Honor's Price (12 page)

Again, his first concern was for her. “And I fear what would happen if my brother-in-law were to catch you with me. Ifre is not given to sharing.”

Kane walked a few steps toward her. “So we are both playing a dangerous game. The question is why you would risk so much.”

She closed the last distance between them. “I have
spent my entire life playing by the rules, Kane, but no more. I cannot change my past; nor can I control my future. I will, however, spend these moments as I see fit.”

She took his hand in hers. “I choose to spend them with you.”

His smile was a bit sad. “I wish I had the strength to deny you that choice, Theda. It would be better for us both if I did.”

Yet despite his reluctance, she thought her words had pleased him. “Now that we have that settled, shall we walk together after you offer me a proper greeting?”

At least she didn't have to explain what she meant. In an instant, his arms cradled her close to his body, his mouth claiming hers with a gentle kiss, so sweet in its intent. She wanted far more from him, and her belly was pressed against the hard evidence that he felt the same way. Even so, some moments were better savored slowly.

As they stepped back, a movement on the far side of the clearing caught her eye. Fear tasted bitter as she whispered, “Kane, we're not alone. There's something lurking in the shadows.”

To her surprise, he smiled. “We didn't mean to frighten you, but I thought you might like to meet him.” Then he patted his leg and said, “Come here, boy. It's all right.”

She watched in stunned amazement as a large animal stepped out of the shelter of the bushes to waddle toward them. When it stepped into the moonlight, she gasped. What kind of beast was this? Her first urge was to retreat, but she sensed this moment and her reaction were important to Kane. She remained where she was and waited to see what happened next.

Kane waited until his friend reached his side before speaking again. “Lady Theda, this is Hob. He's been my friend and companion for most of my life.”

When Theda stooped down to hold her hand out to Hob, letting him taste her skin with a quick flick of his tongue, Kane edged closer. “I would appreciate if you
would keep Hob's existence secret. I have found that few people find a gargoyle's company to be entirely comfortable.”

Theda laughed softly. “I cannot imagine why. He's quite the handsome fellow. May I pet him?”

Kane seemed to hesitate but then nodded. “He likes his chin scratched.”

As soon as she started, Hob closed his eyes and pushed closer to Theda, clearly delighted with his new friend. She studied him, her eyes wide with wonder.

“A gargoyle, you say? I thought they were but a myth.”

Hob's owner looked a bit sad. “They might as well be. As far as I know, he is the last of his kind. Hob was a gift from my grandfather, who never told me where or how he obtained him. Hob was but a hatchling at the time, so we grew up together.”

Theda straightened up and took Kane's hand in hers. “Come. Let's all walk, and you can tell me more about the adventures that you two have shared.”

They walked through the garden, their steps well matched despite the difference in their heights. Theda drew a deep breath, loving the heavy perfume of roses mixed with the sharp tang of Kane's masculine scent. Once again he wore his leathers rather than the showier flash of his guard uniform. Was it because black was harder to see at night or that he wanted nothing of his connection to her brother-in-law to taint their time together? Most likely both were true.

“Why haven't you brought Hob with you before?”

“I thought it best if he stayed in my quarters. He can be difficult to control if he thinks I'm in danger. If someone else were to enter the garden, we can hide easily enough, but Hob's not fond of strangers and might attack.”

That surprised her. “Really? He's offered me no threat.”

Kane cleared his throat. “He's, um, adept at reading my own feelings about people. He would've sensed that I felt protective of you and acted accordingly.”

She gave his arm a small squeeze to tell him his words pleased her. As they continued on, a few drops of rain fell. She glanced up to see that the clouds had rolled in, blocking both the stars and the moon.

More rain fell, faster this time. Kane murmured something under his breath in a language she didn't recognize. Even so, she recognized disappointment and frustration when she heard it. If the rain continued, they would have to seek shelter.

