Storm Warrior

offered her and knelt beside him. The spotted ducks were obviously used to people—they came to her without hesitation. Morgan laughed at the feel of their nibbling bills on her palms.

“They don’t grow very big, but a pair of them would make a good dinner,” said Rhys.

“You’re not eating them!” She looked up, horrified, only to find him grinning at her. She reached over and punched him in the leg, and he laughed.

“Then perhaps you’d let me keep them to eat the slugs from the gardens.”

“That’s better,” she said. “Although there are no slugs in the garden right now—wait, did you say gardens, plural?”

“I’ve uncovered the soil in two more places where the sun is good and made them ready for planting in the spring. Leo says he’ll show me how to start seeds in his greenhouse. In the spring he’ll help me build one over by your garage, if it pleases you.”

“It pleases me plenty,” she admitted, but the pleasure came from far more than the greenhouse plans. Rhys planned to be here in the spring. He wanted to be here. More than that, she wanted him to be here. Her brain still disapproved, but maybe tonight’s activities would remedy that.

“I’ve always wanted to have time for things like gardening.”

“Perhaps with the new vet you’ve hired, you’ll find more time for pleasures.” He extended a hand and helped her up, then kissed her soundly.

She could think of all kinds of pleasures she’d like to find time for…Instead, she cleared her throat as she tried to clear her head. “I have time tonight for pizza and movies. Want to join me?”

His face lit up, and she could swear her already sensitized hormones fainted dead away. “Very much,” he said. “I’ll give Lucy her grain and clean myself up.” He walked away, and her gaze automatically followed him until he was out of sight. Best. Butt. Ever.

Sighing, she didn’t even try to wipe the goofy grin off her face as she headed for the house to put the pizzas in the oven.

Rhys came to the door just before the food was ready. He was wearing clean clothes and his hair was wet—and she immediately had to deal with mental images of hot naked man in the shower. It didn’t help that her imagination didn’t have to make up a single thing, thanks to Rhys’s state of undress when she first met him.

Needing a few moments to compose herself (and for her brain to lecture her unruly libido), Morgan handed him a couple of iced colas and a roll of paper towels and sent him to the living room while she pulled out the pizzas. She cut them up and arranged slices of both flavors on each plate—seconds could be self-served in the kitchen—and followed. Rhys was studying the DVDs, which were spread out on the coffee table.

“Did you decide what you’d like to watch?” she asked as she handed him a plate. He hadn’t sat on one end of the couch or the other—instead, he’d sat dead center. Should she ask him to move over or just sit beside him and enjoy the proximity? Well, that’s a no-brainer.

“I think I’d like to try this one.” He held up Jaws.

“Try. Good one. You mean you’d like to see it again?”

“I’ve never watched it.”

She stared. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“No, but I can if you want me to,” he shot back with a grin.

She swatted his shoulder and took the DVD out of his hands. Moments later they were eating pizza on the couch while a giant shark ate swimmers on-screen. Morgan watched Rhys with interest. He was leaning forward, giving the film his full attention. He seemed surprised at every development too (although truth be told, the movie still managed to make her jump at times as well). Was it possible he really hadn’t seen it before? Where on earth could a person hide in order to miss such a huge chunk of pop culture? Wales wasn’t cut off from the rest of the world—unless Rhys had been in a monastery, and there weren’t many of those still operating.

Besides, his behavior in other areas wasn’t monkish in the least. By the time the movie was halfway through, they were cuddled up together as naturally as if they did this all the time. She could certainly get used to it…

And she could certainly get used to the post-movie activity. The embers that had been glowing all along flared into blazing life as soon as the credits rolled. Gentle kisses heated quickly and hands slid beneath clothing. Morgan wanted nothing more than to be skin to skin with this man, but some last living brain cell had her coming up for air instead and gently but firmly pushing free of Rhys’s muscled arms.

They kept hold of each other’s hands, however, as they sat back and tried to slow their heart rates. Rhys’s amber gaze was warm on hers. “You’re undoing me.”

“Then we’re even,” she said. “I’ve been undone since I first dreamed of you.”

He sat up. “You’ve seen me in your dreams?”

“Often.” She hoped it didn’t sound crazy, then nearly laughed. Why am I worried? This is the guy who once told me he was a dog. “It started in Wales, before I even met you. I’ve dreamed about you most nights since.”

“Among my people, that’s a very serious thing. My mother read dreams, and she always said they bring instruction. What did you see?”

“This. We were together just like this.” She took his work-roughened hand with both of hers, kissed it, and held it between her breasts. “In every dream. I’m not sure what kind of instruction that’s supposed to give us. Maybe just some hope.”

“Do you only hope we’ll be together? I’d take it as a powerful sign that we’re meant to be.”

“It’s early yet.”

“Ah, but it’s not the number of days—”

“—that decides the strength of the bond,” she finished. “Yeah, I remember you said that. But it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to take things any further just yet.”

“What do your instincts say?”

“I’m not talking about instinct, I’m talking about intellect. I need to be sensible about this.”

“Aye, of course. You’re a very intelligent woman. But there’s such a thing as thinking overmuch.” He nodded his head at the TV screen, where the credits had run their course and only an image of the shark remained. “The people of Amity Island thought they were being sensible. Sharks couldn’t be here, they said. Sharks don’t behave like this, they said. They wanted proof of it for their minds before they would believe, and until they believed, they refused to act. Many good people were devoured because of it.”

Morgan tried to suppress her smile. “Omigosh, are you actually using Jaws as some kind of relationship analogy?”

He simply shrugged. “It wasn’t until Brody followed his instincts instead of his orders that he was able to save the town from the monster. It’s the same with many things in life, including the bond between men and women: instinct often reveals the greater truth.”

Rhys had succeeded in surprising her again. “That’s very wise,” she said. “So I’ll admit that my instincts know what I want. But my head hasn’t decided if it’s good for me yet.”

“You mean if I’m good for you.” He leaned over and kissed her, long and deep until she thought she’d drown in the pure bliss of it. Then he rose. “Perhaps you need to try me in order to know,” he grinned. “My thanks for the pizza and the movie.”

Morgan watched him leave the room, then sighed as she heard the back door close. Why had she let him leave? Sometimes being sensible felt an awful lot like being stupid.

“Lucy looks really good. Far better than I expected.”

Rhys looked up to see Morgan in the doorway of the stable. The rising moon highlighted her hair with silver and sharpened her fine features. She almost looked like one of the Fair Ones, except there was genuine warmth in