“Can you hold the bowstring if I let go?”
“I think so.” But the moment he released his hands, the arrow shot from her bowstring and hit the ground. Or at least that’s where she thought it went.
“I suppose I underestimated my lack of strength.”
He was about to give her another arrow, but she handed him the bow. “Your turn.” She wanted him to enjoy the sport since the day was unseasonably warm for August. There wouldn’t be many days left like this before autumn came. And somehow, she imagined that her husband would think of other ways to keep each other warm. She couldn’t stop her smile at the thought.
“Put your arm on mine,” he said. His voice was deep and seductive. “I’m still teaching you how to shoot.”
She took a breath and put her arms around him, resting her left arm atop his as he held the bow. Then she touched his right wrist as he pulled it back. Beneath her fingertips, she could feel the lean muscles of his arm. It suddenly evoked the memory of him balanced on those arms while he made love to her.
She had started to grow acquainted with his body, and her new husband was insatiable each night. The memory brought a warmth to her body, kindling the familiar desire.
The problem was, she was finding it more and more difficult to keep her heart at a distance, though it was one of their rules.Don’t fall in love.
So she pushed back the unwanted feelings, reminding herself of the boundaries. Cormac had brought her here because he enjoyed archery, and he’d wanted to share it with her, like any friend would.
She felt the power release in his forearm when he shot the arrow, and the soft thunk in the straw told her that he’d hit the target.
“Well done.”
“You don’t even know if I’ve hit the target,” he said. But she could hear the smile in his voice.
“I’m confident you did. Or at least you hit something made of straw.”
“I hit the target to the right of the center,” he said. “Now it’s your turn again.”
He brought her another arrow and helped her pull back the bowstring. Now that she knew how much harder she would have to hold it, she prepared herself for when he let go. She kept her arms rigid, fighting against the tension of the bow and the arrow that trembled in her fingers. She couldn’t see the target, but she trusted Cormac to help her aim. He seemed eager to give her these new experiences, and his faith in her was such a change from the others in the past who had ridiculed her or spoken cruel words about all the things she couldn’t do.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
This time, when he let go, she held the arrow steady. Her arm tightened with effort, but she held steady.
“Release the arrow,” he said.
When she did, the bowstring snapped against her forearm. “Ouch.” Her skin was already swelling from where it had struck. She rubbed it lightly, and then he raised the spot to his lips, kissing it gently.
“All of us have been struck by the bowstring before,a chroí.Shall I tell you where your arrow landed?”
She lowered the bow and turned in his arms. “It doesn’t matter.” Even now, her sensitive skin longed for his touch.
“You hit the target,” he told her.
“This is the only target I care about.” And with that, she brought his mouth down to hers, kissing him. His arms came around her, and he pulled her body close. She opened to him, feeling the slide of his tongue against hers, and she surrendered to the dark pleasure.
They had their rules, true enough. But if she was not allowed to fall in love, at least she could enjoy the pleasure of being in his arms.
At least, for a little while longer.
*
Ireland
An invisible handseemed to grip Emma’s stomach as the carriage pulled to a stop in front of Dunmeath. She’d mistakenly believed it would be a manor house—but no. It seemed that Dunmeath was a castle off the coast of southwest Ireland. Dear God, he might as well have been a duke, given the size of the estate. Even so, she could see little more than vague shapes and colors. Verylargeshapes. Her stomach twisted up with fear of what lay ahead. The very thought of such a place filled her with terror.
You’re going to fail,a silent voice warned. No matter what she tried, she was going to get hopelessly lost. The servants would lose all respect for her the moment they learned of her blindness. And as for his family... her stomach lurched with more knots.
