Page 67 of The Knight’s Reward

Immediately, the scent of sand and sea assaulted them.

A final path, one covered with saw grass that required them to walk single file. When they finally emerged, the reward was immediate.

“Oh my!”

Waves crashed on the shore in front of them as they made their way toward the water.

“Wait,” he said, leaning down to remove his boots. Unsurprisingly, Kathryn took one look at him and did the same.

He laughed as they both tossed their boots aside, feeling the same giddy eagerness. Thankfully, all signs of the pain he’d caused with his confession were gone.

Although life would no doubt bring them highs and lows, as it did for everyone, Neill intended never to wound her again.

With that thought in mind, he grabbed her waist from behind. Pulling her toward him, he claimed her lips. She opened for him, giving him what he asked for.

Grasping her head and ensuring he had full access to her mouth, he greedily tasted and teased, his tongue tangling with hers. Her moans made him hard in an instant.

When she held back, this woman was irresistible. But when she acted with abandon?

He groaned, taking her more deeply. His hand moved to her breast, and he squeezed it gently, wishing away the barrier between them.

Not caring about the guards that could surely see them from above, Neill drank from the sweetness that was Kathryn Wyld until he knew a kiss would no longer suffice.

He pulled back, and then nearly reached for her again when he saw her heaving shoulders, her swollen lips. Kathryn no longer shied away. Unapologetic, she stared back at him.

“We must talk,” she said.

“Aye,” he agreed. “’Twas my aim.”

Taking her hand, Neill led them, barefoot, toward the sea. Inhaling deeply, he allowed the serenity of the peaceful place to envelop them both. When they were so close to the water that a few more steps would see their feet wet, he stopped.

And turned, bringing her with him.

Neill watched her face as Kathryn took in the view above them.

Kenshire Castle.

“Magnificent.”

“Aye, as beautiful as any I’ve ever seen. And not just beautiful. But strong. And courageous.”

She gasped and turned to look at him.

“Passionate. Kind. Resourceful. A woman to make a man forget his obligations.”

“Neill—”

“Nay, let me finish.”

Putting Geoffrey’s admonitions out of his mind, he forged ahead.

“I am sorry for keeping the king’s condition from you. For hurting you, even for a short while.”

As his toes dug into the sand, so too did he bind himself to this decision.

“Until we came to Kenshire, I thought little of accepting his request. For years I’ve trained, and fought, for a single purpose. To make my brothers proud. To make Adam and Cora proud. To achieve enough to rid myself of the moniker I so hated as a lad, ‘the young Waryn.’ And I did all of that. Every win led to that final tournament, when I was presented with the opportunity to aid my king, my country. My family.”

He took her hands in his.