Page 7 of Lionheart

"Youare pale. Are you ill?" She shook her head. "Have you injuredyourself?"

Vanorathought a moment before deciding to placate him with half-truths. "I tooka spill recently and may have broken a rib or two."

His silvereyes took on a speculative glow. "Shall I wrap them for you?"

Holdingher side, she rose slowly, maintaining a safe distance. "Nay. Mair hasseen to it."

"Whois Mair?"

"Mytiring woman. She is skilled in the art of healing."

"Thenmayhap you should summon her to see to my wound. 'Tis naught but a scratch, butwounds have a tendency to fester and go putrid."

A knock onthe door forestalled further conversation. Lionheart gave permission to enter.Two men rolled a large wooden tub inside the chamber and set it before thehearth. A procession of servants followed, bearing buckets of hot water. Whenthe tub was full, Lionheart dismissed everyone. But when Vanora attempted toleave with the servants, he stayed her with a harsh command.

"Nay!You will remain here and bathe me."

Vanorastiffened when he removed his chausses, fearing to look yet unable not to. Hadhe no shame? A surreptitious glance showed her that Lionheart was magnificentin his nakedness. Naught in her imagination had prepared her for the darklychiseled lines of his face or the powerfully cut ridges and planes of hiswarrior's body. He was hard and strong and sleek, like the lion for which hewas named. For a brief, insane moment she wondered what it would feel like tohave his arms wrapped tightly around her, to feel the width of his hard chestpressed against her soft breasts, to feel his mouth against hers.

Vanoraconquered her madness and regained her wits when Lionheart stepped into the tuband settled down into the water.

"Youcan start with my back," he said, handing her the washcloth.

Vanorasnatched up the cloth, applied soap and moved behind him. Then she began toscrub,

Lionheartwas more aware of Vanora than he had led her to believe. The moment she set thecloth to his flesh, he felt his cock harden and his ballocks tighten, andrealized it had been a long time since he had tasted a woman's sweet passion.

WhenVanora passed the cloth over his wound, he caught his breath. "Careful,woman!"

"Didyou not say it was insignificant?" Vanora asked sweetly.

"Wouldyou like me to show you something that is not insignificant?"Lionheart taunted as he caught her hand and brought it down to his groin.

Vanorarecoiled in shock. Beneath her hand his flesh was hard as steel yet sleek asvelvet. Being a maiden, she had not been required to help bathe her father'sguests and had never seen, much less felt, the male organ, but pride would notallow Lionheart's blatant masculinity to intimidate her.

Forcing asmile, she curled her fingers around his erection and announced in a bored voice, "You are overlyvain if you think that impresses me. What is remarkable to some is lessnoteworthy to others."

Lionheart'sdark brows slanted upward. "Perhaps you would like me to demonstrate whatmy less-than-remarkable cock can do."

Vanorapulled her hand away and would have fled had he not grabbed a handful of hergown and held her in place.

"Youhave not finished bathing me."

Vanoraopened her mouth to fling back a scathing retort but was forestalled when thedoor crashed open and a man, his brown robes flapping around his scrawnyankles, sailed inside, his keen blue eyes ablaze with righteous fury.

"Icame as fast as I could, Vanora. When I heard the Englishman had dragged you tothe solar, I feared the worst. Take your hands off her, Sir Lionheart."

"Whoare you?" Lionheart's tone of voice sent fear racing through Vanora."Father Caddoc means no harm," she cried, flying to the priest'sdefense.

"Donot defend me, Vanora," Father Caddoc said, patting Vanora's shoulder."I am but doing God's work."

"God'swork?" Lionheart questioned. "Pray tell what enjoyment of one's bathhas to do with God."

Drawinghis meager frame up to his less-than-impressive height, Father Caddoc thinnedhis mouth in disapproval. "You will not dishonor Vanora, sir. She isbetrothed to a brave Welsh warrior."

Lionheart'sdark gaze searched the far corners of the chamber. Contempt colored his words.

"Wherewas the 'brave Welsh warrior' when Vanora needed him to defend Cragdon?"