“Do yer people not wonder where ye go when ye come to me, Óengus?” she wondered. “Surely, they must be curious.”
“What I do with what little spare time I have is none of their concern.”
“Is it not, then?”
“’Tis not,” he replied vehemently enough she knew he grew frustrated with what he couldn’t have. Frustrated with the insurmountable walls between them. “’Tis this time betwixt us that makes my days tolerable.”
“Ye should not say such things.” Yet she felt the same. So strongly, she was plagued with guilt. “’Tis wrong.” She shook her head, well aware he stood too close. That the back of his hand grazed hers. Yet she couldn’t seem to put distance between them. “And very dangerous for us both. Especially ye considering—”
“I know the dangers,” he ground out, the distress in his voice unmistakable. “And I couldn’t care less of the danger it puts me in, for I would gladly give my life if I could kiss ye but once. If I could touch ye....”
When he trailed off, his heartache obvious, she could not help but close the distance and wrap her fingers with his for the first time. Feel the texture of his warm weapon-roughened skin. When she did, something she had never felt before curled through her. A whole new kind of heat. An untouchable warmth in her chest.
A blasphemous need to feel more.
It seemed he felt the same because his gaze dropped to their hands. Lingered in surprise before his eyes rose to her faceagain. He shook his head in denial at what he was about to do even as he did it. As he pulled her close, cupped her cheek, and closed his lips over hers.
Rather than pull away, she melted into the sensation. Melted against him until the dream faded, and she woke to Liam kissing her here and now. Yet the feelings he had invoked in that life lingered. Became part of them as he rolled her onto her side facing him, lifted her leg, and slid into her.
He had felt amazing before, but somehow what she experienced now, the untouchable passion between them, mixing that life with this one, made everything feel that much more profound. That much more intense.
As they stared into each other’s eyes and moved, she knew he’d experienced the same dreams. Seen the same things. Remembered how intense it had felt. How willing they both were to break the rules if it meant feeling this. Loving, like they had loved then. Still did now.
It felt like she transcended time. Saw his soul in both lives. Felt how unavoidable this had been from the moment they met then and now. How they would only ever be drawn back together.
Only ever love one another.
They moved together slowly. Relished each and every sensation. Rediscovered one another in a whole new way. Tears leaked from her eyes as everything narrowed down to him. Became something so beautiful that when his eyes went half-mast with pleasure, and she knew he was close, she was right there with him when he locked up inside her and let go.
She bit her lower lip and groaned at the feel of it. How outstanding being with a man like this could actually be. Intimacy with her ex hadn’t felt like this. If anything, it had felt mediocre in comparison.
They fell asleep like that, entangled in each other’s arms, only to wake when a rap came at the door.
“M’lord,” Conall called out. “Ye must wake.”
Liam made sure she was covered with a fur, wrapped another around his waist, and opened the door. “What is it?”
“Word from the northern border.” He kept his eyes strictly on Liam this time. “Aodh’s second-in-command wishes an audience with ye.”
Liam frowned, suspicious. “Why does he not come to me, then? Aodh’s men who were at the siege of Declán and Riona’s castle were already granted safe passage through our kingdom, so he knows I won't attack.”
“Because he dares not leave his land unattended for fear of the enemy attacking,” Conall reported. “Or so he claims.”
“What do our men who spoke with him make of that?” Liam asked. “Is he to be trusted?”
“They think so.” Conall shook his head. “But ye know as well as I ‘tis impossible to know for sure.”
“We need to go,”she said into Liam’s mind, certain of it.“Before we try to save Aodh.”
Liam glanced back at her and hesitated, clearly feeling her certainty before he nodded at Conall. “We will be down soon. Have my horse readied for travel.”
“Our horses,” Shannon corrected. “I’m going too.”
Liam nodded at Conall for him to do as asked and shut the door when his man left. Yet when his gaze found her again, she realized he wouldn’t be so quick to do anything until he was good and ready.
