Free A Knight's Temptation by Catherine Kean Page B

with resolve. Her unraveling braid, rippling down the front of her cloak, was a snarled mess. No longer was she the poised temptress, but a wild woman ruled by instinct.
    Her body tensed. She clearly prepared to bolt.
    “Do as I ask. I will not hurt you.”
    A brittle laugh broke from her. “You want to tie my hands.”
    “Only so that you do not injure me. Or yourself.”
    Her wrist tendons tightened in his grasp, and he felt a shudder jar through her, as if she feared for her life. Did she think he was lying to her? That he intended to restrain her before hurting her?
    Aye, he’d given her ample reason to distrust him. But why would she believe he meant her grave harm?
    She began to fight anew. Leaves rustled as she kicked at his shins while wrenching her arm. “I will not let you tie me. I know what you intend to do.”
    God’s teeth! She was going to damage her shoulder with her struggles.
    “Calm yourself.” He turned the rope in his fingers, waiting for the right moment to snatch her other hand. The faster he tied her, the better.
    “Tie me to a tree, shoot me dead, take the pendant, and gallop away. ’Tis what you plan.” Her voice turned shrill. “I will not let you!”
    He might have laughed at her ridiculous assertion, except at that moment, she glanced at Rom. Her mouth flattened. A warning buzz in Aldwin’s mind reminded him of his crossbow tied there, even as her gaze lit with determination.
    She lunged toward the destrier.
    Hauling her back, spinning her toward him, he grabbed her other wrist.
    “Nay!” she shrieked.
    The terror in her cry struck him deep, but he ignored his inner voice that told him to treat her more kindly. She spat, kicked, and fought like a cornered cat. Holding her firm, he looped the rope around and between her wrists and made a knot. He cinched the bonds tight.
    His hands fell away. Dismay crumpled Lady L’s features as she stared down at her tied wrists. She tried to twist her hands, but he’d made sure she couldn’t.
    “Not . . . again,” she whispered.
    Not again? What did she mean? Had someone tied her hands before? Mayhap one of her less reputable clients? He shouldn’t care, but the blend of horror and anger on her face chilled him. “Lady L?”
    Blinking hard, she stumbled backward, her steps as awkward as a drunkard’s. Any moment, she’d trip on a branch and fall on her bottom.
    Matching her strides, he caught her shoulders. The wool of her cloak grazed his palms. “Listen to me. I am not going to hurt you.”
    “Liar!”
    He shook her, thwarting her attempts to swat him with her bound hands. “I am not going to tie you to a tree. I do not intend to shoot you.”
    Her gaze locked with his. “Why not?”
    Because you are incredibly beautiful, and, God help me, I desire you . “Because you have important information.”
    “W-what information?”
    He held her stare before glancing down at the faint bump beneath her cloak where the ruby lay. “My lord will be very interested to know how you got hold of that pendant, which belongs to him.”
    A soft oath parted her lips. She glanced at the horse again. “You mean—”
    “I am taking you to Geoffrey de Lanceau.”
    She shook her head, her eyes enormous now.
    Grabbing her tied hands, he drew her toward Rom.
    Dragging her feet, twisting her body, she said, “I cannot go with you.”
    “You already are.”
    “Take the pendant. Keep the reward money.” Her voice wobbled. “I do not want it anymore.”
    “You will wear the pendant for safekeeping.” Aldwin’s tone darkened. “Do not try to take it off. I will be watching you.”
    “Please. Just let me go.”
    Aldwin stopped beside Rom and refused to acknowledge her desperate gaze. Her body trembled in his grasp. How clever of her to try to manipulate his emotions with those impassioned words, which had faded into a breathless little moan.
    He scowled and began to untether Rom. Three years ago, he’d been less careful and had allowed his loyalties