That she would do so again.
It was almost a relief when Rhian left, when Saerla heard the guard step into place outside. Only then did she, alone, begin to doubt her choices. Begin to wonder if, when Rory appeared, she should send him away again.
She’d almost determined upon doing just that, had fought her way back to a measure of sanity, when she heard his voice outside the door. His voice, which seemed as changeable as theman himself. Harsh or violent. Cold or rumbling with sweet tenderness.
He dismissed the guard. She heard that clearly even as the door opened. “Ye may go. I will no’ need ye back here tonight.”
What would the guard think? Would he speak of this?
Did she care?
Rory stepped in and stood with his back against the closed panel while they gazed at one another.
And Saerla’s resistance crumbled. All the sanity she’d worked so hard to gain flew away in a rush.
This man. This man, with his bright green eyes and his glossy black hair and his battered body that spoke of pain, with the emotions that fair tore him asunder, had come to her without weapons. Without disguise.
“I ha’ sent the letter wi’ Leith. I do no’ expect him back before morning. Mistress, am I still welcome here the night?”
Ah, so he gave her one last chance to refuse him. This monster who never lent power was laying it squarely in her hands.
She should tell him to go. She should not muddy the waters that lay between them, a barrier as big as the loch that divided the glen.
At this moment, if ever, she should seize her own power.
The concept, though, was an odd one because she’d never felt she owned herself entirely. She’d always followed her sisters, who kindly told her what to do. Her da, in all things. Alasdair, while training for the field.
And when the Visions came—she had no power whatsoever then. They claimed her, used her, and brought both darkness and light.
For Rory MacLeod above all others to offer her autonomy seemed strange. She needed to seize that measure.
So she lifted her chin and met his gaze. Her heart beat in her breast, making its own demand. But she must think clearly on this. Let the light show her what was true.
He was a man and she a woman. Perhaps for this night, in this place, they could be nothing more.
She held out her hand. “I would be pleased for ye to stay.”
He crossed the floor slowly, silently, as if afraid she might startle and change her mind. When he took her in his arms, he did it tenderly, as if he feared she would break.
She knew once he kissed her, she would be lost. So she raised her fingers to his lips and said, “I ha’ one request.”
“Name it and ’tis yours.”
“For this night, we are no’ enemies.”
Light flared in his eyes. “I agree. By God. Saerla, I agree.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed.
Even there, he did not hurry, though she could feel the urgency in his body and see it in his eyes. Laying her down, he leaned above her and gazed into her eyes. It felt as if he searched her, and she could feel all he desired, both of body and mind.
It was she who reached for the front of her gown and began to unlace it. She had not finished before he touched her hands gently and completed the task for her. He still gazed into her eyes when he opened her bodice, and did not break that speaking gaze until he lowered his mouth to her breast.
Saerla had never considered herself a woman of fire—that was Rhian’s provenance—but she felt the flames flare then. Or perhaps it was the coming light, that which lifted her up. Lifted both of them. Rory’s lips seemed to tug upon her very spirit. She wished with a sudden, overwhelming desire to gift it to him. To take his in return.
“Och,” she murmured. “Och, Rory.”
With strong hands, she drew him up, bringing his mouth to hers. She needed to breathe of him, to taste of him. Shestroked his tongue with hers and felt the desire break inside him. Madness. Och, sweet, sweet madness.
He trapped her face between his hands and kissed her. Kissed and kissed her. She broke the contact only to beg that he might remove his clothes, and to wrestle out of her own. Better, much better when he came down upon her then, naked flesh to naked flesh. Heat to heat, and light to light.
