Page 54 of An Outlaw’s Desire

“Faith.” He grimaced. “’Tis not going to help either of us now.”

“Because of the sword and cloak?”

He scowled.

“Stop protecting me!”

A sigh rushed from his lips as he claimed the space between them and leaned in, so his nose was close to hers. He pressed a hard kiss to her lips. “I will never stop protecting you. Understand? Never.”

Oh, Pitt. She stroked her fingertips along his stubbled jaw. His eyes narrowed a fraction, but his gaze remained steady. “Since you feel that way about me,” she murmured, “you know how I feel about you.”

His throat moved with a swallow.

“Whatever has happened to you, we can find a way out—”

“Not easily. Not when I am a traitor’s son.”

“You do not deserve blame for your father’s actions.”

He growled. “Powerful men in these lands believe differently.”

“Which powerful men?”

“Ones who can destroy me, my life, all those who are…important to me.”

He hadn’t just been referring to her. He’d meant someone else who meant a great deal to him.

If she remembered correctly, his wife had died not long after giving birth to their son. Had Pitt’s words referred to his boy?

“Lord Montgomery is a powerful man,” Blythe insisted. “He is allied with many lords throughout England. When you speak with him….”

Pitt shook his head.

Tell me! Trust me enough to share the whole, awful, frightening burden you have carried alone.

“Lord Montgomery knows your character, Pitt, from when you served him.”

“’Twas years ago. Folk change.”

“Some, aye. Not all.”

The fury in Pitt’s gaze softened a little. “Ah, Blythe.” His hand slid into her hair to cup the back of her head. “Beautiful, brave Blythe. Why do you place such trust in me?”

Her throat tightened on a silent sob. “I know you.”

A groan broke from him.

“Not the outlaw others deem you to be,” she added softly, “but the real you. The hero who would fetch a lady’s pin out of the mud, clean it with his own garment, and hand it back to her.”

Sadness etched fine lines around his eyes. “I do not deserve your loyalty.”

“The loyalty is mine—to give or relinquish as I wish.”

“The man I used to be is dead.”

“Not true.”

His fingers tightened a little in her hair. Holding her in place, he searched her gaze. “You would be wise to let me go.”