AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tara watched until he was out of sight and then she turned to go into the keep, though she didn’t feel like baking bread anymore.
Chapter 12
Tara woke excited. Reeve should be coming home today. It had been three days since his departure, and she had steadily missed him more each day. And though she ached for his return, she couldn’t say the days had been dreadful. They had actually been quite enjoyable, thanks mostly to Mercy. She had gotten Tara quickly involved in stitching clothes for her unborn babe. Each day, they would spend time in the sewing room, stitching and talking, Mara often joining them.
Mercy also took her on walks through the village, introducing her to those she hadn’t yet met. And she had introduced her to Etty, the keep cook. Once Tara made her black bread, the MacAlpin men clamored for more. Etty liked it herself and asked Tara to show her how to make it.
In a short time, her life had gone from a lonely, solitary existence to one of family and friends and the possibility of falling in love.
Tara reminded herself to remain vigilant, that the curse for some unfathomable reason could just be lying dormant. And when she least expected, it would pop up and inflict suffering.
For now she simply intended to enjoy her new life and pray that it continued.
She grabbed her cloak from the peg as she reached the door, and when she swung it open, she jumped with a yelp. Reeve was standing there though not for long. In a single heartbeat, he snatched her up with an arm around her waist, walked into the cottage, kicking the door shut behind him, and planted a kiss on her that left them both breathless.
He rubbed his cheek to hers, and whispered, “Damn, I missed you.”
His declaration pleased her beyond reason. “I missed you too.”
“How much?” he teased with a twinkle in his dark eyes and a quick brush of his lips across hers.
The faint kiss sent her lips pulsing, and she sighed as she answered, “Very much.”
“Show me,” he murmured, before nibbling along her neck, and his hand slipped to her backside, easing her to fit tight up against him.
She felt him then, hard with desire, and she warned herself to step away, keep her wits about her, wait; wait just a bit longer, or all could be lost.
His lips were at her neck, and, instinctively, she tilted her head back, giving him room to taste. His mouth skimmed the tops of her full breasts, and the shot of desire that raced through her left her momentarily stunned.
His lips once again went to hers, and after feasting like a hungry man, he eased away though he continued to nibble. “You haunted my thoughts the whole time I was gone. I could think of nothing, nothing but you. Damn, woman, you have bewitched me.”
His words were what she needed to stop things from going any further. Was the curse bewitching him? Would she love him only to lose him?
Painful memories quickly surfaced to remind her of how much she had not only suffered, but had been the cause of others’ suffering as well. And she never wanted to go through it again. She had to keep her senses about her and take her time and make sure that loving this man would not cause his death.
Tara tried to ease herself out of his arms, but he would have none of it. The more she tried, the tighter he held her.
“You’re not running from me,” he said adamantly. “We’re going to see where this takes us.”
“Then we’ll go slowly.”
Reeve laughed. “Do you truly think that is possible?”
Tara sighed. “It will be difficult for sure.”
He kissed her quickly and laughed softly. “Then I haunted you in my absence just as much as you did me?”
She chuckled. “You were forever in my thoughts.”
“Tell me about them.”
Heat rushed to Tara’s cheeks, and soon they looked like two shiny apples.
Reeve laughed again, his dark eyes shining bright with joy. “Your thoughts were as wicked as mine.”
She slapped his arm playfully. “You’re not helping matters.”
“Some things are inevitable.”
