Page 95 of The Robber Knight's Love
But then, Ayla cast her eyes down and hercheeks blossomed apple-red. Without looking at him, she muttered:“Well, maybe Fye wasn't totally mistaken.”
At her words, a triumphant grin spread overReuben's face and a thrill shot through his veins. He knew it! Heknew all along that no woman on earth could resist his charms! Shewas drawn to him. Maybe not as much as other women up and down thecountry had been, not by a long shot, but she wasn't immune to hisallure.
“Wipe that self-satisfied grin off yourface,” Ayla mumbled, peeking up at him with her big blue eyes fromunder her lashes in a way that made Reuben's heart pick up thepace.
Reuben's grin only broadened in response.“Why? What's wrong with my grin?”
“Nothing. It's beautiful. That's theproblem.”
Reuben's heart hammered even faster. Damn it,what was wrong with him? He had heard compliments like thishundreds of times from all sorts of women. It wasn't anythingspecial. He knew they were simply telling the truth, after all, hesaw himself in the mirror often enough. But when Ayla said it, thewords made him feel... warm.
Well, he still had a fever. That was probablyit.
“Beautiful, hmm?” he asked, raising aneyebrow. “Well, it's not the only thing in this room to which thatadjective could be applied.”
Carefully, still not sure how much of hisstrength he had recovered, he raised a hand and lightly strokedAyla's golden hair. If his ears did not deceive him, she sucked ina quick breath as his fingers touched the glimmering strands. Asign of fear? It was reasonable, he supposed. She didn't know himall that well. Was she afraid to be alone with him now that he hadindicated his intentions? Would she leave?
Anxious to make the most of the moment beforeshe was gone, he moved his hand from her hair to her cheek. Herskin was soft and warm. Warm? He still had a fever. How could hercheeks be feeling warm in comparison?
A delicious blush was suffusing her face andheating her cheeks now, that was how. Another sign of fear? Wouldshe leave?
But instead of leaving, she sighed, leaninginto his touch and briefly closing her eyes. When she opened themagain, they were slightly unfocused.
Unable to hold it up any longer, Reubendropped his hand.
She looked down at him with a slightly fuzzy,confused look in her eyes. “Why did you do that?” she asked.
He couldn't resist grinning again. “Well,you've fondled me quite a lot over the last couple of days. Ithought I'd reciprocate.”
“I didn't mean the touching,” she said,softly. “I meant the letting go.”
This time it was Reuben who sucked in a sharpbreath. He was about to try to come up with a witty response, whensuddenly her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed, as for the firsttime his words seemed to register with her.
“What do you mean I havefondled you over the last couple of days? I wasattending to your medical needs!”
*~*~**~*~*
The insolent bastar— the insolent buffoon hadthe gall to wink at her! Ayla had never seen something as disarmingand lascivious as that wink. Her face turned from pink to burningred.
“Yes, you did. And you enjoyed every minuteof it,” he gloated. “Admit it.”
“I did not!”
“Oh yes, you did.”
“Did not!”
“You did.”
“No!”
He shrugged. “Well,Idid.”
Ayla gasped at his insolence. Gripping a wetcloth from the table, she was about to slap him with it when heraised his hand in an imploring gesture.
“Please! I surrender! I'm no match for yourskills with the wet linen, my fierce lady!”
He looked so adorable, so handsome in thatmoment, peeking up at her through his fingers which were spread indefense in front of his face, that she couldn't help it. She beganto giggle. No matter how angry she was supposed to be at him, shejust couldn't be. Not at Reuben. Not when he looked at her likethis, his trademark devil's grin gleaming through the gaps betweenhis fingers. Not when he had called her “my fierce lady.” Mine.His.
