Though it was not his to take.
Leila did not avert her gaze and the air seemed to heat between them. Fergus felt keenly aware of Leila as a woman. He noted the ripe curve of her lips, the thick luster of her dark hair, the luminosity of her eyes, the sweet curve of her throat. She was tiny compared to him and delicately wrought, but achingly feminine. He had an urge to protect her, even as he was aware of her strength and resolve.
Fergus recognized that it had not been impulse alone, or even a need to do what was right, that had prompted his offer in Jerusalem to hide Leila in their party. She was both resilient and vulnerable, beautiful and strong, mysterious yet open. He had been intrigued by her when he had overheard that conversation, and more so when first he had glimpsed her. She had proven to be an asset to their party more than once, gave much and asked for little, yet as their gazes clung, he wanted to give her more.
Far more.
“Any regrets?” Fergus asked, his own voice husky.
“Only for what can never be,” Leila admitted softly. “I would see my cousin again, but not return to Outremer. I would play with her son, but not risk my own future. I would wed, with my uncle’s blessing, but not to the man he chose.” She blinked quickly and shook her head once more. “I want the impossible, and so I fear that there is only disappointment ahead for me.”
“Nay, not that.” He had his arm around her waist before he realized what he did, and once her soft warmth was against him, he could not pull away.
“What do you see in my future days?” she asked. “Duncan says you can see what will come.”
“Not on command. Only in dreams and glimpses.”
She cast him a quick smile. “Do you lie because you have seen sorrow in my future, or is my future veiled?”
“I would never lie to you, Leila.” He spoke with conviction, because it was true.
“Not even out of kindness?”
“Not even then.”
She looked up at him, and her gaze lingered on his mouth. She ran the tip of her own tongue across her bottom lip, as if she hungered for his touch, then she took a deep breath and dropped her gaze, hiding her thoughts from him.
Fergus felt immediately bereft. “What will you do?” He lifted one hand when she did not reply. “Will you stay here at Haynesdale with Bartholomew and Anna? I know they would welcome you.”
“I pledged to return to Killairic with you and I will keep my word.” A smile touched her lips. “Even though I might well face the wrath of your betrothed.”
“Isobel might not make the conclusion you expect.”
“Then she is a fool,” Leila said hotly and straightened beside him. “For any woman with blood in her veins would desire a man so loyal of heart as you, even if he were not wrought so tall and fine, nor possessed of such valor.”
“Leila!” Fergus protested, surprised by her endorsement. “You know little of me…”
“After eleven months in each other’s company, I know much of you, and all of it has merit.” She looked up at him, her eyes flashing. “I admire you, my lord Fergus. You are the manner of man to whom I should like to pledge my troth.”
Her confession made his heart leap and she must have seen his expression change.
She smiled ruefully. “You need not fear that I will act upon this, or that I will be more than your faithful servant,” she continued more quietly. “But if the lady Isobel fails to see your merit, or dares to doubt your integrity, she will answer to me.”
Fergus smiled at her ferocity, then his smile faded when Leila’s hand landed on his thigh. His entire body went taut and desire rolled through him.
Leila’s voice dropped low and her eyes were so dark as to be fathomless. “And if there is ever any deed you would desire of me, you have only to ask.”
Fergus was honored and might have said as much, but he had no chance. For Leila caught her breath, then stretched up and touched her lips to his. He knew it was intended to be a chaste kiss, perhaps the sole one they would ever exchange, but her caress kindled a new fire within him. He found himself bending closer, unable to resist what she offered so freely. He cupped her nape in his hand and deepened their kiss.
When she opened her mouth to him, surrendering to their embrace, Fergus realized that Leila was not the sole one who wanted the impossible.
* * *
The Crusader’s Vow
Book #4 of the Champions of Saint Euphemia
by Claire Delacroix
Coming in April 2016
Available for pre-order at some portals.
Check Claire’s website for more details!
About the Author
Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance called The Romance of the Rose published under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix. Since then, she has published over fifty novels in a wide variety of sub-genres, including historical romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time-travel romance, women’s fiction, paranormal young adult and fantasy with romantic elements. She has published under the names Claire Delacroix, Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke. The Beauty, part of her successful Bride Quest series of historical romances, was her first title to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. Her books routinely appear on other bestseller lists and have won numerous awards. In 2009, she was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America’s Mentor of the Year Award.
Currently, she writes paranormal romances featuring dragon shape shifter heroes under the name Deborah Cooke. She also writes medieval romances as Claire Delacroix. Deborah lives in Canada with her husband and family, as well as far too many unfinished knitting projects.
Deborah’s Website and Blog
Deborah’s Newsletter
Books by Deborah Cooke
Paranormal Romances
- The Dragonfire Series -
Kiss of Fire
Kiss of Fury
Kiss of Fate
Winter Kiss
Whisper Kiss
Harmonia’s Kiss
Darkfire Kiss
Flashfire
Ember’s Kiss
Kiss of Danger
Kiss of Darkness
Kiss of Destiny
The Dragon Legion Collection
(including “Kiss of Danger”, “Kiss of Darkness” and “Kiss of Destiny”)
Serpent’s Kiss
Firestorm Forever
Paranormal Young Adult
- The Dragon Diaries -
Flying Blind
Winging It
Blazing the Trail
Contemporary Romance
- The Coxwells -
Third Time Lucky
Double Trouble
One More Time
All or Nothing
* * *
Books by Claire Delacroix
Time Travel Romances
Once Upon a Kiss
The Last Highlander
The Moonstone
Love Potion #9
Medieval Romances
- Harlequin Historicals -
The Romance of the Rose
Honeyed Lies
Unicorn Bride
The Sorceress
Roarke’s Folly
Pearl Beyond Price
The Magician’s Quest
Unicorn Vengeance
My Lady’s Champion
Enchanted
My Lady’s Desire
- The Bride Quest I -
The Princess
The Damsel
The Heiress
- The Bride Quest II -
The Countess
The Beauty
The Temptress
- The Rogues of Ravensmuir -
The Rogue
The Scoundrel
The Warrior
- The Jewels of Kinfairlie -
The Beauty Bride
The Rose Red Bride
The Snow White Bride
The Ballad of Rosamunde
- The True Love Brides -
The Renegade’s Heart
The Highlander’s Curse
The Frost Maiden’s Kiss
The Warrior’s Prize
- The Champions of Saint Euphemia -
The Crusader’s Bride
The Crusader’s Heart
The Crusader’s Kiss
The Crusader’s Vow (April 2016)
The Crusader’s Handfast (2016)
Urban Fantasy Romance
- The Prometheus Project -
Fallen
Guardian
Rebel
Abyss
Short Stories and Novellas
An Elegy for Melusine
Beguiled
Audio Editions
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Champions of Saint Euphemia
Copyright
Dear Reader
Sunday, December 6, 1187
Prologue
Saturday, January 16, 1188
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Sunday, January 17, 1188
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Monday, January 18, 1188
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Friday, January 22, 1188
Chapter 12
Saturday, January 23, 1188
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Thursday, March 17, 1188
Chapter 15
Excerpt from THE CRUSADER’S VOW
About the Author
More Books by the Author
The Crusader's Kiss Page 33