“Ye must have at least travelled from England”, Drust ventured. He told himself he needed to know more about her in order to be certain she was not an enemy of his clan. Not for any selfish reasons. Oh aye, he was undeniably in lust with her, but that was all. As far as it went. What man in his right mind wouldn’t lust for such a beautiful, sensual creature?
“Yes, from England. But it sounds as if you’ve travelled much more than I.”
Drust frowned at her neat evasion of his question. “Aye. I’ve been on quite a few journeys. Including this last one, which I have no memory of.”
She smiled. This was the most he had ever said to her. Amazing. “I’m glad you’re alive to not remember it.”
“You said you found me at the mouth of a cave? Alone?”
“Yes.” She looked at his face, his eyes so full of a life nearly lost, and her heart flooded with tenderness. “You had nearly bled out. I remember the blood soaking into the ground all around you. There seemed so little chance you would live, I…” She shook her head as if to clear it. “Will you tell me what happened?”
He shook his head. “I can no’.”
“Well”, she said softly, after she had chewed the last of her bread, “it seems we are destined to remain strangers. And since we’re at an impasse of sorts, we might as well retire for the night.”
A strange look of regret flickered over his face, but Drust quickly schooled his features. “Aye, we might as well. Go in first and get yerself ready.”
“Come in with me, I don’t mind…”
“No”, he said firmly. “That’s no’ a good idea. You go first.”
Sighing, Willa went into the room, rolled her pallet out and took off her dress, pulling a night gown over her head. She could hardly believe that after what just happened they were not going to be sharing the bed.
Patience, Willa.
“Finished!” she called.
A moment later the door opened and Drust came in, frowning at her pile of blankets near the hearth.
“Lass, I want ye to take the bed. I’m nearly healed now, and ye’ve been sleeping on the floor long enough.”
“No, I don’t mind. And you’re still not nearly healed, Drust. It will be weeks longer before you have complete use of that side.”
“I insist. I’ll not have ye sleeping on the floor while I sleep in a soft bed.”
She gave him a mischievous smile. “Then we’ll share the bed.”
“No! We’ll do no such thing. Ye will keep yer honor as long as I’m here with ye. I promised yer brother.”
Willa narrowed her eyes. She should have realized James would have spoken to him before he left. “My brother has no say in such matters. If I decide to sleep in your bed while you’re in it, I will!”
She wanted to ask why it was so wrong to share a bed after what had already happened between them, but she kept her mouth firmly shut. If she pointed out the truth, he would likely balk and go back to keeping her at arm’s length. And she supposed sharing a bed was in some ways more intimate. Stubborn man. Oh what she wouldn’t give to curl up against all that smooth skin and hard muscle…
“Fine, lass, sleep on the floor if it suits ye.”
Drust climbed into the bed and stretched out, turning onto his good side so he could surreptitiously watch her. It occurred to him that there was a perfectly serviceable bed in the next room. He could sleep there and Willa could have this bed to herself. But no, hewantedto sleep close to her. Someone needed to be close to protect her should someone break into the cottage, he told himself. Deep down, or maybe not so deep down, he knew that was a lie. After all, the place was warded. And God what he wouldn’t give to hold her in his arms as she slept…
***
Willa looked up as Drust continued to pace the small length of the room, moody and restless. The day had dawned cloudy and dark, and now the rain was pouring down, keeping them together in the little cottage that seemed smaller every day. She wished the storm would let up enough to go for a walk in the woods, anything to dissipate the pent-up energy that filled the room. She watched as Drust moved to the window and frowned at the rain, as if he could make it stop with his will alone.
“Why are you always so sullen, Warrior?”
He didn’t turn from the window. “I’m no’.”
“You are. You don’t smile nearly often enough.”
“Perhaps I’ve nothing to smileabout, lass.”
