Page 104 of The Robber Knight
“No. No, I'm all right,” she mewled. “It'sjust been so horrible...”
Reuben frowned. Horrible? “But you won,didn't you?” he asked, confused.
“Yes! But I had to kill so many people.”
“Yes... but surely only the enemy,” hereasoned, his confusion increasing.
With surprising strength for a female who hadjust collapsed weeping on top of him, Ayla pushed herself away fromReuben's chest and glared down at him. “Reuben! What does it matterif they were the enemy? They were still people!”
“Err... people who wanted to kill you.”
“So what?”
“So you had to kill them first.”
“Oh Reuben!”
And she collapsed on him again, weepingharder than before. Carefully, he resumed stroking her hair,anxious about eliciting another insane reaction. Hair-strokingseemed to be fine, though.
“Reuben?”
“Hmm?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you are asoulless bastard with the empathic capacity of a dung-beetle?”
“Not in so many words. But a few people haveexpressed similar opinions.”
He felt her face shift against his chest.Fearing that she was preparing for another round of tears he lookeddown at her—only to discover that she was actually smiling, whilethe tears were still glittering on her face. Satan's hairy ass,were all females this confusing? Surely not!
“Why are you smiling? What's so funny?”
“You!” She giggled and quickly put a hand infront of her mouth, trying to suppress her mirth. “You are makingme laugh, even though all I want to do is cry! How do you manage todo that, make me feel better even when I don't want to?”
“Haven't the foggiest. I only know that I'mfeeling pretty well myself just now.” Pulling her closer towardshim so that every curve of her slender body was pressed tightlyagainst him, he whispered in her ear: “And I knowexactlywherethatfeeling is coming from.”
*~*~**~*~*
When she heard those words, Ayla's breathinghalted abruptly. Had he really said that? Did it really mean whatshe thought it meant?
O yes, yes please. Let himmean it.
What if he did?
Part of her wanted to push away, to chastisehim for his brazen words, or better yet, slap him in the face.
But another, new, deliciously daring part ofher wanted to explore the possibility. Explore him.
And yet another part of her kicked her in thederriere and screamed:You might be killed inbattle tomorrow for all you know! What are you waiting for? Get onwith it!
Impulsively, she tightened her grip aroundhis neck and snuggled against his chest. She was rewarded with asharp intake of breath directly beneath her, reverberating throughher entire being. Her heart rate quickened as she realized thatmaybe, maybe, Reuben really wanted this.
She breathed in slowly, luxuriating in thethought—and gagged. Quickly, she pushed away from him and he lether go.
*~*~**~*~*
“What is the matter?” he asked, trembling atthe revulsion on her face. Heavens, he had thought she mightactually be attracted to him! But the way she was looking... soutterly repulsed... What had he done to deserve this? What had hedone to repel her?
“Err...” Ayla gestured at his chest, clearlyembarrassed, and coughed. “It's the salve under your bandages. Iforgot about it and breathed in. It's not a very appetizing scent.Like a sledgehammer up your nose.”
