It was Pitt and Rhys shouted back to him. “We are good and looking for the way out.”
“I will wait, though not long,” Pitt yelled to him.
“He will send men?” Heather asked.
“If it takes too long for us to find our way out of here, then warriors will start dropping through the hole.”
“Then we should hurry and save them the fall. Besides, I need to touch every inch of you to make certain you are unharmed.”
Damn if he did not grow aroused at the thought of her doing just that and he reached out and grabbed her arm just as she took a step away. She gasped and shut her eyes against the pain, and he got angry at himself and her. “You are not being truthful with me. Your shoulder suffered worse than you told me.”
“It truly is not that bad. It is the thought of you ordering me to rest that proves more painful and has me holding my tongue.”
Rhys stepped closer to her and dusted dirt from her braid, his fingertips grazing her breasts, which of course stirred his arousal even more and flared his annoyance.
Heather laid a hand on his chest and hurried to speak before he could. “Believe me, Rhys, I am fine. I would not lie to you about that.”
He placed his hand over hers. “I will have your word on that, wife.”
“You have my word.”
He gave her a quick kiss, not trusting himself to linger. “Good, then let us find our way out of here so you can find out for yourself if I suffered any wounds.” She smiled and he took her hand, then grabbed the torch from the sconce. “Follow close behind me.”
They made their way along a brief narrow passage that led out of the room to wood stairs.
Rhys turned to Heather and said, “Wait here until I see if the stairs hold.”
Heather waited and watched as her husband took the stairs slowly and disappeared beyond the curve, leaving her in complete darkness. It was not long before light filtered around the curve and Rhys returned.
“One of the steps not far from the bottom has rotted away and a few creak loudly so be careful, tread lightly.”
Heather followed behind him, his pace slow and cautious.
“Wait here,” he said just before he came to a stop, and she did as he said. He extended his leg, clearing three steps at once, then he placed the torch in a sconce on the stone wall. He turned and reached his hands out to her. “Jump.”
She did not hesitate; she jumped into his arms. He caught her around the waist, holding her firm as he swung her away from the steps and lowered her to her feet. Her hands rested on his forearms and she gave them a squeeze and she did not know why, but she felt the urge to tell him, “I love you, Rhys.”
He stilled, suddenly unable to move.
“Whether you ever love me or not, does not matter. I will love you always,” she said and kissed his cheek softly.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“That is not an answer,” he argued.
“But it is. Why would I not love you? There is nothing to stop me from loving you.” She squeezed his arms again. “And there is nothing to stop you from loving me.”
“You ask too?—”
She hurried to press her fingers to his lips, forcing him to be silent. “I ask nothing of you. Simply give whatever you wish to me as I will to you. I love you and nothing is ever going to change that.”
He brushed her hand aside. “We will see.”
He turned and reminded, “Stay close.”
One day. One day,she thought as she followed along,he will tell me he loves me.
