She scoffed. “First light? Your entire body is riddled with bruises, not to mention that you almost froze to death. I have seen warriors with fewer injuries never move again.”
Grayish green eyes narrowed on her. He set the goblet aside. “We leave on the morrow. Each day lost is one your father’s life remains in danger.”
Emotion swelled in her throat that he’d risk his life to save her father. Nor could she ignore that since Domhnall Ruadh mac Cormaic, never had another man caught her interest, much less consumed her thoughts, or made her wonder of the taste of his kiss.
After Domhnall, was it possible that he’d come to matter so much to her when they’d known each other but days? Yet the deep grief at thoughts of losing Rónán assured her that however impractical, however improbable, he’dmade her care.
Deeply.
In truth, something about him had drawn her since they’d first met. She’d foolishly believed ’twas his handsomeness, but now she understood ’twas his confidence, his intelligence, and his lack of hesitation as he’d handled the dire situations duringtheir journey.
Most men were intimidated by her self-assurance, her quick wit, but from the first, he’d treated her with respect and handled each issue that’d arisen with gallant command that didn’t undermine herown abilities.
Without her wanting to, he’d come tomatter to her.
Needing distance, she stood.
“Lathir,” he said, his words soft, his eyes dark with sincerity. “Well I know my limitations.”
A desperate laugh twisted in her throat. He spoke of his body’s ability, while she struggled with her need for him. “As I know yours,” she forced out, keeping her voice even, as if her growing feelings toward him hadn’t tossed her off-balance. “With you all but grimacing with every step, if we depart on the morrow, even on horseback, hours out, I worry that I would be hauling you up from where you have tumbled in the snow.”
Amusement glittered in his eyes. “If we ride, I assure you, if I fall unconscious, I willna let go ofthe withers.”
“You canna make such a ridiculous claim.”
“And you,” he said, “dinna know mycapabilities.”
“True. I admit to being pleasantly surprised,” she teased, “that you hadna proven to be a weak warrior as I suspected upon our first meeting, whereI felled you.”
Their friendly banter had strayed to a dangerous topic that had little to do with travel and everything to do with them.
Heshifted closer.
Yearning rippled through her. “Risking your life is naught to make light of. You…” Emotion stormed through her as the words,have become important to me more than ’tis wisespilled into her mind. She stayed them, stunned by what she’d almost revealed.
He paused. “Lathir, I dinna mean to cause you dismay.”
Dismay? As if ’twas so simple. Thoughts of him dying broke her heart, shattered her ability to think coherently. “You are right.” Through sheer will, she kept her voice light. “For all purposes, ’tis best we depart tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
Outlined by the flames in the hearth, Lathir started to turn, and Rónán caughther upper arm.
She pulled back, her expression raw, piercing deep into his ragged soul. “Release me!”
And if he did, he’d be a fool. He eased his grip but didn’t let go. Couldn’t seem to let go.
The lass didn’t understand that as a Knight Templar, he’d suffered many a battle wound yet fought on, faced numerous other challenges that would devastate most. Then, the Brotherhood demanded more of those who swore an oath, not only their body, but their soulpledged to God.
Nor was her concern for him alone. Understandably, she was afraid for her father, and her own life. He needed to reassure her that he well knew his physical limitations.
Although, he grimaced inwardly, his body didn’t seem to be suffering from any ill effects when it came to physical attraction. He may have been weakened by the ordeal, but he wasn’t dead. And her close proximity was having a potenteffect on him.
He shifted to cover the evidence. “I am able to travel. If I held any doubts, I wouldna go. Lathir, I would never place your life in jeopardy.”
Gray eyes narrowed. “I am not concerned about my life, but yours.”
At the sincerity in her eyes, his throat tightened. Never had he experienced such comfort from a woman’s worry. From the start he’d realized she was unique, unlike any lass he’d ever met. However much he tried to keep thoughts of her from his mind, he failed.
