“Let us swear it again.”
He dove for her lips. This time he wooed her, his tongue caressing hers in a manner that made her knees go weak. No matter that, for he drew her to him with such strength, her feet left the shingle.
She wanted to remain thus forever. Tasting him. Feeling him.
How long that kiss lasted, she never later knew. An eternity, mayhap. Not long enough.
When her feet again met the ground, she had to clutch hold of him for strength, for orientation. A smile gleamed in his eyes.
“Now,” she breathed unsteadily, “that is a promise.”
“Not to be broken,” he agreed. “Yet we maun discuss the details.”
Were there details? Was there anything in all the world besides standing here with him? Feeling the warmth of him. This inestimable sense of belonging.
He let go of her. But before she could protest, he grasped both her hands. One after the other, he lifted them and dropped kisses into her palms. Planted a kiss at either side of her mouth and on both cheeks in turn. Blessed her with another kiss on her brow.
So beautiful was it, she wanted to weep.
“Stay here, Hulda Elvarsdottir, where I might be near to ye, whatever comes.”
“I will stay with you, Quarrie MacMurtray.”
Always.
Chapter Thirty-Two
When Quarrie rowedHulda back to the island, her men still half hung off the dragon boat, some with weapons in their hands. She waved an arm at them, gesturing them back, her eyes narrowed against the light.
Incredible eyes hers were, pale as the mist and so full of emotions he could not begin to name them. He did not have to. He could feel them in his own heart.
One of the men leaned out from the rear of the vessel and called to Hulda in her own language.
She replied to him in Gaelic. “All is well, Helje.” She turned back to Quarrie and prepared to disembark. “I will have to speak to my crew, make sure they agree. This boat, it is owned by all of us who have a share.”
He studied her, noting the strength in her face and the determination in those clear eyes. “You think they will agree?”
“We spoke of it beforehand, so ja. And you—you must convince your folk.”
“I will have the much harder task, I fear.”
“Be strong.” She did not addfor me, but he heard the words in his mind.
She swarmed aboard the dragon boat and he moved off, still under the stares of her crew. He was growing heartily sick of the oars, but he’d better get used to it, if he wanted to see her.
He did want to see her. More, he wanted her in his life. Part of the weave and weft of it, a mere hand’s reach from him at all times. Whether or not that might be possible, he could not say.
For the life of him, he could not see how he might make it happen.
A number of men waited for him on the shore when he reached the settlement and pulled the small craft in.
Borach, conspicuous among them, asked, “Is all well?”
Hulda’s crew might well have asked the same thing.
“Aye,” Quarrie said shortly. “Summon back the members o’ the council. I ha’ news.”
He must present it to them as such, he told himself as he trudged up to the keep. A decision made, and naught left open to discussion. He was not, in an ordinary way, a man to throw his weight around. Anyone who had followed Da—a force to be reckoned with in his own right—did not. He’d been a good son. An obedient and dutiful one, always in his place and fulfilling the tasks set before him, for the benefit of all.
