Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Knox swung Dru up on the mare, then hoisted himself up, settling in behind her, his arms circling around her waist as Star shifted beneath them.
As Star ambled away and oaths and accusations faded, Dru looked at her husband and grinned. “I win that one.”
“You duped me,” he accused, then warned with a scowl, “the truth.”
She chuckled. “How could I have done that when I didn’t know what information they would have? I took a chance as I always do when talking with them. Sometimes they know something. Sometimes they don’t. But—they aren’t forgetful even when drunk. We were lucky this time. They had information that helped us. So, I am still the victor in this wager and since you are an honorable man, I have no doubt you will honor our wager.”
“You manipulated me.”
She chuckled again. “And you let me.” Her laughter vanished and she slowly turned her head away from him.
He felt her upset as she tensed in his arms, and he didn’t hesitate to take hold of her chin and gently turned her head to face him. He didn’t say anything. He simply focused on her eyes and waited.
“Manipulation was the only way I could survive on my own.”
“You are not on your own anymore. You have me.” He rested his brow to hers. “I will keep you safe always.”
She moved her brow off his and saw the resolve in his dark eyes. “I believe you, Knox, I truly do, but I am also aware of what life’s uncertainties can bring. We have a battle ahead of us, not one but two. Someone wants me dead, and another wants to use me to benefit himself. Neither of those are easily solved. And my heart hurts to think I could lose you. I would rather die than lose you.”
He squeezed her chin tightly. “You will not die, and you will not lose me. We will do whatever it takes to have a life together.”
Sadness filled her eyes along with her smile. “Nay, we won’t, for we could easily let the woman falsely accused of being Autumn go unchallenged and solve our problem. But neither of us can let another suffer in our stead.”
“Of course not, but it is obvious that neither you nor I accept defeat easily. That means that neither of us would accept losing the other. We fight,” he said with a sly smile. “And we—”
“Win,” Dru finished, her smile returning.
“Together,” he said and kissed her gently. “So, manipulate, when necessary, but—”
“Don’t manipulate you.” She smiled, then teased. “Where is the fun in that?”
“I’ll show you fun, wife,” he said and buried his face in her neck to playfully nibble along it.
She laughed. It tickled her and ignited her passion.
She forced herself to push him away but not too vigorously. “You must stop for I am already damp with desire for you.”
He lifted his head and nibbled at her lips. “I don’t want to.”
“We must be on our way,” she reminded.
“We can be quick,” he suggested.
“Aye, we can,” she agreed, her desire spiking.
Knox lifted his head, his eyes scanning the area, his head tilting, listening for sounds, hearing nothing out of the ordinary, he directed his mare off the worn path and deeper into the forest. He spotted a large boulder, trees close around it, though their branches had few leaves left upon them.
He halted his mare near it and hurried to dismount and to order Star to stay close.
Knox then rushed his wife around the boulder and ordered, “We must stay silent.”
She nodded, willing to do anything since she was so anxious to feel him inside her.
Knox lifted her quickly, braced her against the boulder, their hands shoving garments out of the way, his shaft ready to slip inside her—when Star snorted and stumped the ground.
They both froze.
CHAPTER 22
Knox and Dru didn’t move, they listened and heard… the crunch of leaves, staggering footfalls, and groans.
Knox lowered Dru to her feet. “Wait here.”
“Nay. I go with you,” she insisted.
“Then stay behind me,” he ordered sternly, and she nodded.
Dru remained close behind him as he stepped around the boulder, though she peered past him when he halted. A large warrior, covered in blood, stumbled in their direction. He looked familiar.
“Rankin,” Knox whispered.
Dru recalled the name. He was one of Phelan’s men. She remained behind Knox, listening just as he did, trying to determine if there were others in the area. They detected nothing, so they approached him cautiously.
Rankin stretched his hand out to Knox when he spotted him. “Help.”
Knox hurried to him, Dru keeping pace.
Rankin collapsed against a tree sliding down it, not able to stand any longer.
Knox dropped down beside him. “What happened?”
Dru stood to her husband’s side and one look at Rankin was enough to see that he wouldn’t make it. He had far too many stab wounds.