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His hand was awkwardly stroking her hair as his other arm held her bound to him, even now refusing to let her escape his possession.

After a moment he slowly stepped back and lifted her off him.

“I didn’t mean to be rough. I waited too long,” he said haltingly.

Then, as if regretting the half apology, he added, “But you must get used to my ways, and now is as good a time as later.” He quickly tied the points of his hose before straightening her gown.

“When I need you, then you must take me into you. There will be many occasions when I won’t be able to wait until we find a bed. ”

“I understand.”

“Good.” He turned away. “Refresh yourself at the brook and then let’s be on our way. I want to be at Solinari well before nightfall.”

Lorenzo was reclining lazily beneath a tree beside the path and pulled a face as he saw them coming out of the woods.

“Already? You were hotter than I thought, my friend. I was hoping for a longer respite.” He rose to his feet, meticulously dusting off his gray velvet jerkin.

“But perhaps we’ll have another rest later.

” A ghost of a twinkle glinted in his light eyes. “It’s such a very hot day.”

“We won’t stop. Not until we’ve reached Solinari.” Lion swung onto the stallion and started down the trail.

“Now he’s angry,” Lorenzo said as he lifted Sanchia onto the mare.

Then, as her gaze flew down to his face in alarm, he shook his head.

“Not with you. With himself. He allowed you to distract him from his quest for the Wind Dancer. Not for long, but he still considers it a weakness in himself that he won’t tolerate.

Personally, I find it a very good sign for the future. ”

“Why?”

He gazed at her a moment, as if trying to decide whether to answer.

“Because Lion’s sense of responsibility has become a form of bondage.

He regards himself not only as the guardian of the Wind Dancer but of everything in his particular world.

I suppose it’s not surprising. I understand his father instilled that belief in him from the time he was hardly more than a babe.

In a way, the statue is a symbol of that bondage. ”

“Bondage? He’s a great lord. Responsibility is not bondage.”

“In some men it is.” Lorenzo shrugged. “So keep him so aroused he can’t think of responsibilities, Sanchia. It’s the best thing for both of you.”

“I don’t know how to keep him wanting me.” Sanchia’s cheeks felt hot. “And I don’t know if I’d want to make him forget his responsibilities. Surely it is only honorable to—”

Lorenzo groaned as he mounted his horse. “Santa Maria , another acolyte burning incense at the temple of honor and glory. I thought you had more sense.” He shook his head. “Oh well, perhaps that’s what draws him to you. Like to like.”

Sanchia stared at him incredulously. “We’re not at all alike.”

“Yes, you are. But you, Sanchia, are also like me. It will be interesting to see which aspect of your character triumphs in the end.” He turned to look at her with cool appraisal.

“Power can be very heady. It may occur to you that it would be to your advantage to use the passion Lion feels for you to rise in the world. I have nothing against ambition, but I won’t have Lion used.

If you show signs of doing so, I will have to remove you. ”

“I have no power over him.”

“Continue in that belief and you’ll remain in robust health.”

“You care about him.” The knowledge that a man as chillingly objective as Lorenzo could care for anyone filled her with wonder. “Why?”

“Who knows?” His smile was self-mocking.

“Do you wish me to mouth some maudlin drivel about Lion being the man I would have been in other circumstances? Or even the son I might have sired?” He shook his head.

“What makes any man feel anything? Life is filled with strange, exotic emotions, with great mysteries. Which is what makes it tolerable.” His horse moved forward at a faster clip as he touched his spurs to the animal’s sides.

It was late afternoon when they approached a small farmhouse on the edge of a clear blue lake.

“We go no farther,” Lion said as he reined in Tabron.

“The village is only a short distance from here, and Solinari lies just beyond it. I don’t want word of our arrival to be carried to the palazzo, so we’ll wait here for Marco to come to us.

I’ll talk to the owner of this farm and make arrangements for us to stay the night in his house. ”

“Who is Marco?” Sanchia asked.

“My brother.” Lion dismounted and strode across the barnyard and into the small sod farmhouse.

Another surprise. She really knew nothing about Lionello Andreas, she thought. Was this brother as fierce as Lion and the mother who had borne them both? It was more than probable. She experienced a sudden longing for blessedly familiar Florence where every danger was at least known.

