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For a lean man, he could fill a space, but, then, his shoulders were broad, and he carried himself with such distinction. He was not the type to blend with a crowd, but rather stand out.
And he was magnificent naked.
Her cheeks flamed red. Whatever was the matter with her? Why couldn’t she get him off her mind? This brief time alone could serve her well if she concentrated.
She went to the bed and stretched out, forcing her eyes closed, forcing her mind to quiet, inviting fate in. Soon she was lost in the crackling sounds of the fire, the heat that wafted around her, and the delicious scent of the cooking fish, which had her stomach grumbling. Content, she drifted off into a light slumber.
Trey finished, the air having grown more chilled and forcing him back inside, a place he wasn’t sure he should be at the moment. Bliss was just too tempting, and her beauty wasn’t the only thing that played havoc with his passion. She was strong and confident, and damned if he didn’t find her strange abilities fascinating. She was different, and that difference challenged him.
He entered the cottage with a sense of anticipation though it faded when he saw Bliss asleep on the bed. He walked over to her. She was stretched out in peaceful repose, her arms at her sides. He drew the warm wool blanket up over her and tucked it gently around her, then quickly stepped away.
He busied himself with cooking the fish, though he attended it more than necessary. He had to do something to keep himself busy or else he just might crawl into bed with Bliss and—she wouldn’t remain sleeping for long.
Frustrated, he ran his fingers roughly through his hair and paced in front of the hearth.
He could attempt to convince himself that it was lust, nothing more than pure, simple lust. It was obvious that they were both attracted to each other. Before, when he had stripped naked in front of her, he had seen how she had struggled to keep her eyes focused above his waist. He, however, had no qualms in baring all to her. Or did he hope that she would reciprocate and do the same?
He hunched down and poked at the fish a bit too hard. A morsel of meat fell loose and toppled off the heating stone to be quickly devoured by the flames.
“Be gentle, or there will be nothing left for us.”
Trey jumped up and turned, not having heard Bliss approach, and nearly knocked her over. It was she who reached out and grabbed his arm to steady herself though he was quick to put a hand to her waist.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“A rest, that is all.” She smiled. “Besides, the scent of the fish is much too tempting.”
It wasn’t the fish that he was hungry for though his stomach thought differently, grumbling loudly.
Bliss laughed. “You are just as hungry.”
“That I am,” he said, his thoughts far from the fish.
“Let’s sit in front of the hearth and eat,” Bliss suggested, getting the blanket from the bed. With a quick shove to Trey’s chest to move him aside, she placed the blanket over the rushes on the earth floor in front of the fireplace.
She plopped down and reached her hand up to him. “Join me.”
He did, folding his legs as he lowered himself opposite her. With the slip of his dagger, he carefully removed a portion of the fish, blew on it gently to cool it down, and placed it in Bliss’s hand. He then did the same for himself. He was glad the food filled his mouth, for words escaped him at the moment.
Her simple touch had given him a shock though it wasn’t the touch itself that had surprised, it was the image that assaulted him. It was quick and vivid, so very vivid that it had stunned him. He blamed it on his musings. He had been thinking of nothing else but Bliss. So why wouldn’t he have been struck with an image of them making love. And Lord had it feel good, the silky softness of her body, the eagerness of her touch, the heat of her kiss, the frantic beat of his heart, the swell of his desire, and the love that had radiated between them.
He almost choked on the piece of fish in his mouth.
“Are you all right?” Bliss asked anxiously.
Trey held up his hand while he covered his mouth to clear his throat.
Love.Where had that come from? And yet he had felt it strong and hard, pulsing through them both. It was fantastic and frightening all at once, and damn if he didn’t want to feel it again.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked again.
He lowered his hands. “I’m fine. Piece of fish got stuck.”
She smiled, and he could have sworn he heard a tinkle of laughter. Did she know? Had she seen the same? Had it been her vision he had caught a glimpse of?
“Delicious,” she said with a lick of her lips.
Was she talking about the fish or the vision? Or was he simply going insane?
