AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She gave him a playful shove. “Wait, you’ll get tired of being stuck here with me soon enough.”
He gave her a gentle kiss. “I will never grow tired of you. I dare say we will have our battles at times, though never ever will I feel stuck with you. Besides, I can’t live without that delicious bread you bake.”
She gave him another playful shove, and, laughing, they got out of bed and dressed, and Tara got busy fixing them breakfast.
Reeve grabbed his cloak off the peg. “I’ll be right back.” He stopped before opening the door and glanced at the two buckets of water by the hearth. “You went out in the snow this morning?”
“Briefly,” she said. “You must remember that I am used to doing things on my own. There were none who extended a helping hand to me.”
“That is no more. You have me now, and you have a family to help you.”
Her smile was hesitant, as if she wanted to believe him, but uncertain if she should. He knew he couldn’t force her to believe that he spoke the truth. She would need to learn it on her own.
“Do you need more snow?” he asked.
“Not at the moment,” she said. “Be careful, the wind and snow blind.”
He threw his hood over his head. “Fear not. The weather knows better than to torment me.”
His dramatic exit left her laughing.
Later in the day, with the wind and snow picking up in intensity, they stripped and climbed beneath the bedcovers and made love. They took their time exploring each other, and Tara allowed her inquisitiveness to take control. Soon she was kissing and tasting places on Reeve she had only dreamed of doing.
It was a lazy play of teases and taunts until they finally joined as one to finish in exploding bursts of pleasure. Afterwards, she lay in his arms, and when reason finally returned, they began to talk.
“Do you think we will need to remain here long?” she asked.
“God, I hope so.”
She smiled, for she felt the same, but there was his duty to consider. “What of your missions?”
“Presently, all parties are settled in for the winter, making plans, seeking direction, and continuing to choose sides.”
“And waiting for the true king to make himself known,” she said.
“He’ll show himself when the time is right.”
“You have met the true king?” she asked surprised. “I had begun to wonder if he was a myth the people created to give them hope.”
“He’s no myth. He is a man born and bred of strong conviction, honor, and distinction.”
“You sound as if you know the true king well?”
“Well enough to know he is a good man who will serve his country and people fairly.”
“You sound honored to serve him.”
“I am,” he admitted, “but enough about the king. There will be time for me to deal with that soon enough. I presently only have thoughts of you.”
“And I will see that it stays that way.”
“How?”
She slipped her hand along his leg and began to stroke him.
Later that night, Tara sat by the hearth in the lone wool nightdress that the women had packed for her. Reeve slept soundly in bed, snoring lightly. It was a scene she would have never imagined possible only a few months ago. She had thought death was just a matter of time after her father had explained that he had made arrangements for her to wed King Kenneth. She had never expected to be rescued, let alone fall in love. But how did she protect the man she loved from the curse. She wondered why the curse had yet to claim Reeve but had come to the conclusion that it was because he had yet to claim aloud his love. Rory had claimed his love for her and had died before they had exchanged vows. And no love was involved when it came to her second husband. It was when they exchanged vows that he also died. The curse brought suffering and death to anyone who loved or wed her.
So, as much as she wanted to wed Reeve, she couldn’t, for exchanging vows would surely kill him. Bliss had told her torememberwhen it came to the curse, but what was it that she was supposed to remember?
