A Warrior's Redemption (The Warrior Kind)

I wanted to see her laugh and have her tell me her fears and dreams. I wanted her to like me and want to spend time with me. I wanted her to be in love with me. I stared at the flames morosely; wondering if that could ever be possible.

I wasn't sure yet….oh heck, who was I fooling. I loved her. So what did I do now? What was important was to treat her with gentleness and respect and deny the passion I felt for her at least a little while longer, as I gave her the time she needed to get to know me.

Krista stared out into the darkness of the night. Her breathing was back to normal, but her heart was still doing somersaults within her chest. What had she been thinking? Why had she kissed him back like that?

She didn't look far inside herself for the answer, afraid of what it might be. It was entirely his fault anyway! If he hadn't been so gentle and undemanding with his kiss she wouldn't have responded liked she had.

So what if she was attracted to him, after all that was only natural. He was, she had to admit, one of the most captivating men she had ever met. She had seen many men who may have been more handsome by societal standards, but Roric was all man with nothing left to question, which she found to be more attractive than just another pretty face with a buff body.

Her face flushed again at the admonition of her attraction to him. Not only was he a strong force of nature, but he could be gentle and kind too. He was unlike any man she had ever known before, except for Sebastian. Any other man after the invitation she had given, followed by being slapped by a slave, would have beaten her and likely raped her on the spot. But he hadn't.

It wasn't the first time he had stopped himself from accomplishing his desires either. What was maybe the most alarming thing about him was how he treated her, as if she was something of great value. He acted like he cared for more than just what her body had to offer him. He wanted something more from her. He wanted her heart too.

She shivered reflexively at the truth that she had just stumbled upon. If she let him have her heart any chance she had at freedom would be gone for good. She would be a slave for forever. She stared bitterly out into the night sky. Why did everything have to be so complex? Was this the safe future Sansa had promised her?