Chapter 1

The inn's great room was dark enough that it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. There were a score or more travelers plus the staff and a few she guessed to be locals. Most were human but a couple of other races were scattered about. It quieted as every gaze turned to see the newcomer.

"Greetings," Lianna nodded at the innkeeper then scanned the room," my name is Lanna Blackstone. There is a band of horde raiding along the road south. If you plan to travel that way you could do a service to yourself and the village by helping to disperse them."

Travel on the new road from Ironforge to Stormwind was usually very peaceful. With little crime and horde activity unheard of the guards from the two cities rarely patrolled the area. It was a surprise to find a raiding party in the area but inattention led to opportunity. Some of the crowd went back to their drinking or gambling. Travelers heading south discussed the threat. Others discussed the novelty of a woman traveling alone dressed in pants and carrying a staff and dagger.

"I'd rather service you," a youth called out. Lianna studied him for a moment. Traveling alone had caused trouble in the past and perhaps it would again today. The speaker was shy of twenty she guessed and was too well dressed for a villager. His clothes showed no signs of the road, so he probably was not a traveler. Most likely he was some local noble's son out to carouse with his friends. The best course was to try to ignore him.

The innkeeper approached her. They had a casual acquaintance because had taken a room here in the past. He had always been courteous but not nosey.

"We have no guard here but there are a couple of local men who may be willing to help. I've sent the stable lad to ask around." He gave a sidelong look at the troublesome youth and warned her quietly, "That is Lord Roundhill's son, Wallen. He is trouble and his father has enough clout around here that he can get away with too much."

She thanked him and scanned the room again. Most avoided her gaze. It had not been her intention to rally defenders. She was much more comfortable minding her own business and keeping a low profile. Under the circumstances neither she nor the travelers could get to Stormwind safely until the raiders were dealt with. The locals had even greater incentive to see the horde on their way. There were a number of scattered farms in the area and a lot of damage could be done in a very short time.

"Let the men go," the lordling spoke up again. "there are better things for you to do here ….me for instance. I'd like to see you out of those clothes and handling MY staff." The chuckling of his friends encouraged him and he stood up and sauntered closer. She had seen his kind before and he was unlikely to give up easily. Everyone present was watching now but no one moved to intervene.

"I'll go," a deep voice broke the tension.

At first all she saw in the corner was a pair of luminous green eyes but as the speaker rose and came forward she got a better look. The worgen was huge. He topped all the men in the room by a hand. His leathers were of high quality and in good condition but had seen use. There was a wicked set of steel blades on his hips. This was no dandy out for amusement.

"Your assistance will be welcome," she told him.

The worgen did not give his name but others quickly offered their services once he led the way. Two of the local hunters arrived with their bows. A merchant traveling south offered a bonus for his guards to clear the road. Two hedge knights hoping for loot were the last who stepped forward. Young Lord Roundhill and his friends were not among the volunteers. They loitered in the yard as mounts were prepared. When Lianna led her gelding out he grabbed the reins.

"I am not finished with you bitch."

"Let go," she warned him. It was unlikely he would press her too much in so public a place. Talk was one thing but using force was another matter altogether. Many of those present were not locals easily cowed by the father.

The worgen quietly rode up beside them. His tall grey stallion was as pale as mist and took an immediate dislike to the young lord. Lianna struggled not to laugh as the lad danced backward to avoid a nasty snap of the horse's teeth. She quickly mounted and ignored a torrent of threats as their group headed south. Returning here for the night would not be an option regardless of what happened on the road south.

"That is an entitled brat who doesn't understand no." The grey stallion fell in beside her gelding as his master spoke. "Be careful if you run into him again. My name is Gabrel."

The name confirmed her suspicions. Though he was not wearing guild colors she had no doubt who he was. A recent trip to Pandaria had led to a brief service with the Deathgate guild. Like all successful groups the veterans loved to recount their lore. There had been many tales of the worgen named Gabrel who wielded dual blades. His prowness in battle was legendary among the members. An officer had once commented in her presence that Gabrel was the warrior all men wanted to emulate and all women wanted to bed. During her service in Pandaria she had never actually seen the legend himself. At first glance he looked capable of living up to the hype.

"Well met Gabrel," she replied, "and thank you for your help."

"It is my pleasure to be of assistance my lady."

"Thank you for the courtesy, sir, but it is just Lianna, I am not noble born."

