Page 53 of Bound to a Warrior
“I’ve had enough,” she cried. “I’ll never learn to swim.
“Aye, you will,” Duncan said sternly. “You’re a warrior woman and warrior women never give up. And besides, if I can manage to continuously stare at your beautiful round, bobbing derrière and keep control of my ardor, then you can learn how to swim.”
She opened her mouth and he pressed his finger over her lips. “Don’t dare tell me how gallant I am, for I have the most ungallant thoughts right now.”
Mercy wished to know his ungallant thoughts, every last one of them, but knew it unwise. It would be far better if they simply did what they came here to do, be done with it and wait for Bliss to return.
“Perhaps we should wash,” she suggested.
“A good idea,” he said. “We only need to find the soap.
“I dropped it,” Mercy said realizing for the first time that she had done just that. “It must have sunk, we’ll never find it.”
“Actually, it’s floating a short distance behind you.”
Mercy turned to see the bar bobbing in the water. “I’ve never seen such a thing.”
“Bliss’s soap must be magical; lucky for us, since it will take magic to get this ton of grime off us,” Duncan teased.
He retrieved the soap and offered it first to her.
She was quick to lather her hair, and return it to him, and they scrubbed the grime laden strands in relative silence. They dunk, rinsed and scrubbed their bodies, asking only that each of them scrub the other’s back and did so quickly and thoroughly.
When they finished, they bobbed in the water, at the safest distance the chain allowed, enjoying its soothing balm.
While they didn’t touch, didn’t even hold hands, Mercy felt it an intimate moment. It was as if awkwardness disappeared, vulnerability vanished and pure trust took hold. She knew this man placed her importance before his and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. Hadn’t he proved that by attempting to teach her how to swim instead of making love to her?
He could have easily cajoled her into making love, but he hadn’t and she loved him all the more for it.
Love.
That word haunted her, simply refused to leave her alone and while she would love to love and be loved, if she dared do so it could have dangerous repercussions.
Her life was in such turmoil. If only none of this had ever happened.
Her heart suffered a sudden stab and she realized that if her life had continued on uninterrupted she would have never gotten to know Duncan. And that would have been the greatest loss in her life.
Oddly enough, her mother’s choice had provided her with a good man. Perhaps not one her mother would have chosen, and more than likely would have objected to, but a man Mercy found utterly appealing, full of humor and gallant beyond words and one she was easily losing her heart to.
Without realizing it, she released a heavy sigh and Duncan came immediately to her side, slipping his arm around her, an act so simple and yet so meaningful to her. His arm lent support, comfort and protection, and though she had never admitted it, it was also a loving gesture.
“Why the sigh?” he asked.
“Memories and thoughts,” she said.
“That trouble or sadden?”
“A bit of both.”
“Then it is new memories we must make,” he said with a grin and a wink.
She laughed and felt her heart grow light. “I like that thought.”
“See, a new memory already.”
Her face sparkled with happiness as she said, “This time, this moment here with you will be a memory I will always cherish.”
His grin turned wicked. “This cherished memory will pale in comparison to what I have planned for you.”
