She was so beautiful, with her lips all red from his kisses, her hair tumbling around her shoulders and forehead, and her cheeks blushing pink. She made him restless to kiss her again.
But he had to get them out of there before Ruexner came back.
“Turn around,” Valten said, slipping off the bench to kneel beside her.
“What?”
“Turn around so I can try to free your hands.”
Gisela turned so that her back was facing him. This was going to be awkward, given his broken hand, but he couldn’t think of any other way to get them free. The cloth that Ruexner had tied around her wrists was knotted tightly. He set about pulling at the knot with his teeth, trying to loosen it.
Gisela was silent as he chewed on the knotted cloth, pulling and yanking at one side of the knot, then the other.
“I’m sorry you had to come after me again.”
Valten stopped long enough to say, “Stop saying that.” He tugged on the cloth some more, not seeing any progress yet. “I told you, it’s more my fault than yours. Ruexner is my enemy. I should be begging forgiveness from you for allowing him to get within a foot of you.”
She was quiet as he worked on the knot some more. He began to think the knot was loosening ever so slightly, so he got up and, with his back to her on the bench, he began using his fingers to try to pull the knot loose. His hand throbbed so painfully he caught his breath, but he kept working.
“But you were the one who was hurt. You were beaten and pummeled —” Her breath hitched, as if she was starting to cry again.
“Please, don’t cry. It’s nothing that won’t heal. Besides, you’re worth it.”
A sniffle. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I’m sure I can do better than that, if you won’t cry anymore.”
She laughed, sniffed, then drew in a long, deep breath. “All right. I promise not to cry … if you want to say more pleasant things.”
He liked the smile in her voice. He pulled at the knot while he thought. “You have the most beautiful hair, eyes, nose, and especially lips, that I’ve ever seen.”
She sighed. “That’s very pleasant.”
“I like the way you don’t become hysterical in dangerous situations.”
“Thank you.”
“And you are very good with horses.”
“Yes?”
“And you kiss exceptionally.”
“Compared to whom?”
He continued to work hard on the knot, deciding how to phrase this. “Truthfully, you are the first girl I’ve ever kissed.”
“Oh.” She sounded pleased. “And you are the first boy — or man — I’ve ever kissed.”
If he’d been feeling warm and happy before, now he felt downright sunny, like the rays were filling his insides and radiating from every finger and toe.
What foolish things went through a man’s mind when he was contemplating marriage to the most beautiful girl in the world.
He worked harder at the knot, plucking at one side, then the other until, he felt it slipping free. Yes! The cloth fell from her wrists.
She turned and threw her arms around him, and he found himself kissing her lips again. She was so wonderfully eager, it made him groan.
“Sorry,” she said, pulling away, but keeping her soft little hands around his neck, apologizing as if she were to blame for the kiss. “I should untie you first.” She started to get up, then seemed to notice that her ankles were still tied together. She bent and pulled at the knot.
Valten got to his feet and watched her make quick work of her ankle bonds.
“There.” The cloth around her ankles came loose and she tossed it onto the floor.
She stood up and moved behind him. “Oh. Your poor hand.” The splint that Frau Lena had made for him had fallen off in the struggle with Ruexner earlier. Her fingers lightly caressed his throbbing left hand. “You need a healer. Your hand is so swollen and bruised.” She started working at the bonds around his wrists, but her touch was too gentle.
“Don’t worry about my hand. Just get me loose any way you can. Yank on it if you need to.”
“Very well, but I will try not to hurt you.”
“Ruexner will cause much more pain if we don’t escape.”
She pulled harder at the rope around his wrist, her fingers slipping and bumping against his broken bone. The pain was intense, but he’d been living with it for days now. He could endure it better if he was free and Gisela was safe.
Finally, he felt the rope loosen, then Gisela pulled it free.
“Got it!”
Valten turned to face her and she threw her arms around him again. We have to get out of here, his mind told him, but he decided he had enough time for another kiss. And Gisela obviously agreed.
Gisela could hardly believe she was kissing Valten. If it didn’t feel so much more exciting than she’d ever imagined, she might think she was dreaming. But this was too real to be a dream — his warm arms around her, the tenderness in his kiss, the eager way he pulled her in …
Valten pulled away, stared hard at her for a moment, then quickly strode to the only window in the entire room, which seemed to be some kind of storage space.