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If it were madness, then he might as well enjoy it. He reached out, slipping his hand around the back of her neck, drew her near as he leaned forward, and kissed her.
It was as if an ember that was soon to die was suddenly sparked and set aflame. Heated passion raced through them, turning the kiss more eager than either expected. Trey wanted nothing more than to scoop her up, carry her to bed, and make love to her.
Love.
The word resonated in his head like a tolling bell and was enough for him to end the kiss, though reluctantly. He knew he should say something. You don’t kiss a woman and turn silent afterwards, but words failed him. Besides, what did he say? I believe I could be falling in love with you though we don’t know each other well, and I’m not sure if I can ever love again because, you see, the woman I loved with all my heart died.
He turned his face to the flames, guilt rising to trouble him. He wasn’t even sure what he felt guilty about. Did he feel as if he betrayed the love Leora and he had once shared? Or did he feel guilty for wanting to make love to Bliss?
“You loved her very much, didn’t you?” Bliss asked softly.
He could not deny the truth. “I did. I loved her more than anything.” He shook his head. “You knew I thought about her?”
“Nothing more than a reasonable assumption on my part,” she said. “Also while I was healing you, I felt emptiness within you that only the loss of a love could create. At times it had me fearing that you did not want to live.”
“There were times I didn’t,” he admitted. He turned his head for a moment, the vision of Leora’s death so clear that he could still smell the blood and hear his own raging screams echoing in his head.
“But you knew you were needed here,” she reminded.
“I had a duty to my king, otherwise—” He shook his head. “I would have welcomed death.”
“You would be selfish and die rather than pay homage to such a love by loving again?”
“You think me selfish for loving so strongly?” he asked, annoyed.
“I think you selfish for choosing death over love. Love may hurt, but it also heals, and it never leaves you. It is there with you always, waiting for you to trust in it once again. Are you ready to trust love again?”
He answered honestly. “I don’t know.”
She smiled and nodded. “This is good. You did not say no.”
Surprisingly, he smiled, and it made him feel good, not only the smile but his answer. He hadn’t said no. Hadn’t thought about saying no. Perhaps he was on the verge of trusting love.
A wicked wind suddenly ripped at the cottage, spiking the flames and rattling the door.
“Is that fate knocking?” Trey teased.
“If it is, will you answer it?”
“I believe I already have,” he said leaning close to kiss her gently.
They returned to eating the fish and spoke of love no more, not that they wouldn’t again, but enough was said for the moment. Time was needed to think and sort through what seemed like a maze, at least to Trey.
When they finished eating, they sat in comfortable silence before the fire, Trey wrapping his arm around Bliss and she tucking herself close and resting her head on his shoulder. Both were lost in similar thoughts about each other and love. Could it be possible? Could love have struck them hard and fast? Had fate a hand in it?
Trey rested his cheek to the top of her head. He relished the simple moment with Bliss. It felt right, and he wanted to linger in it. He wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring, but he was ready to explore possibilities. And while he was anxious to take her home, he was also eager to spend time alone with her.
Bliss yawned. “We need to get sleep so that we will be fit to continue our journey.”
He hugged her close before standing and helping her up. “I’ll bed in front of the hearth.”
She laughed. “That’s nonsense. The ground is cold even with the rushes. We’ll share the bed.”
“That might not be a good idea.”
“Would you force yourself on me?”
“Never,” he said as if insulted that she asked.
