Loved By a Warrior Read online

  “I can do that,” she protested.

  “It’s no trouble.”

  It was more difficult than he had expected though it wasn’t the boot that gave him trouble. It was his own rapidly mounting passion as one hand cradled her calf, and the other worked the boot off. Her calf was toned, though not rock-hard, and his fingers itched to stroke the inviting flesh beneath the wool stocking.

  He moved his hand to take firmer hold of her leg, and his fingertips brushed along the crevice at the back of her knee. The itch to explore farther up along her leg overwhelmed him, as did thoughts of how silky smooth the inside of her thigh must feel.

  Heat built in his loins, and he knew he needed a slap of cold air, frigid cold air.

  With the stubborn boot finally off, he easily rid her of the other one and placed them near the hearth. He planned to leave, let her sleep, not bother with a kiss. A kiss was not a good idea now. And then he looked at her, and he saw his heated desire mirrored in her eyes.

  “Damn,” he mumbled, and sunk down in front of her, his hands gripping the back of her neck. “I need to kiss you.”

  He didn’t wait for a response, her deep lavender eyes had told him what he needed to know. She was as eager for his kiss as he was for hers.

  Their mouths joined in a dance of passionate hunger. They tasted, melded, and lingered, enjoying the feast that nourished their hearts and souls.

  Reeve feared moving his hands from her neck, for if he did, they would surely roam where they should not go . . . at least not yet. In time, though. Definitely in time.

  He eased the kiss to an end and rested his cheek on hers, the heat almost scorching his own heated flesh. That they were on the verge of more than a kiss was obvious, and he knew he had to leave.

  His hands fell away from her, and he stood quickly. “I must go.”

  “Yes,” she urged. “Go.”

  “I’ll return for you for supper.”

  “I’ll be waiting . . . outside.”

  He almost argued that she should stay in the warmth of the cottage until he returned and then thought better of it.

  “Until later,” he said, and turned, hurrying out, not looking back, not wanting to see the passion that had turned her lovely lavender eyes a dark purple and ready to explode with passion.

  Tara was still trying to regain her breath. She had never known a kiss like that. Not even with Rory, whom she had loved beyond reason, had she felt the swell of passion so quickly consume her as she had with Reeve. If Reeve had lingered, she feared she would have surrendered not only to him but to her own carnal need.

  She was playing with danger here, a danger that could devastate not merely her but many. She had time to see if things continued on in a good fashion. Time to make certain no one got hurt. Time to make certain no one would come retrieve her. But if she recklessly continued on in such a selfish fashion, it could prove disastrous.

  Tara dropped back on the pillow and tucked herself beneath the soft green wool blanket. She hadn’t realized how tired she was until her head rested on the pillow, and another yawn escaped. She hadn’t slept enough last night, and she had had a busy day. Whatever did she expect?

  She would close her eyes for a brief nap and be up and waiting outside when Reeve returned. She would not think of the kiss. Her fingers must not have heard her command, for they drifted to her lips, and she thought she felt them pulse.

  Reeve had made her pulse all over. It had trickled through her whole body as he had kissed her. The rhythmic pulse had been like a tingling sensation prickling across every inch of her until her skin had turned to gooseflesh. And she had wanted more, so much more.

  Her fingers drifted from her lips down to her nipples, and she gasped when she felt how rigid they were. She was in trouble, terrible trouble, for she not only wanted Reeve to feast on her lips, she wanted his mouth on her . . .

  She sighed, shaking her head. Stop! You cannot do this. You cannot!

  She repeated her warning silently over and over and over until she finally drifted off to sleep.

  Reeve approached Tara’s cottage with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Both grew when he saw that she wasn’t waiting outside for him. His first thought was that her absence signaled an invitation. She wanted him to come inside, wanted them to continue what they had started.

  “Nonsense,” he warned himself, though he hesitated to knock and open the door when he reached it.

  He shook his head, clearing his wicked thoughts, and gave a tap before slowly opening the door and calling out her name. “Tara?”

  Once inside, the door closed, he realized she hadn’t woken yet. He went over to the bed and saw that she slept soundly. She wasn’t snoring, though a soft continuous sound emanated from her. She was in a deep sleep, and he couldn’t bring himself to wake her.

  He tucked the blanket around her and, with disappointment, left her alone.

  Reeve was quiet at supper, which wasn’t his way. Usually, he joined right in the chatter and the good-natured teasing, but not tonight. Tonight he couldn’t help but watch Duncan and Mercy. They were a perfect match, though Reeve had warned Duncan against falling in love, the four brothers having been raised and trained to place the mission of the true king reclaiming the throne before all else.

  But Mercy had understood, had even placed her own life in danger so that Duncan could do what needed to be done. She had not only trusted him, she had trusted their love. Reeve had often wondered if their being shackled together for a length of time had helped them find that love.

  “If you won’t admit that you’re falling in love, at least admit you’re pining for the woman,” Duncan teased.

  “I’ll admit nothing, but I will beat you senseless,” Reeve said with a smug grin.

  “Now there’s my brother,” Duncan said with a nod. “I thought we had lost him to—”

  “Don’t dare say it,” Reeve warned.

