Page 115 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“Would you sitstill?” Torren grumbled after Cypress rearranged herself for the tenth time in as many minutes.

“I’m sorry it’s been a minute since I’ve ridden in a bloodycarriage, your highness. How the hell do you get comfortable in these?”

Torren chuckled, and his smile lit up his face.

“Come over here, so then we can both stretch our legs,” he said, and patted the seat next to him.

Cypress opened her mouth to decline the offer, but Torren pressed his finger to her lips.

“Stop arguing, Lass. Just listen, for once?”

Cypress was tempted to bite Torren’s finger, but settled for just a glare as she switched seats, then propped her legs on the bench she’d just vacated.

Torren joined her, his long legs still slightly bent even with his toes hitting the other wall.

Cypress recognized the problem right away and scooted to the side a bit to let him stretch his legs out diagonally.

Torren halted her movements with a hand around her waist and tugged their hips back together. Then, he hooked her legs over his, so that they were both spread out in the carriage.

“This is ridiculous,” Cypress muttered as she tried to situate herself. She felt as if he was pressed against her entire body.

“Oh, don’t be like that, Lass. We have a ways to go, the day is still young. I, for one, am in it for a nap before heading into the Griffin den.”

Cypress conceded with a huff and fluffed the small pillows on her side.

Again, Torren grabbed her by the waist and tugged her down so that she was lying, practically curled into his side.

“Torren!” she shrieked, and tried to pull away.

“Lass,” Torren drawled with one hand propped behind his head, the other still curled around her waist.

“What is your problem?” Cypress demanded, hand pushed into his chest to keep herself propped above him, instead of curled into his side.

“If we aren’t comfortable like this, there’s no way people will believe we’re happily married,” Torren said. His grey eyes twinkled with mischief, andsomethingelse. Something darker, hungrier.

“You cannot be serious.”

“Oh, I am. Deadly.”

Cypress sighed, but only said, “I’m going to kill you when this is all over,” as she settled into the space he’d given her.

Torren laughed so hard his chest bounced. It shook Cypress to her core.

36

The Duchess & The Thief

TorrenlistenedtoCypress’steady breathing as the carriage rumbled down the road. She’d fallen asleep some time ago, lulled into slumber by the steady rocking motion. Sleep beckoned, but Torren resisted the call of dreams.

His fingers itched to thread through her mahogany hair, to curl its silk around his fist.

He meant it when he’d said their cover needed to be believable; Torren just hadn’t expected to be so affected by Cypress, curled into his side like a sleeping kitten.

Torren’s attention was entirely focused on the places where their bodies were meshed together, the weight of her thighdraped across his lap, her fingers half curled under the lapels of his shirt.

Soon, he would need to wake her so that they could dress for the ball. But, for just a little while longer, Torren could enjoy the quiet peace of the carriage ride and the sleeping beauty curled into his side.

The mother only knew if he would get the chance again.