Free Great Protector by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

greeted her father and brother,
accepting birthday kisses from the both of them. William was particularly proud
of his eldest daughter, praising her beauty, her poise, her charm. Arissa
smiled through all of it, absorbing it as any young maiden would.
    Richmond
continued to watch her through fascinated eyes. He thought, however, that her
gaze was continually drawn to him, even as her father prattled on about the
events scheduled for the day. The pale green eyes managed to find him
regardless of who she was talking to. Or mayhap it was his imagination; mayhap
he was seeing what he wished to see, his obsession causing him to hallucinate.
Why would a creature as lovely and perfect as Arissa de Lohr allow her gaze to
linger on an aging knight who was well past his prime?
    Even
if he was merely imagining her attention, his gaze was unmistakably lingering
on her. When William took her hand and led her over to Richmond, placing her
soft palm in his forearm where it had rested a thousand times before, he smiled
at her as if he were a giddy young squire. He simply couldn't stop himself.
    William
snorted. "God's Teeth, le Bec. I do not ever think I have seen you smile
for such an extended period of time. Did you hurt yourself, man?"
    Richmond
cursed himself for being so indiscreet. He hadn't meant to react so openly to
her but, God's Teeth, she was impossible to ignore.  Ever since he had returned
yesterday, it was as if the separation had somehow fortified his feelings for
her a thousand fold. His smile broadened and he patted Arissa's hand as
neutrally as he could.
    "I
am sorry, William,” he said without taking his eyes off her. “I forgot myself.
How could I gaze into this face and not smile?"
    Arissa
flushed a lovely shade of pink, lowering her eyes as her guests drew closer.
She would have sold her soul to the Devil for the look in Richmond’s eyes to
have been a reflection of her own adoration. Her small, tapered fingers found
their way around his gloved hand, fingers that were as thick as three of hers
combined. There was no mistaking his response; leather-clad fingers that had wielded
a sword for Henry in battle clutched at her, tightly.
    Arissa
nearly gasped with his instant response. Instinctively, her fingers curled
tighter. So did his.  The de Rydals were drawing closer, but she was not paying
them any mind. All that mattered was Richmond's powerful grasp, igniting a
raging wild fire that was surging through her veins and causing her chest to
ache.
    A
fatherly response ,
she told herself giddily. He’s simply responding to the young girl He’s always
known, the young girl who has always sought comfort from her father's powerful
friend... a fatherly response!
    Her
eyes came to rest on their two hands, intertwined, touching. Remembering how
the same hand had clutched her hair so tenderly the day before. Her eyes
trailed up his arm, so thick and powerful. Arms that had made her feel safe and
protected since she had been a child. Shoulders so broad that he could barely
fit through a door without turning sideways.  A mail-clad neck she had wrapped
her arms about innumerable times.
    Then
there were his eyes. She did not realize how long she had been gazing into his
beautiful eyes. Furthermore, she had no concept of how long he had been staring
at her either. She'd been studying him for an endless amount of time when,
suddenly, it occurred to her that he was doing the same. They were looking at
each other.
    "You
look magnificent this day, my lady," his voice came as a growl, words only
she could hear.
    Her
cheeks flushed as she received his approval.  "Thank you, Richmond,"
she whispered.
    He
smiled, a devastating gesture that was far too rarely seen. She returned his
smile, timidly, and she felt him squeeze her hand gently.
    Arissa's
hot cheeks threatened to explode. Averting her gaze was the only possible
solution, and she did so. But the small hand that was clutched within his great
one was joined by its mate. Both