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)
They lay apart, their bodies moist with perspiration, their breathing calmed and their hearts no longer racing.
Rogan reached out to join pinkies with her. She took firm hold and they lay comfortably beside each other.
He turned his head to face her. “I am a lucky man to have found you.”
“But I brought chaos to your life.” She angled her head to look at him.
“Thank the Lord. I was getting bored.”
She laughed. “You fib.”
“That I do,” he said gently. “I wasn’t bored, I was lonely.”
She turned on her side, their fingers parting, and she rested her hand on his chest. “Do you not still find yourself lonely? My work often keeps me from you.”
“It may separate us at times, but you always return to me and I can always find you if I feel the need for your presence. Don’t you know that is why you find me popping up at the healing cottage so often or tracking you down wherever you may be?”
She shook her head, her expression sad. “I never gave it a thought.”
He pressed his hand over hers. “You wound me, woman.”
“I am sorr—”
Rogan halted her words with a finger to her lips. “There is no need to apologize.”
Aliss attempted to speak.
His finger remained firm. “You came to me tonight filled with a loving passion. That tells me more strongly than words how you feel.”
She moved his finger away. “And it is enough?”
He stroked her cheek. “It goes beyond enough. You gave more of yourself to me tonight than you have ever given and that proves to me how much you love me and perhaps forgive me. You are a good wife and—” His hand rested on her stomach. “Someday you will make an excellent mother.”
“You have such confidence.”
“As should you. You have a gentle touch with the ill. How can you not help but have a tender touch with your own child?”
“You want children.”
“A slew of them, if you agree,” he said eagerly, then poked her. “Have you even given it thought?”
“Now and again I have.”
“We are making headway,” he teased.
“Do you think we are?” she asked seriously.
He moved to stroke her face again. “I know we are.”
She yawned. “I should trust the Wolf.”
“With your life.”
She laughed. “Place my life in the hands of a wolf? That would take trust.”
“A wolf is trustworthy.”
“To whom?” she asked.
“His pack. He guards them with his life.”
“You do that. You guard your clan, and I believe you would give your life to protect them, though I would not want to see you do that.”
“If necessary I would.”
She touched his face like a young child exploring, and with a sad smile she said, “I would give my life for you.”
“No, you would not,” he said adamantly. “I forbid it.”
She shook her head. “You cannot. I have already made it known. Besides, you told me I could not stop you from forfeiting your life for mine. What you can do, so can I.”
“You will take it back.”
“I will not,” she said, as if insulted that he demanded she do so.
He took firm hold of her arm. “Never even think that, promise me . . . please?”
She scooted closer to him and gave him a gentle kiss. “I did not mean to upset you.”
“Then promise me,” he said, stroking her lips with his.
“You tingle my senses when you do that.” She held up her gooseflesh-covered arm for his inspection.
He kissed the raised bumps on her flesh. “Promise me.”
“Remind me of this promise.”
“My kisses titillate you so much you do not recall?” He kissed her some more.
She licked her lips. “How can I think when passion races through me?”
“Promise me,” he urged, running his fingers slowly over her naked flesh.
She sighed.
“Promise and I will stroke you to sleep.”
“What if I don’t want to sleep?”
“Then I will love you to sleep.”
She laughed. “I promise. I promise. I promise.”
Before the sun could greet them the next morning, Aliss was summoned to Margaret’s cottage with a strange request. It was imperative that she come alone. Aliss was relieved when Rogan made no fuss. His only request was that she confide in him as to why all the mystery.
She had agreed and hurried off in the predawn morning, healing basket in hand.
Margaret stood outside waiting and opened the door just enough for them to enter.
“Whatever is—” Aliss turned speechless when she spotted Ivan on all fours in Margaret’s bed, a blanket draped over him, though his hands and feet stuck out.
“We were having ourselves a little fun when Ivan went to move over—”
Aliss held up her hand. “No need for details.”
“I heard something crack in his back.”
“Hurts like the devil if I move,” Ivan said. “And feeling the fool doesn’t help.”
“Nonsense,” Margaret chastised. “We were having a wonderful time—” She looked to Aliss. “Ivan has the stamina of a young man.”