Niall’s face stiffened and he arched a single brow at her.
“I have no idea.” She sounded as defensive as she felt.
These two thought the worst of her, and mayhap they should. She’d allowed their friend to take the blame for something she did.
“I thought they were caring for him,” she said. “Each time I tried to bring him food or a blanket, they refused to allow me to see him.”
Aldred snorted.
When he started to heft the unconscious man over his shoulder, Niall halted him. “We can’t get him up the ladder like this.”
“Damn!” Aldred repositioned Lachlann on the ground. “Then how will we get him out of here?”
Ethne glanced toward the darkness, the charred remains of the log tipped into the sand. With a steady hand, she followed along the curves of the wall. And prayed.
“What are ye doing?” Aldred demanded before turning his angry tone on Niall. “And why isshe here?”
Lachlann stirred. “Ethne?”
“I’m here, Lachlann.” When she moved closer to his face, the other two glared at her. “And I brought ye food and water.”
Lachlann groaned as if in appreciation, but his voice was definitely stronger. She poured more water into his mouth. He drank his fill.
“My thanks.” His voice still a bit hoarse, he sat up some and chewed the bread.
“Eat it slowly now.” Ethne offered a small smile.
He nodded, his gaze steady on hers. “Ah, ye’re a sight for these tired eyes.”
When he cupped her cheek, she turned toward it, placing a kiss on his palm.
“Did I get to tell ye how beautiful ye are?”
“Oh, Lachlann, I am so sorry for all this.” Tears dripped down her cheeks, even as she tried to stay strong.
“None of that. Uradech died the way he lived. They’ll see that. Dinna worry so.”
Niall held up his hand to Aldred when he would have commented.
“I do.” Ethne shoved her hair back from her face. “They’re treating ye as if ye’ve done something and ye haven’t. I need to tell them.”
“Do not.” He sounded incredibly determined. “I will take yer punishment, Ethne. Do not speak of it again.” He held a single, surprisingly cooler finger to her lips. “But kiss me as ye did before.”
He must mean when they were in the cave. Her face heated.
Ethne couldn’t keep herself from glancing to where Niall and Aldred stood in angry stances a few feet away. She moved close to Lachlann and whispered, “Ye’ll get yer strength back.”
He moved closer, pressing his lips to hers for the briefest moment.
A little breathless, she said, “I’ll see to ye.”
Wrapping a hand around the back of her head, he drew her close again. His lips were urgent against hers so that a slow heat grew in response from her head all the way down to her toes. Her lips parted eagerly for his tongue to gain entrance, moving against hers in a strange sort of dance. The knuckles of his hand swept across her cheek, the roughness of his fingers sending a shiver along her skin, and she moved closer still. His arms went about her to pull her flush against his upper body. It was a wonderful kiss, sparking all sorts of tiny fires along her skin wherever he touched her. She wanted it to go on forever.
A cough pulled her out of her enjoyment. She jerked away, but Lachlann’s arm remained around her waist, his dark eyes steady on her, his passion clearly ignited. She refused to wipe the moisture from her lips or to look at his friends, but kept her eyes on him.
“Ye seem to be feeling better,” Niall said. “Lachlann, do ye wish us to leave?”
“If Ethne will stay with me, I would like to be alone with her. Will ye?”
