Page 86 of Lionheart

"Doyou expect an attack in the night?"

He strodeto the bed and glared down at her. "I know not. You tell me."

"Fearnot. You are safe, Lionheart. Should you need assistance, I willingly offer mysword arm in your defense."

"Yougo too far, Vanora," Lionheart warned. "One day that sharp, unrulytongue will land you in trouble."

Now thathe had calmed down, he recalled Vanora telling him she loved him. Though he putno faith in her words, he could not help saying, "You claimed you lovedme. Were that true, you would not have deceived me."

Firelightflickered across her pale face. She was a study in brazen grace and white-hotdefiance. For a brief moment he thought he saw a glimmer of pain pass over herfeatures, but her words quickly disabused him of that notion.

"Lovedied when you turned away from me and sought comfort from Althea. I feel naughtfor you but contempt, Lionheart. What I did was what any man would do for hiscountry."

"Youare most definitely not a man. Had I slain you, I never would have forgivenmyself."

"Isthat what your anger is about? I knew the risk when I donned armor and foughtto defend my home. Had my father been fortunate enough to have had sons, theywould have done the same as I."

"Myanger lies deeper than that, Vanora. You had every opportunity to tell me youwere the knight I sought yet you lied each time I questioned you. I am yourhusband. You should have trusted me enough to tell me the truth."

"Youwere an unwilling husband and an Englishman besides. I feared ... I feared . .."

"Whatdid you fear?"

"Thatyou would hate me," she blurted out. "Or hurt my friends for keepingmy secret." Her next words were low and raw with anguish. "I did notknow I would love you."

There itwas! That word again. Lionheart felt the strain of maintaining his anger butrefused to let his guard down.

"Butyou no longer love me," he probed. Was he insane? Why did he care? Hedid not easily forgive and forget, but the demon inside him would not behushed.

"Youare correct, my lord. I no longer love you; you are free to return to Althea.And do not forget your sword."

Lionheartknew he should leave, but the demon that plagued him gave him no peace."If you feel naught for me, kiss me and prove it." Was he utterlymad?

Herexpression mutinous, Vanora reared up, pulling the covers up to her neck toshield her bare breasts. "Did Althea's kisses not satisfy you?"

"ForgetAlthea. I dare you to kiss me, vixen."

She glaredat him. "Is this some new form of punishment you have devised?"

Aye,punishment for myself, hethought miserably. He had no idea why he was torturing himself like this.Nevertheless, he had to know if Vanora was lying about loving him. He couldthink of many reasons why she would lie and needed to know the truth for hisown peace of mind.

"Whatare you afraid of?" Lionheart taunted. "I want to know how far youwill go with your lies."

"Whatwill kissing you prove?"

"Thatyou invented your love to appease my anger. Or," he said, his voice lowand harsh, "that you love me still."

Vanoralooked away. "Unrequited love hurts, Lionheart. You told me I no longerexist for you, so I banished you from my heart."

Wouldthat I could do the same. Thebed sagged beneath his weight. "I am justifiably bitter and naturally distrustfulof you after discovering your deceit." He caressed her cheek with the backof his finger, continuing downward over her collarbone, stopping at the pulsinghollow at the base of her throat.

She pushedhis hand away. "Stop it! You cannot take, and give naught in return. Goaway, Lionheart. I cannot bear this kind of punishment. 'Tis cruel of you todemand that which you are not willing to return in full measure."

"What,pray tell, is that?"

"Yourlove."

He roseabruptly, his expression stony. "You have not earned my love. In fact, Iknow not what I am doing here."