“Outside of him being your husband, I’ll bet this has something to do with why you were drawn to him initially,” Madison said. “I would think dying in a powerful fire together would bond you in ways that aren't healthy.”
“To say the least,” Declán ground out, trying to keep his outrage at a low boil for Riona’s sake. “What sort of husband would do that?”
“A possessive one,” Riona whispered before her eyes met his again. “One who will want me back, but you already knew that.” Her gaze went from the chamber to him. “Planned on it for as long as you’ve been in this castle, thanks to my,our, dreams, and our obvious connection.” Her eyes rounded when she realized. “You built this to withstand a siege. Not only to keep me safe but to make me feel happy despite it. Comfortable when pure hell eventually rained down.” She shook her head. “You just didn’t know hell had a name when you did it.”
He sensed rather than saw Madison and his brothers leave the room to give them privacy.
“So it seems.” He couldn’t keep from cupping her cheek this time. Feeling her silky smooth skin. “Because Iwillkeep you safe, Riona. If ‘tis the very last thing I do. Even if the prophecy says we cannot....”
He trailed off before he said too much. Presumed too much. Made her feel like she had to be with him. That she was destined for him. Such was for her to decide, considering he hadn’t been her husband in their last life.
Yet he had been part of it somehow.
Knew it like he knew nothing else.
Feltit.
“I feel it too,” she whispered and leaned into his touch before, moments later, she blinked and sat up straighter. “I feel other things as well.” She shook her head slowly. “You didn’t sleep with Siobhán.” She narrowed her eyes, seeing things a little too clearly for comfort now. “She tried, but you...couldn’t.”
No, he could not, and that was the last thing he wanted Riona to know, however pleased he might be that she finally believed he hadn’t lain with Siobhán.
Chapter Eleven
RIONA JOINED DECLÁNby the fire, determined to ease his embarrassment over not being able to get an erection with Siobhán because, despite this being agoodthing for them, it spoke to his manhood.
“It’s okay,” she said softly. “Normal with someone like her, I’d think.” She rested a comforting hand on his arm. “These things happen.” A small smile curled her lips. “And I’m not gonna lie. I’m damn glad it happened with Siobhán. That must have irritated her to no end.”
“’Twas not just her.” He braced his hand on the mantle and stared into the flames. “It’s been all women for as long as I can remember.”
That was hard to imagine looking at him. He was so...masculine. Virile. The idea that he couldn’t get it up seemed preposterous. Not at his age, which couldn’t be much older than her. Late twenties, early thirties at the most. What to say? How to handle this?
She supposed by revealing something equally different about herself.
“I’m still a virgin.” She shrugged when he perked a brow at her, clearly finding that hard to believe. While some might be offended, she got it. She wouldn’t strike most as the type. “It’s true. I am.” Then she just carried right on, rambling mostly because she was nervous. “I mean, I’ve enjoyed men every other way you can think of, but something always kept me from going all the way.”
The corner of his mouth inched up ever so slowly. “Me too.”