The rest of the riders were content to let them lead the way. She tried to study her new companion without appearing too obvious. The Deathgate guild had quite a few worgen members but her experience with the race was limited. Some outsiders still harbored prejudices from the days of the curse. Lianna found the worgen quite impressive. They were larger, faster and stronger than humans and very intelligent. Gabrel was far more qualified to lead the party against the raiders than she was. She tried to remember if she had heard his surname while in Pandaria.

"Do you have a plan my lady?" He held her eyes and she felt a little intimidated. Discussing your strategy with someone far more experienced tended to do that.

"There is a small plateau that the road cuts through less than an hour from here. We should let them come to us and I believe that is the spot. If we are outnumbered the ground will be in our favor." He nodded in what she assumed was approval and led her into a discussion of their fellows and how they could be used to the group's advantage. While he was free with his suggestions he was very respectful of her ideas. How unusual in a male she thought. In his position most would have discounted the views of a female regarding anything they considered their territory. Perhaps confidence in his own abilities accounted for that. The plan they agreed on had the hunters on the highest ground where their bows would give them the greatest advantage. The merchant guards and the hedge knights would be responsible for the main body of the fight. That would leave Gabrel himself free to choose the spots that would break the horde or steady their own men.

"You my lady should stay with the bowmen," he held up his hand when she started to speak. "From there you can see where adjustment is needed and help protect them if an enemy gets through our line."

She could see his point. She was not a certainly not a close range fighter. It would be much easier to rap an orc or troll on the head as he tried to climb the steep banks than it would be to stop one at ground level. Through the years she had learned to protect herself but she had no formal arms training.

The skirmish went well. It would be hard to call it more than that. Once confronted with a dedicated force the horde didn't seem eager to press the issue. There had been no fatalities on the alliance side and only a few minor wounds. Those determined to fight had seemed to focus on the worgen. That was a fatal mistake. He was a killing machine and the bodies the hedge knights were looting proved it. The hunters were following the remaining raiders to see they truly left the area and to report the incident to the guard. The others had headed back for town with a promise to send help to dispose of the fallen. Everyone had done their job. Even the lone female in the group had the satisfaction of knocking a couple senseless when they tried to reach the bowmen.

Lianna was tightening the girth on her saddle when Gabrel approached her.

"Since we both seem to be headed south may I accompany you my lady?" She hesitated a moment before answering. Did he think she required his protection? Was he just being friendly? Whatever the reason it would be foolish to turn down the offer. There was no question she would be safer traveling with him and though she didn't care to admit it she had been hoping he would ask. There was an aura about him that aroused her curiosity.

"Of course you may." She mounted and he followed suit. The mood was much lighter with the threat gone and they let the horses set their own pace. Lianna was dying to know more about him but tried to be subtle. His horse seemed a fairly neutral topic. The stallion was not only ghostly pale but had two blue eyes which was very unusual in the local breeds. He was seventeen hands or better and a real beauty. When she asked about him Gabrel explained he had just acquired the horse in Northend. Most who were unfamiliar with the northern tribes thought they only bred shaggy ponies or draft animals. In fact they were producing some spectacular specimens from local mares and imported stallions obtained by trade or battle. The northmen kept them very close and they were very hard to come by.

"So he is a true northblood," Lianna surprised him by using the name the tribes gave the horses. "Does he have a name?"

"Not...yet," Gabrel replied. He was somewhat reluctant to name his mounts. Many had been killed in battle and a name made it harder to lose them. It was a sensitive issue he preferred not to discuss. "Why don't you name him."

It was only impulse that made him suggest it but she seemed eager to accept the challenge. The black gelding she rode was a very nice horse. Clearly a courser rather than a palfrey it further indicated an extensive knowledge of horseflesh.

"Spirit," she replied after a moment's thought. "He looks like a spirit"

"Then Spirit it will be," Gabrel laughed. "He is a good one I think but he has quite an attitude."

"Much like his master I bet." They both laughed at that.

The woman was quite attractive and had a very nice smile. Gabrel had always been partial to dark haired females. Lianna wore hers cut just above the shoulders and it was such a dark brown he had first mistaken it for black. A woman with her neatly tailored clothes, her handsome mount and her educated speech was not commonly found alone on the roads of Azeroth. She had also acquitted herself well when facing the horde raiders.

"But what of you Lianna? Tell me about yourself and how I came to meet you traveling the road to Stormwind."

