The cold air caressing her face was a welcome change from the almost stifling heat inside. Her breath made a cloud of mist as she said, ‘I am not certain I should tell you.’
Tilting his head down, he asked, ‘Do you think I would save you inside the tavern only to ravish you now?’
‘Perhaps you simply do not like to share.’ Despite her words, she started walking down the cobblestone path that led through the village and past the docks and shops. A few of her men were waiting there where it was darker and no one could see them overtake him. A twinge of guilt pulled at the edge of her mind. It didn’t help that she was starting to like him a little.
‘Besides,’ she added with a smirk when he fell into step beside her, ‘you did not save me. I told you I was perfectly capable of handling myself.’
‘Yes, I heard your strongly worded request. It was terrifying.’
Despite herself, she laughed out loud at his dry tone. He spoke as if he was in on their game and more than happy to spar with her. ‘It was an order and a warning. Had he not listened, I would have followed up with a well-placed knee to his groin.’
‘He would have blocked you,’ he said as his gaze moved from one shadow to the next, alert to the possibility of an attacker. This man was a seasoned warrior and she would do well to not underestimate him.
To keep him talking and hopefully distract him from the fact that Alder almost certainly followed them, she asked, ‘Why do you think so?’
His hand tightened gently on her arm, careful not to hurt her, and he gestured to her clothing with his other one. ‘The wool of your skirts. They’re too heavy. He would have likely brought his own knee up faster than yours and, on the chance he could not due to his inebriated state, the blow would have been far less effective than you intended.’
Annis had lived in the household of her father-in-law since the age of eight. Having no surviving daughters of his own and a wife who had died soon after Annis’s arrival, Wilfrid had been at a loss as to how to raise a girl. But he was not a man given to defeat or neglect, so he had more or less raised her as one of his own sons. She had been allowed lessons in combat which had included blade skills and fighting. She had grown up confident in her ability to protect herself. Perhaps too confident, because she had never once considered that her heavier winter wool might be a hindrance.
‘I really do not think—’ Her words broke off as he grabbed her about the waist and whirled. She ended up with her back against the plaster wall of a shop that had long been closed for the night with him towering over her.
‘Try it.’ One corner of his mouth tilted in a dare.
She was suddenly very glad for the full moon above him. Though there was some cloud cover, the light that did break through was enough to allow her to see him. Her stomach gave a little flip of excitement at the way he looked at her. His gaze was hot and alive with excitement. Whether it was from his game or his interest in her, she didn’t know. ‘I cannot.’
‘Do it.’
‘I could hurt you.’
He gave a quick shake of his head and said with an infuriating grin, ‘You could never hurt me.’
It was a taunt, plain and simple, said to spur her into action. Part of her despised how easily she rose to the bait, while the other part of her simply wanted to prove him wrong. That turned out to be the stronger part, because she reared back and brought her knee up. He blocked her and twisted her so that her back was against his front, her hands pressed against the wall.
‘Do you see?’ he said against her ear.
A pleasant shiver ran down her neck. ‘I see.’ She gave a jerky nod as much to dislodge the unfamiliar feeling as to acknowledge him.
‘You would do much better to use your weapon straight away in situations like those.’
‘What if I don’t carry a weapon?’
She swallowed a gasp when his hand moved over her hip and to her waist. ‘But you do,’ he said, his fingers touching the hilt of the dagger.
Despite her misstep tonight, she was still confident that she could have levelled that man had she been pressed to do so. Instead of saying that, she turned in his arms to face him. A little surprised when he didn’t immediately release her, her words came out slightly breathlessly. ‘Why do you care?’
He stared down at her. ‘I don’t.’
She smiled as he was obviously lying. ‘I think you do.’
Her smile faded when his gaze slipped down to her mouth. The air between them changed immediately, as if even it was aware of what was happening between them and had slowed down to take notice, thickening and pressing in close. His grip had somehow softened at her waist even though he still held her quite firmly. And while his eyes were alert, there was a slumberous quality about them now as if he were thinking of what it would be like to kiss her.
Her lips parted as his head tilted the tiniest bit. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was aware of the echo of boots on cobblestone, but it hardly signified. Her mind went dim as he leaned closer, easily consuming her attention, unexpectedly wanting his kiss more than she had wanted anything in a very long time. Except at that moment, the clatter of swords and boots became too loud to ignore.
The Norseman whirled, keeping her at his back to face the men. A small part of her sighed
