Free Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros

mother hen to whatever chick needs her the most, the woman's a shameless champion of romance."
    "A trait you do not share?"
      The crumpled bloom fell from his fingers as he straightened. "I'm a warrior, my lady, not a sentimental old Irishwoman."
    The boldness of his gaze coaxed another flutter from Willow's belly. 'Twas as if a pack of tiny butterflies was beating their wings against an irresistible breeze.
      Flustered, Willow fumbled beneath the scattered bedclothes. "I was sure I left my cloak right here."
    Bannor frowned. He couldn't help noticing that Willow was avoiding his eyes. She'd shown no such shyness earlier. Perhaps she regretted her defiance and feared his reprisal.
      The next time she stole a fearful glance at him, he leaned against one of the bedposts and offered her the boyish smile that had been known to ease the fears of even the most timid maiden.
      It had the opposite effect on Willow. She paled as if he had struck her, then scowled down at the floor. Perplexed, Bannor captured her chin in his hand and tilted her face toward him. Had her eyes not fluttered shut, he might have been able to resist the temptation to stroke his thumb across that petal-soft rosebud of a lower lip.
      "Why do you tremble so, my lady?" he murmured."Have I so fierce a countenance as to make you cower at my glance?"
      Her eyes flew open. Bannor was gratified to find not fear, but defiance, glittering in their depths. "Perhaps I'm simply in danger of falling beneath the spell of your legend. After your maidservant had finished describing your rather gruesome habit of ripping off men's heads with one hand, she warned me that you could get me with child simply by gazing into my eyes."
    He cocked one eyebrow. "And you believed her?"
      Willow stiffened. "I should say not. Contrary to the manner in which I'm presently behaving, I'm not a simpleton."
      "Good. Because I can assure you that I'd have to use both hands to rip off a man's head." When her pursed lips failed to soften into a smile, he added, "As for getting you with child, I could never hope to accomplish such a feat with a mere look. I'd have to follow my glance with a wink or..." his gaze drifted of its own volition to her mouth, "... perhaps even a kiss."
    "Do you mock me, sir?"
    "Never," he said softly.
      When Bannor realized his thumb was once again straining toward her lips, as if hoping to coax forth the smile his jests had not, he released her. He paced across the tower, trampling the fallen rose petals beneath his boots.
      How best to spare her pride? he wondered. How best to inform her that she was not destined to be his bride, but Christ's?
    He swung around to face her. "I'm afraid Fiona spoke in haste, my lady. For I cannot get you with child at all."
    Willow's lips curved in a brief, but dazzling smile.
      "Have you suffered some grievous wound? Sir Hollis assured me that you returned from the war with all your parts intact. All your significant parts anyway." Her sympathetic frown didn't quite hide the shy downward dart of her gaze. Bannor felt himself harden as if she'd caressed him with more than just her eyes. "Of course, perhaps Sir Hollis doesn't consider—"
      Bannor held up his hand, hoping to silence her before she gave him yet another reason to murder his steward. "I can assure you, my lady, that my significant parts are not only intact, but in full vigor." Fuller than he would have liked at the moment, he thought grimly, thankful for the generous cut of his shirt.
      An unmistakable grimace of disappointment flickered across Willow's face.
    Bannor stepped closer to peer into her face. "You are a most perplexing creature. I've never had a woman recoil with horror at the prospect of bearing my child."
      "Obviously," she murmured, a rueful smile flirting with her lips.
    "Should I be offended or merely curious? Don't most women believe as the Church does, that the creation of offspring is God's divine purpose for marriage?"
    "If that