Page 22 of One Knight
Her tongue wet her lips and bumped his thumb. “I’ve never …”
“Fear not, my lady. ’Tis just a kiss.” He lowered his mouth, brushing his lips across hers.
With one hand, he pulled her closer, before he remembered where they were.
Her soft breath on his lips made him loathe to end the brief kiss, but until they were not sitting out in the open, on holy ground, anything else would have to wait.
He pulled back. “Until this evening, my lady.”
“This evening?” She blinked, a blush staining her cheeks.
“Don’t worry; I’ll make sure you sleep soundly and comfortably. We will make a tent at the wall. We will have as much privacy as can be had under the circumstances.”
Her blush spread to her chest. “I suppose I cannot expect you to wait another three days until we have actual walls?” She paused and looked into his eyes. “How did you know I watched you at the stream?”
His smile stretched his cheeks. “You were not subtle, my lady. Practically drooling.”
“I was not!” she gasped with a laugh.
“Perhaps only when you caught sight of my derriere.” He leaned in. “Fear not, my lady. I didn’t mind. From now on, I am as much yours as you are mine.”
CHAPTER 10
When night fell, the meal was finished, and a tent was erected against the outer wall of the priory, away from the men and the fire, Henry held out his hand to Elisande in the moonlight.
“My lady.”
He had kissed her earlier, and her fears had been dispelled then, but she was utterly out of her depths now that it was time … forafter.
He knew what he was doing, Elisande reminded herself. At least, he seemed to have no reservations about what was to come.
She placed her hand in his and realized he had removed his plate and mail, which happened so rarely.
“I thought you’d look smaller without armor. How is it that you look larger and more imposing? Perhaps because I thought it made you look big, but you simply … are big,” she said as she answered her own question.
“Do you fear me?”
“No. Should I?”
“Of course not. I swore a vow before God to protect you, and even if I hadn’t, you would never need to fear me,” he said as he pulled her against him.
She had noticed he had added that extra word—protect—to the vows Brother Benedict had asked them to repeat. “I wondered if that had been intentional.”
“Of course. You must know I am not only your husband, but your protector. Your safety is my responsibility and one I take seriously.”
The heat of his body soaked through her dress and his cloak. Even without armor, he was hard and unyielding.
“You wear armor like a second skin. Does it feel strange to be without it?”
“I welcome the respite from the clanking and the weight of it. Especially with you. Come, my lady.” He paused, “Unless you wish to delay further.”
Elisande shook her head. “No, I don’t mean to delay. I just … you must know, I have never …” She trailed off.
“I know.”
“Well, as long as we’re clear on that.” Elisande took a deep breath.
“Whatever you’re fearing, it will not be as bad as you think.”