The only question was where. Kane led her under the limbs of a towering tree, but its foliage did little to defend them from the increasing rainfall. He pulled the edges of his cloak around her, giving her one more layer of protection.

“I'll walk you back to the door before you are drenched to the skin.”

Disappointment tasted sour. She'd looked forward to these stolen moments with too much anticipation to want them to end so quickly. What options did they have?

She peeked up at Kane. “How private are your quarters?”

His pale eyes gleamed down at her. “If someone came looking for me, it might prove difficult to slip you back out without being observed.”

“Then we'll have to move to my quarters instead.”

She held her breath, expecting Kane's protective nature to have him rejecting the offer out of hand. Instead, he held her close as he thought things through, clearly unwilling to rush into a situation without considering all the implications.

“I will return you to the door so Tom can let you in. After I return Hob to my room, I'll enter the keep by another route and make my way to your room, but only if I can do so without being seen. If I'm not there in half an hour, I won't be coming.”

The thought of having Kane all to herself behind locked doors set Theda's heart to racing. “I'll be waiting.”

Then, before he could change his mind, she lifted her skirts and ran for the door.

*   *   *

Kane knew better than to take unnecessary risks, and his focus should be on the goals of his goddess. But when it came to Theda, he had no self-control. If he could find a way, he was going to join her in her room.

Luck was with him. Once again Gart was asleep on duty, and his partner was nowhere to be seen. Kane opened the door only far enough to squeeze through and pulled it closed once he was in the clear.

Inside, the great hall was quiet, the duke's guests having retired for the night. Sleeping servants were scattered on the floor and tabletops, but no one stirred at his passing. Rather than taking the front staircase, he worked his way around to the smaller one off the back hall.

Again, the trip was uneventful, leaving him far too much time to wonder what Lady Theda had in mind by inviting him to her room. Did she really want to run such risks for mere conversation? It was probably sacrilegious to pray that she was thinking along the same lines as he was.

It had been centuries since he'd last sought pleasure in the arms of a woman, and he'd never bedded one who made him feel like Theda did. All she had to do was smile at him, and he trembled with need.

How did Gideon cope with having these feelings for Lady Merewen, knowing there could be no future for them? Kane had tried to warn Theda that their time together would be of short duration. If she pressed him for details, goddess forgive him, he would tell her the truth. She deserved that much.

He paused in the deepest shadows at the far end of the hallway to listen. All was quiet. If he'd heard even a hint of a sound that was out of place, he would retreat rather than risk damaging Theda's reputation.

As tempting as it was to sidle down the hallway, his back flat against the wall, that would only make him look
more guilty if someone were to appear out of the darkness. Instead, he strolled down the center of the hall, moving with confidence, as if he had every right and every reason to be there. When he reached Theda's door, he lifted his fist, still hesitating.

Despite the thickness of the door, he could hear the rapid pounding of Theda's heart as she waited for him. She was as excited by their assignation as he was. How amazing that of all the men in the keep, she wanted him.

He rapped twice softly and then a third time. When the door opened, he knew the time for indecision was over. He'd always prided himself on being a man of action and wasn't about to change now.

Theda softly called, “Come in.”

A heartbeat later, he was inside Theda's room. He locked the door before turning to face her. She stood but a short distance away, her back to the fireplace. One look and his ability to speak or think disappeared entirely.

In the interim since they'd parted ways in the garden, Theda had removed her cloak and even her dress. The room was dimly lit by the flickering light of the fire. But with Kane's sensitive eyes, he could see all too clearly that his lady was now clad in naught but a soft, billowy nightgown.

With the light behind her, the thin cloth did nothing to disguise her soft, womanly curves. The effect on his own body was profound. He could barely breathe.

Theda knew it, too. Her smile was temptation itself.

If he had any doubts what she was offering, they were dispelled when he noticed the bed was already turned down. By the goddess, he had to be dreaming because this couldn't be real. Feeling as awkward as a youth caught up in his first love, he wasn't even sure how to proceed. The lady deserved a gentle touch, not the rough hands of a warrior.

