"I dinnae think that would be wise.Ye take the bed, sweeting."
Una planted her hands on her hips."Cormac, please dinnae make me feel guilty by sleeping on the chair.We are both fully grown.We can share with little fuss."
Cormac looked at her, then at the bed, and finally nodded."All right."
Una was so relieved she dived under the covers immediately and turned her back to him.He waited several moments, sighed, blew out the candle, and joined her, careful to keep his distance.
They lay in complete silence, listening to the inn settle and the sound of their own breathing.
Una began to relax.She just needed to wait until Cormac fell asleep and his men settled for the night.Then she could slip out and head east, back to Kyleakin.She had placed her things beside the door for exactly that purpose.
The bed was warm and clean.She waited and waited, but Cormac continued to shift about restlessly.She yawned.Her eyelids began to droop.She would just close them for a moment.
She was fast asleep within minutes.
Cormac waited until her breathing evened out.Only then did he turn toward her.He watched her curled up and sleeping beside him, and made his decision without hesitation.He reached across and gently drew her into his arms, pulling her back against his chest.He felt the restlessness leave him instantly.He breathed in her scent, closed his eyes, and for the second night running fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
***
Chapter 13
The Morning After
Una felt toasty despitethe early morning chill.
Her pillow and mattress were warm and cozy, and she marveled at the feel of it: the clean linen, the softness beneath her, the gentle heat that seemed to wrap around her from every direction at once.She had not slept so well in years.She lay still a moment, eyes closed, simply enjoying it.
Then she became aware that her pillow was breathing.
She stilled completely.
There was a thigh interwoven with hers, heavy and warm, the solid muscle of it pressed against the back of her legs.There was a broad forearm resting across her waist, a large hand curled loosely against her stomach.She could feel the steady rise and fall of breathing at her back, deep and even with sleep, and the faint scratch of stubble at her temple.He smelled of woodsmoke and clean skin and something she had no name for, and his body was curved around hers from shoulder to knee as though he had decided in the night that she required keeping.
Cormac.
She had practically been sleeping sprawled on top of the man.