Trusting other people had never been her strong point. Gabrel had a charming smile and a manner that made her want to confide in him. She was soon divulging much more than she intended. She had grown up on a farm. Since her parents were quite old for children when she was born she was quite young when they died. She was left an only child of fifteen with no relatives closer than cousins. The farm had gone to a male cousin with little interest in her happiness or well being. He had tried to marry her off to a local man several times her age who would take her without a dowery.

"So I took the best horse in stable, it had been my father's, and ran away. After that I did whatever I could. I was lucky in many ways. I never had to resort to stealing though you could argue I was already a horse thief…. or other unsavory occupations. I had gone to school until my parents died so I could read and write. I had to sell the horse and that broke my heart but it supported me until I could find something that would keep me fed." She looked at Gabrel and smiled. "Obviously it is not hiring out as a sellsword."

"There are many less skilled than you who do," he replied. "So just what is it that keeps you mounted on a nice horse and traveling as you please."

Gabrel found himself entranced by both the woman and her story. The guild was always looking for new recruits and she seemed to have great potential. She was smart and a survivor. Convincing himself that was his only interest in her was not working. She was small in stature with a waist he suspected he could put his hands around and a pair of very ample and enticing breasts. The curve of her hips and ass made him want to do things best not dwelled upon.

"I am very organized. At times I manage shipments or purchases for merchants or guilds that need to contract those services. I can also spot a bargain and often turn it to cash. I trade in mounts and cloth and jewels from time to time."

"You've mentioned no man in your life. Does a lover await you in Stormwind."

"A lady never speaks of such intimate details to a stranger," she replied coyly.

"Stranger?!" He mocked being stabbed through the heart. "M'lady, I know you as Lianna, and you know me as Gabrel. We are bound by battle! Strangers we are never going to be again." He grinned at her and she smiled back.

Better be careful with this one she decided. He was all charm and good humor now but she suspected there was much more to the worgen than met the eye. Was he flirting with her? He was undeniably attractive but she was not into one night stands. There had been a handful of lovers in her life but all men she had known for a long time before anything else developed. She also had never strayed outside her race though not from any aversion, just lack of opportunity.

"I don't seem to run across suitable men. They all seem to be married or fools like Lord Roundhill's son."

"He is that," Gabrel agreed, "and it may get him killed despite his lord father."

"I don't know what I did to offend him so," she sighed. It was not the first time she had experienced unwanted attention but Roundhill seemed the vengeful type.

"You ignored him," the worgen replied, "something he is unused to and ill prepared to deal with."

She would never know what made the next words come out.

"Is it the pants? Do they just see a woman in pants and assume she is a slut." She clapped a hand over her mouth and wondered what to do next. That was a totally inappropriate remark to a near stranger.

"I rather think it is what is in the pants. " Gabrel was not inexperienced with women and knew answering the question required some delicacy. He was careful to keep a to keep a straight face and a neutral tone no matter how much he wanted to laugh. "If you were an ugly maid in pants I doubt anyone would notice." They both concentrated on the road in silence for a moment. Lianna made the mistake of glancing at him and he gave her a lop-sided grin that undid them both. They laughed so hard she was not sure either would stay atop their horse.

"Thank your for clearing that up," she replied when she had regained her composure. Maybe he was flirting with her. She did have terrible taste in men. Some had been married and others just bad fits for one reason or another. Bringing out the worst in men like Wallen Roundhill seemed to be a talent but so far she had escaped those confrontations without mishap. From what she had heard while with his guild Gabrel had traveled widely and had probably known many women. For all she knew she might never see him again after they reached Stormwind. The main Deathgate base was in Northend and many guilds were involved in Pandaria. It was unlikely he spent much time in Ironforge or Stormwind.

When he looked at her again the conversation took a very different course.

"Would you consider becoming a member of my guild. I would be honored to serve as your sponsor to Deathgate."

There was a long pause with no reply. When she did not meet his gaze he halted his horse and turned to face her. Deathgate had a stellar reputation and was a resounding success in a range of activities. Those asked to join were usually flattered.

"Usually when I offer an invitation to the guild, I'm either met with a yes or a no. Never silence." There was playfulness in his voice, but there was also some annoyance.

"I have already been a member," she replied, "but only briefly."

When she looked up he was studying her intently. Hoping the subject would not come up had been fruitless. She had been affiliated with several guilds over the last few years. Some lasted longer than others but only one had felt like home. It had broken up over a leadership change and none had felt right since.

