Page 19 of Fearless Heart

“Lillia. What are you … you’re the lass?” he asked incredulously.

She sprang into his arms and he caught her. Lillia embraced him, holding onto him tightly. “Heath, I am relieved to see you … I came because I …” She didn’t finish, but wept.

He kept silent, consoling her with soft caresses on her shoulders. When she calmed enough, he released her and gripped her arms. “When I last saw you, you were on your way to your betrothal.”

She moved closer and her hands settled on his waist. “I was, but I decided he is unacceptable. I refuse to marry the vile man.”

“You refused him? And you found your way here … Gilroy said you need the king’s guard.”

“I came with the lad, but I have no need of the guard.” She gasped. “Are you saying you are with the guard? You’re one of the renowned king’s guard?”

He neither confirmed nor denied it. “That is not what Gilroy said. He said you’re in danger.”

She pursed her bonny lips and Heath envisioned the kiss she bestowed on him at the king’s festival. Damnation, he shouldn’t let her affect him. But her bonny face and the way she held on to his waist ceased any logical thought.

“You know the lad better than I do. He seems to deem I am in danger, but alas I am not. Lads can be somewhat imaginative. Remember how my brothers would make up tales or embellish their tales?”

Heath lifted her chin and searched her brown eyes for sincerity. Shimmers of golden flecks stared back at him. “Gilroy bespoke of your rescue and that mayhap those men were after you.”

She smiled and he all but ceased his breath. Heath groaned low, knowing she’d cause him nothing but trouble. Aye, a good sort of trouble if he wasn’t careful.

“I’m certain he is mistaken. Heath,” she said, and wrapped her arms around his body. “I’m pleased to have found you.”

He closed his eyes at the feeling of her body pressing against his. “Sweetness, my comrades are intent we send you off. We allow but a few to stay here.”

She moved her mouth a scan from his, her sweet petal-soft lips almost brushing his. “Please, don’t send me away. I cannot go back.”

All his misgivings about the situation be damned. Heath brushed his mouth against hers and returned the sweet touches of her lips several times before the urge to swarm her with a sensual, make-her-want-him kiss overtook him. He’d lost all sense. “The last thing I want, Lillia, is to send you away, but I cannot make any promises.”