Wonderful by Jill Barnett

and Thwack did nothing to deserve this,” she said as they neared the inner gate.
    “They disobeyed the rules. They have to be punished.”
    “But it was your bully of a squire who fought with them. He is older and wiser and more experienced. He could have wounded them. They could have had serious injuries.”
    He stopped and leaned against the stone curtain wall. He looked down at her. “Like getting hit in the head with a pot?”
    She did not know when to cease her argument. “They are only boys. Special boys. Do you know where they were found?”
    “Under a rock during a full moon?”
    “It is not an amusing tale, my lord. They were abandoned in the forest. When they were found, they spoke but only single words. They ate raw meat and crawled on the ground, sniffing at it.”
    “I can do nothing about their past.”
    “You can be gentle with them. They need kindness.”
    “And what will happen when they grow up being treated like babes? You think that will help them?” Merrick gave a sardonic laugh. “You do them no favor by coddling them.”
    “And you do by punishing them?”
    “I will do as I think best.” He held his hand out to her. “Come now.”
    She didn’t move, but stood there glaring at him.
    He looked away for a moment. The thought crossed his mind that he might need to have one of the castle blacksmiths make a strong lock for the west tower.
    He counted to ten. When he looked to her again, she had her back to him. Exasperated, he exhaled and closed the short distance between them. “Turn around, Clio.”
    She did not move. It looked as if she were not even breathing.
    He took her by the shoulders and turned her around.
    She glared up at him, her expression all stubborn pride. His gaze left her eyes and moved to her mouth, set in a firm line that said, “I will not let you break me.”
    He had no patience left this day; it had been taxed to his limit. He pulled her against his chest. “You push me too hard. I will not take this from a woman. I will not take this disrespect from you.” He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.
    “Don’t!” She struggled in his embrace, wiggling and squirming while her hands pushing against his chest.
    He swore to himself that he would not force a kiss on her again. He wanted her to come to him of her own free will. He released her and stepped back so swiftly she stumbled. He grabbed her arm to steady her.
    She scowled at him, then gave his hand a pointed look. “Do not touch me.”
    He did not release her this time, but stood there, holding her arm. Their gazes were locked in a battle of wills, and with each second that passed their breath came in short, angry pants.
    She was looking at him as if she expected something, as if she almost wanted him to react.
    “I will not ravish you, Clio.”
    She gave him a long hard look, then raised her chin. “Why not?”
    He stood there, dumbfounded. Surely she hadn’t just asked him that. “What did you say?”
    “I asked you why not?” She planted her fists on her hips in that way she had and added, “Do I not appeal to you, my lord?”
    He drove a hand through his hair and looked away, asking heaven for patience with this woman, which was like asking to find the Holy Grail.
    She stood just inches before him, her chin jutting out and her hands on her hips as if she were not barely half his size.
    There was a challenge in her eyes and she said, “We shall have an interesting marriage if you cannot even bear to consummate it.” She shook her head the way his warhorse did when he reined him in too quickly.
    “Annulments have been granted for such situations,” she foolishly continued, having no idea of the dangerous line she had crossed. “Perhaps ’tis a good thing that you find my looks not to your taste, my lord earl.”
    Her tone was too casual, as if she spoke about something menial, like fleas or firewood or a meal, not about his manhood or something as important to both of them as a blood