Page 28 of Bound to a Warrior
“If there’s time,” she said agreeably.
“There’ll be time.”
He sounded so confident she had to ask, “How do you know that?”
“You admitted that you have no one and no place to go. You will remain with my people where you will be safe and where I will be able to teach you to swim.”
Mercy didn’t argue. If there was one thing her mother had taught her it was not to challenge when it would do no good. Simply allow the person to think you agree and proceed as you wish when the time comes. As much as she wouldn’t mind accepting Duncan’s offer, she knew that eventually she would have to take her leave.
“You will like my home. There are good people there and you will find it a good place to settle.”
“I did not think you would want me around after being shackled to me for so long,” she said teasingly as she tore off a hunk of bread and handed it to him.
He took the bread and grinned. “We will be shackled no more. We will be free of each other, never having to be tied to one another again.”
Had his grin faltered and his words lost enthusiasm, or had she merely imagined it? And had she felt her own smile fade and a shiver run through her when she realized that there would be no reason for them to spend every moment together? Was that truly sorrow she felt? Did the thought of not being with him disturb her so much? Whatever was the matter with her?
“It’s been a long day,” he said. “We should eat and sleep so that we can get an early start in the morning.”
She nodded, and though not as hungry as she first thought, she nibbled at the food. Conversation was sparse, but then they both seemed more focused on their meal than anything else. And when finally they finished, the remaining food stored in the sack, they settled on the pallet beneath the lone blanket.
While exhaustion washed over her, Mercy found it difficult to sleep. She blamed her chaotic thoughts for keeping her up, though she wondered more if it was a single thought that crept in, nudged hard and demanded attention.
The kiss.
Why couldn’t she stop thinking about Duncan kissing her? Sure, she had never been kissed and was curious, but that didn’t mean she had to obsess about it. Her mother had warned her to remain pure, insisting that then they could find a man who would pay dearly to have her as his own. Then Mercy would never have to worry.
Mercy hadn’t quite seen it as her mother had. Being a mistress to a wealthy and powerful man didn’t guarantee a woman anything. It certainly hadn’t proved beneficial for her grandmother, and as for her mother? Her mother’s scheming helped do her in, but it also made Mercy realize that her father cared naught for her. How could he when he had ordered her death?
The heartbreaking thought had her cuddling closer to Duncan and when his arms tightened around her, she snuggled her face to his chest. She had no doubt she was safe with this man, or that she felt a certain comfort with him. And she couldn’t deny her attraction to him, or her desire to taste his kiss.
She wondered what it would feel like. Would it intoxicate her into wanting more? Or would it disappoint her? No, she didn’t believe that would be the way of it. Certainly, his kiss would steal her breath away, not to mention her senses.
What foolishness!
Mercy almost jumped, so startled was she by her mother’s clear voice in her head. While her mother insisted she remain pure, she also insisted that she didn’t remain ignorant of pleasing a man. A kiss her mother had taught her was meant to lure a man, make him want more and do anything for that kiss.
Mercy recalled asking that if she was to remain virginal to kisses, how would she ever know how to lure a man with one?
“You respond,” her mother had snapped sharply. “Tentatively at first as if unsure and then you taste and you don’t stop. You let him feel your eagerness. You press against him, touch him, make him feel how your body aches for his, but”—she had stopped and shook a finger at Mercy—“you always, always remain in control. Never lose yourself to the kiss, for then you will surely be lost.”
While Mercy had listened to her mother’s warning, she couldn’t help but wonder how it would truly feel to lose herself in a kiss. And she wondered if she would get lost in Duncan’s kiss.
Kiss him and be done with it so it plagues you no more.
Yes, that would be her mother’s advice. It was after all the edict she lived by.
Be done with it.
Her mother never tarried over thoughts or decisions, once done that was it and no more time was to be wasted on it. But this time Mercy didn’t want to hurry. She found enjoyment in thinking about the kiss and along with it, came an anticipation that tickled her tummy.
She was looking forward to Duncan kissing her and the anticipation only served to heighten her desire. When? Where? How?
She almost laughed, but caught herself. How would be up to him. Would he one day lean close and simply steal the kiss? Or would he take her in his arms and demand she return his kiss? Or perhaps he would do as her mother had advised, slow, tentative kisses leading to a deeper more demanding one.
Her tummy tingled and she couldn’t help but sigh, though it turned into a yawn.
“Settle your thoughts, or we’ll both not sleep tonight.”
