Page 68 of Bound to a Warrior
No, she didn’t wish to be free of him yet.Not yet. She wanted more time with him, more intimate kisses, touches that lingered and more, so much more before it came time for her to take her leave. But would there be time?
The horse snorted and pawed the ground once before stopping at the keep, and Mercy knew the time had come. It wouldn’t be long before she and Duncan were separated.
Trey stepped forward to help, but Duncan shook his head.
And Mercy said, “We can manage.”
“I’ve no doubt you can,” Trey said and stepped away, taking hold of the horse’s reins.
Mercy relaxed against Duncan as he dismounted with ease, taking her along with him. It was as if they were one, their every movement made in unison. No one led or followed. They were partners, always there for each other, always ready to help or keep safe. How would she ever do without him?
He set her feet gently on the ground and waited a moment. She kept her hand on his arm until she was certain her legs felt strong enough to hold her and then she smiled and reluctantly took a step away from him.
The pain hit her with such intensity that she didn’t have time to react, though Duncan did. His powerful hands grabbed her before her limp body could hit the ground and once again she found herself in his arms.
“That’s it. You’re going straight to bed,” Duncan commanded.
Though she was left with a residue of weakness from the jolting pain, her humor had remained intact. And it was with a teasing grin she whispered, “Exactly where I wanted to be…with you.”
He didn’t break stride as he mounted the steps to the keep and said, “You’re not well enough for making love tonight.”
“I was teasing.”
“I’m not.”
His tenacious tone warned her that he certainly wasn’t, and it was nice to know he was concerned for her. He was a fine man, a good man, a man she could love. And that was the biggest problem of all. But then, how many times had her mother warned her against falling in love.
Love ruins everything. Don’t ever make the mistake of falling in love. I promise you will suffer for it if you do.
Her mother’s words resonated clearly in her mind, that was how often she had reminded Mercy of it. Many times through the years Mercy had wondered what had happened to her mother that had caused her to distrust love. But no matter how many times Mercy had asked, her mother would always tell her that the past was best left in the past.
The great hall was ablaze with lights when they entered, a plethora of candles, wall torches and a huge stone fireplace being the sources. It wasn’t a large room, though certainly sufficient to hold many with its numerous tables and benches lined in rows.
“My son!”
The joyful screech made Mercy smile as Duncan turned with her in his arms to face the woman who rushed over to him.
She was taller than Mercy by at least two heads and thick in body, and with the prettiest face Mercy had ever seen. Creamy flawless skin and large wide green eyes, long, curly auburn hair not touched with a single strand of gray and piled high on her head, and full cheeks flushed pink, while the deep lines around her mouth were evidence that her smile was permanent.
The woman threw her arms wide when she stopped in front of Duncan. “What have we here, my son?” Her bright green eyes twinkled with mischief. “Have you finally brought home a wife and maybe a wee bairn waiting to be born?”
Mercy couldn’t stop herself from blushing.
Duncan, however, laughed, shook his head and said, “Not yet.”
“Then take her upstairs and see to your business,” his mother ordered with a wink.
“If she wasn’t injured I might—”
“Injured, you say?” his mother barked. “What’s wrong? Take her upstairs. Carmag get my healing basket. Why are you standing there? Move!”
Duncan jumped to his mother’s orders and climbed the stairs, his mother in quick pursuit.
“Put her in your bed and leave her to me,” his mother said.
“I can’t do that.”
“Aye, you will,” his mother insisted.
