Page 40 of Dark Rival

Her heart was racing. No matter how medieval he was, there was a bond between them. The one thing she was certain of was his strength. She could lean on him, count on him. She wasn’t alone—and it was a relief. “Maybe I will let you worry for me,” she said softly.

Royce pulled the horse to a halt and faced her. “How can I protect ye if ye defy me foolishly—thoughtlessly?” he demanded, as if he hadn’t just heard her.

She stared, becoming dismayed. “Don’t do this,” she tried. “Not when we’re becoming friends.”

“I told ye to stay at Carrick. Ye disobeyed me.”

She tensed with dread. They were going to fight—just when she was beginning to think she could adjust to his being a macho man. Unhappy, she slid from the horse and winced. She had been immune to the discomfort of being barefoot while racing over a rocky dirt road to save the boy, but now, her feet hurt.

Royce cursed and swept her into his arms. He bellowed for someone to take his horse and strode into the next gatehouse.

Surprised, Allie held on tightly. Her senses began to fire in delight. Being in his arms was so right. “Let’s keep the truce,” she whispered. “I am trying so hard to understand you.”

“Ye disobeyed me,” he exclaimed, but with far less anger, his strides long and hard.

“I don’t take orders from anyone,” she tried to explain. “In my time, women are their own bosses.”

“T’is my time.”

She sighed. “Has anyone ever told you that you are macho to the core—and as difficult?”

He glanced down at her, his mouth in kissing range. “I dinna ken macho.”

She didn’t smile or reply. He wasn’t all that angry now, and she bet she knew why. She slid her hands into the dark gold hair at his nape. She felt him tense; she smiled.

“You are always giving orders—and treating me as if I am weak,” she said softly. “I’m not weak at all. I am trying to understand you. Why don’t you try to understand me?”

“Yer a woman an’ ye talk too much,” he said, as if that explained everything, and in his mind, it probably did. But his gaze was on her mouth.

She smiled again. She could manage macho. She was getting used to it. It was more bark than bite. And she didn’t want to argue with him. Besides, he wasn’t a very reasonable man so a debate was pretty pointless. In the end, the only way to get her way was through feminine manipulation.

Yesterday had been awful. Today wasn’t awful at all. “I liked having you with me while I saved the boy,” she said softly.

He gave her a dark look, but his eyes were silver. “Will ye try to seduce me now?”

“You’re the one who put me here,” she said, and their gazes locked. “And sometimes, I don’t talk at all.”

He halted and she felt the tension in him explode. “Do ye think o’ sex all the time?”

“I’m twenty-five,” she said swiftly. “What else should I think about—especially when I’m in your arms?”

He made a sound and continued on, crossing the inner ward now. His face was set ruthlessly with determination. His temples were throbbing. Allie felt his pulse rioting, strong and thick, and bet a lot more than that was throbbing, too. “Can you deny that’s what you think about—half of the time?” she asked, teasing now.

“Aye—half o’the time. The other half I have grave matters to contemplate!”

She laughed and hugged him harder. Hugging him felt great. “Well, that’s the difference between a twenty-five-year-old and someone who’s…how old are you?”

“I’m eight hundred an’ fifty-five.” He kicked open the great room door. “Ceit! Peigi! Bette!” he shouted in annoyance, but he put her in one of the two thronelike chairs as if she were a china doll that was about to break.

She’d had no idea he was that old. She touched his handsome face, wanting to stroke a lot more than his cheek. “I won’t break. I’m sorry I had to disobey you.” She actually was. “But that boy needed me. You know he would have died if I’d waited for you to bring him to me.”

His face tight, he made a harsh, grudging sound—possibly one of admission. Then, “Yer feet are bleeding.”

“It’s only cuts. I’ll have that beer now.” She smiled at him. Had she just won a battle with him?

He gave her a cautious look. “I dinna ken the word.”

“Ale?” she tried.