Page 37 of The Knight’s Reward

“Right now, the most imminent threat is whatever is growing between us. For I have never wanted to kiss a woman more than I want to kiss you.”

Her lips parted as she tipped her head up to him, inviting him to do as he’d suggested.

He shouldn’t. They shouldn’t.

If she tasted as sweet as she looked, he would be lost in her. And not just for one night. Neill knew it instinctively, as if his training all these years had prepared him for something other than how to best a man on a battlefield.

He thought of the king and queen, sitting side by side, responding to his request to replace Caxton with one of their own.

He thought of his brothers and sister, who counted on him to keep his agreement.

He thought of Adam and Cora. Their words, their actions, preparing him to be a man of honor.

All of this went through his mind, warning him not to do this. Not to lean down. Not to take what she offered.

For he knew, with every part of himself, if he did this, there would be no turning back.

Chapter 12

For a moment, Kathryn thought he would kiss her. But the moment seemed to pass, even though he continued to hold her hands.

She’d forgotten, until now, another lesson her father had taught her.

To trust her instincts.

And though she’d known Neill Waryn less than a sennight, Kathryn knew he would never betray her. She’d told him a partial truth, realizing, even as she said the words aloud, it would only lead to more questions. Ones she couldn’t reasonably answer without telling him everything. And if her father’s murderer resided in the English court, she had no way of knowing who they might be connected to.

Certainly not the Waryns.

And yet, she held back.

He looked down, stared into her eyes, and swallowed. She was about to comment on the torturous look on his face when he suddenly released her hands.

Before she could object to the loss of his warmth, he stepped even closer.

When he reached up to cup her cheeks, Kathryn forgot to breathe. As he leaned toward her, giving her ample opportunity to stop him, she silently communicated that she wanted him to kiss her.

And he did.

His lips touched hers, warm and soft. She covered his hands with her own, kissing him back. Or so she thought.

“I want to kiss you properly, Kathryn.” He pulled away slightly.

“That wasn’t a proper kiss?”

It was just like her first two kisses, though much softer. Sweeter. Maybe because his hands still held her as if she were a delicate piece of glass.

In answer, he moved toward her once again. When his lips were just about to touch hers, he murmured, “Open your mouth.”

She did.

And this time, his touch was not so gentle. He slanted his mouth over hers, his tongue begging for hers. So she touched it to his, tentatively, but Neill didn’t allow for tentative.

He showed her what to do, their tongues tangling. She moved her hands to the back of his head, and he did the same, pulling her even closer. Kathryn met his every touch with one of her own, her chest tightening with the very idea of what they were doing.

She didn’t want it to stop.

Apparently, neither did Neill.