Master of Desire by Kinley MacGregor

highlighted the gentle sway of her hips. She looked at him with a dazzling smile, and all his anger at her delay evaporated.
    Until he saw the two trunks following behind her.
    This was ridiculous! The last thing he needed was to have to bring along a supply wagon. He’d always been a man to travel lightly. Get where he was going and quickly return.
    Take only what he needed.
    By all that was holy, he had no intention of slowing them down just so she could bring her entire wardrobe. ’Twas bad enough to keep him waiting, but this…this was ludicrous, and he would be tested no more!
    His anger mounted.
    What did she think this was? A game?
    Well, he would show her he wasn’t one to toy with. He was a man of action. One in control of his destiny and of all those around him. He wouldn’t be made a mockery by a woman.
    â€œWhat did you pack now?” he asked in a deceptively calm voice, crossing the short distance between them.
    â€œOnly the essentials, milord,” she said, looking up at him innocently.
    Simon roared with laughter.
    Draven narrowed his glare on the trunks. “We cannot carry all that. You’ll have to leave it behind.”
    â€œBut, milord—”
    â€œNay, lady, I will not yield on this.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œOne kirtle, one veil, and whatever personal items you require. That is all.” He went to the horse Druce had saddled for her and pulled the saddlebags from it. “Whatever fits in here you may take. Everything else is to be left.”
    She looked incredulous. “My kirtle alone would fill that to overflowing.”
    â€œThis is all you’re allowed.”
    Anger sparked in her eyes. “This is beastly! Would you treat the king thusly?”
    â€œAye, I have, point of fact.” And he had, too, to Henry’s chagrin.
    â€œFine,” she said, taking the saddlebags from his hand. “’Twould serve you right if I stayed behind.”
    Draven was aghast. Only a woman would use that logic! “If you’ll bloody well recall, I didn’t want you to come with us to begin with.”
    â€œDon’t you dare curse at me,” she said defensively. She stood on her tiptoes and stared straight into his eyes.
    Never before had anyone stood up to him and he found it….
    Entertaining, actually, he thought, as some of his ire dissipated. Far more entertaining than he would have thought.
    Why, even Simon cowered beneath the weight of his anger. But not Emily. She stood her ground like a knight armed for battle.
    â€œAnd,” she said, stressing her words. “I’m coming, all right. I’ll not let you deprive me of my adventure. I will enjoy it in spite of you.”
    She lifted her chin up in a final bout of daring and spun away as if her dignity had been greatly abused.
    Her eyes narrowed, she lifted the top of the trunk closest to her and dug through it until she found a dark blue kirtle, matching veil, brush, and comb.
    She made a grand showing of packing her garments. The last two items she picked up between her thumb and first finger, glared at him, then placed them in the saddlebags. She took her time tying the saddlebags closed, then returned them to his hand.
    â€œâ€™Twould seem I am all packed now,” she said. “I do have one question though.”
    This he couldn’t wait to hear. “And that is?”
    â€œWill my maid be allowed to join me or is she to be left behind as well?”
    Though her actions and words amused him, he didn’t dare let her know it. If she thought she had power over him, there was no telling what she might brave, and he didn’t dare run the risk of her actually enraging him past his control.
    â€œMilady, have you no sense to be testing me in this manner?”
    â€œYou will find I have plenty of sense, but I will not be bullied by you or any man for that matter.”
    â€œBullied?” he repeated incredulously. “You think me a