Page 101 of Desire's Ransom
She scowled. Was he actually criticizing her plan? “I know that.”
“What you’d need is an army of cohesive and seasoned knights.”
She bristled at that. “I don’t exactly have an army at my beck and call.”
“Don’t you?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She closed it again.
He turned back to her then. There was a curious spark of ambition in his eyes.
Her breath caught. His knights.Hisknights. Was he offering what shethoughthe was offering?
“Your men,” she breathed, almost afraid to hope. “Ye would help me?”
“By all rights, thetuathbelongs to you,” he told her. “Cormac has betrayed the king. He’s betrayed me. He’s betrayed you. And he’s betrayed hisclann.”
Temair couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Ye’d really help me get thetuathback?”
“On one condition.”
“Aye?” She’d do anything.
“You’ll consent to be my wife.”
She didn’t need words to give him her answer. With a soft cry of joy, she surged forward to embrace him.
Ryland knew they had to act quickly.
His men awaited his orders.
The woodkerns had to be placated.
There was a siege to plan.
Decisions had to be made about what to do with Cormac, with the Temair imposter, with theclann.
Hell, Ryland hadn’t even had breakfast yet this morn.
But none of that mattered when Temair rushed into his arms, gratitude shining in her beautiful gray eyes. And when she pulled his head down, slanting her mouth across his, her kisses were enough to dull his hunger.
He buried his hands in her lush black hair, tipping her head to deepen the kiss. A moment ago, her lips had curled down in willful anger. Now they were pliant with affection and bliss.
He nudged her lips apart with his own, letting his tongue tease at the edges until her jaw loosened and she opened her mouth in welcome. He slipped his tongue into the wet, warm recesses of her mouth, and she responded, swirling her tongue around his, feasting on him.
Like starving beasts, they devoured each other—gasping, clawing, gnawing, groaning. Her passion was intoxicating, like an elixir of obsession poured from her lips into his mouth. One sip sent ripples of current through his loins. But as he drank her all in, he felt every nerve in his body come alive with yearning. They kissed and kissed, until he wondered if he’d ever get his fill of her.
At least now he knew he’d have a lifetime to try.
As Temair gazed up at Ryland from below lust-heavy lids, she felt drunk on his love.
All her worries vanished.
Her limbs felt as limp and malleable as custard.
Her head floated in a haze of pleasurable sensations.
And her body craved only one thing.
