“Ah, good.” Liam grinned when the horse trotted up to him. “This is my beastie, Kane.” He patted his nose. “’Tis good to see ye, old friend.”
“He’s gorgeous.” He was clearly well cared for and, interestingly enough, much like his master. “And no more afraid of big wolves than you, even though he should be.”
“He’s faced far greater threats than wolves.” He swung up and held out his hand. “Come on, lass. Kane will get us back faster.”
“Actually, I’d rather walk and enjoy—”
Liam was off Kane so swiftly she had no chance to avoid his grasp when he plunked her on the horse, then swung up behind her.
“You can enjoy the woodland from right here.” His attitude was cockier than ever when he wrapped a strong arm around herwaist and pulled her more firmly back against him. His warm breath fanned her ear. “’Twill be far more enjoyable for us both.”
She closed her eyes to the feel of him at her back. At the frustrating desire that screamed up inside her again. While she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t attracted to him in New Hampshire, this was just ridiculous. Was it all a part of this elusive longing that had her crying for days? That had given her such a strong sense of regret? If so, how did it all fit together? What had happened between them?
The second she realized how much she had melted back against him, she opened her eyes and straightened. “I would’ve been fine walking. I enjoy the exercise.”
Up until arriving at the colonial, she had been religious about jogging. Anything to get her out in whatever woodland she could find. Around nature as much as possible.
“You clearly enjoy activity,” he said so softly she barely caught it. She did, however, catch his thoughts. How much he appreciated her fit form. How much he wanted to run his hand down her thigh at this very moment.
“You better not,” she warned just as softly.
He chuckled but offered no rebuke. Instead, he slowed Kane. “Do you feel them, lass?”
“Feel who?”
“The animals.”
Odd question out of the blue, but okay. “I suppose I do. Always have. Humans too, strangely enough, because....”
She trailed off when she realized what he meant. He wasn’t talking about her uncanny ability to feel what animals and people needed but the actual animals around them.
“What the,” she whispered when she spied more animals than she could count keeping pace with them in the forest. Ahead. Behind. All around them. Not too close, but closeenough. Birds in the trees. Foxes and rabbits. Predator and prey not harming one another when they should.
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“They’re drawn to you.” Liam pulled her back against him again. “Here to protect you, I would say.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond. How to feel anything but thankful and honored. “This happened to Madison, too, didn’t it? Maybe even Riona?”
“Yes.” He went silent for a moment before continuing. “I get the feeling this isn't the first time this has happened to you, either. That you draw animals even more than your sisters. That Riona knew something about that but kept it from you.”
What was he talking about? She was about to reply when everything inside her froze. Turned icy cold.
Moments later, she realized why.
