"I tried, but ye threatened me with death if I didn't satisfy ye, ye lusty wench."
Una blushed deeply, remembering she had in fact threatened to gut him in the heat of passion.
"I was not in a position to make sound judgments by the third time and ye knew it!"
"I'll remember to deny ye from now on."
"Ye are an inconsiderate, selfish, insatiable—"
"Husband," he supplied.
"Menace," she finished.
"Husband," he said again, and the warmth in it was so unguarded that she lost the rest of her train of thought entirely.
She closed her mouth.He moved toward her and kissed her gently on the lips.His breath smelled of mint.
Una could not help but grin at him.
"Stay there," he said, and kissed her forehead on his way past."I'll not be long."
***
SHE HEARD THE DOORopen and close, heard his voice low in the corridor.
She was still thinking about it when Cormac returned.
"Up," he said.
She stood, and then the room tilted as he scooped her up and carried her out the door.
"Where are we going?"
"'Tis a surprise."
***
THE SCULLERY WAS WARM.Someone had already filled the large tub with hot water, steam rising from it, carrying the faint scent of lavender and something herbal.
Cormac set her on her feet beside it."Chamomile and yarrow," he said."Maisie's suggestion."
"Ye asked Maisie?"
"She offered.She has apparently done this before.For newlywed women."
The blush started at Una's chest and moved upward to her face."She knows I'm sore from coupling?"she asked faintly.
"The whole inn knows it," Cormac replied."Ye were not quiet."
"Neither were ye!"
"No," he agreed, untroubled.He reached for her shift and she caught his hands.
"I can undress myself."
"I ken it, but I enjoy doing it for ye."He waited.
She looked at him, then sighed.Cormac lifted the shift over her head and helped her into the bath.The hot water met her skin and she sank into it and let out a long involuntary groan of relief.
