"We're only taking one horse?" Anna frowned as she pulled her cape tightly around her. "Where's the logic in that?"
The creature snorted wildly, mimicking her disgruntled tone and Marcus gave him a firm pat of reassurance.
"That's where you're wrong." He expected her to question his decision. In fact, he'd been looking forward to the opportunity of sparring words with her. "It is entirely logical. Firstly, with the intimacy of the act, people will assume there is an attachment between us." He couldn't resist the urge to tease her. "It will save me the trouble of kissing you."
"And save me the trouble of slapping you again." She huffed as she stuck her nose in the air. But his attention was captured by the way her turquoise-blue eyes twinkled in the darkness.
"Don't underestimate the power anger plays in the igniting of one's desire." He suppressed a snigger. "I've known many amorous interludes begin with heated words or a sharp slap."
"Well, you'll find nothing contradictory about me." She shook her head and sighed. "If I'm angry you will know it. If passion burns in my chest, you can be certain it has nothing to do with your overbearing manner."
Marcus could spend every hour of the day bantering with her. She really was entertaining company, although she was wrong in her assessment. Everything about her posed an interesting contradiction. On one hand, she conveyed a strong, forthright approach. Yet there were many secrets buried beneath her open countenance. At times, she appeared as innocent as a girl making her debut. So much so, he found it hard to image her working in a house of ill repute.
One thing was certain. Marcus would enjoy unravelling the conflicting threads of her character.
He cleared his throat as he tried to maintain a serious tone. "I hate to mention it, but you did agree to follow my command. We are to be on a reconnaissance mission and as such whatever we do tonight we do for king and country."
She gave a loud tut, a frustrated sound of surrender. Perhaps he would use the same line again as he wondered how far she would go in her duty to the Crown.
Anna folded her arms across her chest. "You implied there was another logical reason for riding out together? I assume it's a little more practical."
"Of course. If we need to escape quickly, for whatever reason, I cannot take the risk of you falling behind." He winced when he said it as her expression darkened. "This way we'll be together whatever happens."
"I don't know whether to be furious or flattered by your concern."
"Be flattered," he said nonchalantly. "Normally, I wouldn't give the matter much thought."
"That's a lie," she said, her face suddenly brightening as though she'd pricked him with the tip of her sabre because he'd been too slow to parry. "You told Tristan you've never lost a man."
Damn the woman.
He'd never admit it, but he feared she was too quick-witted for him.
Marcus ran his tongue over his bottom lip while he attempted to make a speedy recovery. "Judging by your curvaceous figure, I think it's fair to say you're no man."
She sighed again. "I'm not going to bother answering. At this rate, we will still be standing in the stable yard come morning. Perhaps we should be on our way."
"My thoughts exactly." Without another word he settled his hands on her narrow waist, ignoring her shriek as he hoisted her up onto the saddle. Climbing up behind her, he dug in his heels before she could protest further.
Now that he'd shuffled closer, and she'd been forced to snuggle into him to provide better stability whilst perched sideways on his saddle, he acknowledged that he hadn't been entirely honest with her.
There had been a third reason behind his decision to take only one horse.
It was a test — to see if his body could withstand the temptation of being pressed so closely against her. He had done it to see how she would react to his touch; whether he stood even the remotest chance of indulging his passion for her.
What was so damn frustrating was that she appeared impervious to the heat radiating from him, indifferent to the feel of his throbbing cock pressed against her hip. With her back rigid, her breathing calm and even, it made not a jot of difference to her steely composure.
His body, on the other hand, roared like a blasted inferno.
Sitting nestled between his thighs, she stared out at the passing countryside, which on a sunny day would not have been so surprising. Now the sun had set, the rolling fields and woodland looked like dull grey shadows beneath the inky sky. There was certainly nothing fascinating about the view. And with the chill in the air, he would have expected her to snuggle closer to his chest.
All was not lost, however.
After climbing down and tying the horse to the post in the village, Marcus offered his hand to her. She gave a curt nod: permission for him to touch her again and lower her to the ground. He did so slowly, letting her slide down the full length of his body, so close he could feel her sweet breath against his cheek.
Anna inhaled deeply, and he felt a shiver run through her.
It took a tremendous amount of effort not to jump up and punch the air. The fact she may desire him coupled with the illicit thoughts running through his head were almost his undoing.