  “Afraid of love?” Bryce asked.

  “Are you?” Reeve shot back.

  “Deathly afraid.” Bryce chuckled.

  “Smart man,” Carmag said.

  “I’m not in love,” Reeve said though it sounded hollow to his own ears.

  “Time will tell,” Mara said with a motherly pat to his arm.

  Reeve rolled his eyes, and begged, “I need a mission. Send me on mission.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Mara said. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

  Reeve didn’t know why he had suddenly asked to be sent on a mission. He truly preferred to remain here, but then perhaps that was why he had to go. He had to learn for himself if he had simply grown accustomed to Tara. That she had been right there in front of him day and night, so what had he expected? Not to have noticed her? Or grow attached to her?

  “A mission,” he begged once more, wanting his chaotic thoughts gone and wanting his sane self back.

  “There’s a message that needs to be delivered,” Carmag said. “It should take no more than two or three days.”

  “I’ll do it,” Reeve said.

  “Are you sure?” Carmag asked. “It isn’t of grave importance.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’ll go.”

  “Let him go,” Mara said. “Maybe he’ll learn something while he’s gone.”

  “I’ll leave at sunrise,” Reeve said, feeling a jolt to his stomach. He had to do this, had to go away if only for a few days. Then why did he suddenly feel like he was deserting Tara?

  Tara woke, and it wasn’t until she peeked outside and saw the sunrise on the horizon that she realized she had slept the night away, her ankle wasn’t swollen, and she was starving. She quickly gathered snow in a bucket and dumped it in the cauldron hanging in the fireplace to heat, after adding another log.

  While the water heated, she put her belongings that Reeve had brought to her the night before, in the chest, though she kept her bone combs. She worked the tangles from her hair, and, with practiced hands, she pinned her ringlets to rest near the top of he
r head, letting a few fall down the front and back.

  She washed her face with the warm water and then slipped on her boots with ease. She grabbed her fur-lined cloak from the peg by the door and walked to the keep.

  Tara felt refreshed and looked forward to the day. She hadn’t looked forward to a day in such a long time. She planned on going to the keep kitchen and see if the cook would allow her to bake bread. Reeve had liked her black bread, and she wanted to bake him some.

  She spotted Reeve before he did her and she stopped, seeing that he was getting ready to mount his horse. Her breath caught, not because he was the handsomest man she had ever seen but because for a moment she believed he belonged to her.

  An insane thought and completely improper, she silently warned herself.

  He saw her and stilled, and so she approached.

  “You are going somewhere?” she asked apprehensively.

  “A mission I must see to.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “Three days at the most,” he said.

  Her hearted thudded in her chest, and words spilled quickly from her lips. “I will miss you.”

  Her heart pounded more wildly when he did not respond and then he reached out, his arm going around her waist to lift and swing her up against him. His lips came down on hers, and he kissed her with such passion that she wanted to cry with joy.

  Her arms slipped around his neck, and she eagerly responded, letting her own desire take flight. And it flew, soared, and reached the heavens. When finally it returned to earth, though with great reluctance on both their parts, their cheeks came to rest against each other.

  Not wanting to, but knowing it was necessary, Tara finally moved away. “Come home safe.”

  “Stay safe,” he said.

  “How can I not? I am in the bosom of your family.”

  He smiled. “I will see you soon.”

  “Promise?” Tara asked, on the verge of tears though fighting them.

  Reeve cupped the back of her neck with his hand and stared into her eyes. “I give you my word. I will always return to you.”

  Please. Please let it be so, she pleaded.

  They kissed again, though briefly, and he mounted his horse and rode off.

  Tara watched until he was out of sight and then she turned to go into the keep, though she didn’t feel like baking bread anymore.

  Chapter 12

  Tara woke excited. Reeve should be coming home today. It had been three days since his departure, and she had steadily missed him more each day. And though she ached for his return, she couldn’t say the days had been dreadful. They had actually been quite enjoyable, thanks mostly to Mercy. She had gotten Tara quickly involved in stitching clothes for her unborn babe. Each day, they would spend time in the sewing room, stitching and talking, Mara often joining them.

  Mercy also took her on walks through the village, introducing her to those she hadn’t yet met. And she had introduced her to Etty, the keep cook. Once Tara made her black bread, the MacAlpin men clamored for more. Etty liked it herself and asked Tara to show her how to make it.

  In a short time, her life had gone from a lonely, solitary existence to one of family and friends and the possibility of falling in love.

  Tara reminded herself to remain vigilant, that the curse for some unfathomable reason could just be lying dormant. And when she least expected, it would pop up and inflict suffering.

  For now she simply intended to enjoy her new life and pray that it continued.

  She grabbed her cloak from the peg as she reached the door, and when she swung it open, she jumped with a yelp. Reeve was standing there though not for long. In a single heartbeat, he snatched her up with an arm around her waist, walked into the cottage, kicking the door shut behind him, and planted a kiss on her that left them both breathless.

  He rubbed his cheek to hers, and whispered, “Damn, I missed you.”

  His declaration pleased her beyond reason. “I missed you too.”

