Tiernan huffs a sigh and grabs a lantern. “Let’s get away from prying eyes then,” he motions with his free hand.
My confusion leaves me speechless as he helps me to my feet and leads me away from the group. He holds the lantern out in front of him, his fingers laced with mine as we maneuver through the trees until we get a very small distance away, behind some thick bushes. I turn to him with a lifted brow. “Alright,” Tiernan signs one-handed, holding up the lantern. He hooks it over a low-hanging branch. “Hold on to that tree.”
“What?” I glance at the thick trunk of the tree.
He grins. “You truly make it difficult for a man to give a simple healing session.”
I turn and press my hands against the rough bark. Tiernan steps closer behind me and immediately, my heart hammers … from anticipation?
“I haven’t even touched you yet,”Tiernan says into my mind, amusement in his inner voice. I’m about to retort when he lifts the hem of my tunic and cool air kisses my skin. Goose bumps rise along my flesh until his hands warm me. His fingers encircle my waist, thumbs pressing into my lower back.
There’s the slightest twinge of my sore muscles before more warmth flows into them, calming the ache and dragging out some sound that vibrates in my chest. I close my eyes and relax, my forearms now against the tree trunk, my forehead against my arms.
“Didn’t I tell you I was very skilled with my hands?” Tiernan asks.
I chuckle. “Yes, ironically it was also while you healed me last time. After you forced me to throw daggers and caused me to cut my hand in the first place.”
His groan fills my headspace and causes my stomach to clench pleasantly. “You sure know how to ruin a moment,”he says with amusement.
“Oh, were you trying to create a moment?”I glance over my shoulder at him, smirking.
Simultaneously, we shift—Tiernan lifts his hands and I turn, pressing my back against the tree. He steps close enough for us to share a breath, his nose brushing mine. “How’s your back?”
My pulse quickens. “As if you don’t already know the answer.”
His eyes crinkle. “I do. I was just stalling.”
“Stalling for what?”
He gently tips my chin up so our lips meet. His hands cradle my face, and I’m hyperaware of every place where his body meets mine.Our lips part, but our foreheads linger against each other. Overwhelming longing weakens my knees, stealing my breath.
“Sorry,”Tiernan says. “Projecting again. If we keep going like this, I may never want to stop.” As I’m about to protest, he adds, “Andwe really ought to take advantage of this time to have a solid rest before we’re back to traveling.”
I give a dramatic sigh, and he lifts his head, chuckling as he caresses my face. I drop the theatrics to admire the light inhis eyes. Gone is that haunted look he’s had lately. Right now, there’s only admiration and joviality, and I wish it would last forever.
“Durvla, the way you’re looking at me—” He steps back.
“How am I looking at you?” I sign.
The cheer is ghosted over by something I can’t quite pinpoint. “Like I’m worthy of such admiration.”
“What do you?—”
He takes my hand, lacing our fingers together and effectively quieting me. “Bed,” he enunciates without signing. As much as I want to press him further—as much as I wouldn’t mind remaining here longer, lost in his kisses—I let him lead me back to my bedroll. As soon as my body hits the material, I drift off into a dreamless sleep.
An overwhelming chill yanks me from my slumber. I sit up, my heart racing, my head throbbing, and glance over at Tiernan. The faintest stream of sunlight filters through the trees and onto Tiernan’s body. His legs are tangled in his bedroll, pain and fear twisting his features as his head whips back and forth. I scamper over on my knees and palm his face. An image leaps into my mind—a bloodied dagger and a vicious grin—bringing along a searing pain that cuts down my neck to my collarbone. My chest collapses in on itself, my heart squeezing. I pull my hand away from Tiernan to clutch my own throat.
He continues to thrash, but I clasp my hands together to keep from reaching out again. “Tiernan, wake up!” I shout in my mind, hoping he’ll hear me. When that doesn’t work, I give his shoulders a firm shake.
His chest heaves, wide eyes frantic as he jolts from his sleep and grapples for the swords beside his sleep sack. I fall on my behind, my hands out and ready to unleash a shield should I have to, but recognition quickly fills his eyes.
“It’s alright,” I say, hopefully soft enough that it doesn’t wake everyone. “It was just a nightmare.”
Sweat coats his skin, plastering his hair to his forehead. His throat bobs as he swallows, and slowly he realizes there’s no real danger here. He slides his fingers along his scar then over his forehead, pushing his hair from his face.
After some hesitation, I finally sign, “Do you want to talk about it?”
He rolls his shoulders and untangles his legs from the bedroll before replying with a curt, “No, I’m fine.”
