Home > Work > The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale, #2)
41 " Stupid thing, crying. It changed absolutely nothing about the circumstances, but it made your eyes burn, made your face puffy and blotchy, and gave you a headache. She "
― Melanie Dickerson , The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale, #2)
42 " He lowered his brows at her. “Avelina . . .” Her heart leapt inside her. He called her by her name instead of Lady Dorothea, but his tone had an edge of warning. "
43 " He sat down behind her, then wrapped his arms around hers, pulling her back firmly against his chest. His warmth instantly seeped through her borrowed clothing to her skin. "
44 " Again, she felt his breath against her hair, his voice sending pleasant sensations all through her. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying not to sigh at how pleasant it was. Frau "
45 " REINHART SHOULD NOT be holding this maiden. He should have let someone else hold her and impart the necessary body heat to stop her shaking and get her warm again. She was a servant, and it was improper for him to touch her at all, improper to risk his life to save her from wolves, to spill his own blood for her, and to hold her in his arms and wish with all his heart that . . . what? He was thinking like a fool. The "
46 " As if that pain was worse than finding out she had deceived him. No, the wolves had nothing to do with this pain in his heart, this pain that had kept him awake all night. "
47 " Avelina was staring up at him, waiting. There was such a look of trust and belief on her face. He imagined reaching out and caressing her cheek. "
48 " I tried not to think about him at all . . . but I thought of him constantly.” Her heart seemed to expand like a watered plant as she was finally able to tell the truth about her feelings. “I believed there was so much goodness in him. And I was terrified he would see how much I admired him. It was difficult, forcing myself to turn away from him every time he looked at me. "
49 " And even though this love was painful, it was worth it to remember how the sight of him and the sound of his voice had made her heart beat faster, that feeling of wanting what was best for someone else, even if it broke her own heart. "
50 " He could smell the lavender she used to wash her hair, bringing back the memories of the two times he had held her in his arms. How he longed to hold her again . . . "
51 " I have a question to ask you.” If he were wise, he would not ask. But if Geitbart was going to kill him, it wouldn’t matter anyway. "
52 " There was a long pause. Then she said, “I admired you. Very much. So I tried not to talk to you or look at you. I was afraid you would see how much I admired you.” Her words buoyed him—and twisted the knife in his heart at the same time. As "
53 " He imagined his arm embracing her, pulling her back against his chest, her head resting against him, her temple against his cheek. How good it would feel to turn her face toward him and kiss her. A sharp ache stabbed his chest. "
54 " He could neither love her nor marry her. Besides, she was impertinent and opinionated, two of the very worst traits a woman could have. So why could he not stop thinking that she was the only woman he would ever want? "
55 " she might be worried he would try to kiss her . . . and that she would let him. Avelina "
56 " He scooped her up before she knew what he was doing and placed her in his lap. “Now put your head on my chest. Your chattering teeth will get us killed.” She "
57 " She closed her eyes, breathing deeply of his comforting scent. If only she could be held like this every day, to feel loved by this man she had come to care for even more than her own life. But "
58 " He should stop inhaling the intoxicating lavender of her hair. He should not be holding her. He "
59 " He could control himself. He was not some addle-brained boy of fifteen who would take advantage of any girl who let him. And Avelina probably would not let him anyway. He had to not think about how good she felt in his arms, how trusting she was, how beautiful, and especially how good she smelled. "
60 " He resisted the urge to caress her shoulder . . . her hair . . . her back. He closed his eyes, concentrating on not moving, trying not to think. She "