Page 14 of The Protector’s Promise

“But I saw a vision of you earlier. I saw—” He cut himself off. This time, there was no mistaking his expression. So he’d not been truthful. But he clearly didn’t wish to voice the reason for his lie.

“You said your last vision was of the guard . . . Never mind,” she blurted. “’Tis not important. We really should—”

“I saw your eyes hooded and lips parted, as if you’d just been thoroughly kissed.”

She accidentally looked at his lips then. They were so . . . full.

“I saw the passion in you, Marion.”

Oh God . . . the priestess . . . anyone. Please help me.

“But you don’t know why? Or what that means?”

He shrugged, and though it appeared a casual gesture, Marion could tell it bothered him, not to understand.

Court turned from her then, muttering something about sleep.

She did the same, turning so their backsides were touching. But she would not think of that. She’d not think of where and how they touched.

No, she would not think of it at all. Certainly she would not try to imagine what his buttocks would look like—

Stop!

Marion closed her eyes against the vision, but it stubbornly refused to go away.

* * *

Court could not tell if she slept or not. Even if he hadn’t been intent on keeping watch, he never would have been able to sleep with her so close to him.

What had initially seemed a rational decision was proving to be anything but. He’d thought he understood pain. Certainly he’d suffered the day Richard Caiser sent him away from Kenshire. And the day he’d nearly lost his arm in a battle.

But lying beside this beautiful, willful woman with the knowledge that he could never so much as touch his lips to hers . . . he would take a few battle wounds instead.

Glad they’d not encountered anyone yet today, he also knew sleep would have to elude him this night. It was simply too dangerous, with potential adversaries all around, including the one lying so peacefully next to him.

Had he been asleep, he may not have noticed her hand ever so gently lifting his shirt. He’d like to believe he would have woken, though, when those dainty fingers so nimbly pulled on the pouch that contained the treasure she sought.

Did she really think to steal the stone while he slept? And then? Did she intend to take his horse and escape alone?

He really had never met such a bold, determined woman before. It was too bad she was attempting to steal that which he couldn’t give her. Part of him wanted to see what she would do next, but he couldn’t risk it.

He caught her hand, grabbed it, and brought it around his chest. Rolling toward her, Marion nearly lying atop him now, Court watched her expression turn from surprise to something else.

“Trying to seduce me?”

Her face was close enough to his that Court simply had to lift his head and their lips would be touching.

“Of course not.” Her green eyes flashed, annoyance mixed with the same desire he felt for her.

“Maybe you should be.”

Before he thought better of it, Court lifted his head and kissed her.

Or tried to at least. It became immediately apparent she’d not been kissed properly before, so instead of pursuing his suit, Court pulled away. He very much wanted to be the one to instruct her, but with her breasts pushed against his chest and her body so dangerously close to his hardened manhood, he knew it was not a sound idea.

Regretfully, he pulled his hand away and stood.

“Go to sleep,” he said, too harshly.