“Sasha, you are not only beautiful, radiantly so… but your heart is that of pure gold. Not fool’s gold, but pure gold; do you understand the difference, love? If you don’t, let me assure you that we Fae are well aware… and you are what lies at the end of a rainbow.”
She swallowed hard as his eyes left hers to slowly survey her body so intensely that it sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t answer, much less move. The sexual energy that radiated off him was complete devastation.
“There is honor and integrity, the likes of which would knock the wind from any man standing. I have been felled by you, Sasha… And yet, it is this same integrity that frustrates the bloody hell out of me as we speak. You consider yourself mated, a married woman.”
The last part of Sir Rodney’s statement came out more like a wistful question. Her brain struggled to find the right gear to make her mouth work, stalling out like a bad transmission, slipping, not catching.
“Uh, yeah,” she finally sputtered out. “That’s a problem.”
“Are you sure?” Sir Rodney said in a low, baritone murmur, stepping closer. “It doesn’t have to be.”
His hands found her wet hair, as his mouth sought hers. Warm male body fused with her stomach and thighs and breasts in a hot, blanketing wash. As he intensified the kiss, a channel of heat filled her mouth, traveled down her esophagus, to implode in her stomach and course heat throughout her belly until it overtook her womb.
“We have to-”
Another ardent kiss stopped her protest, but as he went for the sash of her robe, she grabbed the ends of it and pulled hard.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” she said, gasping.
“My apologies,” he gasped, heaving in large gulps of air.
“I’m not offended,” she said, staring up into his pained eyes. “Just…”
“Conflicted.”
She nodded, and suddenly he became blurry as she nodded even harder. What the hell was wrong with her!
“Oh, lassie… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry… didn’t mean to offend to such a degree.”
She waved her hand and bit her lip, totally freaked out that something like this could make a war veteran shed tears. It was ludicrous.
“It’s not you… Just look at all you’ve done.” She nodded toward the table, pointing out the bath, and then caught a sob as she pointed to the closet with a shaky hand. “I’ve never in all my life been given…” Sasha snatched back her hand and then folded her arms. She had to get her mind to jump back into her skull. It had definitely fled the room somewhere between the bath, the dinner, and the kiss.
“That was given from the heart, no strings attached. Take it all or leave it all, I just wanted you to know you are cared for.”
She bit her bottom lip harder, but the tears flowed regardless. “My men… you took them in; all my people… Hunter, Shogun, are ready to go to war-shit.”
“I would lose an entire garrison for you, Sasha,” he said quietly.
“No! I don’t want you to do that-and stop being so damned wonderfully chivalrous.” She slipped around him, jamming her hands into her robe pockets to keep from hugging him. “That, I admit, is my weak spot-you found it, and you’re dancing a Fae jig on it-now cut it out.” She wiped her face with her robe sleeves and stared at him, glad to see a lopsided smile overtake his handsome face. That was easier to endure than that intense, sexy, Gaelic stare of his.
“I see we’re both smitten by the same set of principles, then.”
“I refuse to answer that charge,” she said with a half smile and a sniff.
“But I would go to war for you and empty out a fortress for you, and you know what I’m saying is the truth.”
Again they stared at each other for a moment. Her she-Shadow senses confirmed that this man, not unlike Hunter or Shogun, was also no liar.
“I want minimal casualties; in fact, none for your people, or mine.”
“Do you not think that is part of why I love you so?” He swallowed hard, clearly still aroused, but transfixed where he stood.
She would not look down at his silk robe so she kept her gaze fastened to his face. “I had a plan that jumped into my head that I think might work… after we lift the spell on your fortress in the morning.”
“So ye would ignore my statement, then, as a form of avoidance?” He smiled a sad smile. “And I thought the wolves had superior hearing.”
“I heard you,” she said quietly. “And it made my stomach do flip-flops.” She bit her lip again, frightened by her own honesty. It was as though everything she’d meant to keep inside her mind was leaping out of her mouth like frogs!
She looked at the door and then at Sir Rodney.
“The wolves are resting,” Sir Rodney murmured.
“There are two factions under your roof… and your guards; anything that were to happen that’s not on the up-and-up could break down alliances, trusts, friendships… and that is part of the dark magick plan.”
“Spoken like a true woman of diplomacy,” he said with a wistful sigh.
“And… and… the gown and jewelry are beautiful, Sir Rodney, but-”
“Now, that would offend me if you returned it,” he said with an easy smile. “And just Rodney… please… The sir title is much too formal between us, don’t you think?”
“But it’s-”
“A gift,” he said gently, his gaze matching his tone. “And where I come from, in Fae culture, a gift from our people to someone not of our kind is the height of respect.”
She more than respected this man, she liked him, and maybe a little more. Maybe something that she wasn’t ready to investigate. He gave her body a once-over with longing, and tightened the sash on his silk robe with a sigh. Her eyes betrayed her and looked where she knew she shouldn’t have… and the sight of his bouncing arousal only ignited hers, but she didn’t move or flinch. Soldier mode took over as she lifted her chin and watched him walk to the door. But, God… He had a fantastic ass.
“Good night,” she said, wishing it had come out curtly. But it didn’t. It came out as a gentle caress of words that made him turn and stop to linger by the door.
“Thank you for everything,” she said more quietly when he didn’t move.
“Thank you for leaving a man hope,” he said without a smile. “The one who finally wins your heart will indeed be a lucky man.” He hesitated again, his eyes filled with yearning but also with dignified acceptance. “Sweet dreams, love,” he murmured and then blew her a kiss that she felt on her cheek. “I will respect a lady’s wishes and will not attempt to start a war amongst suitors tonight. You may rest easy knowing I am a man of my word.” Then, just like that, acceptance seemed to win out, and he turned away, opened the door, and left her all alone.
He’d walked out with his head held high and with the carriage of a true king. The moment the door clicked shut behind him her shoulders dropped from relief.
Pacing across the room, she snatched off the bewitched robe, letting it fall wherever, threw back the duvet, and climbed into the bed in the buff. Just a few hours of shut-eye was all she asked for. But as her body sank into the softness and her head hit the pillows, Sasha let out a weary groan. Silk sheets slid against her as rose petals rained down on her from the sheers. The damned thing was no doubt bewitched for all-night lovemaking, and the longer her head rested on the pillows, the more erotic thoughts accosted her brain.
Sasha closed her eyes with a plea in her voice. “C’mon, Rodney, give me a break.”
CHAPTER 19
At dawn, Rupert knocked gently on her door and announced that breakfast would be served for all in the round table hall. She dragged herself out of bed, answering the valet with a croak, but anything was better than tossing and turning in the sheets for another hour.
As promised, the hamper produced her clothes-and given the sexy leather outfits deemed casual clothes in the closet, she gladly chose the old standbys. But the second she reached for her cell phone and checked it, she groaned. Fae cleaning magick had wiped out the freaking memory-all her phone numbers, all her pics, everything!