She moved her hand over them, showing him Orion’s belt, head, arms and legs. “Can you see the outline of him?”
“Aye, I see it.”
“Well, long ago, Orion was a mighty hunter. Born the son of Poseidon and Euryale, they say he searched the world for love...”
Ewan listened in silence as she told him how Orion tried for years to win the hand of Merope and to gain the approval of her father for the marriage. And how Orion had become so tired of the wait, that he forced himself on Merope. As punishment her father blinded Orion who later traveled until he found the Greek goddess Artemis who then fell in love with him. Her brother, Apollo, angered by their love, then tricked Artemis into killing Orion who was then lifted up to the heavens by the goddess so that she could remember him.
“Must all your stories involve love gone awry?” Ewan asked. “Is there no such thing as someone actually marrying their love and living a happy life with them?”
She turned her head into his shoulder and smiled up at him. His stomach tightened.
“There is the story of Cupid and Psyche. They live together in happiness. Would you rather hear that one?”
“Aye, lass. Please.”
As Ewan listened to the sweet cadence of her voice, he ran his hand idly down her arm to her hand. Her fingers were so delicate compared to his. So soft. He took her hand in his palm and ran the pad of his thumb over the careful curve of her well-manicured nails.
The urge to lift that hand to his mouth and suckle her fingers was so fierce that he wasn’t sure how he managed to deny it. He tilted his head to look down at her while she talked. A light pink stained her cheeks as she spoke in a gentle tone of love and trust.
How he wanted her.
Right now while she lay so peacefully in his arms.
What would it be like to have her sliding against him? To feel her warm and welcoming beneath him?
Instead, he lay his cheek against the top of her head and contented himself with just holding her like this. Letting her feminine softness soothe him.
By the time Nora had finished her tale, she realized Ewan was completely relaxed.
More to the point, he was completely asleep.
“Ewan?” she whispered, looking up at him.
He didn’t stir.
Her bear lay with his lips slightly parted with her braid laced between his large fingers. She hadn’t even realized he’d touched her hair.
But she had known every other move he’d made.
She had felt his tender caress as he held her hand in his and ran his fingers over her wrist and forearm.
And when he had leaned his cheek against her head, she had melted.
Rolling over, she lifted herself up on her arms to look down at him while he slumbered. A lock of black hair fell over his forehead. She brushed it back, then traced the slash of his eyebrow with her fingertip.
He was so delectably handsome. So strong and powerful even while he rested.
Why had he indulged her tonight? She had half expected him to chastise her and send her back to camp like some errant child.
Instead, he had listened to her. Held her.
What she wouldn’t give for a husband to treat her thusly. She bit her lip as that thought played around in her mind.
Would Ewan be like this if she belonged to him?
He is unfitting for you.
Was he?
