Free The Warrior's Wife by Denise Domning Page B

correct. This was but a ploy by a Godsol to ruin a Daubney and a Daubney servant.
    “All is well,” she lied to the ladies.
    From her seat on the blanket the countess grinned. “See, it’s as I told you,” she told the others. Lady Haydon shrugged and smiled as the men behind them relaxed, once again returning to their places.
    Turning her gaze back to Rafe, Kate’s jaw firmed. For shame! She’d let her father’s lecherous, ill-behaved enemy make her doubt her good and true Warin.
    The worst of it was that she was now well and truly trapped. With his course set on destroying her, this mannerless ape would surely follow if she tried to enter the woods. Should he catch sight of Warin, the Godsol would immediately trumpet his lie for all to hear. She’d have to retreat.
    Disappointment nibbled at her heart. When she didn’t meet Warin, would he believe she wanted him no longer? That meant no champion for her in the joust. As if Rafe read her thoughts on her face, a slow and triumphant grin stretched his mouth. It was enough to make irritation run away with Kate’s tongue.
    “Lecher!” she scolded. “I’ve had enough of you and your sordid behavior. But why should I expect anything else from a man who takes advantage of the unwary by forcing touches and kisses? Well, I may have earned your ill opinion through my lapse last even but my father’s steward deserves no such blackening. Sir Warin is too true a knight to ever do as you suggest, and I’ll not have you dirtying his name with your false accusations. If you must know why I was entering yon wood, my reason is private, a need for a moment in the bushes.”
    Amusement flashed in Rafe’s dark eyes. “Ah, outrage to bind your wounded pride. Apologies, my lady, for exposing your sire’s steward as a wretch and ruining your day.” It was a brief and mocking bow he gave to punctuate his words. When he straightened, he set a fist upon his hip and cocked a brow. “Apology given and received, now retreat to your sire where it’s safe.”
    Kate gaped at him. Of all the men in the world here was the one she was absolutely certain had no right to tell her where she could or couldn’t go. All sense died against her need to put this impossible Godsol in his place.
    “You dare try to bend me to your will? I will not retreat. Now, you stand aside and let me pass.”
    New light glowed in his brown eyes until they smoldered. “You’ll retreat,” he repeated, “even knowing how very frustrated Sir Warin will be when you don’t meet him as planned. God knows I’d be frustrated, were I in his place.”
    Kate loosed a searing breath. “Meet you in private when I know the sort of advantage you take? Never as long as I live, sir knight.”
    His face softened. Without moving a muscle he seemed to shift nearer to her. “You have no idea how deeply I pray you eat those words, Kate,” he said, his voice suddenly husky and deep.
    His forward use of her pet name should have shocked Kate. Propriety and sense should have screamed that she turn and run. Instead his nearness sparked the memory of their kiss and Kate’s body came to sharp life. Every fiber of her being longed to once more feel his mouth on hers.
    Before she knew what he was about he captured one of her hands, his fingers twining with hers. Kate stared at their joined hands. As it was the dinner hour they’d both removed their gloves. The feel of his bare fingers against hers made Kate’s pulse do the strangest thing. Heat woke in the depths of her body then surged through her with each beat of her heart until she felt ablaze.
    Her gaze lifted to his face. Rafe’s eyes darkened until they seemed black. His mouth was soft. The longing for the same kiss Kate needed clung to the curl of his lips. Her breath caught in her throat as that realization fed the terrible, awesome heat in her.
    “You mustn’t.” Her words were but a breath, half because his touch so intoxicated her that she couldn’t breathe and