Free Midnight Warrior by Iris Johansen Page A

wench.”
    “Besotted is not the word.”
    “You’ve decided that you’ve been struck by cupid’s arrow again?”
    He shook his head. “No, I thought that only because of the radiance.”
    Gage smiled sardonically. “And the radiance has faded?”
    “It hasn’t faded … it’s just … I cannot think of her in intimate terms. It would be a presumption.”
    “It wasn’t a presumption when you became enamored with the Duchess of Balmarin.”
    “That was different.”
    “You said that before. It most certainly is different. One woman is a duchess and the other a slave. The duchess was charming and civilized and your ‘radiant’ healer is prickly as a bramble bush, has a tongue like a scourge, and is the most difficult woman I’ve ever encountered.”
    “I like her,” Malik said simply.
    “You have strange tastes.”
    “I know.” Malik beamed. “Why else would Ichoose you as a friend? You are not known to be without briars yourself. I’ve decided that I was sent into this world to cast out demons.”
    “You were sent into this world to torment and exasperate.” Gage looked away from him. “Do you want me to give you the woman?”
    “No.” Malik’s gaze narrowed on his face. “That relieves you. Interesting.”
    “I’m sure I’m not to be spared learning what you mean by that remark.”
    “Of course not. Do I not share everything with you? I find it interesting that you are clearly trying to look on Brynn merely as a faceless woman and not a person and that you did not wish to relinquish her.”
    “Nonsense. I wouldn’t offer to give her to you if I wanted to keep her.”
    “Unless you are in conflict regarding her. You value my humble life and she saved it. Perhaps giving her to me was your way of removing temptation from your path.”
    “You think I want to bed the wench?”
    “I know you want to bed Brynn,” Malik said softly. “I’ve had nothing to do but lie here for the last four days and watch you. I know you well, Gage. I could hardly mistake lust when I have seen it so often in you.”
    Gage shrugged. “I’ve been without a woman since we reached England and she has a fine body. It is a natural response.”
    “I’m the last one to give you argument. Lust is entirely natural; it is the anger that I find puzzling. Why do you resent wanting to bed her?”
    “I don’t resent—” He broke off and then said harshly, “Well, perhaps I do. Why is it important? Are you trying to keep me from using her?”
    Malik shook his head. “I believe you should bed her and be done with it. You will be kinder to her once you’ve sated yourself, and I think she needs kindness.”
    “I’m surprised you’re not asking me to free her.”
    “In a land ravaged by war? She is safer belonging to you. Perhaps later …” He yawned. “All of this chatter is making me tired. Go away. I think I’ll take another nap.…”
    Gage rose to his feet and moved toward the entrance of the tent.
    Brynn was standing by the fire, briskly stirring a mixture in the cooking pot. He stood there, watching her.
    Her arms were firm and strong as they moved in a circular motion. The rising steam made the hair at her temples curl riotously and the wool of her gown cling to her full breasts, delineating her nipples.
    She loves to be touched
.
    Tight as a glove
.
    Bed her and be done with it
.
    He was hardening, readying to the point of pain. He was not even sure at what point he had become aware that he wanted her. That afternoon when he had touched her hair? Yes, he had wanted her then; his palm had tingled as it had touched that silky softness. But he had tried to dismiss it, to go back to that frustration and annoyance he had known before. He did not like wanting a woman with this desperate intensity, feeling that he had to have her.
    Yet why did he keep fighting it? She posed no real danger to him. She was his property. Why didn’t he just pick her up and carry her into that stand of trees and sate himself