Hew held up his injured hand.The blisters were gone and the skin had healed with little scarring.“Well enough to grip an axe.”
“Good to hear.”He clapped a hand atop Hew’s shoulder.“’Tis time ye returned to us.”He leaned close to whisper loudly, “My daughter missed ye somethin’ fierce.”
“Da!”she scolded.
“’Tis true, lass,” he said.“Your smile’s grown a bit dim.”
Hew told him, “Alas, I fear I’m not returning just yet.”
“What?”
“I’ve only come to fetch a few of the physician’s things.He needs them at the monastery.”
“I see,” he said, disappointed.“Well, Carenza has the key to his quarters.”He gave her a wink.“Ye can let him in, aye?”
“O’ course.”
He gave Hew’s shoulder a squeeze.“Are ye sure ye won’t stay?It can’t be too excitin’, mopin’ about with monks.”
“I’m sure.”
That was a lie.He’d never been less sure.All he had to do was glance at Carenza’s face to cast a thousand doubts on his decision to return to Kildunan.
When they were out of hearing of her father, Carenza murmured, “Is that true?Did ye come to fetch Peris’s things?”
“Not exactly.”
She smiled.She hadn’t been so happy in a fortnight.Had it truly only been a fortnight?It felt like forever.
Then he added, “But I do need to see his quarters before we…”
“Before we…?”
The smoldering glance he gave her said everything.Her heart flipped like a fresh-caught trout.The blood sang in her veins.And her body awakened as if his gaze had physically touched her.
“I missed ye so,” she whispered.
“It turns out you were right,” he whispered back.“I’d make a terrible monk.”
They reached the physician’s quarters, and she opened the door with her key.
He stepped in and closed the door behind them.
She whirled about and immediately collided with him in an outpouring of affection.A fortnight’s worth of yearning spilled from her like ale from an uncorked barrel.In his arms, she felt like she’d come home.
Hew responded in equal measure.Attacking her like a starving man at a feast.As if he could never get enough of her to fill the cavern of his heart.
Arms squeezed.Hands grasped.Mouths sought out flesh.Breath mingled in a whirlwind of desire.Their passion was frenzied and fearless, a ferocious storm they braved together.
As they kissed, he turned and backed her against the door.Then he used the deft fingers of one hand to gather her skirts, hiking them higher and higher.His other hand he crooked around the back of her neck, pulling her close.His body molded to hers, and she could feel the hard evidence of his desire against her hip.
He deepened the kiss.His tongue swept the interior of her mouth, and she answered him, snaking her tongue around his in a dizzying dance.
Then his fingers reached the hem of her skirts, and he rooted beneath them.
She stiffened as he threaded his fingers into the curls guarding her womanhood.But then, driven by instinct, she pushed against his hand.The pressure was divine.His fingers glided farther, urging her thighs apart and moving toward the center of her need.
Her mouth fell open.She let her head fall aside.
