“I-If you wish, it would be better for you tae sleep here than in that chair, aye? It canna be comfortable and you need your rest, Errol—och!”
He had moved so quickly from the chair to the bed to fling aside his half of the covers, Tira was certain she had never felt her face burn hotter—her heart jumped to her throat.
“My thanks, wife—ah, this feels so much better.”
As the mattress shifted under his weight, Tira held tightly onto the bedspread and the linen sheet underneath as he yanked them up, or she would have been left with nothing more to cover herself than her nightgown.
Errol had rolled onto his side, too, and faced her, from the tickling warmth of his breath at the nape of her neck, which made her bury her head more deeply into her pillow and shift over even further.
“Och, take care, Tira, or you’ll find yourself tumbling onto the floor. Sleep well, my love.”
She stiffened, certain she had heard him utter a soft chuckle as the warmth of his body, too, seemed to radiate toward her. Only then did she realize he must be naked—aye? She surely wasn’t going to glance over her shoulder and look!
Another low chuckle came from Errol as Tira clutched the edge of the mattress…though mere moments later, she heard his breathing deepen when weariness must have overcome him.
Yet when would she be able to sleep with his muscled thigh suddenly pressing against her bottom? She knew he couldn’t have done so on purpose when he was clearly fast asleep.
The nearness of Errol’s body a stirring sensation she would never have imagined possible as he shifted again and drew closer, Tira sucked in her breath when…in the midst of a low snore, he draped his arm over her shoulder.
The heaviness confirming to her, indeed, that he slept deeply, which made her close her eyes, too, as a strange comforting feeling overwhelmed her to have Errol lying next to her.
Not keeping well to his side of the bed, but on hers, Tira’s last thought as sleep overcame her of how close they had come to kissing in the garden…and she hadn’t minded at all.
Miracle of miracles, she hadwantedher husband to kiss her…
CHAPTER 13
“Gavin!” Her arms spread wide in welcome, Cora ran across the bailey in a fluttering of blue silk and enveloped her husband in a hug even as he embraced her fiercely, his heartbeat thudding so strong and steadily against her breast.
“You’re back—ah, God, I was beginning tae wonder when you would ever return!” she blurted just before Gavin found her mouth in an impassioned kiss that took her breath away.
Cora heard awkward coughs from the ramparts and knew the guards had spun back around to survey the countryside, which only made her laugh against Gavin’s lips.
Her joy was boundless…and yet tempered a moment later when he lifted his head to stare down at her with an apologetic look upon his handsome face.
“We have only two days, Cora. King Robert is already heading south with forces gathered thus far while other lairds and their clansmen are expected to join him soon at his encampment—including myself and Errol. How is he faring? Tira and the bairns?”
“All are well, husband…very well.” Cora mustered a reassuring smile to mask her dismay at his news, and looped herarm through Gavin’s as they walked together toward the keep. “They wed two days past?—”
“Wed?”
Gavin had stopped and looked astonished, indeed, which made Cora laugh again and reach up to stroke his stubbled cheek.
“Aye, we’ve been very busy here—but it wasna too difficult tae arrange. Errol loves Tira and she loves him…though I dinna know if she’s told him as much yet—och! Listen tae me going on when you’re probably famished!”
“Aye, lass, but for more than food,” Gavin murmured huskily against her cheek, drawing her close to hug her again. “All I’ve thought about since the king granted me a few days tae return home?—”
“Since then only?” Cora cut him off with a teasing smile. “I would hope you think of me night and day…ah, Gavin.”
She had pressed her forehead to his and cupped his beloved face with her hands, closing her eyes when he kissed her…and so languorously, so tenderly that she felt shivers to her toes.
“By God, woman, if only we lay in a meadow without all these eyes upon us, I would take you here and now…”
His passionate whisper like a sweet caress against her lips, Cora nodded and wished, too, that they were already in their bedchamber and alone—until childish squeals suddenly erupted from the doorway to the keep and Sinclair and Maud came running.
“Papa!”
Sinclair reached Gavin first and he swung his six-year-old son high in the air, only for Maud to capture Gavin around his knees to hug him, giggling.
