The Robber Knight's Love (The Robber Knight Saga #2)(109)

“I figure you'll have your share of throat-cutting to do soon enough, without my help.” She smiled up at him sadly.

“That's true.” He gave her a thoughtful nod. “It's going to get very bloody soon. I might stain that beautiful handkerchief of yours.”

Raising his arm, he showed her the blue piece of cloth tied around his wrist, and the warm glow inside her intensified. Her token! He was wearing her token! “Are you sure you don't want me to take it off, so it doesn’t get dirty, Milady?”

“Extremely sure,” she whispered.

They lapsed into silence as their gazes were drawn back to the gate again. Hans had entered the gatehouse by now. The two of them waited, breathless—then it came. A high, screeching wail that was carried up by the wind all the way from the gatehouse to the top of the inner wall where Ayla and Reuben stood watching. Slowly, under their intent eyes, the portcullis rose skyward.

Finally, it reached the top and stopped.

Not long after, Hans stepped out of the gatehouse again. He didn't look up at the wall this time, and a shiver of fear and worry went down Ayla's back. She had no idea what was going through his head. She had no idea what he would be telling the soldiers. Maybe she should think about Reuben's suggestion. It wasn't too late to get his wife and children and— No! I am my father’s daughter! I’m not going to do something wrong out of fear and weakness! And neither am I going to do it because I think it’s good fun, like that blaggard I’m in love with! Hans will keep his oath!

Yes, he would. He had to! Hadn't he?

Hans stepped towards the gate.

It still wasn't too late. She could call to him, tell him that, if he didn't do as she had commanded, his worst fears would come to pass.

No! If I do that, I’m no better than the Margrave: forcing people to do my bidding instead of giving them the opportunity to do what was right and just.

Still, if it might save lives…

And then Hans was at the gate and put his hands under the huge beam of wood that barred it, trying to lift the thing. It didn't move an inch, so he stepped forward and bent to put his shoulder underneath the beam for leverage. It still didn't move.

“Wimp,” Reuben muttered.

“Yes,” Ayla muttered. “I'm sure you'd do a much better job of letting our enemies into my castle.”

“Ayla?”

“Yes, Reuben?”

“Shut up.”

Ayla harrumphed and poked him into the ribs with her elbow. Since he was wearing armor, that wasn't a very smart move and only led to her bruising her elbow.

“Do you think that, if we survive this,” she mumbled, “you could maybe learn to be a bit more polite?”

“No.”

“I didn't think so.”

Both his and her tone were light and teasing. But Ayla could feel the tension in his body and knew what he was thinking. It was the same thing she was thinking: This might be the last night we can be together.

Down in the outer courtyard, Hans finally succeeded in lifting the beam out of its holders. It clattered to the ground, and the noise made Ayla jump.

Reuben hissed. “This is it.”

She nodded, just as Hans gripped the left wing of the great gate and began to pull it open. It scraped over the cobblestones, resisting the efforts of the lone man.

“Yes,” she whispered. “It is.”

“Ayla…”

“Yes, Reuben?”

“This might be last night of our lives.”

He had said it. He had actually said it. She swallowed.

“Yes. It might.”

“This might be the only chance we ever have.”

Chance? To do what? Ayla frowned.

Then, her frown was replaced by an expression of utter shock as Reuben's hand let go of her shoulder and slowly began to travel down her back, stroking as it went. Down. Farther down. And even farther.

Her mouth went dry. Mary, mother of God! He wasn't suggesting that…that they…

Of course he can! He’s Reuben!

“What…” Her voice broke and remained broken. She tried to wet her lips, to clear her throat, but she couldn’t get another word past the giant lump blocking the way.

“Well…” Reuben’s voice was husky and even more diabolically seductive than usual. “What exactly we do depends on you. We'd have to hurry up a bit, because I'm sure the enemy won't be long. But I won’t need long to take you to heaven and back.”

Says the devil!

His hand touched Ayla in a spot where she had never been touched before, and she gasped.

“So, what would you like?” he asked.

“What I would like,” she managed to get out somehow, her voice hoarse, “is to be able to step before my maker with a clear conscience, if I meet him tonight.”

“Are you sure?” He turned his face to look at her, the fire in his gray eyes almost incinerating her. “Don't you want to get it just a tiny little bit dirty?”

“Um…no?”

He smirked. “You don't sound very certain, Milady.”

Ayla straightened her back and raised her chin, trying to ignore the feel of his hand at that place, which was almost making her swoon with pleasure.

“I…I am. I don't want a guilty conscience.”