At her breathy request, he was lost. Colyne touched her with infinite care, amazed at the feelings she evoked. Would the passion she aroused always be so strong? He found himself believing ’twould be so.
A while later, with her body trembling from release, Colyne lifted himself on his elbows and stared at her.
“Good morning, my lord,” she said.
The husky purr of her words lured him back. He promised himself he’d only take a wee taste of her lips. Colyne leaned closer. Their lips touched. Melded. Heat stormed him and his mind hazed.
With regret, he pulled away. “I must leave to speak with my friend in Glasgow.” Then he made the mistake of glancing down. Beneath him, her breasts pressed against his chest, their bodies merged to where her warmth brushed against his hardness.
Her eyes, warm from their lovemaking, watched him, their invitation clear.
Colyne swallowed hard. “You are making it difficult to leave you.”
After a soft kiss upon his mouth, Alesia leaned back. “Can you not stay a while longer?”
“If possible, I would remain here forever.” He glanced through the grimy window to where the sun slowly rose into the sky and grimaced. He couldna delay his departure further. With a grumble, Colyne sat up, and then retrieved his braies.
She rolled onto her stomach. Naked, she watched him with sinful invitation. “How long will it be until you return?”
He silently lauded his stamina, comparing it to a saint’s as he tugged on his trews. “I should return before midday.”
“Do you think the men searching for us will be in Glasgow?”
“Aye. We have been lucky nae to have crossed paths with them over the past several days.” He resigned himself with one last glance over her tempting body. “Stay within the room until I return.”
Alesia’s mouth softened into a sensual pout. “I will miss you.”
“Aye, you will,” he said, with a boldness she aroused. Her laughter trickled through him, reminding him of all the reasons he wished to remain.
After he’d donned his garb and topped it with his cloak, Colyne gave in to one last kiss, slow and deep, until her hands wove around the back of his neck and she tried to pull him into bed. The chains of his forged mail clinked as he broke free.
She gave a frustrated groan. “You did that on purpose,” she softly accused.
He winked. “Indeed. But I am a man who never starts anything he canna finish.”
A wanton smile on her face, she sat up, her breasts jutting proudly, as if beckoning his return. “You could—”
“I must go,” he interrupted, too familiar with where his tarrying would lead. He shifted the tie of his trews, his teasing leaving more than her frustrated. “Upon my return, we shall finish this . . . discussion.”
“Colyne,” she called when he’d reached the door.
“Aye?”
Her hand slid to cup her breast as her gaze held his. “I shall be waiting.”
He clenched the handle of the door. A sword’s wrath, the lass was a temptress. He’d faced many an adversary on the battlefield with the odds against him. Surely he could resist the lass’s charms until his return. “Stay here,” he ordered. “Do nae go anywhere until my return, nay matter the cause.”
At his reminder of the danger, she lowered her hands and her face paled. “What if you do not return?”
“I will be back.” Even if he had to crawl.
“Be careful.”
Colyne shot her a smile, wanting to ease her worries. “I will.”
A cool breeze greeted him as he stepped from the ramshackle inn. The early morning light exposed the poverty of the streets, the air ripe with dank smells oozing from the crumbling buildings shoved against one another.
Well familiar with the dangers of Glasgow, he made a slow sweep around him. Several people were out, but they kept their gazes averted as they passed. Confident he wasna being watched, he hurried toward a narrow side street.
