He drained the rest of his ale, wondering whether to be annoyed or pleased that his wife had materialized in Scotland. Experimentally, he tried to draw his hand from hers, smiling to himself when she held it tight.
He was pleased, he decided. Time spent apart did much to sway a man’s emotions. Not to mention the apparent change of heart in Kendra. Mystifying, to say the least.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Only tired.” Her gaze flew over to Jason and Cait, heads leaned close at another table as they talked while Jason shoveled meat pie into his mouth. “We ate but a couple of hours ago.” She yawned, meeting Trick’s eyes. “We’re too far from Duncraven to travel there tonight in the darkness, I presume?”
“Aye. It’s a good day’s ride.”
“Then will we stay here?” she asked. “I hope so. I’m really tired.”
“I’ve already taken a room.” Something in her eyes—something in the way she was acting— made him hopeful. He swallowed hard. “Shall we go up?”
THIRTY
THE ROOM TRICK had rented was upstairs. Once inside, he paused a fleeting moment to set down the candle he was carrying, then dragged Kendra into his arms.
This was a different sort of kiss than she was used to—heated, insistent, wild. Exhausted though she was, she couldn’t help but respond with equal intensity.
It was amazing how much she’d missed him. How much she’d missed this.
She plastered herself against him, thrilling to the feel of his solid muscles against her soft curves, the feel of his arms clasped around her, the feel of him holding her tight, as if she were something precious.
A long time later they came up for air, and she tilted her head back, gazing up into his compelling amber eyes. How could she have put him off for so long? Just breathing his sandalwood scent made her head swim.
She felt the knots in her stomach finally begin to loosen and unwind. Shivery and weak with relief, she swayed in his grasp.
“Evidently you really are tired,” he said, sounding resigned or maybe disappointed. “When was the last time you slept?”
“Two days ago, it feels like,” she admitted. “I was so worried for you.”
His sudden smile was blinding. “You care, then, and you missed me, aye?” Her heart flip-flopped at his wolfish tone, and when she nodded, he kissed her all over again, even more fiercely, if that were possible.
Her breath was ragged by the time he stepped back. She felt boneless. He lifted one of her limp hands and ran his fingers over the amber stones that circled her wrist. “You’re wearing it,” he murmured.
“I—it matched my dress.”
He pointedly looked her up and down. “Aye. Purple and amber—they go together so well.”
She blushed, but he only laughed, a warm sound that sank into her very skin.
“Come, let’s get you out of this damp dress and into bed. We’ll have a long day tomorrow, and we’ll be needing to leave early.”
She only nodded as, with practiced fingers, he detached the tabs on her stomacher and unlaced her bodice, then drew her dress down and off, leaving her standing there in her chemise.
Lightly, tentatively, he rested his hands on her hips. She could feel the heat of his fingers through the fabric. “I’ve wanted to touch you,” he said softly. “I’ve thought of nothing but you since the moment I rode away.”
She froze. A little sound of desperation rose from her throat. She wanted to touch him, too. She’d come here wanting to touch him and more.
But she was so weary. Or maybe she was still a little unsure. What if this was a mistake? What if she gave herself to him, but he never opened his heart to her? Would she come to regret tonight?
“Kendra?”
The anxiety must have shown on her face. He sounded so concerned. She placed her hands over his where they rested and tried to smile.
“It’s nothing to worry about now,” he assured her, “since we both need our sleep. But I promise, truly, you have nothing to fear—”
“I know,” she interrupted. “Caithren told me it wouldn’t hurt. Or at least not much, and only the first time, like you said.”
“When?”
“After you left.”
“You didn’t believe her, though, did you?”
“Yes.” She nodded frantically. “Yes, I did. And I came here wanting…”
“But then…” he prompted, waiting expectantly.
She bit her lip. “I’m just too tired,” she finally said, knowing it was more than that but not knowing how to put it into words.
“Then get some sleep,” he said.
She thought she wouldn’t. But when he pulled back the covers and she gratefully crawled into bed, exhaustion overcame her.
THIRTY-ONE
IT WAS pitch-black when Kendra awakened sometime in the night, the candle long since guttered out. Trick was in bed beside her. In his sleep he was hugging her, his arms wrapped tightly. When she tried to wiggle free, they tightened more, clamping her to his sleep-warmed chest.
She felt smothered, trapped.
But she couldn’t fight him, couldn’t get away. She was too tired…she would try again later, after she got some more sleep…
Dawn was breaking when next she opened her eyes, feeling inexplicably lonely. Squinting in the faint gray light, she looked over to where Trick lay on his back, apart from her, snoring softly, his hands lax by his sides.
She scooted close, throwing an arm across his chest, but he snored on, still motionless. A stab of hurt, tiny but deep, took her by surprise. Tamping it down, she rolled to her back and stared at the beamed ceiling overhead, replaying last night in her mind.
After the kisses they’d shared, she couldn’t believe she’d simply gone to sleep. When she first walked into the tavern and saw him, she’d wanted him more than she could say. She’d embarked on this journey wanting him.
And she knew he
