Errol’s voice grown low and husky, Tira stood still as he tugged off the breacan and tossed it to the floor and then worked at the sword belt around his waist.
She couldn’t seem to move her eyes from his face, Errol holding her gaze as he dropped the belt with a hard thud, making her jump.
Her heart had jumped, too, though the sudden noise seemed to dispel some of the palpable tension in the room as Errol gave a low groan.
“Och, woman, will you watch me undress then? Do you think me made of stone?”
Errol looked so uncomfortable now, a slight grimace on his face as if he felt some physical pain—Tira gasping with understanding when she dropped her gaze to the protrusion beneath his tunic that evidenced his arousal.
“Oh, God, f-forgive me!” Her face afire, Tira scurried away from him and went to sit on the opposite side of the bed with her back to the fireplace as she heard Errol kick off his boots.
A moment more and she heard a splash followed by a muttered curse, Tira unable to resist glancing over her shoulder to see that Errol knelt as he began to scrub himself, the tub too small for him to sit.
With his heavily muscled back to her, he looked so uncomfortable and had sounded so disgruntled, she couldn’thelp giggling, though she clapped her hand over her mouth when she heard a wry chuckle.
“Next time it’s the barracks washhouse for me…until we can find ourselves a bigger tub!”
He laughed then, so rich and deep a sound that Tira could no longer restrain her giggles and joined him, their shared mirth ringing out above the sound of splashing that sent droplets flying into the hissing flames.
It seemed no more than another few moments and he was finished bathing, Tira listening with her back still turned as he padded over to the chest filled with his belongings and threw open the lid. She heard the swish of a clean tunic being tugged over his head, and then he moved over to the bed to stand in front of her, Tira looking up at him with her heart pounding.
She had never seen a man more handsome than Errol with his freshly washed hair falling to his broad shoulders and his dampened tunic clinging to his powerfully built body—her face flushing with warmth just to stare at him.
“D-did you not towel yourself dry?”
“Who has time for such nonsense when my beautiful bride is waiting tae dine with me?”
With a husky laugh, Errol pulled her up to hold her close. Tira gulped at the hard bulge that hadn’t diminished at all, pressing against her lower abdomen, her cheeks growing all the hotter.
“I desire you, wife, that’s plain, aye? It’s near killing me, too, but we’ll just have tae pretend it’s not there until that day when you’re ready tae welcome me into your arms.”
“Oh, Errol, I would welcome you now if only?—”
His mouth found hers before Tira could finish, Errol’s kiss so impassioned that Tira clung to him, wishing so desperately that she was fully healed—though she sensed he knew exactly what she had intended to say.
She shook with desire for him…a miracle that never would have occurred if not for the depth of Errol’s love for her.
His caring.
His devotion.
His determination never to give up hope for her…for them…and for the life she prayed they would be blessed to know together.
Ah, God, give her courage and strength, they had only two days before they would be parted from each other. What if he left for battle and never returned?
“No, Tira, dinna think it,” Errol demanded hoarsely against her lips as if he had sensed the sudden anguished turn of her thoughts. “We’re together now and we will be again, I swear I will come back tae you!”
Tira nodded, fresh tears welling as she threaded her fingers through his damp hair and kissed him with all the love she possessed.
Aye, he would come back to her, she had to believe it.
Shedidbelieve it. How else would she ever be able to live and breathe while Errol was gone?
“Our wives watch us still,Errol, but dinna turn around. It will only make it harder for them.”
Grimly, he nodded and forced himself to remain face front as he stood in the prow of the lead warship, Gavin holding to his own advice beside him.
Errol could feel Tira’s eyes upon him just as Cora was surely staring at her warrior husband with Sinclair and Maud at her side.
