“Yes. There’s time to explain later.” Ilka led the way to her croft, holding the door open. Liam scanned their surroundings, noticing an area cordoned off with a curtain. He assumed it was Ilka’s sleeping area. He carried Elene to it and eased her to her feet, but she sagged against him. He heard Albert following, then watched him lower Katryne and Johan to their feet. Where Elene looked near death, color had rushed back into the children’s cheeks.
“Johan, Katryne, get out of your wet clothes,” Ilka instructed as she handed breeks and tunics to them both. The children would swim in the clothes, but they were dry. The older woman dropped a stack of drying linens on the bed within the curtained area. She bustled past Liam and grabbed a wool dress from a peg beside the bedhead. “I’ll help her.”
Liam hesitated before letting Ilka take Elene from his arms. He considered telling the older woman that Elene was his wife and that he would tend to her. But he didn’t know what Elene would want them to say to her extended family, and he didn’t think she would appreciate being nearly unconscious the first time Liam stripped her naked. He realized he intended to do just that for many years to come.
“Liam, stay,” Elene whispered. “Husband.”
Liam glanced down at Elene, then Ilka, the older woman watching the couple. Albert had already stepped back, giving the family and Liam privacy.
“Mo ghràidh, you need a hot bath. Your aunt will tend to you while I get buckets heated.”
“No,” Elene cried. She clung to his leine and shook her head. She burst into sobbing tears. “So scared I’ll wake up from this and find it was a nightmare, and you’re not here. Don’t want to let go.”
“I’ll fetch the water,” Albert called before the door clicked closed.
“I’ll see to the tub. Get her out of those clothes, then bring her near the fire while you wait.” Ilka didn’t look back as she hurried to stoke the fire. Katryne and Johan hadn’t dawdled and were already in dry clothes by the time Liam accepted he would tend to Elene.
“Liam, I know you saw me that night at the loch. I could see you as I got out of the water. I—I—wanted you to. But this isn’t how I thought you’d see me bare for the first time up close. I thought I would care, but I don’t. Please don’t leave me. I’m so scared.”
“Shh, my little warrior. I won’t go anywhere you don’t want.” Liam lowered his voice. “I don’t think your aunt believes we’re married. Are you sure you wish for me to strip you? I can stand just beyond the curtain. You’ll see my shadow.”
Elene wiped away her tears as she looked into Liam’s worried gaze. Even after such a near-death experience, he worried for her dignity as much as he worried about her person. How had she found such a perfect man? She’d never imagined one existed, let alone that she would meet him. But she stood before him now, and her heart filled with love. It was enough to finally put the cold at bay. She reached behind her to tug at her laces, but the salt-encrusted ribbons wouldn’t move.
“I need your help. The laces are stuck. If you can get me free, I can peel it off on my own. I’ll wrap the plaid,” Elene dropped Liam’s spare plaid on the bed, “around me and come out then. If I can get my feet warm…”
Liam turned Elene as she talked and fumbled with the knot. But it wouldn’t budge, not even when he used the tip of hissgian dubhto loosen it. “Do you think your aunt has extra laces? Unless you bathe with your gown on, I can’t get the ties undone with all the salt and sand.”
“We’ll figure it out. Someone is bound to. Cut them if you must.” Elene shivered as she felt warm air brush against her back as Liam’s dirk severed the ribbons. She shuddered, unprepared for the feel of his soft lips against her bare shoulder. He wrapped one arm around her waist as she felt him putting away his knife. The hand now free of the blade pulled the gown down her left shoulder. He kissed her neck as his arm tightened around her waist.
“I need to walk away, Elene. If I keep touching you, if I see more of you, I won’t let go ever again.”
“I don’t want you to,” Elene confessed, her emotions as bare as Liam’s.
“As much as I want you, I need you to get warm and eat something hot. I fear you shall fall ill soon.” Liam loosened his hold around her waist, but her hands gripped his forearm. She turned in his embrace. She cupped his face and raised onto her toes, finally feeling like she wouldn’t turn into an icicle. She knew it was the heat from Liam’s massive frame pressed against her as well as the heat stirring low in her belly, her arousal finally chasing away the chill.
“Thank you, Liam. Thank you for saving me, for saving my brother and sister. Thank you for being honorable when it’s the last thing I want. I—” Elene stopped herself before she blurted out her feelings. This wasn’t the moment, not the place, and not the time.
“We shall talk tonight.” Liam pressed a soft kiss to her lips before stepping past her and into the croft’s main room. He knew Ilka had heard at least parts of their conversation, despite how she pretended to ignore them. He stood outside the curtain, just as he promised. Johan and Katryne sat huddled together, chattering about their adventure, as only children could now that they were safe. He watched Albert arrive with buckets of water. “Elene, I’m going to help Albert with the buckets. I’m still here.”
“All right.” Elene emerged with Liam’s plaid wrapped around her, her bare shoulder peeking from beneath the wool. Liam’s already-turgid length twitched as his eyes devoured her. He knew what she looked like and felt like beneath the blanket. He wanted nothing more than to press her beneath him and sink into her. He would warm her as he made love to her.
Liam dragged himself away, but he kept his eyes on Elene until ensuring he didn’t scorch his hands forced him to look at the buckets and fire. He helped Albert hang them on the swinging metal arm that held the containers over the flame. Next, he moved the tub before the fire. Once set up, he and Albert dumped the buckets into the wood and copper barrel. Liam had a moment’s worry that Elene wouldn’t want to step into another large cask, but she came and dipped her fingers in.
“Albert and I will step outside. I’ll be just past the door. My men will be here soon. I’m certain the chieftain will have questions.” Liam offered Elene a reassuring smile. She stepped close to him, her forehead resting against his chest as he rubbed a hand over her back.
“Please tell them we’re married,” Elene whispered. “Others on the island believe we are. And I don’t know whether any of them will force me back to my mother if they find out we aren’t.”
“If that’s what you wish. But no one is taking you from me, and no one is forcing you to go anywhere you don’t want.”
“Thank you.” Elene kissed his neck before stepping back. Liam nodded to Ilka, who unabashedly watched the couple. She’d shooed Johan and Katryne to the table and gave them bowls of pottage. Elene wouldn’t linger in the bath, knowing her siblings needed to use the water while it was warm. Even though they had fresh clothes to warm them, they still needed to wash the seawater from them. She stepped into the tub and hurried to run the soap and linen over her body. As her hand passed along her netherlips, temptation nipped at her to relieve the ache Liam created, but she wouldn’t dare do something so personal where others could see. She slid under the water, wetting her hair and shaking out some of the sand. When she emerged, she hurried to lather and scrub her locks.
Ilka stepped behind the tub just before Elene reached for the bucket of clean water. Elene leaned forward as Ilka gently poured the water over her head and down her back, washing the suds from the golden tresses.
“Thank you, Auntie Ilka. I know you’re wondering why we’re here, and why we’re a soggy, bedraggled mess.”
“The thought had crossed my mind. My guess is it has something to do with that Norse trader your mother took up with.” Ilka’s astute eyes bore into Elene’s as the younger woman looked over her shoulder at her great-aunt.
“It does. He threatened to sell me when I rejected him.”
