Page 49 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

‘Linota,’ he said, his eyes snapping open, his gaze locking with hers. ‘You are beautiful and perfect in every way. I am the luckiest man alive to have spent these last few days with you, but you and I are not meant to be.’

His gaze flickered over her naked body and she saw the ripple of desire as it washed through him. She held still, hoping his resolve would crumble once again and that he would take her as he clearly wanted to do. She almost howled when his trembling fingers tugged her dress on to her and began to tie it back up. She didn’t move to help him. If this was to be the last time he touched her then she wanted to make it last.

‘Why aren’t we meant to be?’ she whispered.

He tugged sharply on one of her ties. ‘You are going to make a fabulous marriage to some lucky nobleman. You will live a life of luxury and you will be grateful that you didn’t throw away that chance on an unwanted bastard.’

‘But you aren’t unwanted, Erik. I want you.’

‘Linota, I can’t,’ he said, his gaze meeting hers once more. She was shocked by the misery in the depths of his eyes. Why did he have to be so anguished? If he cared for her at all, then why couldn’t they fight to be together? They could marry this evening and her siblings could do nothing about it.

‘Why can’t you?’ she asked softly.

‘You deserve better.’ He placed a gentle kiss against her forehead. ‘There are things you don’t know about me. Things which make me unsuitable for you. You would very quickly regret tying your life to mine and that would destroy me.’

‘I wouldn’t regret it,’ she whispered. ‘I love you.’

Erik’s hands stilled briefly and then he began to fasten the ties, moving quicker than before.

Linota pressed her lips tightly together.

Erik stood abruptly and pulled his tunic on.

‘It’s late,’ he said. ‘You need to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day, but hopefully you will be reunited with your sister at the end of it.’

Linota pushed herself to her feet. ‘Aren’t you going to say anything?’

Erik pushed an impatient hand through his hair. ‘You don’t love me, Linota. You might think that you do after what we’ve just shared, but I promise you that feeling will fade.’

‘It won’t,’ she said, barely restraining herself from stamping her feet.

He might not say that he loved her, but she was beginning to think that he did. She could see a strong emotion shining in his eyes when he laughed with her and she’d felt the tenderness in his touch as he’d explored her body. It was only his loyalty to Borwyn that kept him from making her his own. She was sure of it.

He thought his brother deserved her because of her dowry, but he was wrong. Borwyn would only make her miserable, just as she would him. They were not meant for each other.

‘You’re very sweet,’ said Erik, fixing his cloak over his shoulder. ‘And I’m sure—’

Linota held up her hand. ‘Don’t treat me like a child. I may be younger than you, but I’m old enough to know my own mind. I love you and I think you love me.’

He took two steps towards her and she almost stumbled backwards as he loomed over her.

‘You don’t know me and what I’ve done,’ he said. ‘When you do, you will change your mind.’

She straightened her spine. ‘Never.’

He smiled sadly. ‘We shall see.’ He dropped a brief kiss against her lips. ‘Sleep well, Linota. Tomorrow will be a long day.’

He turned from her and strode out of the room without looking back.

Chapter Eleven

Linota ran her hands over her dress, trying to remove some of the wrinkles. Fortunately, the wine glass had been nearly empty when Erik and she had knocked it over. She crouched down and mopped up the remnants with her sleeve.

She’d had enough food and so she pushed the glass and the trencher to one side and tried to get her braid into some semblance of order.

She’d thought she’d done a good job, but she still caught Emma smirking at her when she came back into the room.

‘Is everything all right, pet?’ asked Emma as she bustled around, lighting a couple of extra candles.

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