“Kane, are you going to hover by the door all night?”

The thread of laughter in her voice and the teasing sparkle in Theda's dark eyes gave him the final nudge he needed
to spring into action. He tossed his cloak on a nearby chair before joining her in front of the fire. She stepped into his arms, right where he most needed her to be.

He stared down at her sweet face. “Know that I didn't expect this . . . that we'd . . . I would have been satisfied with conversation or even a game of chess.”

That last comment earned him a ripple of laughter. “Truly? Chess is not the game I had in mind, but if you insist . . .”

He smiled down at her. “I am not that much of a fool.”

Unable to restrain himself one second longer, he kissed her hard and fast. Laying claim to her mouth with his, he worshipped her body with his hands, touching, squeezing, learning what made her sigh with pleasure.

Her sweet face flushed with heat as she did some exploring of her own, tracing his shoulders, his chest. Then, in a bold move that stole his breath, she caressed his manhood, stroking it gently through the thickness of his leathers. He groaned as a raging hunger pulsed in his blood.

He stayed her hand. “Theda, if you have any doubts, we have to stop now before you tempt me beyond all reason.”

Bless her, she didn't hesitate. Tugging her hand free, she placed it over his racing heart. “Kane, take me to bed.”

He swept her up in his arms and held her high against his chest as he carried her the short distance to the four-poster. He set her down gently and then stood back to admire her, a feminine feast that he planned to savor for hours to come.

Theda scooted farther back onto the bed, propping herself up on her elbows to study him. “Black leather suits you, Kane, but I want to learn more of the man beneath it.”

His body bore the scars of countless fights, but he suspected Theda would regard them as badges of honor from
battles won and battles lost. He unfastened the lacing at his throat and tugged his tunic off over his head. After tossing it in the general direction of the chair, he removed his boots and then his trews.

Theda followed his every move. The tip of her tongue peeked out of the corner of her mouth, looking as if she were a cat and he were a saucer of cream.

Soon he stood before her clothed in nothing more than the firelight. She nodded and said, “Let down your hair.”

“Only if you do the same,” he agreed as he tugged on the leather thong that held back his shoulder-length hair.

She sat up and unplaited her braids, taking her time and slowly, so slowly, running her fingers through the dark waves to set them free. Each movement ate at Kane's control until he thought he would go mad with the need to tangle his fingers in all of that dark silk.

When at long last she was done, she leaned back again, the pose an invitation he could no longer resist. He joined her on the bed, kneeling beside her shapely ankles. Where to begin? The gown. It had to go. He needed to blanket her skin with his own.

Grasping the bottom edge of the fabric, he slowly eased it up the length of her legs. Theda lifted her hips long enough for him to free the gown, clearly as eager as he was to be shed of the last barrier between them. He tossed it over his shoulder, not caring where it landed.

He twined his fingers with hers and studied the marked contrast between them. Her skin was pale and smooth; his was rough and browned from the sun. Her hands were dainty, as befitted a woman of the noble class. His were a warrior's hands, callused from years of holding weapons.

Together, they were a perfect match.

“Kiss me, Kane. Let me feel the weight and strength of your passion.”

He nodded, the need for words gone. He pressed her down onto the bed, settling over her, although it wasn't
yet time to complete the union of their bodies. He captured her face between his hands and kissed her, taking his time to taste her fully.

She ran her hands up and down his back and wrapped her legs around his hips, bringing his shaft in direct contact with her core. He shifted his body to the side, moving away from the temptation of all that damp heat. Cupping her breast with the palm of his hand, he took its dusky tip in his mouth and suckled hard.

Theda bucked beneath him as she whimpered softly. He turned his attention to her other breast, savoring the rose-scented taste of her warm skin. As he continued to tease her nipples with soft kisses and gentle nibbles, he trailed his hand downward, following the curve of her waist, the flare of her hip, to slip between her legs.