"I would have remembered if we had met before," he told her.

"We have never met." Vallianna had served briefly with Deathgate only weeks before. There had been no issues but she had felt out of place and moved on. As she recanted this tale, he listened attentively, and furrowed his brow. If her service had been unsatisfactory he had no doubt he would have heard of it.

"Were you not encouraged to stay?"

"I felt out of place and asked to be released from my pledge of service. The officer in charge of my group passed it on and it was granted. It went well enough and make no mistake, I was very impressed with the guild overall. It just didn't seem the right place for me. I'm not really a serious warrior and I was actually rather lonely." Did she sound like a whining child? He studied her in silence for a time. His guild members were exceptionally talented but they could be clannish. Obviously they missed the potential in new recruits sometimes and he felt this was one of them.

"I cannot fault you for leaving, then. There are times I feel lonely there myself."

Her mouth ran away with her.

"I doubt that. I heard you are quite popular with the ladies."

"Oh really," he gave her that irresistible grin again, "I would not say that. Many complain of wet dog smell after a while." He let the guild issue drop for the time being but he was not ready to take no for an answer.

"We are not going to make Stormwind tonight," Gabrel commented as it began to get dark. As fate would have it they were on the most remote part of the road. "We need to find a place to camp."

Lianna let him choose the spot and started a fire while he tended the horses. Any intelligent traveler carried bedding and provisions for just such an occasion. Pooling their resources produced a decent meal. They could have pushed on but the horses had traveled hard between the village and the site of the fight. There was no need to tire them more or risk injury in the dark.

Neither seemed in a hurry to go to sleep and they relaxed over tea after the meal.

"I've had little contact with worgen, "she told him. "I don't mean to offend but I am curious." For years the only encounters had been with wilders, but since the cure they had become more common. There was clearly a distinction between those who now took their place in society and their forerunners.

"What do you wish to know?"

Like most people she knew the basic story. The worgen came about when night elf druids used spells to assume the form of the wolf ancient Goldrinn. They lost their sanity and became wolf-like forever. Later experiments resulted in the blood curse which could turn individuals bitten by a worgen into worgen. The entire population of Gilneas was turned within a fortnight. A partial cure was eventually found that returned them to sanity but left them in worgen form.

Gabrel took up the tale from there. Whether turned by the curse or born of worgen parents all bred true worgens and the population had increased. They could assume the form of human, worgen or wolf.

"My parents were changed Gilneans," he told her. "I have been worgen from birth. Since the blood curse has been controlled I don't know that we are that different from the other races of Azeroth. So if I bite you tonight you will not become a worgan."

"Do you plan to bite me?" That comment struck her as odd. Surely he was teasing her.

"One never knows, alone with me in the woods, a night of the full moon…." Finally he could no longer hold his laughter at the shocked look on her face. She chided herself for letting him lead her on. The moon wasn't full.

She was even more shocked when he changed from worgen to human. It was that fast. The human was also very handsome. Muscular, with dark hair and bearded, the eyes remained unmistakable. Whether she had expected breaking bones and cries of pain she did not know but it seemed effortless. He let her look for a moment then as easily changed back.

"I am far more wolf than human," he explained. "It is easy to change forms but the human one is not as comfortable. I can maintain it as long as I choose but strong emotions can make staying human a struggle."

"I prefer the wolf." Why did she say that? It was not her business to comment either way. To be honest she was somehow much more comfortable….and attracted to….the wolf. And while he referred to his worgen form with that term she was not sure she had the right to. He stared at her as if she had struck a nerve.

"There are those who do not." He shrugged as if throwing off some bad memory before he continued. "We rarely speak of this, and certainly not to those outside our race….but the curse is still within us. It is still possible to assume the aspect of Goldrinn but to return to sanity is very hard. The druids did it to answer a terrible threat to their people and produce almost unstoppable killers. "

The words were unsettling but the speaker was fascinating. Were they all so …..attractive….alluring….she wasn't sure of the word she wanted.

"It has been a long day," he finally broke the mood. "We should get some sleep."

The horses where checked and watered a final time and they got out their bedrolls.

"It will be very cold tonight, my lady. It would be impolite not to offer to share my blankets."

Was he serious? Did he think she was that easy? She was prepared to be incensed but as soon as she turned to face him, that charming grin totally disarmed her. He didn't seriously think she would say yes did he? The sad part was she half wanted to.

