Page 33 of An Unlikely Knight

Erin cupped his jaw, turning him to face her again. “Don’t give up hope. It breaks my heart to think of you there alone and without it.”

When he brushed a tear from her face, she was surprised. Hadn’t been aware the thought of him alone and hopeless had brought her to tears.

“I am not sure I can. To be honest with you, there are days I just want to go to sleep and not wake.”

“Padriag! No.” Erin slid closer and pressed her forehead to his cheek. “Please don’t. Things will work out. I will have enough hope for both of us and promise to not give up until you are free.”

He touched her face, the touch light as air. “Thank you.”

When his mouth came over hers, she sagged with relief. The feel of his lips pressed on hers was what she’d wanted since he’d appeared. Except now she wanted more, she wanted him. Needed to make love to him, to physically express herself.

The desire rose, flaming the soft embers of passion that she’d thought to have sealed away. But the kiss, one kiss from Padriag and Erin’s entire world changed. They were meant to be. He was the one, her other half, the one thing that had been missing from her life.

Their tongues danced, the movements primal, each one communicating to the other the growing need.

Erin broke the kiss, her breathing harsh to her own ears. “I want to be with you Padriag. I need you.”

Instead of a reply, Padriag took her mouth again, pulling her closer, one hand respectfully at the center of her back, the other cupping her head.

Clinging to him as he ravaged her mouth, his tongue then sliding down the side of her neck and back up to her ear. His breath brought chills of excitement.

“Not like this,” he whispered. “I want you more than you know. Think about you all the time. But to be with you, as much as I want to, would make being away that much harder.”

Pulling her against his chest, he let out a shaky breath. Beneath her ear, the thundering of his heart and harsh breaths were an unmistakable sign that he was as aroused as she.

Erin reached up and stroked his hair. “I understand. But know that I think of you often as well. I don’t know how, it seems so soon, but you’ve already a piece of my heart.”

A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest. “You are special to me as well. Now, sleep,” Padriag replied. “I have a feeling the next days will take a lot of energy.”

For a long while, she listened to the lull of his breathing and steady heartbeat. Lying next to him, being held in his embrace, was not only thrilling, but comforting. For the first time since leaving Evalyn’s house, she felt safe and secure. Padriag was her shelter from the ravages of a storm.