They peaked and tingled and a distinct molten dampness touched her inner thighs, that part of her, too, reacting to his embrace. The way he kissed and nipped along her jawline, then dipped his head to nuzzle her neck.
“You undressed me.” She shivered on the words.
“Sweet lass — I had to.” He sat beside her on the bed and pulled her even closer, one hand now smoothing circles up and down her bared back. “For all I knew, there could have been more than one blackheart in the hall. I had to make certain you were unharmed.”
“I am . . . well.” She leaned into him, sure her heart would burst any moment.
“Was it your gift, then?” He kissed her brow, rubbed his face against her hair. “Just tell me that whate’er befell you wasn’t something you ate or drank in the hall.”
He looked at her, his gaze earnest. “That was Sorley’s plan, see you. He —”
“It had naught to do with him.” She closed her eyes, not wanting to think about the scene in the hall.
How frightened she’d been and, aye, how certain that Ronan was doomed.
After all, she’d seen his death foretold when hertaibhsearachdhad shown her the blackness slowly engulfing him.
Or so she’d believed.
Now she knew better.
And her relief watered her knees.
“It was my second sight, aye.” She touched a finger to his golden neck torque. “One of severaltaibhsI’ve had in recent times. I thought they were all of you. Though” — she took a deep breath — “now I know they were not, leastways not the last two.”
He sat back at once, his jaw hardening. “You have visions of other men?”
Gelis scooted away from him and scrambled off the bed, heedless of her nakedness.
In truth, she felt like whirling and jigging, so greatly did his jealousy thrill her.
But the soul who’d appeared to her deserved and needed her help.
Whirling and jigging could wait.
So she took another deep breath and tossed back her hair.
“Notother men,” she said, setting her hands on her hips. “But one who looked very much like you. I believe he was your forebear, Maldred the Dire.”
The Raven shot to his feet. “That’s no’ possible. He’s been dead since pagan times . . . since before these great hills were young.”
He frowned. “Nae, it canna be. He —”
Gelis tilted her head. “Will you deny the kisses we’ve shared in the mists of my visions?”
She let her gaze slide down the front of him. “Our passion?”
“That’s different.” He shook his head, clearly caught off guard. “Aye, that was very, very . . . other.”
“How so?” She stepped up to him, twined her fingers in his hair. “If you can hold and kiss me in such a place, why can’t Maldred appear to me there as well?”
“Because I am alive.”
“That proves naught.” She smiled, flashing her triumph. “Save that we were meant to be.”
His face went all stony.
He looked anything but convinced.
