Page 77 of Heart of Iron
Honoria peered closer, pressing her face against the window.She could barely see for Will’s broad shoulders.His body was curved around Lena’s, his hands on her hips as he showed her the proper stance.Taking her sister by the wrist, he lifted the pistol, staring down the length of Lena’s arm.Lena was not watching the target at all, her feelings written all over her face as she stared up at him.
“Oh.”
Blade swung her up into his arms with a laugh.“Now where were we?”He swept her back to the armchair and settled her in his lap.
Honoria straddled him in an entirely unladylike manner, her gaze straying to the window.“But—”
“No.”He caught her chin and turned her face to his.For once he looked entirely serious.“It were your decision to let them at this for once.She’s older now.Old enough to deal with ’er own consequences.And you said you trusted ’im.”
“Do you?”she asked bluntly.He knew Will far better than she ever would.
Blade stroked the back of his fingers against her throat.“’E won’t ever mean to ’urt ’er.”
“But if he does?”She’d never forgive herself.
“We been o’er this.”His green eyes met hers.“We tried to separate ’em once and it were disastrous.”He paused for a deep breath.“I know she’s your sister, luv.But I can’t lose ’im.Not again.I’m nearly there.’E’s thawin’ to me.Spent more time under this roof in the last week than ’e’s done in a month.”
“For her lessons,” she replied quietly.
“For her.”He kissed her cheek.“Don’t worry so much, luv.Will’s verwulfen.He’d die before ’e ever ’urt someone ’e considered ’is.”
“Then why were you so wary about them at the start?Why did you warn him away from her?”
Another light kiss against her lips.She knew him well enough to know when he was trying to distract her.“Blade,” she warned, shoving at his chest.
“Ain’t nothin’ much.Just an ole story I once ’eard.”
Honoria gave him her direst look and he held his hands up in defeat.
“It’s a Scandinavian law.They says no verwulfen can ever mate with a ’uman.On pain of death.”
“That’s all you know?”
He nodded.
“What a strange custom,” she said.“I wonder why they’d make a law like that?”
“You can ask ’em if you want.”
She considered that thought.“I believe I will.”
Sixteen
The heat of his body imprinted itself on her skin.Lena swallowed hard, lifting the pistol and staring blindly at the target.How on earth did he think she could focus with him pressed against her like this?Her bustle was poor defense; even the corset did little to still the hard feel of his body.Especially when the memory of that body pressed against hers last night kept playing over and over in her mind.
Hismouthonherbreasts, teeth tugging at her nipples.Callused hands sliding between her legs and pressing the heel of his palm to the wetness there.
“…through the sight like this… Here… Ease your finger over the trigger…” His breath warmed her ear.
Lena pulled the trigger with a soft groan.Dust showered off the brick wall.
“Don’t worry,” Will muttered.“You’ll get it.”
She wanted to hurl the bloody thing at the milk bottle.Maybe she’d have better chance of hitting it.
With a growl of disgust—and frustration—she turned and shoved it at him.“I’ve had enough.We’ve been at this for nearly an hour and my aim’s growing worse.”
“You’ll get it—”
