Marie nodded, appeased by Colyne’s agreement. “We shall travel together, but only if you keep your distance.”
“In the future, I will take naught that you do nae offer freely.”
A grumble of disgust fell from her lips. “As if I would let you touch me again.” But even as she said the words, she knew she’d lied. Her skin still tingled where his fingers had caressed her, and her body ached where he had not. She might as well admit it: when it came to him, she wasn’t immune.
“Are you hungry?”
Thankful he’d changed the subject, she shook her head. “We should keep traveling.” Marie didn’t want the quiet solitude of sharing a meal with him. She needed to keep in mind her upcoming marriage to the Duke of Vocette.
Lightning shattered overhead. Thunder rumbled in its wake. Large drops of rain splattered in the puddles.
Colyne grumbled an oath and held out his hand. “ ’Tis dangerous enough to make our way down this slope when it is dry. This storm has made it worse.” When she hesitated, he caught her fingers and started down the decline toward where a jagged sheet of rock fell straight to the earth, severed by the stream meandering below.
As she started to protest, another blast of thunder shattered nearby. Then it began to pour until she could barely see.
Conceding, she allowed Colyne to guide her around the sharp wall of rock, then down the steep slope. Even with his assistance, she half-fell, half-slid the rest of the way down.
At the bottom, the ground leveled out near the stream. He gestured toward a small cave beneath a shallow overhang. “Let us hope ’twill be large enough for us both.”
Exhausted and thankful for the refuge, Marie climbed over the few rocks necessary and ducked into the opening. The recess was deep enough for the two of them to fit inside.
Barely.
Colyne moved in beside her and her relief fled.
Too aware of him, she tried to shift away.
His mouth twitched with laughter. “Unless you feel like standing outside in this mess, you will be finding nay more room.”
Marie remained silent. There was naught humorous about this situation.
He glanced over. “I promise, you are safe with me.”
Safe. Awareness tingled through her at the roll of his gentle burr. After their last kiss, when he’d cut through her defenses with pathetic ease, doubts lingered if there was anything safe about him. And wedged beneath this layer of rock, snug against his muscled frame, did little to douse her desire.
No, there was naught safe about this situation.
Clothing rustled. “Here.”
She tensed.
Colyne held out an oatcake.
Marie hesitated and then accepted the fare. “My thanks.” She edged toward the cave’s entrance.
“Alesia—”
At the use of her second name, guilt swept her. “I have to—”
The shouts of angry men echoed nearby.
Chapter 7
Asword’s wrath, Renard’s men! Colyne pulled back, cursing as a sharp rock protruding from the cave wall jabbed into his wounded shoulder.
“Who is out there?”
Terror filled Alesia’s eyes as she watched him, and his guilt grew. “A band of knights.” Bedamned, he should have kept alert during their travels. “We must remain hidden until they are gone.”