"Thank you but no," she had to smile, "doesn't one of us need to stand watch? We can switch at midnight."

"The horses will alert us," he replied, "and the wolves."

A shiver went up her spine,

"What wolves?"

He took her shoulders in his hands and turned her away from the fire.

"Those wolves."

One shaggy grey shape advanced just enough to be seen but the light glinted off other pairs of eyes. She looked at the horses who seemed unfazed. The stallion actually nickered as if in greeting.

"They won't harm us," he assured her as the pack faded back into the darkness.

"You can talk to them?" Camping alone with a worgen and a pack of wolves was a little disconcerting.

"Yes and no. It's more of an understanding. I smell of their brothers, and they smell of mine. But I also have the smell of man upon me, so it's never more than a...mutual respect." He left it at that. She was highly aware that his hands were still on her shoulders. If he had chosen to pull her closer she wasn't sure she could have resisted.

"You can at least allow me to shield you from the wind. Put your blankets here." He pointed to a spot between his bedding and the fire. "You have my word I will come no closer."

It made sense but she still wasn't sure she liked the idea. Was it him she didn't trust or herself? She grudgingly did as he asked and settled down for the night. Would he change to a wolf and run with the pack once she was asleep? It was not a good time for such thoughts so she huddled in her blankets and tried not to jump at every sound he made behind her.

The night got dreadfully cold. One of those times when you were never warm enough to be fully asleep but too drowsy to do anything about it. At some point she must have dozed off. Her next awareness was of feeling delightfully warm. Her parents had a huge fur on their bed when she was small. It was a rare and wonderful treat to be allowed in the big bed under the fur. That fur, however, was never so heavy nor did it come with hot breath caressing her cheek.

"What are you doing?" she demanded struggling to untangle herself from sleep, bedding and the worgen who was entwined around her with both arms and legs.

"Calm down," he told her, "it was you who crawled into my blankets."

To her shame she saw it was true. Her bedding was still between his and the fire but in the night she had obviously moved toward the warmest spot. He took his time releasing her.

"My body temperature is much higher than a human's," he explained. "At first I was surprised at your forward behavior, but of course, I was happy to share my warmth." That was not all he wanted to share. It had been a struggle between following his desires or his conscience when she first nestled against him. He grinned at her and she glared at him until she finally conceded he had done nothing other than do nothing.

"Thank you," she finally managed to say. "It was an accident and I apologize."

"How disappointing," he replied, "and all the time I thought you couldn't stay away from me." My god he is arrogant! Despite wanting to put him in his place she was still unsettled by waking up in his arms….and how good it had felt.

"I actually thought you were a bedspread," she finally told him. With all the dignity she could muster she gathered her belongings and went to get the horses. By the time she had tended to her personal needs and led Spirit and her gelding, Cinder, back to the campfire he had brewed some tea and had a cold breakfast of bread and cheese ready to eat on the road.

As they saddled the horses his curiosity got the best of him.

"A bed spread?"

"A large furry one," she refused to meet his eyes. She knew her attempt at aloofness would never survive one of his infectious grins.

"I've been called worse," he shrugged.

"We are being followed," Gabrel told her. He did not divulge how he knew this, but brought his horse to a stop in the middle of the road. Lianna tried not to show her concern as he dismounted and she did the same. There was a determined air about him as he spoke.

"Remember the noble from the inn?" She nodded but didn't speak. "I believe it is him and his cronies. There is only one way it will play out. He will give you another chance to submit to him…. "

"Never," she snapped. He nodded his agreement and continued.

"And then he'll seek to teach you a lesson. This could turn ugly very quickly." They moved their horses to the side of the road as the riders approached. There were no settlements or farms nearby. Whatever was to happen they were on their own.

"I suspect you have little experience in one on one combat." Gabrel never took his eyes off their adversaries.

"None," she admitted. Avoiding fights had always seemed the wisest course. There seemed to be no avoiding this one. Fortunately she had never been one to panic easily and the calmness of her companion helped. She had seen Gabrel's skill first hand. What would have happened were he not with her? Now was not the time to dwell on that.

"He will be all flourish and no substance, quick to anger," her companion continued. Use his rage against him. He studies the sword, but he does not live by it and he certainly won't be willing to die by it. I don't think he really wants to kill you….at least not right away. This is what I want you to do." By the time he finished his instructions the riders were upon them.

