Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
She wasn’t quite ready to forgive Rogan for that. A few things still needed to be made right in her mind, the ransom demand for one and this isle, the other. She had a feeling that the history of this place could reveal much, especially about Rogan.
Her musings were interrupted throughout the afternoon by people needing tending. She then spent the remainder of her time replenishing her stock of salves and potions.
Her neck began to ache from stooping over the table and she rubbed at her tense muscles as she raised her head.
She jumped and gasped at the shadow with glowing green eyes that filled the open doorway. She blinked, and when she looked again her husband stood there.
She reached out to him and he rushed to her side.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.
“What is wrong?”
“I must be tired. My eyes play tricks on me,” she said, keeping her cheek to his chest, his earthy scent a balm to her senses.
“I knew I should have come sooner for you, but the few times I passed by, you appeared so busy I did not wish to disturb you.”
“I am finished now,” she said, not wanting to remain alone in the cottage.
“Good, then I do not have to take you away from your work.”
“No, I go willingly,” she admitted, though she was not willing to be torn away from him. She felt safe tucked against him, even more so now that she knew he loved her. Not that she planned to admit it to him; there was time left for that.
“You shiver,” he said and wrapped himself more tightly around her.
She trembled, slowly releasing all the barriers she had erected and allowing his love to begin to seep deep into her heart.
“When you are ready, we can go,” he said.
She took a deep breath, drinking in his love so that it could nourish her heart and soul. Her body, however, grumbled for substantial nourishment.
“You are hungry.”
“So my stomach tells me.” She laughed and looked up at him. “And you?”
“Starving.”
After blowing out the candles and shutting the door, they walked hand in hand to the keep. The hall was empty; the clan members occupied their own cottages now that the repairs had been finished.
“Where are Raynor and his men?” she asked, turning her head as if to catch them lurking in the dark corners.
“With Derek and some of the other men. We have the keep to ourselves tonight.”
The thought suddenly appealed to her. She had so enjoyed making love with him when she believed they loved each other. She had continued to lust for him but it meant nothing without love and so she had denied him her passion. Now she knew he loved her and she had never stopped loving him, so why not—
She smiled softly, feeling the weight of the heaviest of barriers drift away. Her body sprang to life, her skin tingled, and her nipples hardened.
“You are quiet,” he said as they climbed the stairs.
“I grow tired,” she said, bed suddenly appealing to her.
“We will eat and rest.” He pushed the door to their bedchamber open with his shoulder, entered and nudged it closed with his foot. “Then we can go to bed.”
Chapter 31
Aliss sat at the table spread with platters of food and found her appetite waning. Her thoughts were on a completely different type of nourishment.
“Is something on your mind, Aliss?” Rogan asked with concern.
“No.”
He laughed. “You sit there chewing on your lower lip when there is much more appetizing food on the table.”
“I can’t decide what I want.” That was no lie. Did she start with his appetizing lips or go straight for the main dish?
“I know what you like, I’ll choose it for you,” he offered and reached out to spear a slice of meat.
He certainly did know what she liked and she almost shivered with the memories of their lovemaking.
She picked at the food he had piled on her plate, not at all interested in it.
Rogan leaned back in his chair. “What’s wrong? You sit silently, moving your food around, not eating a thing. Something is obviously on your mind.”
He was right about that.
“Want to share it with me?”
She did, but it would make no sense that all of a sudden she was willing to make love with him. It didn’t even make sense to her, but then her desire for him had never waned. Love had been the missing ingredient.
However, she wasn’t ready to forgive him so easily. Besides, she liked the way he had courted her and wouldn’t mind it continuing for a while.
“You’re still upset over our talk in the woods, aren’t you?”
She had been, but no more. “I admit it has been on my mind.”
“Is there anything I can do to ease those concerns?”