A Knight of Passion(29)

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Relief and trepidation flooded Bryant when he took the final step down the stairs into the great hall and found Riana seated at the table, ready to go. He met her gaze and read in her eyes that she knew her sister was no longer at Arundel. He remained quiet and escorted her to the horses that stood ready and, surrounded by fifty of his men, they rode through the gates of Arundel. They would remain in sight of the guards on the battlements until they reached the trees.

Bryant kept their pace leisurely as he fell back from the lead to come up alongside Riana. “How did you know?”

Gaze straight ahead, she pulled her cloak more tightly about her. “I found the guard unconscious in Siusan’s bedchamber.”

Bryant wondered that Sir Dunbar hadn't killed the man, but his mentor was probably right in not giving the duke reason to accuse them of murder.

“Where is she?” Riana asked.

Her voice was cool, strong, but he didn’t miss the worry.

“They have a two hour head start. They will ride to Chilgoriam Castle.”

She snapped her head in his direction. “That is a day’s ride.”

Bryant nodded. “We cannot risk the duchess catching us before we reach the safety of the castle.”

“You play a dangerous game, knight.”

He laughed. “Aye, Lady. We are well matched.”

Surprise flickered in her eyes. “I will not give you any information until I am certain Siusan is safe.”

Her reply implied she knew something, but would she admit otherwise? Her reaction when they were with the duchess had told him she understood he meant to have her secrets. Had that knowledge given her time to form the reply she believed he wanted?

“We will both benefit, Riana.”

She remained silent, and he hesitated, wanting to speak of what had happened with the duchess. Did she now understand that the consummation had simply been the best ploy to keep the duchess distracted while Sir Dunbar whisked away her sister?

Would she loathe him if she knew how much he’d wanted her, despite the fact the duchess looked on? Even now he grew hard with the memory of how she had ground her mound against his mouth as he devoured her. The way her mouth had closed around his shaft while he sucked her sex had driven him mad. He wouldn’t have cared if the whole world watched while they tasted each other. He shifted in his saddle, his erection suddenly uncomfortable. He had f*cked her only an hour ago, yet he wanted her again.

Deep in the night, Bryant realised Riana had fallen asleep on her horse, and brought his mount up alongside hers. He grasped her waist and pulled her across his thighs. She cried out and fisted his gambeson.

“You are safe,” he whispered into her hair, and cursed his foolishness in not insisting she acquiesce when he’d suggested earlier that she ride with him.

She pushed at his chest in an obvious effort to straighten, but he pulled her trembling body closer.

“I can ride,” she said into his chest.

“Be still,” he growled.

She hesitated, then relaxed in his arms. “How much longer?”

“It is nearly dawn,” he replied. “Four, maybe five hours, yet.”

She snuggled closer and he pulled her cloak more tightly around her. After a moment’s silence, she said, “Mayhap the duchess has not given chase because she is sure my mother will bear a son. If she believes Fyvie Castle will remain hers, she may let us go.”

Bryant didn’t believe the duchess would take such a gamble, and was surprised Riana would be so naïve. But he only replied, “Perhaps,” and breathed deeply of her hair. A hint of vanilla still lingered. He could get lost in that smell. His cock pulsed. If she noticed his arousal—he laughed mentally. In a moment she would be unable to miss his desire. His shaft would be hard as a rock and screaming for attention.

A soft snort brought him up short and he realised Riana had fallen asleep again. Bryant released a slow breath. This would be the longest four hours of his life.





Chapter Fifteen

Emotion tightened Riana’s chest when Chilgoriam Castle came into view in the distance. Fast-moving clouds swung low on the horizon and seemed to skim the round towers that stretched heavenwards. If God himself stepped from the mist onto the battlements, that would be no greater miracle than the fact they had encountered no trouble since leaving Arundel. Was it possible the duchess had truly let her go? Was Chilgoriam Castle now home?

She glanced at Sir Bryant.