“Marco is not at all like Lion.” Lorenzo’s assurance came as if he had read her thoughts. He dismounted, then helped her to do so too. “You may find him charming. Most women do.”

“It’s not her place to find him charming.” Lion had returned and was standing on the step. “I have no intention of sharing Sanchia with him.”

“How ungenerous of you,” Lorenzo said. “Not to mention surprising. Why are you so miserly with Sanchia when you’re so willing to share—”

“The house looks clean enough,” Lion interrupted.

“I’ve paid the farmer for a night’s lodging, and he and his wife will go to his father’s farm a few miles from here to shelter tonight.

The man will walk to the village to seek out word of Marco and give him a message that we’re here while the woman heats water for bathing. ”

“Excellent,” Lorenzo said. “And since you’re so fond of these four-footed beasts, I know you won’t mind taking care of the horses while I rest.” He prudently didn’t wait for a reply but strode into the farm house.

Lion smiled lopsidedly as he gazed after Lorenzo.

“He’d be very disappointed to realize that I don’t mind.

” He took the reins of the horses and led them toward the small barn.

“The hut has only one room, and there’s going to be little privacy until we leave Solinari.

” He glanced over his shoulder. “Why are you just standing there? Come with me to the barn.”

She finally understood and hurried after him. “You wish me to lie with you again?”

“If we can find a pile of hay or a blanket free of vermin.” He opened the door to the small barn, led the horses inside, and tied their reins to an empty stall.

“Otherwise we’ll have to be content with a post to lean against.” He suddenly stopped and turned to face her in the shadowy barn.

“It makes no difference. Nothing matters but this.” His hands reached out, moving over her shoulders as a great shudder ran through him.

His gaze raked the barn with frantic urgency until he saw a small heap of hay beside one of the stalls.

“I wanted you again not ten minutes after we left the brook. I ached with it. I ache now.” He led her quickly to the pile of hay and pushed her to her knees.

“Make it stop.” His voice was low, fierce with frustration and anger. “Santa Maria , make it stop!”

He pushed up her skirt and took her with even more wildness than he had shown earlier that afternoon and had scarcely reached the peak when he took her a second time, drawing her with him into a vortex of fiery pleasure.

Lion moved off her, lying beside her on the hay, his chest laboring as he tried to catch his breath. She was also panting, still trembling helplessly from the emotional storm through which Lion had swept her.

“I hate this.” Lion thrust his arm over his eyes, speaking through clenched teeth. “It won’t last, you know.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this,” Sanchia whispered. “But it seems to me that if you hate it, you wouldn’t do it.” He didn’t answer and she continued uncertainly, “Is it any different with me than it is with Giulia Marzo?”

His arm fell away from his face to reveal dark eyes still glittering with resentment. He smiled cruelly. “Of course; she’s much better at it. Do you think I’d bother with you if she were here?”

She felt a wrenching pain that took her off guard. “I’m sorry you don’t find me adequate. Perhaps if you’d tell me what I’m doing wrong…”

“What are you doing wrong?” His voice was suddenly savage as he jumped to his feet and began unsaddling Tabron.

“You’re too tight around me, your nipples are too rosy and pointed, your skin is too soft.

” He jerked the saddle from the stallion’s back and dropped it to the earthen floor.

“And you stare at me as if I were going to devour you until I cannot stop myself from doing it.” He stood with his back to her, his head averted. “Take off your clothes.”

She gaped in amazement. He surely couldn’t want her again already.

“Stand up and take off your clothes!”

She scrambled to her feet and hurriedly pulled off her gown, slippers, and undershift.

“Come here.”

She walked toward him, her gaze fixed anxiously on his averted face.

He turned his head and his gaze went over her body searching out every curve and hollow, every secret place. “Mine,” he said hoarsely, his nostrils flaring. “Every bit of you is mine for as long as I care to keep you. Do you understand?”

She nodded quickly.

His hands reached out and cupped her breasts. “Mine. No one is to touch you. You will not let anyone lay his hand on you.” His hands moved to the tight curls protecting her womanhood. “Never. You will give no other man so much as a smile unless I bid it.”

His voice was so fierce she could do nothing but stare up at him helplessly.

“Say it. You belong to me.”

“I…belong to you.”

“No man will ever touch you but me.”

“No man will ever touch me but you.”