Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Not yet,” Knox said. “He’ll wait. Have us followed to see if we’re getting closer to finding Autumn or wait until we do find her.”
“Then he’ll eliminate us?” Dru asked, the gruesome thought sending a shiver through her.
“He’ll pretend to bargain first.”
She understood. “A ruse to see us dead.”
“Aye, But no worries. I’ll see him dead first.”
He spoke with such a confident, yet icy tone, that it caused her to shiver again.
“With no fire to keep us warm, we’ll need to share our body heat,” he said.
She chuckled. “An excuse to get me in your arms.”
“It’s no chore. You fit quite nicely there.”
Dru waited. “And?”
“And what?”
“Your compliments are always followed by a belittling remark. I’m waiting for it.”
“There is none.”
She tilted her head. “So, you like how I feel in your arms?”
“I believe I said, ‘You fit nicely’ there.”
“Quite nicely if you want to be accurate,” she corrected.
“You should be glad we’re a good fit since you’ll no doubt be spending many nights in my arms while we search for Autumn,” he said.
Her voice dripped with heavy sarcasm. “Oh joy! What a delightful thought.”
“I’m pleased my wife finds delight in my arms.” His sarcasm was almost as heavy as hers.
Dru didn’t know what made her say it. Her response simply slipped from her mouth without thought. “I don’t mind your arms. They keep me warm… and safe.”
A strange feeling, of what he couldn’t say, seemed to settle around him in what he could only think of as a hug. But since he had known no sincere hugs, he couldn’t be sure. He would watch in interest as women hugged their bairns, warriors hug their women on return from battle, but he had never known such an endearing embrace. He felt nothing from the few hugs he had shared with women thus far. Dru hadn’t touched him, but her words had, and he wondered if he hugged her with purpose, would it feel different?
His decision was swift. He stretched his arms out to her. “Then come here to me so I can keep you warm and safe.”
Without a moment of hesitation, Dru slipped into his arms, cuddling up against him as his powerful arms circled her and drew her even tighter against him as if he didn’t intend to let her go.
“Your safe with me, Dru… always,” he said, his hug purposely firm.
The strange feeling returned and lingered and he felt the twinge of a stirring in his loins. Then her rosy colored lips came to mind, and he could almost taste their sweetness.
With those thoughts gnawing at him, he had to wonder how safe she was in his arms.
Dru had no idea what she was doing in his arms. It was foolish of her to rush into them and unwise of her to rely on him. And yet… she found his arms not only safe, but soothing and peaceful as well. It was such a lovely, deep-hearted feeling that she intended to enjoy it while she could. And as much as she didn’t want to admit it, she also couldn’t deny it. She thought as he did that she fit quite perfectly in his arms.
“So, it’s to Autumn’s home we go next,” she said to get her mind off thoughts that would not serve her well.
“There is a stop I want to make first,” he informed her, trying to ignore her sudden appeal.
“Where?”
“Clan MacSheed.”
Her heart hammered so hard against her chest that she worried Knox would hear it.
“Why there?” she asked.
“Chieftain Liam keeps watch on Phelan and his crew, after a wrongful altercation. He might know something. Besides, it will provide us with a warm bed for the night, and I can also get you some decent garments and a cloak that will serve you better than that worn one you wear.”
Her head sprang off his chest to look up at him as her hands landed there to push herself away a bit, but his strong hold kept her close. “I don’t take charity.”
“And I won’t have my wife looking like a homeless urchin.” Knox stopped Dru from objecting with a firm finger to her lips. “It is done. Not a word about it. Now sleep we leave early.”
Weary from the day, and days to come, she dropped her head back on Knox’s chest. Unlike her pounding heart, his heart was steady and calm. It wasn’t wise of her to go to Clan MacSheed and he needed to know why. But would he listen, and would it matter to him?
They left the next morning just as the sun broke on the horizon. How long the sun would remain was anyone’s guess. For now, it was pleasant to see, especially since she was going to deliver unpleasant news to Knox.
“You’ve been fussing in the saddle since we left. What troubles you now?” Knox asked, her fussing not helping the twinge of stirring in his loins that lingered, to his annoyance.