Medieval 02 - Forbidden

whose very scent made him harden in a wild rush of blood. But the hungry yearning to hold and be held was as new and unexpected as his lack of memory.
    The surprise that came each time Duncan confronted the depth of his response to Amber was what finally had convinced him that he had never felt such passion for a woman before. Just as the fact that he kept reaching for a sword told him that he had worn one in his unremembered past.
    “Duncan,” Amber whispered.
    “Duncan,” he repeated sardonically. “A dark warrior, am I? But there is no sword at my side,no cold weight of metal to keep me company when danger calls.”
    “Erik—”
    “Aye,” Duncan interrupted. “The all-powerful Erik, who is your protector. The great thane who decreed I would go unarmed for a fortnight, yet still his squire lounges ever within reach of your shout.”
    “Egbert the Lazy?” Amber asked. “Is he still about?”
    “Dozing in the shed. The fowl are quite put out to share their roost.”
    “Turn to face me,” she said, changing the subject. “Let me see to the fit.”
    Slowly Duncan complied.
    Amber tugged at a lace here and there, tucked in a stray fold of cloth, and handed over the beautiful indigo mantle that she had brought through the rain from Stone Ring Keep.
    “For you,” she said.
    Duncan looked down into the golden eyes that watched him with such transparent eagerness to bring him ease.
    “You are very kind to a man with no name, no past, and no future,” he said broodingly.
    “We have been over that many times to no avail. Unless…are you remembering more?”
    “Not in the way you mean. No names. No faces. No deeds. No vows. Yet I feel…I feel that something both grand and dangerous is waiting for me, just beyond my grasp.”
    Amber’s slender hand settled on Duncan’s fist again. She sensed no memories looming from his past, no condensing of the shadow memories that swirled and faded, only to be reborn, taunting and hinting. Everything was as it had been.
    Especially the sensual hunger for her that pervaded Duncan’s being as deeply as the shadows of his lost memory.
    Knowing of Duncan’s need made a curious kind of heat uncurl throughout Amber’s body. It was as though an invisible fire lived in the pit of her stomach, waiting only for the breath of Duncan’s desire to burst into flame.
    Amber told herself that she must lift her hand and not approach Duncan again, but her hand remained where it was, touching him. Such contact was a sweet, subtle drug. The joy it gave her should have terrified her, yet it only lured her even more deeply.
    “Life is both grand and dangerous,” Amber said in a low voice.
    “Is it? I don’t remember.”
    Duncan’s barely restrained emotions lashed through Amber, a seething mixture of frustration, anger, and impatience.
    With an act of will that left Amber aching, she forced herself not to thread her fingers deeply into Duncan’s hair and hold him until pleasure at her caresses overcame all other emotions. Yet she couldn’t prevent herself from touching Duncan just a little.
    So little.
    Just her fingertip tracing the clenched power of his fist.
    “Has it been so bad for you here, then?” Amber whispered unhappily.
    Duncan looked down at the bent head of the girl who had done nothing to earn his anger and much to earn his gratitude. Slowly his fist uncurled. Just as slowly he caught Amber’s right hand in his own. Her body jerked subtly at his touch.
    “Don’t be afraid, golden fairy. I won’t hurt you.”
    “I know.”
    The certainty in Amber’s voice was reflected in her eyes. Duncan was too pleased by her trust to ask why she was so confident. He lifted her hand to his lips for a kiss.
    The sound of Amber’s breath rushing out madeDuncan’s heartbeat speed. He had meant only to kiss her hand, but her response was an irresistible lure. He turned her hand over, cradling it in his palm while his lips found the pulse point of her wrist and brushed it repeatedly.
    When his lips parted and the tip of his tongue traced the fragile blue vein, her heart’s blood visibly raced in response to the caress. Desire arced through Duncan like a bolt from an invisible storm.
    Yet the gentleness of his caress never varied. He remembered too well Amber’s retreat when he had tried a bolder kind of love play.
    “Duncan,” Amber whispered. “I…”
    Her voice vanished as a sensuous shiver took her. Being touched by Duncan under any circumstances was a piercing