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She was boxed in. Jemma was grinning like an idiot at her, liking that the tables had turned on her overly-confident cousin. Jordan’s mind was working furiously for a solution. She was afraid that if she told them a lie that Jemma would reveal her, so she struggled for a way to get around the truth without actually fibbing.

“Very well,” she said, turning to William but not looking at him. “If ye must know, I bet Jemma that ye would let me pick the flowers we saw today. She said ye wouldna.”

“How did you know that we were going to see any flowers today?” William countered.

She looked up at him then. “Sweet Jesu,’ English, ’tis spring. How could we not see any?”

He looked down at her a moment. She was probably lying, but he did not care. He went along with her. “And you bet Jemma that if I let you pick flowers, then she would have to kiss Paris?”

She nodded. “Aye.”

William shrugged. “Seems a little severe to me. And what was the cost to you if you lost the bet?”

Jordan opened her mouth to answer him the truth – that she had bet her burgundy silk – but Jemma jumped in before she could speak.

“She had to kiss ye.” her cousin yelled wickedly.

Jordan’s cheeks flushed. William did not change expressions.

“I see,” he said evenly.

Thankfully, the knights had the army assembled and a loud whistle cut the air to let Paris and William know they were ready to move. Jordan was deeply embarrassed and tried to move toward Jemma but William grasped her arm and pulled her with him.

Everyone was moving in preparation for the final leg to Northwood. Jordan and William were walking alone towards his destrier and she was praying that he would forget all about the previous conversation. She had no desire to continue it.

“No wonder you flew like a frightened deer into that field of flowers,” he commented. “You did not want to lose the bet.”

Jordan rolled her eyes miserably. “ ’Tis not true, I tell ye,” she said. “I was simply pleased to see all of the delightful wildflowers and wanted to pick some before ye came and dragged me away. I am going to make soap from them, and perfume.”

“Then I am glad to hear that you won the bet of your own merit and not because you found me repulsive,” he said as they reached his animal.

His statement was completely ridiculous and she found herself answering before she could stop herself.

“English, ye are the most beautiful man I have ever seen,” she snapped as if he had made a ridiculous statement. “To say that ye are repulsive is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. And I….”

Her head flew up to look at him as she became aware of what she had said. He was smiling so sweetly at her that the humiliation she was washing with was overtaken by a strange sort of boldness. He wasn’t at all offended or embarrassed by her statement, and if he wasn’t, why should she be? It gave her a queer sense of power. Did he truly believe she thought him to be repulsive?

She scowled at him. “And if I wanted to kiss ye, then I would do it. I dunna need any bet to prod me into it.”

Before he could react in any way, she vaulted onto his horse, dress and all. She surprised herself with her boldness, but she was pleased, too. Mayhap some of Jemma’s fire was rubbing off on her.

William pulled on his gauntlets, never taking his eyes off of her. “My, my,” he clucked quietly. “It seems our sweet Lady Jordan has a little bit of banshee in her as well.”

She smiled at him. She waited until he had mounted behind her and helped her get settled.

“What about ye, English?” she asked casually.

He lifted his helmet, preparing to put it on. “What about me, my lady?”

“Would ye have to be prodded into kissing me or would ye do it if ye wanted to?” she asked bravely. By damn, if her whole life didn’t seem to hang on his answer. She knew she was being reckless and foolish, but at that moment she didn’t care.

William froze, helmet midway to his head. His mind was reeling; hell, he’d wanted to kiss her from practically the moment they met. He knew, God help him, that by the way she was asking she wanted him to kiss her. There was no doubt in his mind.

They were several yards away from the rest of the company, facing into some trees where his horse had wandered. He could steal a kiss from her and no one would ever see it. Once they reached Northwood, the odds that he would ever see her alone again were against him.

He knew he would never have her, but he could not go to his grave not knowing how sweet she tasted. It was as wrong as it could possibly be, a betrayal of all he stood for as a knight, as de Longley’s most trusted warrior, but he didn’t care. He had to taste her.

With his free hand, he grasped her under the chin and pulled her around to face him. His hand enveloped half of her head, her silk skin incredible to the touch. Without a word his mouth came down on hers and he instantly knew she was the sweetest thing he had ever had the fortune to savor. His tongue pried open her lips, licking her mouth as if he had been thirsting for her his entire life. She was more unbelievable than he had ever imagined.