The light teasing, without the overtones of secrecy and being rushed that had marked most of their meetings since his return from Crusade, reminded him of when they were younger. Even though he felt a bit ridiculous behaving in a rather juvenile fashion, Robin could not resist maintaining it, enjoying the playfulness.
"I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading something before retiring for the night," he said, as if to himself. "This shall do quite nicely."
Hanging onto her in a way that she could get loose if she actually tried, but hoping to keep her away from the book, he opened it with his free hand and held it out to read aloud. "Marian denied his accusation. 'Even if Gisbourne showed an interest in me, I would not have him,' she declared fervently. 'What can I do to make you believe me?' Inspiration struck then, and she reached for the bodice of her gown--"
He pretended that he was distracted by Marian, but in truth, he could not bring himself to read the next bit aloud. Perhaps back at camp, when Djaq was away, and with another name in place of Marian's. But not to her.