Page 35 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

‘I cannot give you any privacy. I must stay with you. I know it isn’t ideal, but...’

‘It’s fine, Erik. I trust you.’

He muttered something under his breath, his words rumbling through her even though she didn’t catch his meaning. She wasn’t worried. If he was preparing her to marry his brother, then he would hardly take advantage of her now.

A small lake came into view and she leaned into him gratefully.

‘Thank you, Erik.’

‘I think I’m going to live to regret this,’ he said as he swung his leg over the horse and dropped to the ground.

He lifted up his hands to her and she slipped down from Cai. She expected him to let go of her as soon as her feet hit the ground, but he held on, gazing down at her. Words seemed to hover on his lips and she waited expectantly. He swallowed and let her go, stepping away from her. She dipped her head, hiding the disappointment she was sure was shining in her eyes.

‘I’ll wait here,’ he said, nodding to Cai’s saddle and turning to face it.

She stared at him for a long moment, but he only gazed intently at the saddle as if it contained some important mystery he needed to solve.

Her hands moved to the clasp of her cloak and she unclipped it, her fingers still unsteady. She flung the cloak over Cai’s neck, not wanting it to get wet from the icy ground.

Her fingers went to the ties of her tunic.

Next to her Erik cleared his throat. ‘Please could you get undressed away from Cai,’ he said, his gaze still not moving from the saddle.

Her heart fluttered as the skin of his cheeks turned a dark red. The experienced warrior was blushing.

Perhaps he wasn’t immune to her after all. It might only be desire, not love, but desire was better than nothing.

‘I don’t want my clothes to get wet,’ she said. A wave of heat swept over her cheeks and she realised she was blushing as well. She wished she’d thought of something more seductive to say, but then...maybe something simple would work.

‘Perhaps you could help me with my ties,’ she said, turning and lifting her hair out of the way.

‘Linota,’ growled Erik.

Despite herself she smiled. That was not the tone of a man who was completely unmoved by the situation. It sounded as if he was very much on edge.

Good. It should not just be she who had to suffer the torment of wanting something she could not have.

‘Please, Erik. My fingers are still trembling.’

He was muttering darkly again. She couldn’t make out the words, but the tone sent a thrill to her stomach. This was dangerous territory. She could end up hurt beyond measure, but if a lifetime of duty was in front of her, then didn’t she deserve, if only for an afternoon, a bit of pleasure for herself?

Firm fingers began to tug at the tunic’s bindings. Her nipples puckered as the tunic fell free from her body. Erik flung it over her cloak.

She could hardly ask him for help with her dress. It was loose fitting and easy to remove. She quickly pulled it over her head. She nearly lost her nerve then. The thin fabric of her linen undergarments was no match for the cold air which rushed over her.

Before she could concede defeat and pull her dress back on, she stripped off her remaining clothes and boots.

Behind her she heard a sharp gasp and triumph soared in her belly.

He was not immune to her!

Keeping her eyes firmly on the body of water, she made her way over to it. The icy ground was sharp against the soles of her feet, but she welcomed it. Her whole body was alive with this moment.

Her toes touched the icy water and she gasped at the shock of the first contact. The cold was exactly what she wanted. She knelt by the lake’s edge and began splashing cold water over the skin of her arms and stomach. The icy droplets stung, but the sensation was glorious. This was no longer just about washing away her encounter with Gamel. With each splash she was washing away years of confinement, of worry about what was going to happen to her as the years passed with no hope of ever escaping her chambers. It was washing away her duty and the need for her always to be the good girl, the daughter and sister who always did as she was told.

‘Linota, that’s enough.’

She glanced up from her position by the water. Erik was holding open her cloak.

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