Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“The man who came here to kill me to revenge his brother’s death has another brother, Cyril, who is on his way to meet his brother—”
“Who is dead,” Shade said, understanding why he returned, and it had naught to do with her. “You believe this man, Cyril, will show up here, so you returned to—”
“Keep you safe,” Quint said before she could finish.
It did not stop her from having her say. “And to kill the last brother.”
“Kill or be killed. It is the way of life,” Quint said. “I will be staying here with you until it is done.”
“Do I have a say in this?”
“Nay, you don’t,” he said, the matter settled.
Shade saw his blue eyes turn slightly stormy, though calmed fast enough. She was startled when he stepped closer to her, and she almost took a quick step back if it wasn’t for his hand that grabbed her arm.
“I will not see you harmed because of me. Once I see this task done and know you are safe, I will leave you be, on that you have my word.”
He was too close to her, much too close, and his grip on her was more of a gentle squeeze, an intimate touch, and his lips so close she could see a tiny scar in one corner of his mouth. She settled her glance on his eyes once again and the smallest, almost undetectable gasp slipped from her lips when she saw his blue eyes heated with the last thing she ever expected to see there… desire.
“Bloody hell, woman,” he said and brought his lips down on hers.
Shade didn’t realize how much she wanted him to kiss her until his lips met hers. She was as hungry to taste him as he was to taste her. It was a kiss of lovers too long separated, a kiss that could never be quenched, a kiss that came deep from the heart, a kiss that promised so much more. And she got lost in it.
Shade would have stumbled if he hadn’t kept hold of her arm when he abruptly ended the kiss. Though he released her arm soon enough almost as though it was too hot to touch.
He stepped away from her, a scowl on his face. “Your look, your kiss tells me you want more. Let me know when you’re ready and I will oblige you.”
Too shocked to speak, Shade watched him walk his mare to the lean-to, hearing him mumble every step of the way but unable to make any sense of it. She briefly thought of telling him to leave, but only briefly since she did not want him to leave. She wanted him to stay, wanted him to kiss her again, wanted to explore what she felt and perhaps he was right, perhaps she did want more from him.
It was a dangerous thought since he was not a man who would stay and build a life with her, and where would that leave her?
CHAPTER 5
Shade wondered how they settled so easily into a routine. It was almost three days since his return and the kiss. Quint hunted or fished for them and even prepared some of the meat for winter storage. He cut more firewood and used some of it to make minor repairs to the lean-to. They talked over supper and went to their beds not long after nightfall. Quint slept on a pallet on the earth floor, and she slept in her bed.
Quint kept out of sight when someone arrived seeking her healing skill, not explaining why, though she did prefer no one knew of his presence, at least for now. Not that she could hide him for long since someone was bound to find out. She knew what they would assume, that she had finally found a man. But what would they think when he left?
“Shade, are you lost in your thoughts? I’ve called out to you three times,” Quint said, his hand touching her arm to gently rouse her as he came to stand in front of her.
His innocent touch constantly sent a flutter through her. She had learned from her healing how much a simple, caring touch meant to people suffering pain or illness. It let them know they were not alone and that someone cared. Her grandmother had often spoken about it to her, explaining the importance of a healing touch and how it had to be given from the heart.
Could his touch be healing her lonely heart? Or did she simply ache for a man’s touch?
Shade looked to the woods as did Quint when they heard the tinkling of the many talismans Quint had insisted that she craft to add to the ones already hanging in various trees around the cottage. Each was a symbol of protection, imbued with the healer’s knowledge and care, serving as guardians against evil and harm. The presence of those charms assured any visitor that they were entering a sanctuary where the old ways still held power and reverence. The charms also alerted Shade to visitors before they reached the cottage.