‘You are far too cold and not thinking straight. I’ve encountered this before. The cold makes a person do foolish things.’
‘Not me. I know what I am doing. I fell through the ice once,’ she said, unable to prevent her teeth chattering. ‘All I need is some more warm food. Maybe a fur about my body.’ She crossed quickly to the bed, grabbed a fur and tossed it around her shoulders. ‘Look to your own needs.’
His scar puckered. ‘You require more than that fur.’
She hated his reasonable tone. She hated that deep down she knew he was right. Mostly she hated that she wanted to believe his concern was more than mere words.
She took a step forward and squelched. ‘Plenty of time to change once my trunks arrive. No need for sleep yet.’
She crossed to the small iron brazier, which was beginning to give out some heat. She put out her hands and the fur slithered to the floor. She cursed.
‘Your words miss the solid good sense I’ve come to expect.’
He spoke as if being sensible was a compliment. She hated that she wanted to think it was, but she also knew from her nurse’s teaching that sensible meant dull.
‘Do you even know what that sense is? That sense tells me I need to remain upright and not go to sleep.’
‘I’ve seen the deep cold in action a number of times.’ He handed her a cloth. ‘I don’t want to fight you. Dry your hair.’
‘That is good to know.’ She wrapped the linen cloth about her hair, but her hands seemed very numb. She whispered a small plea for help.
He picked up the fur, put it about her and briskly towelled her hair. ‘Better?’
‘I would win any argument,’ she muttered, but her mind had become thicker than day-old pottage. ‘But thank you.’
‘Strip and get into bed. I won’t allow you to sleep. Promise.’
She put a hand to her throat. ‘Strip? In front of you? Without the torches being doused?’
‘I can turn my back, but the bed with the furs should help. Without clothes, you won’t be trapping in any cold. I should have considered the possibility back on the boat. All that leather cloak did was to allow the cold to seep into your bones. And then, on our journey here, you became wetter and more vulnerable. We should have stopped at one of the fishermen’s huts instead of pressing on here.’
‘I agreed with your suggestion. We require horses.’
Rand gave a half-smile. ‘Proof that you were not thinking straight.’
She walked quickly to the bed, stripped and dived under the furs and hugged her knees to her chest. The simplest action suddenly appeared far more complicated. ‘Are you going to leave me here?’
‘Why would I do that? My men are capable of looking after themselves.’ His voice came from the other side of the room. ‘I promised that I’d keep you awake.’
Svanna stared up at the shifting shadows. ‘Someone once told me that human contact, skin to skin, is the quickest way to warm up.’
She internally winced. The words sounded pathetic and pleading. Not seductive at all. She should have kept to being an Ice Maiden, something she’d excelled at, instead of this needy woman who secretly longed for his touch. She knew Astrid had counselled her to seduce him, but Astrid had little idea of how truly inexperienced she was.
‘Whoever said that was right. Skin to skin is the quickest way to warm you up.’ His warm voice washed over her. A faint curl of heat began in her belly. ‘I hesitated to mention it as a remedy because of what passed between us. I know where that could end, Svanna, but I want to give you time.’
The tight place at the base of her spine loosened. ‘You’re chilled as well.’
‘I’m not minded to ask anyone else to warm up my wife.’
She unclenched her hands. A small curl of heat tried to wind its way about her insides at the word ‘wife’ said with such possessive assurance, but the cold appeared intent on beating it back. It was her status he cared about, not her per se. If she ever forgot, her heart would surely break.
‘Right now, given the chill I’ve had, I am willing to try anything.’ She forced a laugh, even though the deep cold had grown distinctly less because of their conversation. ‘Please, Rand, don’t make me beg.’
‘What can a man do but comply with his wife’s wishes?’
She kept her head firmly turned away, but the sound of clothing dropping to the floor made her skin tingle with anticipation.
He slid in behind her and pulled her firmly into his arms. Her back collided with his bare chest. His naked body cupped hers, and his warmth slowly seeped into her. He did not do anything except hold her like precious glass. She touched his hand, which immediately engulfed her fingers. She clung to him, attempting to work up the courage to turn around. A large part of her hoped he’d take the hint, but his hold continued to be considerate rather than lover-like.
