“You have said that, repeatedly.”
“I mean it.”
She believed him. Nicola didn’t want to go in the vault again but she was not as in control of her emotions as she needed to be. Outspokenness was a sin and she sinned regularly where that was concerned.
“Sir Kenton,” she said deliberately. “Did you truly think you could conquer Babylon and expect that I, the Lady of Babylon, would simply fall at your feet and carry out your every whim without resistance just because you demand it?”
“Tread carefully, Madam.”
“Iamtreading carefully,” she was gaining steam. “But you show me none of the respect you are so haughty to demand, my lord. Have you once granted a request of mine? Have you once shown me any measure of regard? All you have done is go out of your way to show me how much disrespect you have for me and my household, yet you find it surprising when I show you the same measure of what you’ve given me.”
His eyes were like shards of glass; hard and cutting. “You are my prisoner and an enemy of the true king,” he said. “You personally directed the battle against my forces and any consideration you are given is more than you deserve.”
Nicola wasn’t surprised that he realized that, she’d all but told him as much. “If I had been any smarter in military ways, you would not have conquered us.”
“But I did.”
“Then you have what you want. You have Babylon. If you want any more than that, you’ll have to take it by force because I shall not easily surrender anything more to you.”
One moment he was standing across the room glaring at her. In the next, he was nearly on top of her, grabbing both arms andpulling them behind her back. It wasn’t painful, but the message was obvious. Nicola found herself pressed up against his massive chest, her neck craned back sharply as his face loomed over her. His eyes, so piercing, bore straight through her.
“That, Madam,” he said slowly, “can be arranged if that is your wish.”
Nicola would not admit that provoking him had probably not been the best decision. Submission was foreign to her nature, something her husband had tried to beat into her on many occasions. She was a fighter and always had been, which had cost her much when Gaylord turned his fists against her.
“You may as well do as you will,” she could hardly breathe for as tightly as he was holding her. “From someone who would use my children against me, one more vulgar offense would not surprise me.”
Kenton had only meant to scare her. But he should have suspected a woman like Nicola would not have been so easily frightened. Now, as he gazed down at her, he felt a bolt of fire race through him like nothing he had ever experienced and he knew, instantly, that his bold move had backlashed on him. All he could do was stare at her beautiful face, her pink lips, and imagine what it would be like to taste her.
When his mouth descended on hers, roughly, one of her hands wriggled loose and he felt the sharp sting of her slap against his cheek. He felt another slap, and still another, but it only caused him to hold her closer and kiss her harder. He never realized when she stopped fighting him and started to respond; all he knew was that she was sweeter than he could have possibly imagined.
Kenton didn’t know how long he kissed her, his tongue invading her honeyed mouth and his lips devouring hers. But he had to taste the rest of her and his mouth moved over her chin, her cheeks, and her slender neck.
“You’ll do as I say, you cheeky wench,” he whispered hoarsely. “Or I swear you’ll regret it. Do you understand?”
Nicola didn’t understand anything at the moment. His kiss had terrified her at first, then it had warmed her from a spark of passion into a roaring blaze of lust. She had no idea she was capable of such emotions and she couldn’t breathe, much less think straight. Was he asking her to make a decision?
“I… I…,” she gasped.
“Tell me,” he growled, his mouth against hers. “No more of your disobedience. Do as I say.”
She could only whimper and he kissed her so hard that he drove his teeth into her lip, drawing blood. He tasted her blood and sucked on her lip, tasting more of it and loving it.
“Tell me.”
He shook her slightly, his mouth still on her lips. Nicola nodded weakly, the only gesture she could manage.
“No more insolence?”
She shook her head.
“No more tantrums?”
She shook her head again and Kenton paused long enough to look at her flushed face before kissing her again. How it was possible to smile and kiss at the same time, he didn’t know. But he knew he was doing it.
Kenton didn’t know how he got away from her. He was walking across the inner bailey before he realized she was out of his arms. He remembered leaving her standing in that small chamber with a dazed look on her face, but not much more than that. With an approaching battle, he was fully aware of how muddled his mind was, distracted by thoughts he had forgotten were possible. It was essential that he come to his senses. He had to push thoughts of Lady Thorne from his mind.
It was easier said than done.