

"Never!"Her words rang hollow. How could one sound decisive when one's legs had justbeen reduced to a boneless, quivering mass of jelly by a man bent on seduction?

"Weshall see, Vanora," he said with typical male arrogance.

Then theinsolent devil continued on his way.

Vanorasagged against the wall, left weak and trembling by the encounter. God helpher. What if she failed to find a way to free her men? The alternatives wereunpalatable. She would either be forced to abandon them or give herself to theEnglish devil.

But aniggling little voice inside her head whispered of buried feelings that hadnever been awakened until Lionheart had kissed her and touched her.