"If it isn't the bitch and her hound," the lead rider called out. It was indeed Lord Roundhill's son with a different group than his friends from the inn. This was a rougher bunch, local thugs probably, more likely to enjoy some dirty work and less likely to talk. Wallen Roundhill came straight on while the others encircled them.

"We are merely stopping to rest our mounts. Feel free to pass," Gabrel addressed the lordling, but kept his attention on the four other men. Lianna moved away from him as he had instructed. There was a deadly calm about him that should have been a warning but the noble was oblivious to the treat.

"Dismiss your hound. I have no grudge with him." He dismounted and swaggered toward her. "You still owe me for your insolence at the inn. You can start your apology on your knees."

Lianna had her staff in her hand and her heart in her throat but attempted to look confident. She certainly didn't feel that way but this was a time for determined action, not hysterics.

"No offense was intended," she told him. "Just pass on by and we can all forget we ever met."

The young fool was totally focused on her and his men on the conversation. Gabrel was simply waiting and analyzing his foes. The thugs were hard men but he doubted they were trained fighters. Their master clearly thought the math was in his favor and did not take skill and experience into account. He might even think that faced with the odds the worgen would mount his horse and leave her to his mercies.

"The harder you make this the more I am going to make you pay," he warned. "Perhaps I'll let you apologize to my men when I am satisfied."

"I'll take care of his men." Gabrel was now between Lianna and the thugs. The woman had done just as he had told her. The youngster was the least threat so she would distract him while the he dealt with the others. When she had backed away Roundhill had followed her.

"There are four of them dog," the lordling grinned. "Do you really think you can take them all."

"Yes, but it won't be necessary," Gabrel drew his blades. "Two will die and two will run. Two always run. Then I will kill you if the lady has not beaten me to it." The four lackeys finally came to realize where the real danger lay. The worgen was a serious fighter and the look in his eyes said his words were promises not treats. They were also eyeing each other suspiciously.

Lianna stopped backing away.

"Last chance," Gabrel warned. "You can still mount your horses and ride away."

The lordling let his arrogance take control.

"Kill the dog!" he ordered as he ran at the woman who had become a focus of his anger.

It happened just as she had been told it would. Roundhill thought to end the fight quickly. She was just a female after all. The details were a blur but it was as if she could hear Gabrel talking her through the fight. You must be smarter and faster, he had told her. Don't let him close. The longer you evade him the more angry and reckless he will become. He will not want his men to see him tested by a woman and at some point there will be a mistake. Make sure it is his and take advantage of it.

In the end Gabrel was right and wrong. All four rushed him and two died quickly. Two did run, along with Roundhill wounded and disarmed. He clutched his arm and from the angle it looked to be broken. Lianna was pale but neither of them were wounded. There was no doubt the spoiled youth would be even more obsessed with revenge. A broken arm would be impossible to hide and his wrath would now involve his father. The woman needed to be away from here quickly. He could send someone back make sure the Roundhills dealt appropriately with their dead.

"You did well." He told her as he cleaned and sheathed his weapons, "but in the future I would find a different route or travel with a group."

After a moment he realized she was too still and too quiet. Her face was blank and her eyes empty. He had seen that look on the battlefield. It had nothing to do with bravery or gender. Close calls, overwhelming odds, many things could make it happen. With the brave ones it only happened after the fact and though she would deny it, this one was brave.

"Lianna," he put his hand on her staff and she gave him a strange look, "let go."

He set the weapon aside. She was trembling, the adrenaline still coursing through her and the thoughts of what could have happened filling her head.

"Lianna," he grasped her shoulders and for the first time she seemed to hear him. She met his eyes and then she was in his arms, shedding tears of relief as he held her.

"You are fine. It's over. I would never have let him harm you." Right now she just needed a moment to recover. He indulged himself in enjoying the scent and feel of her while she did. She quieted quickly but made no move to draw away. Her closeness left him struggling to control his hands and his cock. His imagination had already run wild.

"You are supposed to be comforting me," she finally broke the silence. He was painfully aware of the erection that came from that comforting.

"I am not going to apologize," he told her. "We have shed blood and banished our enemy. I have a beautiful woman in my arms. The desire to express my passion is only natural."

He expected her to push him away. He was sure he would get a tongue lashing. Instead she looked him in the eyes.

"Yes but where? The middle of the road hardly seems the spot."

Being at a loss for words was new to him. He stared back at her but she only shrugged.

"Get your horse," he ordered.