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Farrow’s eyes fluttered open. “Nic.” He reached for me, keeping the top half of his arm tight against his side and only bending at the elbow as he clutched my arm. His fingers were slippery with blood.
“Dammit.” I clutched his hand tight and cringed. “I was really hoping you’d remain unconscious for this part.”
“What part?” he slurred, only to forget his question when the sound of horse hooves approached. Fast. “What’s that?”
“We’re about to receive company, I’d say.” We both looked over and could make out half a dozen riders charging across the grassy sand toward us, still a distance away but coming in hard and aggressive.
“Oh, hell.” My intuition told me they were not hunters seeking food.
“Nic…” Farrow gripped my hand desperately. “Listen to me. You need to run. Men are coming for us.”
I nodded. “Yes, dear, I see the men coming.” Lifting his fingers to my lips, I kissed them in reassurance. “And don’t worry. I’ll be having a word with them about the proper decorum when it comes to greeting and introducing themselves. Because shooting first before you even find out whether a newcomer is friend or foe is hardly—”
“Nicolette, dammit,” he panted, trying to shove me away and get me to run. “I assure you; these are not friends. They just saw us attempting to enter Far Shore land from Donnelly. So they hate us. And when they catch a look at your tattoo, they’ll turn even more unfriendly. Now, go while you still have a chance to—”
“But if we just explain to them why I’m—”
“Woman, I said run.”
“Oh, whatever.” I rolled my eyes over the macho, male command. “I’m not leaving you here like this. Are you insane?”
“They’ll kill you. I know this type. They cannot be reasoned with. And I’m injured. I can’t—”
“Not for long, you’re not,” I told him. “Just hang on, and I’ll fix that.”
“You’re not listening,” he started, gritting his teeth in supreme frustration.
“Neither are you.” I set my hand gently on his injured shoulder, and even that slight bit of careful contact caused him to grimace and gnash his teeth. “Now, hear me, my love.” Keeping my voice level and calm, I focused on his eyes.
He was beginning to sweat profusely, as the pain was getting to him, but he still managed to meet my gaze through his panting rasps.
“Hold on to me tight,” I instructed. “This might sting.”
“What—”
But he didn’t get to finish the question. I gripped his shoulder hard and simultaneously clutched the arrow’s shaft, yanking it from his flesh as hard and fast as I could.
He arched up his chest, roaring in pain, but the arrow tore free. I held it up for a triumphant moment, a little awed that my ministrations had actually worked. I hadn’t been all that sure I could pull it off. Honestly, I’d been fairly certain I couldn’t.
But I had.
“Incredible.” Still amazed, I shook my head as I flung the bloody shaft aside and returned to Farrow, cupping his face in my hands and smiling down at him encouragingly. “You did great, darling. I’m so proud of you.”
“What the…?” He panted up at me, his eyes glazed with pain but also a horrified kind of awe. “What the hell? Did you just pull a fucking arrow out of me?”
“Yes. And now I’ll make it all better,” I said, wiping beads of sweat away from the side of his face before I leaned in to delicately press my lips to his.
Typically, I caught Farrow off guard whenever I kissed him; he rarely had much of an opportunity to kiss me back. So I was kind of used to him freezing in stupefied surprise whenever our mouths locked. But this time, he must’ve been prepared because almost as soon as our lips came together, his tightened against mine and then he opened for me, seeking with tongue and teeth.
He kissed me as I’d always wanted to be kissed: desperately, passionately, tenderly while still a little bit savagely.
His fingers drove into my hair to clutch my face and his teeth sank into my bottom lip, tasting me. I whimpered in delight and gave back everything I got.
He grunted and pulled me back off him, gazing up at me with a look of acute wonder. Then he gave a low, impressed whistle.
“You’re absolutely insane, princess,” he announced before a dazzling grin lit his face. “But I find it to be quite addictive.”
Happiness burst through me, and I had to smile back, cupping his cheeks in my hands, ready to kiss him again.
