He gave her a light kiss, then withdrew. He rolled over onto his back and gathered her into his arms.
Nora draped herself over his chest and listened to his heart pounding under her cheek. The deep thud was so incredibly soothing. How she wished she could lay like this forever.
She traced circles around his chest and toyed idly with his nipples.
“You keep doing that, Nora,” he said huskily, “and neither of us will sleep tonight.”
It was a threat he proved well before the dawn came.
It was close to daybreak when Ewan finally faded off to sleep while dreaming of something he hadn’t thought of in a long, long time.
He saw himself at home with Nora. Saw her with his children and for the first time since Isobail had ridden off with her lover, he dared to hope for a dream that had left him.
Even in his sleep, he could feel Nora beside him, feel her warm breath on his skin. He took comfort in her and in the knowledge that he was going to make her his.
No one would ever come between them.
Nora woke up first to the late morning light streaming across the room. She yawned and looked to see Ewan still fast asleep.
He was completely bare.
Her face flamed, but she couldn’t take her eyes off his long, lean limbs that bulged with hard muscles. His dark, tawny skin looked luscious against the white linens and it made her mouth water for a sample.
Not that she should crave him after the night they had. For that matter, she shouldn’t be able to move.
Ewan had shown her ways for a man to take a woman that she wouldn’t have thought possible. But never once had he hurt her.
Nay, her bear was ever tender.
And as she stared at his naked body, she remembered all too well licking those hard pectorals. Of feeling his raw strength surrounding her as she held him in her arms.
Glorious, that was the only way to describe him.
She slid herself out of bed and quickly dressed in the gown she’d burrowed from Catarina, trying her best not to wake him. No doubt he would be exhausted for the whole of the day.
Smiling, she bit her lip impishly at the thought.
Once she was dressed, she headed toward the room she was supposed to share with Catarina. She would need her own clothes before she went below to break her fast.
As she left Ewan’s room, she met the inn’s owner in the hallway. He glared at her as she excused herself and headed back to where Catarina had slept.
Catarina was already awake and by the smile on her face, Nora knew she didn’t have to tell her where she’d been.
“My lady... did you have a good evening?”
“Shh,” Nora breathed. “I will have to spend the rest of my life doing penance for this.”
“Then make an honest man of him.”
Nora laughed at her words. “If it were only that simple.” She sighed wistfully as she gathered her things.
What would it be like to spend the rest of her life with Ewan as they had been these last few days?
Would they ever have laughter and happiness? Or would he return to his sullen ways?
She had to admit, the thought of having him to husband was a glorious one indeed.
Catarina excused herself to give her privacy.
