Alesone turned, needing to see the confidence in his eyes, the strength that was so much a part of him. “How can you be sure?” she asked, wanting to believe him, wishing a time would come when Comyn’s influence over her life would end.
“My father sent a writ to the Bruce requesting a contingent,” Thomas said, “and my entreaty for my men, who are Knights Templar and traveling with the king.”
“But you said Robert the Bruce is making camp at Slioch?”
“He is, but considering the circumstance, I am confident he will send reinforcements. Though his forces are a two day march away, my men and many of his knights are traveling on horseback. A chance exists that they could arrive before Comyn.”
Hope ignited in her soul. “And if they dinna?”
“Then we will hold off your father’s forces until they do.”
He made it sound so simple, when ’twas anything but. “How?”
“I believe once Comyn’s initial assault fails, believing the king ignorant of his plan, he will order his men to form a blockade.” Satisfaction glinted in his eyes. “While they await our surrender, ’twill give my men and the Bruce’s troops time to reach us.”
Alesone prayed he was right. “What can I do to help?”
“Food stores, water, and whatever else is needed to run the castle must be stockpiled.”
“’Twill be my honor to help prepare.” She paused, humbled by this man. “I thank you.”
His thumb skimmed the curve of her cheek. “Dinna be thanking me so quickly,” he said, his voice tender. “My motives for your safety are driven by more than duty.”
Heat ignited inside. “Are they?”
“Aye.” Thomas drew her against him, pressed his mouth against hers in a slow easy glide that left her breathless. “I find that when I am with you, I can concentrate on naught but the way you feel.”
Her body ached to finish what they’d begun earlier, except he hadna arrived to seduce her, but to warn her of her father’s impending attack. A confrontation that could cost many people lives, including the man she loved.
He raised his head, and his eyes darkened with concern. “Alesone—”
“Make love with me,” she rasped, terrified for his life, desperate for each moment she could share with him.
In the firelight he pressed his brow against hers. “I want you with my every breath, but my father awaits me with his men in the war chamber. I needed to warn you of the situation.”
“I want to help with the planning.”
He nodded. “With your skill as an archer along with knowledge of your father, your presence will be welcome.”
Many men would have dismissed a woman’s presence within a council preparing for war, but Thomas was unlike any man she’d ever met. If she wasna sure that she loved him before, his decision to include her as an equal would have severed any doubt. “I thank you.”
“We should leave, but first.” He caught her mouth in a fierce kiss, all tenderness and seduction of earlier lost.
On a moan she savored his fierceness, demanded more.
Without warning, Thomas whisked her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
“What are you doing?” she gasped. “I thought we were going to—” Hands as tender as restless skimmed along her body, and she arched against his touch while his mouth worshiped the curve of her neck, and then dipped lower. She fought for control as his fingers edged lower, touching, stroking until she fell apart. He caught her cry of release with his kiss, until floating downward, her mind a haze of bliss, she lay back.
Thomas drew her against him as tremors rippled through her body.
“I thought,” she gasped as she fought to calm the rush of emotion. “we had to leave?”
A satisfied smile settled on his mouth. “We do, but I wanted to ensure you thought about me, about what I am going to do to every inch of you before the night is through.”
* * *
The duke guided the discussion at the war meeting of the best way to protect the castle.
