Page 63 of The Knight’s Reward

And then she shattered.

Kathryn’s eyes slammed shut as she came apart in his hand. A victory as sure as any, Kathryn calling his name so much sweeter than a herald declaring him champion.

Though he slowed his movement, Kathryn did not yet relax around him. He watched, waited, and then smiled when her eyes flew open.

Reluctantly, he pulled away his hand, letting her dictate the next move.

In answer, she stepped away from him, letting her shift fall back into place.

“I’ve heard, but never imagined.”

The moment was perfect, until an ugly thought intruded. If he did as he should and left her, another man’s hand would be pleasuring his Kathryn someday.

No. As God was his witness, no.

He could not allow Caxton to remain in power, but neither could he allow the sun to rise and set each day without seeing Kathryn’s face.

“What is it?” she asked, her shoulders rising up and down as her breathing returned to normal.

How could he put into words that everything, his world and hers, would never be the same?

He simply couldn’t.

“Nothing,” he lied. When he reached for her, Neill was relieved she didn’t pull away. “All is well.”

In fact, the very opposite was true. Neill wasn’t sure anything, after tonight, would be well again.

Chapter 21

She knows.

One look at Sara, who sat alone on the dais, and Kathryn realized her husband must have told her Neill was a promised man. There was only one way to describe her expression.

Troubled.

There was no sign of the boys. Likely they were with Faye and Hugh as they tended to eat earlier than the others.

As she made her way toward the dais to break her fast, Kathryn was sure her own expression looked the same. She’d not slept much the night before, with good reason. After Neill had left her chamber, she’d stared into the darkness, her mind turning over the events of the evening again and again.

His revelation.

His parting kiss.

But mostly, she’d thought of his ministrations—and her response to them. Never had she felt more out of control, and happy to be that way.

“Come, sit next to me,” Sara said, pointing to the ornate chair next to her. “Geoffrey is already with Neill in the training yard.”

She did as she was bid, her curiosity over Neill’s whereabouts satisfied.

Not that it should matter.

But it did.

Though it was still early, the sun having risen not long ago, the hall was already abuzz with activity. Servants refilled pitchers as Kenshire came alive.

“How was your evening?”

Kathryn could feel she was blushing.