Marcán was not about to get into a discussion with a slave. He preferred to stay away from them in general. “I do not believe Philip wanted ye to tarry here.”
With a nod, she turned about just as the door to the roundhouse swung open. Like a cool breath of refreshing air, Astrid came toward him. She noticed the other woman, surprise evident, and seemed to assess her as they crossed paths.
Marcán dropped his head in his hands.
“Thank ye for bringing Diarmuid and Aednat back to us.” Astrid settled beside him, leaving a discreet distance between them. “Ye look done in.”
He smirked. “I have heard as much.”
“Is there anything I can get for ye?”
Somewhere in his mind, he struggled to determine if her behavior was as unusual as it seemed.
“I need to see to Diarmuid,” he said.
“Surely he can wait until ye’ve at least rested?”
He must look near death to elicit that type of concern from her. He tried to rally, but found he could not even lift his head.
So he simply sighed, a heavy sigh. “Unfortunately, I am not convinced his lady will survive.”
Astrid stood. “Oh no!”
His eyes flew open, rounding. She clutched her arms to her chest, her face a mask of dread.
“Oh, Astrid.” He gripped his hands to keep from reaching for her. “Forgive my heartless words. Ye do not need to hear such things.” He was babbling like a damn fool and shook his head. “Please do not feel ye must stay here with me. I am fine, but I am not fit company.”
The auburn-haired lass returned. Closing the door behind her, she waited until Marcán’s eyes found her. Then, a fresh horn in her hand, she approached him with determined steps. Looking into her eyes, he knew her willingness. Suddenly, it seemed to matter very little that she was a slave. He needed to be close to someone now, if only to convince himself he was still alive after seeing so many dead.
“My thanks.” He sipped from the horn, his gaze never wavering from the lass.
Astrid coughed beside them. “Well… I will return inside. Maeve is with Aednat now. Ah”—she turned to the lass—“Merewyn? Is it?”
“I am called Merewyn.”
Marcán was not surprised that Merewyn’s smile was so fetching. In fact, there was nothing about her he did not care for. This may be a slave he took for himself.
“Ye’ve been given to me,” Astrid said.
Astrid would own her? Then she would definitely be off limits and his disappointment was acute.
Something stirred at Astrid’s tone. It had sharpened. Marcán looked on, intrigued by this unexpected turn of events. So much so he felt a second wind, his tiredness leaving.
He sipped at his mead, the lass’s eyes on Astrid alone now, her backside to him. A fine arse, but when he glanced at Astrid, he found his gaze returned. His chest tightened.Thatwas the face he wanted to see looking up at him as he sought his release. Those were the eyes he wanted to see closing in passion as he rode her. That was where he’d prefer to see his needs met. Raw desire slammed into him. Desperation. It wasn’t possible to take a full breath.
“Ye can sit with the others and eat,” Astrid said to Merewyn, “but remain there until I come for ye. Do not venture out again.”
Marcán could not be certain Merewyn did not glance his way before she obeyed her mistress. His attention was elsewhere.
Astrid swallowed, her neck exposed now, the bruise he’d seen earlier barely visible. It was enough to remind him that he had things to settle with her. A good reason to keep her in his company.
“Sit.” He indicated the spot beside him.
“Let me see to yer bath, Marcán.”
Dumbfounded, he simply stared at her retreating back. It was usually Joan who saw to such things for Marcán. He was shown this deference as a sign of his value to the clan. An unmarried warrior was usually seen to by the king’s wife, but until now Diarmuid had had no wife, and the late king’s wife, Beibhinn, chose to ignore him.
The thought of Astrid helping him in his bath stiffened his prick in an instant. Followed by the realization that it would not be a good idea to allow her to touch him. The simple act of assisting in his bath could be his undoing; he wanted her that much.
