Page 71 of Bride of Ice
Before all else, she was a warrior.
He had something of hers. And she needed it. Now. Before she fell prey to his lusty distractions.
Chapter 19
Colban figured he had Hallie at a disadvantage now. He’d slipped the notebook into the back of his trews. It was lodged against the small of his back. As long as he didn’t turn his back on her, she’d never find it.
He could see the frustration in her eyes. She knew he had the book. Shedidwant to search him.
Of course, she’d never admit that. Nor would she do it. His proximity was having an effect on her. He saw it in the trembling of her lips. The flush of her cheek. The softening of her gaze.
At first he thought she might be afraid of him. Impressed by his size. Intimidated by his dominance.
Now he recognized the signs of desire.
He should know. He felt it as well. A yearning to draw closer. To haul her into his arms. To bury his face in her silky blonde tresses.
For one brief instant, as their gazes connected, he felt a surge of something even more irresistible than desire.
Fascination.
He wanted to know more about the Valkyrie. Wanted to thaw her icy layers and expose the unique woman beneath. Wanted to know her thoughts, her hopes, her dreams.
Then he felt the sudden prick of sharp steel against his belly.
He stiffened as his fascination curdled into disappointment.
Her glare was hard now. “Give it to me.”
He wasn’t going to surrender the precious notebook without a fight. Not now. Not when she’d had the audacity to draw a blade on him. A blade he was almost certain she didn’t have the nerve to use.
Deciding it was a wager he was willing to make, he straightened to his full height and dared her, “If ye’re so certain I have somethin’ o’ yours, why don’t ye take it from me?”
“You realize I’m holding a dagger?”
“I know ye don’t want to damage me. Ye’ve said as much. And ye won’t kill me. Isabel said ye’d ne’er killed a man.”
The subtle twitch of the dagger was the only indication that his words had rattled her.
But her gaze was steady as she replied, “Do you think I’d tell Isabel if I had?”
She had a point. One he hadn’t considered. Perhaps it was best to get her mind off of violence. Perhaps he should try to confiscate that dagger.
“She also said ye’d ne’er kissed a man.”
The second accusation seemed to rattle her far more than the first. She drew in a sharp breath and found herself at a loss for words.
“’Tis true then, isn’t it?” he pressed, lowering his gaze purposefully to her mouth.
If he could distract her with a kiss—nothing seductive, just a sweet, simple brush of his lips—maybe it would be enough to tease the dagger from her grip. Maybe he could even make her forget about the notebook.
He continued to gaze at her pink, ripe, inviting mouth and let his tongue slip out to wet his lower lip.
Every bell in Hallie’s head was ringing in alarm. The hostage was too close to her, literally and figuratively.
Thanks to her conniving sister, Colban knew two of her most closely held secrets. And that put her at a disadvantage.
Even now, she could feel the melting heat of his lusty gaze.
