Page 28 (1/2)

“Indeed, love, like me”

And I knew this to be true the way he sat astride a horse and beat back an ar a sword

Not to mention, all his scars

“And,” he started and I focused on hi I’d never seen before, “apparently like my wife”

“What?” I whispered

His eyes moved over my face then his head dipped I tensed when his lips brushedthe skin of my cheek just as sweetly and ended up at my ear

“You are valiant,” he whispered there and I shivered

“Valiant?”

“Never in a million years would I think you had that in you”

“Had what?”

His head lifted and his eyes locked on side me and Salem No hesitation Quick reflexes, brilliant instincts You did not recoil You did not become hysterical You were no burden You were a boon Had it only been me and Salem, they may have takensquishy in my belly at his words but also felt the need to point out, “You’re pretty good with a sword yourself, big guy”

He grinned at me “I’ve had plenty of practice You, er” His fingers tensed in mine “Your strokes were aard, uneconoy than you needed You lashed out, were reactionary rather than tactical”

Well!

“Nevertheless,” he went on, “you instinctively protected er squeeze “You did well, sweets”

My belly was even squishier when I whispered, “Uh… thanks”

He grinned at ainst mine

Damn, but I liked it when he did that

He lifted his head and I saw his eyes were s “Now, as brilliant as it is to have your soft body underyou out of it, feed you and we need to be on our way”

What?

“We do?”

“I’ve given Salem his oats, he’s rested, we have to press on”

“Press on to where?”

“My castle”

Oh Wow

“Seriously?” I asked, wanting, despite myself, to see his castle

“Yes, Cora”

My eyeballs moved around the room then back to him “But, if this is safe –?”

“It is safe but it’s rustic, one rooround, the land around it isn’t You or I leave the house, we could be spotted My castle, and the land around it, is bigger, more comfortable and all of it is off-limits thus it’s safer”

“Oh”

This ood, earn your breakfast and we’ll be away”