Free Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me by Lana Williams Page B

eyes met his. “People’s reactions always surprise me. I’m not sure why. You’d think I would expect the worst and that way, I’d never be disappointed.”
    He cupped her cheek with his hand, the sadness in her expression pulling at him. “I didn’t mean to disappoint you or hurt you. I was merely...taken aback.”
    She said nothing, only continued to look at him with those bottomless brown eyes . They drew him, tugged and wrenched at him in places deep inside him better left alone. Unwillingly, his gaze dropped to her lips, which parted as he watched.
    He d ipped his head, the lure of her lips proving too much to resist. They were so sweet, just as he’d remembered. Soft. Warm. Moving beneath his.
    Hunger, sharp and piercing, and definitely unexpected, shot through him. He deepened the kiss, stepping closer to better taste her.
    Her curves pressed against him, making him wish he hadn’t donned his chain mail. Her fingers twined through his hair and sent shivers down his spine.
    “Lady Cristiana? Yoo-hoo! Where are you?” Sister Mawde’s shrill voice cut through the fog in his brain.
    Cristiana jerked back, her expression one of surprise.
    He couldn’t help but wonder if she was startled at the nun’s call or at the intensity of their kiss.
    A glance around assured him they remained hidden from view. He trailed a finger along her cheek, reluctant to end the moment.
    “I had better see what Sister Mawde needs.” Cristiana drew back until she was out of his reach and then spun away to leave the secluded spot in which they’d stood.
    William watched her go, wondering what he’d gotten himself into with this mission. His promise to deliver the lady grew more complicated each day.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Cristiana was grateful their small party stopped early for the night. The sleep she’d gotten the previous night hadn’t been sufficient to restore her strength. Weariness cloaked her like a heavy blanket, dulling her thoughts and weighting her limbs. Her mind obviously wasn’t functioning or she would’ve pushed away William before he’d kissed her earlier.
    S he sat on a rock as the others prepared the tents, too tired to offer assistance. One of the men-at-arms had sworn he’d spotted a rabbit and left in search of it. The others sent him off with enthusiasm as the dried meat and stale bread they’d eaten each day had lost all appeal.
    Sister Mawde found a n apple tree near the edge of the meadow that still held a few pieces of fruit. She convinced Henry to shake the tree for her so she could gather the apples that fell. Cristiana rose to assist them, but Sister Mawde waved her away. Cristiana wondered if the nun secretly enjoyed Henry’s company for she giggled like a young girl at the knight’s comments.
    “Are you well, my lady?” William asked as he came to stand beside her.
    “Aye. Merely tired.” She kept telling herself she needed to plan her escape, but the notion took more effort than she could muster.
    Still, her tiredness did not keep her cheeks from flushing as William remained next to her. The memory of their kiss sent butterflies dancing in her middle. She clamped her arms over her stomach, hoping to settle them down.
    N ow that she was a mature woman of two and twenty, she hadn’t thought exchanging kisses would be a pulse-pounding experience. Especially with a knight she didn’t even like. She paused to berate herself for not admitting the truth. She did like him. Very much in fact. She admired his determination, his kindness, his sense of honor, and his humor.
    But at this moment, he was all that kept her from what she wanted: freedom.
    So how could it be that pressing her lips to his could create such chaos inside her? Even the memory of their kiss made her mouth go dry, her cheeks heat. It made no sense.
    She was saved from worrying that she’d do something she might regret by the return of the man-at-arms with his prize: three rabbits dangling by their feet.
    “We will dine well