Page 82 of Bound to a Warrior
Harry stared at Reeve a moment, then he looked down at the metal cuff on Mercy’s wrist, then back at Reeve again and nodded. “There just might be.”
“What can he do?” Duncan asked, slipping his arm around Mercy’s shoulder.
“I’ve seen no one with the strength of Reeve,” Harry said. “There’s not a one of us fool enough to go up against him, except you and Trey and Bryce of course.”
Reeve laughed. “I always knew my brothers were fools, but it’s good to hear that someone agrees with me.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Harry grumbled.
Duncan sent his brother another scolding look and Reeve quit laughing, though retained a grin. Mercy was beginning to see just how close these men were for in the short time she had been introduced to them, they had without question or hesitation been there for each other.
“Explain, Harry,” Duncan said.
“Reeve’s arm strength goes far beyond mine,” Harry said. “It’s possible that with one blow he could crack the cuff making it easier to remove. Of course if he used too much strength he could shatter the cuff and her wrist along with it.”
Duncan turned to Reeve, though spoke not a word.
Reeve stepped forward. “What say you, Mercy?”
He was so lean one would never expect that he possessed such strength, but having witnessed how he had disposed of the soldiers, she knew otherwise.
“I trust you,” she said and smiled.
“Good lord, you’re a beauty,” Reeve said. “And lord knows I could never damage such beauty.”
“Enough,” Duncan said irritably. “Get to work and youbetter notdamage her.”
“Or what?” Reeve teased.
Duncan’s grin spread slow and confidently. “I’ll tell Mother.”
“That’s cruel,” Reeve said and the brothers laughed.
Mercy joined in the laughter. She had never known such close family ties. Family that you could depend on no matter what and who accepted you for who you were, not who you were expected to be.
Harry demonstrated to Reeve what he needed him to do. And Mercy was relieved to see that Reeve displayed not a hint of doubt that he could manage it.
Reeve approached Mercy, hammer and pin in hand. “Turn your head away in case any metal splinters go flying.”
Duncan stepped to her side and positioned his body as a shield between her and Reeve. “Keep your face pressed against me.”
Mercy didn’t argue. She much preferred burying her face against Duncan’s naked midriff, since he had yet to slip on the shirt he had brought with him, than watch Reeve battle the cuff.
A fine sheen of perspiration covered Duncan’s skin, the familiar scent filling her nostrils. It brought back memories of their journey and the many times they faced the possibility of capture and death together. And the times they had lain naked in each other’s arms, not yet loving, but protecting. And she felt safe once again, protected and this time loved.
She waited with much less worry, confident in Reeve.
The blow came quickly, sending a vibration up her arm and throughout her body. Duncan’s arm had instantly wrapped around her and she knew he had felt the blow along with her.
“Perfect shot,” Reeve cried out.
Mercy had to see for herself, though she knew the metal cuff was gone. She felt the weight gone from around her wrist. She peeked past Duncan and sure enough her wrist was bare, free of the metal constraint that had joined Duncan and her for weeks.
The skin was no longer raw, thanks to Bliss’s salve, though it continued to heal, and she wondered if it would leave a scar, though she needed no reminder of the time she had spent with Duncan.
She felt a swell in her chest. They were separated, free of each other. No longer would they spend every moment together. The thought made the swell grow until Mercy thought it would consume her.
“Are you all right?” Duncan asked.
