Page 68 of The Piper's Pursuit

“Yes. Sometimes.”

He smiled. “Remember when you told me I was not welcome in Hamlin and I should go back to Hagenheim, that day in the bakery? You did not think me amiable then.”

“I didn’t say that!”

“You certainly did.”

Her face burned as she remembered... she’d said exactly that. “I did not know you. I thought you were an arrogant son of a duke who was only meddling.”

“Is that supposed to be an apology?” He laughed good-naturedly.

“I realized later that you were not... what I thought, that you were brave and...” She swallowed again. How could she escape this?

“And... that you could trust me?” He was staring very intently into her eyes, his voice a gruff whisper. “You know I would never hurt you.”

“I know.” She couldn’t look into his eyes anymore. She put her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. His arms immediately surrounded her, holding her gently but firmly.

She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think. For once, she only wanted to feel as she let her hand rest over his heart, feeling the bandage underneath. Her heart thumped in her chest. His words,I would never hurt you, reverberated inside her. No one could hurt her as long as his arms were around her.

She remembered how he’d protected her from the Beast of Hamlin, from Hennek’s men. No one had ever protected her before. No one. It felt so good.

But what would happen now? When he said he would never hurt her, he probably didn’t mean hurting her heart. Would he hurt her without meaning to?

She should let go and push out of his arms. Yes, that’s what she should do. She would pretend she was only a friend embracing another friend. It meant nothing. She took a surreptitious breath, breathing in the smell of his shirt—herbs and his own unique smell—and loosened her hold on him. She took a tiny step back, but the expression on his face... She couldn’t help herself. She reached up and pressed her palm against his cheek.

His eyelids instantly lowered. Her heartbeat quickened. His hand was on her face and he was bending close, so close. She put her other hand behind his head and kissed him.

Lips touching lips... What was she doing? Her heart was beating in her throat. She thought she’d never be able to kiss a man. But Steffan... He was so gentle and protective. She would have been daftnotto kiss him.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—” Kat pulled away and turned her head.

Steffan gently pulled her back, and she kissed him again. Yes,shewas kissinghim. He was letting her kiss him. She was in control. But the kiss became too much, so she pulled away and pressed her face into his shoulder.

She could hear his breathing, feel the strength in his arms holding her. But her cheeks flamed hot at what she had done.

“Katerina.” His breath was in her hair, his voice sending shivers across her shoulders. “You’re wonderful. Have I told you that you are brave and beautiful and...” He sighed, pulling her closer.

Fear gripped her, constricting her throat. What was she afraid of? Was she afraid because she had kissed a man she didn’t love? No, because she was fairly certain she did love him. Was she afraid he would take advantage of her now? No. Was she afraid that he didn’t love her enough to marry her and that she would be humiliated?

Yes. That was it.

She couldn’t let him know what she was thinking. So she stood motionless, letting him hold her, letting herself enjoy this while she could. Because it couldn’t last.

A knock sounded at the door. Kat jumped. Steffan kept his arms around her.

“Who is it?” Steffan said to the closed door.

“Supper is being served,” the voice said.

“Thank you. We will be there.”

Kat gently extricated herself from his arms. She couldn’t look him in the eye and kept her head down.

Steffan took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. “Shall we go?”

She glanced quickly up at him. His gentle expression made her heart skip a beat. What was she to do now? This was more frightening than two Beasts of Hamlin. She squeezed his hand and let him walk her to the door and down to supper.

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