“Were you not warned when you first arrived here that I have eyes and ears everywhere? My menkeep me apprised of all that goes on as well as servants who wish to win favor with me.”
“Another question,” Heather said.
“I thought you were eager to see what was in the room.”
“I am, but as long as I am learning your various secrets tonight, I might as well satisfy my curiosity about another one.”
“And what one would that be?”
“What happened to Glynnis?”
“Now is not the time for that story.”
“Please,” she asked nicely.
“What I tell you is for you only.”
She nodded.
“After the man Glynnis loved died, she attempted to take her life. I found her and saw that she was taken care of and when she healed and had a chance to think of what she had done, she felt ashamed. She did not know how she would face her clan. I offered her a new home where she could make a new start. She agreed and asked that Aggie be sent to join her once she was fully healed. Glynnis and Aggie are both together now and doing well.”
“You are a generous and loving man,” Heather said, a tear peeking from the corner of her eye.
Rhys kissed the single tear away. “Not many would agree with you.” He reached up along the top of the wood door frame and pulled down a key. He unlocked the bolt and the door squeaked as he opened it.
“Wait here,” he said and entered the room, getting swallowed up by darkness.
A light suddenly flickered and grew, and Heather did not wait, she was too eager to see what was inside. She stopped and stared when she entered the room. The room was half full of chests with fine silk cloth spilling out of some while other chests overflowed with fine garments. Gold statues and artfully painted urns sat side by side and large round pillows in bright colors were piled haphazardly on top of one another. Gold candlesticks, almost as tall as her, stood like sentinels near the window.
She walked amidst the items to stand in the middle and take in all she could, though she surely missed something, there was so much to see. Her eyes landed on her husband. “What is all this?”
“Things I collected in the three months I was a free man. Some I purchased myself with the coins I earned for winning my freedom, some were gifted to me for my bravery, and some were gifts from Haidar.” He walked over to her and took her in his arms. “These are all for you, though it is only half of what awaits you at home.”
“They are all truly beautiful. I do not know what to look at first.”
“Look to your heart’s content and if you see anything that you want to look more closely at, I will get it for you.”
Heather drifted out of her husband’s arms and walked around, stopping now and again to touch orlook over the various items, until finally she said, “I found something that catches my eye and I want more than anything.”
Rhys went to her side. “Show me it and it is yours.”
Heather smiled and tapped his chest. “You, I want you. You are worth more to me than all the riches in the world.”
Rhys took her face in his hands. “I do so love you, wife.” He kissed her, intending it to be no more than a light, tender kiss.
Heather would not have it. She did not think, nor did she care that she was still healing. She had missed her husband and the intimacy they shared, and she let him know it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on as if she would never let go, rubbed her body invitingly against his, feeling him grow in strength against her, and kissed him with a hunger that left no doubt what she wanted from him.
Rhys tried to fight it. She was still healing, he reminded himself. He had to get her back into bed, a thought that only fueled his rapidly mounting passion.
Push her away. Send her to her chambers. Take your hands off her. Stop kissing her.
Heather tore her mouth away from his. “Please, please,” she begged, “make love to me.”
“You need to rest,” he argued.
“I need you more.”
“You have not fully healed.” Was he trying to convince her or himself?
