Page 37 of Desire's Ransom
Chapter 11
“Ye,” she breathed.
She’d startled him. His voice had ratcheted up to an alarmingly high pitch when she’d leaped out.
She lowered her bow in disbelief as a dozen questions rushed through her brain.
What was he doing here?
Why was he alone?
Where was he going?
Why was he singing?
For a moment, he looked as shocked as she was. But of course, he had less reason to be surprised. He might have expected to find her here. She, on the other hand, hadn’t expected to ever see him again.
She was still reeling when his face blossomed into the adorable grin that had been haunting her daydreams.
“Why, Lady Gray,” he said in amused tones, inclining his head. “We meet a—”
She raised her bow again, training her arrow on his heart. She couldn’t afford to let his pretty face distract her. She didn’t know what he was doing here. But considering she was alone and didn’t have the advantage of strength over him, she had to use whatever leverage possible to keep him at bay. At least until she discovered his business.
“I’m unarmed,” he told her.
That remained to be seen. He’d managed to pull a dagger out of nowhere yesterday.
Still, a battle raged inside her. He was so magnificent, so handsome and full of charm. His eyes and that grin were even more enchanting than she’d remembered. And now that he stood before her on solid ground instead of swimming at her feet, he seemed more imposing, more muscular, more commanding.
Then she made the mistake of locking her gaze onto his mouth and those pressuring, yielding lips that had claimed hers and sent her pulse racing. Her fingers faltered on the drawn bow.
“Look,” he bade her, slipping his pack slowly and carefully from his shoulders and letting it drop to the ground. He held up his hands in surrender. She noted he wasn’t wearing his sword belt. Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe hewasunarmed.
But she never fooled herself about her own vulnerability. She didn’t have herbatathis time. If she lowered her bow, he could reach her in three long strides.
Bloody hell. She should have stayed in the woods. She’d been so sure she could make a quick score on the road and be on her way, as fast and invisible as a shadow.
“Where are your friends?” she asked him.
“You’re not going to lower your bow?” He almost looked hurt.
“Not until I get some answers.”
“I told you I’m unarmed.”
She smirked. “Somehow I don’t think that matters. We’re not exactly evenly matched when it comes to hand-to-hand combat.”
The corner of his lip drifted up slyly. “On the contrary, I think we’re perfectly matched.”
She blushed at the thrill that shot through her as she imagined tangling with him in less combative ways.
But she couldn’t let lust get in the way of logic. She steeled her jaw and tightened her grip on the bow. “Are ye goin’ to answer me?”
“My friends? I left them.”
“And ye’re travelin’ through the wood on your own?” She doubted that.
He shrugged and looked around him. “So ’twould appear.”
