“Dinna you say such,” she said with all the ferocity she felt. “I’ll no let anything happen to you out here. I’ll get you to Rowan Cottage as I promised, and the witch will heal you. Yer no going to die.”
“All the same,” he countered, “I’d have you use that name when you speak of me.”
“Toyou,” she corrected. “If it makes you happy, I’ll use that name when I speaktoyou.”
Speakingofhim would imply he was gone, and just the thought of that made it hard to catch her breath.
“Say it.” He clamped his fingers around her wrist, pulling her closer, his eyes bright with the fever, holding her gaze. “I’d hear it from you now.”
“Hall,” she whispered, and then once more, louder. “Hall.”
His hand dropped from her wrist and he smiled. The expression that had once before sent tingles of excitement rippling through her had exactly the same effect this time.
What a fool she was, allowing herself to get all bothered over the crazed rantings of a fevered man. It wasn’t as though he’d chosen to be here with her now. He traveled with her out of necessity.
And yet... the kiss he’d stolen in the Tinkler camp burned on her lips as if he’d placed it there only minutes before.
She lightly pressed her fingers to his cheek. Only to check his temperature, she assured herself. Certainly not because the smile lingering on his lips compelled her to make such contact.
No sign of the fever remained on his cool, whisker-stubbled skin.
“Is there anything I can get you? Anything you want?”
His eyes opened slowly to her question, revealing two mesmerizing blue pools filled with a heat that had nothing to do with the recently departed fever.
“Yes,” he answered, his hand rising up to rest over hers against his cheek. “I’m hungry.”
So was she, but her hunger had nothing to do with food.
WITH THE JEWELSproperly placed to hold back the evil in his wound, Hall’s strength returned in a rush. And with it came a new companion. Desire, hot and heavy, flooded his loins.
Having Brie hovering so close to him, her palm cupping his cheek, all he could think of was kissing her. Tasting those perfect lips until they were swollen under his touch. Feeling her body close to his, her skin next to his.
No good at all could come of this. He’d be lucky to live out the week, and even if he did, what had he to offer any woman?
Despite all reason, he felt himself powerless to stop the wheel from turning. The tapestry had been woven and it was beyond his power to change what was to be.
With a hand to the back of her head, he slowly pulled her toward him, waiting for some sign of resistance in her expression.
None came.
Her mouth opened as if she might speak, but she made no sound. He leaned into her, pressing his lips to hers.
No hard, fast, spur-of-the-moment kiss like their last one. No, this time he meant it to be slow and gentle. This time he meant them both to enjoy it.
His tongue explored the soft contours of her mouth, and her body molded against his. His spirit soared with her eager response. He wrapped his arms around her and, without breaking their kiss, rolled her onto her back, careful to support himself on his good arm to keep from crushing her under his full weight.
She moaned and twined her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair and rubbing them against his scalp.
By the Norns, but her touch drove him wild!
He broke the kiss to trail his lips down the length of her neck as his fingers fumbled to part the cloth at her bodice. Caressed by the cold air, her soft skin erupted in small bumps, and she shivered.
Need consumed him. He wanted this woman in his arms more than he could ever remember wanting anyone before.
When he settled his mouth over one perfectly budded breast, she sucked in her breath and he looked up to find her staring at him, her eyes reflecting the desire he felt coursing through his body.
Outside, thunder rumbled and lightning crackled in a nonstop performance, casting a brilliant glow across the velvety night sky.
