“I do not have to trust.” She hugged her arms over her chest, covering her nipples. The conflict between the longings of her flesh and the irritation in her mind was becoming so loud, she wouldn’t be surprised if she woke up insane once the night had passed. “Trust is the only thing that is mine to give. Everyone is so intent on telling me what I must do, what I shall do and what is expected of me. But trust is not something that is given, husband.”
She drew a stiff breath, banishing the stinging tears that were threatening to fall down her cheeks again. “Even when your men and my king ensure that I am yours for the taking, my trust is the thing that shall be locked away from you all.”
She forced her arms to unclasp. Reaching down, she grasped her chemise and drew it up and over her head. She felt the brush of the night air against her skin from head to toe, and the heat from the fire behind her. “But the maid who dallies with the stable boy is far richer than she ever imagined, for I envy her wealth of choices.”
His face tightened. A muscle on the corner of his jaw twitched. She held her chin level. She wasn’t afraid of him, only sick of conforming to everyone’s dictates. His gaze touched on her face and the resignation there. He didn’t care for it; she witnessed it in his eyes. He wanted something more from her.
“Well now, that is where we disagree again, because trust is something that is given. ’Tis a sweet gift.”
“You are speaking of surrender.”
His gaze left her face. He tried to fight the urge to look at her nude body but lost. It fascinated her to see him so beaten by his own urges. Somehow it hinted at a power she hadn’t thought she held. Some small form of controlling influence by which he was weakened.
“Aye, lass, I am talking about surrender, but nae a cold one. I didna go searching for yer brother to win ye. I went looking for him to smash my fist into his face for hitting ye. But I am no’ going to quibble over how I gained what we’ve both been dancing about since looking at each other. I witnessed the desire burning just as hot in yer eyes as I felt in my own blood.”
After all the subterfuge and deceit of court, the simple honesty of Keir’s words sparked an undeniable need for him, and she regretted her harsh words. She wanted him and it was allowed now. Letting the details interfere would only hurt her and Keir. He watched her, his dark eyes stormy and unhappy with her. She felt it keenly.
“I’m…not cold…toward you, Keir.”
The muscle on the side of his jaw flexed. She stared at the little throbbing point, her hands moving up to cover her bare breasts. She felt exposed now that she’d admitted she wanted him.
He captured one hand, gripping it in his larger one.
“Nay, I’m the one who’s doing things badly. I’m acting like a lad instead of showing ye the way to proceed.”
He carried her hand to his lips. Turning her hand over, he pressed a kiss against the tender skin of her inner wrist. A moment later he grazed that delicate skin with his teeth. She gasped, a startled sound passing her lips. She jerked her arm, but not out of any true desire to be free. It was simply a reaction, her body moving without any thought behind the motion.
A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Aye, you are nae cold to me.” His thumb rubbed over her inner wrist, smoothing through the tiny wet patch of skin.
“A bit uneasy, to be sure, but that’s my duty to soothe. A pure delight, because it tells me that ye are pure. ’Tis a gift that I am humbled by, lass. Never doubt that.”
He meant it. His tone was tender but determined. She let herself get swept up in that tone. It was the one her gallant knight used in her dreams.
“I promise to spend more time courting ye, Helena.”
He swung her off her feet, drawing another gasp from her. “Why do you pick me up? I’m not trying to avoid my duties.”
“I enjoy carrying ye.” He placed her in the center of the bed, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. “But the idea of chasing ye is interesting, too. I do believe I’d