  “How much?” he teased with a twinkle in his dark eyes and a quick brush of his lips across hers.

  The faint kiss sent her lips pulsing, and she sighed as she answered, “Very much.”

  “Show me,” he murmured, before nibbling along her neck, and his hand slipped to her backside, easing her to fit tight up against him.

  She felt him then, hard with desire, and she warned herself to step away, keep her wits about her, wait; wait just a bit longer, or all could be lost.

  His lips were at her neck, and, instinctively, she tilted her head back, giving him room to taste. His mouth skimmed the tops of her full breasts, and the shot of desire that raced through her left her momentarily stunned.

  His lips once again went to hers, and after feasting like a hungry man, he eased away though he continued to nibble. “You haunted my thoughts the whole time I was gone. I could think of nothing, nothing but you. Damn, woman, you have bewitched me.”

  His words were what she needed to stop things from going any further. Was the curse bewitching him? Would she love him only to lose him?

  Painful memories quickly surfaced to remind her of how much she had not only suffered, but had been the cause of others’ suffering as well. And she never wanted to go through it again. She had to keep her senses about her and take her time and make sure that loving this man would not cause his death.

  Tara tried to ease herself out of his arms, but he would have none of it. The more she tried, the tighter he held her.

  “You’re not running from me,” he said adamantly. “We’re going to see where this takes us.”

  “Then we’ll go slowly.”

  Reeve laughed. “Do you truly think that is possible?”

  Tara sighed. “It will be difficult for sure.”

  He kissed her quickly and laughed softly. “Then I haunted you in my absence just as much as you did me?”

  She chuckled. “You were forever in my thoughts.”

  “Tell me about them.”

  Heat rushed to Tara’s cheeks, and soon they looked like two shiny apples.

  Reeve laughed again, his dark eyes shining bright with joy. “Your thoughts were as wicked as mine.”

  She slapped his arm playfully. “You’re not helping matters.”

  “Some things are inevitable.”

  “With time,” she warned.

  “We’ll see.”

  Tara shook her head. “Promise me that—”

  “I will promise nothing,” he said bluntly. “I don’t know what this is between us, but I intend to find out.”

  Tara opened her mouth to further protest, and he took advantage of the moment and kissed her. Not that she minded. While her focus should have been on their discussion, somehow his lips had intrigued her more than his words, and she was aching to kiss him again. So when he did, she welcomed it.

  “No worries of the past or future,” Reeve said after his lips left hers. “We think only about now and see what happens.”

  Tara nodded though she should have objected. She wondered if she should tell him about the origin of the curse, perhaps he would then see the wisdom in going slow. Although it could have the opposite reaction, it could possibly cause him to walk away from her forever, and that would plunge her back into a solitary existence.

  She shuddered at the thought.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She smiled at his demanding concern. He was a bold, strong man with a heroic and loving heart.

  She didn’t answer fast enough, and so he encouraged, “I can handle anything, conquer anything, and I’m always right.”

  This time she laughed and shook her head. “You’ve never been wrong?”

  He grinned proudly. “Never. So, therefore, you should trust me implicitly.”

  “I believe I’ve already done that,” she said, thinking of when he had appeared out of nowhere and so gallantly saved her.

  “You have, and look what has come of it.” His grin grew. “You have a home, and you have me.�
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  Her heart lurched as if it had been shocked. The mere thought of him belonging to her overwhelmed and frightened her all at once. She wanted to linger over his words and what they meant.

  Both their stomachs gurgled simultaneously, and they laughed.

  “We should eat,” he said. “And once I am finished meeting with my father and brothers, we can spend the day together.”

  “I would like that.”

  He nibbled along her lips, stopping only long enough to say, “So would I.”

  They left the cottage and walked hand in hand to the keep.

  The air was biting cold, the sky gray, and the village was just stirring to life.

  “Snow,” Reeve said with a nod.

  “And you are always right,” Tara teased.

  “You’ll see that I am.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “You can rely on it.”

  She smiled, wanting to believe him, needing to believe him, needing to know this risk she took was worth it, worth the possibility of finding love again. “How was your journey?”

  For a moment, she thought she saw concern in his eyes, and she worried. She had hoped when she had so spontaneously decided on this daring action that there would be no repercussions. Her father would assume that she had been dragged off and murdered by the thieves who had stolen her bride price. Had her father discovered the truth? Was he on his way here? And if so, then what?

  Tara realized that Reeve hadn’t answered her, and she asked, “Is something wrong?”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s just that things didn’t go as I expected.” He leaned down and stole a quick kiss. “But it is not for you to worry about.”

  She almost sighed aloud. It had nothing to do with her, nothing at all. If he had discovered the truth, he would have confronted her with it. And then she would have to tell him the whole truth. What would he think of her then?

  “I’m starving,” she said, feeling ravenous.

  “I’ve been remembering that black bread of yours”—he licked his lips—“and I was wondering if—”

  “I baked several loaves yesterday, and as long as your brothers haven’t found them . . .” She shook her head and laughed.

  “We better hurry,” he said, hastening their pace. “They will be up and about soon, and I don’t want to have to lay a beating on them before I eat.”