“And there was nothing about me that would have indicated I was a criminal?”
Freya chuckled. “Well, it’s nae as if I have much experience with criminals, ye ken?”
Nathan nudged her with his foot. “Aye, I understand that. Did I have shackles on me wrists?”
Freya shook her head with a laugh. “Nay, and ye didnae have any of the bruising and such I would have expected tae see from a criminal either.” She pointed in the direction of his wrists and ankles as she spoke.
He turned his focus down to the areas she mentioned, noting that even with all her healing, there would likely still be some yellow tint to his skin. “Unless somebody threw me overboard.”
Freya hummed, seeming to consider it for a moment. “Aye, that is a possibility too. But, the fishermen found far too much debris in the water for that. Whatever ship ye were on went down. Ye were the only survivor as far as I ken.”
“Because of the storm?” He asked to confirm the story she had already told him at least a dozen times all over again.
She reached out and grabbed his hand. “I cannae say why it was that ye were on the boat in the first place, of course, but while ye are covered in more than yer own share of scars and the like, I dinnae think those are the marks of a criminal, but rather awarrior.” She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. “I think yer little display at breakfast only proved that even further.”
Nathan didn’t know what to say to that, so he merely nodded his assent.
“Besides,” Freya added, suddenly looking very preoccupied with the food in her hands. “Ye have been nothing but soft and kind with me.”
Her face bloomed an even prettier shade of red than the natural blush the sun had given her the day before.
“I dinnae think in me heart that ye are a bad man, Nathan.”
He wanted to touch her. Every single part of him wanted nothing more than to reach over and take her hand in his own with a squeeze. That was all that he wanted. Would it be crossing a line? He couldn’t even bring himself to ask her what her plans for after their arrival were.
But, feeling the silence no doubt, Freya reached over to the shirt he was wearing. He forgot how to breathe entirely as she pulled his shirt from where it was tucked. “What are ye—” The words were whispered, more curious than in actual protest. She had been so careful not to touch him more than she absolutely had to when he was teaching her how to swim. They had been so cautious… and now?
But she seemed to be on a mission as she found the corner of the long shirt, and showed him the small, embroidered letter once again. His thumb brushed over the ‘J’ and his heart sank.
“Maybe we will be able tae find who put this letter on yer shirt, and then ye can finally have the answers ye are looking fer. The island has clearly nae sparked any memories, so ye must be from the mainland,” Freya said somewhat wistfully as she forced a smile.
Who had stitched the letter? Had it been his mother? A lover? Why did the prospect of the former fill his chest with bile and acid?
“I think it would be fer the best if we both just stay in here fer the night and make dae with the things we already purchased today,” Freya said.
“It’s nae ideal, but I dinnae see what other choice we really have,” Nathan admitted.
“I’m sure it’ll all be fine, at least we are together,” Freya added, blushing furiously again before heading over to the window, maybe because she wanted to hide her blush.
It was hard for Nathan tae tear his eyes from her. “Ye should get some sleep. While I cannae remember it, I imagine being on a ship cannae be easy on one’s sleep.”
“I dinnae get motion sickness.”
“Ye are terrified of the water, Freya.”
“Nae if ye’re there,” she said, her back still turned to him; but he could see that even the back of her neck was blushing, and it warmed him wholly and thoroughly.
He finished eating as she finished checking over their things to make sure that nothing had been missed. She then went to the bed, where he joined her. They had shared a bed for weeks now and neither of them knew when they were going to be able to sleep in a real bed again, or when they would have a soft pillow to lay upon. She picked lay down and leaned her head on his shoulder, without saying a word.
It was painfully intimate.
“Sleep, Freya. I’ll keep watch over ye, just in case,” Nathan said softly as she nuzzled down to get more comfortable, her brilliant hair spreading out like a wildfire.
Gingerly, he placed a hand on her shoulder, letting his thumb swipe out over the surface for a moment, and telling himself that it was only to soothe her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Freya? It’s time.”
