AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You are a stubborn one,” Mara said, and Reeve cringed. “That’s good. You’ll need it with the likes of this one”—she gave Reeve a jab—“who thinks he’s always right, which doesn’t always let him see the truth of a situation.”
That had everyone throwing in their opinions about Reeve, and the chatter was soon sprinkled with laughter and stories of Reeve’s youth.
Reeve was pleased with the way things were going, his family accepting her into the clan, and with his father and brothers agreeing to keep her secret, he knew the villagers would befriend her as well. With things continuing that way, there was a good chance that Tara could finally be free of that curse, free to care for others without worry, even free to love.
The thought made him feel good, and why shouldn’t it? Tara was a good woman and deserved a good life, deserved to find love. That he helped her to achieve it should make him feel good. It had nothing to do with him caring about her. She had become a friend, and that was that. He wasn’t falling in love with her. The idea was simply foolish.
Then why was it that the thought of anyone else kissing, touching, bedding her, tore at his gut. And why did he ache to spend the whole day with her?
Reeve was relieved that the cottage wasn’t in as much disrepair as he had expected. And from the smile on Tara’s face, she seemed pleased with it. That meant that he could settle her here just a short walk from the keep. He could make certain she was safe and visit her often.
Visit her often?
Whatever was he thinking? That was it; he wasn’t thinking. He’d settle her here and be done with it. Why? Why not pursue the attraction between them? He had all intentions of kissing her again. So why not take it further?
The curse?
The thought infuriated him. That had nothing to do with it. And he was damn well going to make sure that was settled once and for all.
Tara drew Reeve out of his musings when she said, “This is perfect.”
“This suits you?”
She squeezed the hand that she had held, at his insistence, since they had left the keep. He had worried she might slip, and so he had kept a good grip on her, and she had not let go since. He assumed that she hadn’t realized that she had continued to cling to him, and he would make no mention of it, enjoying the feel of her hand in his.
“I love it. I can’t thank you and your family enough.”
He could remind her that she had paid his clan well and owed no thanks, but he had the feeling that her thanks was for giving her a chance at a new life, and no amount of coins could buy that.
“No thanks are necessary,” he said.
“But they are,” she said, and stepped closer and kissed his cheek.
Realizing her own actions, her eyes turned wide, and she quickly retreated from him, yanking her hand free of his.
It was his turn to react without thought, and he did. He reached out, cupped his hand at the back of her neck and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her up against him. Then, without the least bit of hesitation, or concern for the curse, he kissed her.
She struggled for a mere second and then melted in his arms and responded with equal enthusiasm. They were soon lost in the kiss, taking their time, exploring, feeling, enjoying the taste of each other. And when it ended, with great reluctance, they rested brow to brow, Reeve’s hand still cupping the back of her neck.
“We shouldn’t,” she whispered.
“But you liked it,” he murmured.
“As did you.”
“That I did,” he admitted eagerly.
“It’s not safe.”
“True enough, for I want to kiss you again and again and again.”
“No,” she said, trying to pull away.
Reeve wouldn’t let go of her. “Yes, Tara. We will kiss again. I want it, and you want it.”
“I want you safe,” she pleaded.
“I couldn’t be any safer than with you.”
