Page 5 of Bound to a Warrior
He spoke with such conviction, his voice a deep rumble like that of the faint thunder that rolls across the land preceding a storm, that she had no doubt he would do just that.
Her glance remained fixed on his face.
Handsome?
Not in the usual sense. His nose had a slight crook, his lips a visible scar tucked in the right corner of his mouth giving him a perpetual half frown. His brow was clear of wrinkles, though not the arch between his eyes. Did he frown more than smile?
Just as she decided that his weathered complexion enhanced his wildly rugged features, he yanked her blouse over her head.
She stood stunned, the cold air slapping her breasts like a dash of cold water and she felt her nipples harden even more than they already had. She was fully exposed and she cursed herself for not having slipped on her shift yesterday morning when she had unexpectedly found herself on the run. And while she wanted to wrap her arms protectively across her breasts, she didn’t want to appear vulnerable or a coward.
He shook his head and held up their joined arms. “The garment goes no further.”
She kept her eyes on his and was relieved his remained focused on hers. “Your shirt will fair no better. When we settle for the night, we’ll need to somehow spread them out to dry.”
He nodded, while his hands busily worked to free his black and red plaid. Without hesitation he dropped it to the ground and then stripped off his shirt to let it join hers trapped by the shackle.
“Let’s get your skirt off,” he said and she thought she saw him wince. “Then we can spread our garments near the campfire.”
There was that rumble of his voice again and for some reason it soothed her. But then she had always favored the sound of faint thunder. It preceded a storm that brought with it the much necessary and life-sustaining rain that nourished the crops and replenished rain barrels.
Was that why his voice soothed her? He had arrived as unexpectedly as a storm sometimes does. Would he help nourish and sustain her life? So far he had. And would their separation end as abruptly as some storms do?
She slipped out of her skirt, her thoughts occupied, leaving her a little less apprehensive. Until she realized that they were standing quite naked in front of each other.
They spoke not a word and kept their eyes locked. It was almost as if they were afraid to let their gazes stray, until finally Mercy found the courage to speak.
“We should set the garments to dry.”
He nodded. “We should.”
And yet they stood there not moving, until once again Mercy made the first move, though she didn’t plan it. She visibly shivered.
Duncan immediately wrapped his arm around her, bringing their naked bodies flat up against each other. He quickly and steadily ran his hands up and down her back, massaging every inch of her cold flesh.
She stiffened when their chilled skin first met. Never mind that she had never been naked in front of a man, she had never been touched so familiarly by a man. And though she was not comfortable being in such an intimate position with a stranger, her body began to respond to his touch.
Warmth began to spread not only over her limbs, but began to creep inside. She found herself snuggling closer against him, aching for more of the heat he provided. Her body and insides kept growing warmer and she felt ever more relieved, when suddenly she realized how selfish of her not to do the same for him.
Her arm slipped around his back, the movement so much less painful now that a fair amount of warmth had been restored. His skin was cold and she shivered for him before she began to massage his back with one hand as rapidly and methodically as he did hers. She didn’t know when she had rested her head on his chest. It was there, so close and she was so tired.
But she didn’t stop rubbing warmth into him, nor did he to her.
“Mercy.”
His gentle whisper had her eyes fluttering open.
When had she closed them? Her hand was no longer at his back. It was tucked between their chests.
Her eyes sprang wide and she stared up at him.
“You fell asleep,” he said, “and I think that would be best for us both.”
She nodded, agreeing, though she was disinclined to leave the warmth of his body. However, their wet garments did need their attention.
“We’ll hurry and get done with it,” he said and reluctantly she stepped away.
His absence caused a blast of cold night air to hit her warmed body and sent an uncontrollable tremble through her.
