A Warrior's Promise (18 page)

Chapter 20

C
harlotte sat cross-legged on the bed. She cast a glance at Odin, who slept peacefully by the hearth, the half-gnawed bone he had enjoyed safely tucked beneath his paw.

She yawned, tired from her ordeal, and ran her fingers through her damp, short hair. She was grateful that she had been given a clean shirt to wear, large though it was, falling past her knees. The sleeves she had rolled up, so they would not cover her hands.

It felt heavenly to be clean and wear a clean garment, not that it would last long. Her ruse needed to continue, and there weren't many freshly scrubbed young lads around. So she would enjoy her fresh-scrubbed feel for at least tonight.

Her aches had diminished some after her bath, and her abrasions proved minor. She could do nothing about the darkening bruise on her jaw, which had joined what bruise was already there. It looked worse then it felt and would fade in time. She was much more concerned about her feelings for Bryce.

What confused her was why her desire for him had suddenly soared. Why this relentless ache that needed soothing? The answer was there, she knew it; she simply did not want to admit it.

She feared that if she did not take this chance, did not taste of love, she never would. She was not even certain if it was love; though from what her father had described of his collision with love, it certainly sounded familiar.

That this was not the time to fall in love was an ever-constant reminder to her, yet how did she prevent it? How did she stop from falling in love? Wouldn't it be easier simply to allow her heart to lead instead of her mind?

She wished she had another woman to talk with. That was one thing she missed, moving around from place to place, establishing lasting friendship with other women. She only had her father's perspective on love, and she so wished for a woman's opinion.

She felt lost as how to deal with the escalating attraction between her and Bryce. She had fought against it, believing it for the best, but tonight, that had changed.

When Bryce had taken her in his arms, she had seen a look in his eyes she had never seen before. She knew there and then that love could be visible; she saw it shining boldly in his blue eyes. It had jolted her heart, and a comfort so overpowering had washed over her that she had wanted to linger in the soothing sensation forever.

She also wanted to explore it, to taste all it had to offer, and that was why she had let him know that she would not be averse to their making love.

Charlotte shivered and smiled at the tingles that tickled her body from top to bottom, a frequent reaction to her frequent thoughts of intimacy with Bryce.

Remain alert to all thoughts.

She certainly was paying heed to her father's words, but it was her father's dilemma that she should be paying the most heed to.

She sighed again, feeling more lost than ever and wishing that Bryce would return. Not that it would solve anything; she simply missed him.

The door opened as her thought finished, and she smiled. It faded quickly when she caught sight of him. Blood marred his shirt, straw stuck to a good portion of his plaid, his knuckles were scraped, red, and swollen, and his handsome face was damp with sweat though he had not suffered a scratch or bruise.

He stared at her a moment but said not a word. He dropped the bow, cache, and sack, all of which she had left behind, on the table. Then he walked over to the pail near the hearth and plunged his hands into the water. He scrubbed them clean and did not even wince though surely his scraped knuckles had to have stung. Her wounds had when she had cleansed them, and she had cringed often when doing so.

When he began stripping off his clothes, Charlotte turned her head, not that she hadn't already seen him naked. But that time he had thought her a lad, and she had had no choice. Now she did have a choice, and she believed the wisest thing for her to do would be to look away. He was simply too tempting naked.

With her glance averted and her mind cleared, she asked what she should have when he first walked in. “What happened?”

“I finished what you started.”

It took Charlotte a moment to realize what he meant. “The lad—”

“Is fine,” he said, “and will remain so until I can send someone to come collect him.”

She smiled. “You offered the lad a home.”

“I could not leave him here to suffer further abuse from Ewan, and no doubt he would.”

“And Ewan?” she asked anxiously.

“He got what he deserved,” Bryce said. “It will be a while before he's able to speak and able to see out of his one eye.” He walked toward her. “And you?”

She knew he approached the bed, his voice growing closer. But she dared not look, not even a peek, or she feared she'd make a fool of herself. “I am fine, my wounds minor and my aches bearable.”

“Look at me,” he ordered sharply.

“Are you naked?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will not look at you,” she said emphatically.

“You've seen me naked before,” he argued.

“When you thought me a lad; now you know me a woman. It would not be proper—”

She heard him walk around to the other side of the bed, and, as he did, she turned her head the opposite way. The bed gave way to his weight, and she felt him slip beneath the soft wool blanket beside her.

She turned then to glare at him.

“I told you that you would be sleeping in my arms tonight.”

“You failed to tell me that you would be naked,” she accused.

“Not something I planned on, but I much prefer.”

“I don't,” she said.

He smiled. “Why? Am I too tempting naked?”

She turned the question on him. “Am I?”

“Let's find out,” he said, and reached for her shirt.

“Stop,” she scolded, shooing his hands away.

He was quicker though he didn't rob her of her shirt. He grabbed hold of her waist and had her flat on her back and up against his side in seconds.

“In my arms is where you belong.”

“For tonight,” she reminded, relaxing against him. He was warm, his scent like that of freshly dug earth and spring rain. His chest, though hard with muscles, pillowed her head quite nicely. His hand stroked her back, dipping ever lower past her waist as he did.

His caresses sent tingles through her from his first touch, but when his hand slipped down over her backside and squeezed and then slipped slowly beneath her shirt, she knew she was in trouble.

A heavy pounding at the door had them both jumping apart and Odin standing. Charlotte ran for the chair by the hearth and plopped down in it just before the door burst open.

“Soldiers have just entered the village,” Edgar informed them once in the room. “They look to have been traveling for some time.”

Charlotte was grateful that Bryce asked, “Do they have prisoners with them?

“No,” Edgar said. “There are about fifteen of them, and the rain has left them foul in temper. They demand food, drink, and lodging in name of the king.”

“We leave immediately,” Bryce said, throwing the blanket back and going straight for his clothes. “Can you get food for us to take?”

“Da has already arranged it.”

Charlotte worried that Edgar would not leave. How then would she get dressed?

Bryce must have thought the same, for he asked, “Can you bring the food here to us? We'll be done gathering our things by then and can be on our way.”

Edgar nodded. “I won't be long.”

“Neither will we,” Bryce said.

As soon as the door closed, Charlotte sprang into action. She kept the shirt on and slipped her tunic over it. She yanked her boots on and what was left of the bread, cheese, and meat on the serving platters she wrapped in a cloth and shoved it into the sack, which had little food left.

Odin nudged her hand, and she looked to see him with his half-chewed bone in his mouth.

She took it from him. “For safekeeping,” she said, and shoved it in the sack.

He licked her hand in appreciation.

“Are you both ready?” Bryce asked.

Charlotte slipped her cache over her shoulder and grabbed hold of her bow, along with the sack. “Now we are.”

Bryce stepped close, his hand going to rest at the back of her neck. “Are you sure you feel well enough for this?”

“I have no choice.”

“There is no moon to guide us, and it rains. It will not be easy to put distance between us and the soldiers.”

“But it is necessary,” she reminded, “for many reasons.”

Edgar returned with a sack of food and extra blankets. He guided them safely down a hidden stairway known only to Toag and his sons, then through a narrow passage and into the dark, stormy night.

The two men shared a quick handshake, exchanged whispered words, then Edgar was gone. So were they, disappearing into the woods at the back of the keep.

Charlotte ordered Odin to stay close and keep silent. The dog understood her commands and obeyed, not a bark or snarl out of him.

She in turn followed Bryce's brisk order. “Stay close.”

If she didn't, she would surely lose him. The thick cloud cover and the steady rain made night visibility nearly impossible, so falling a step or two behind could prove dangerous.

After what seemed like eternity, Bryce stopped and turned to her. “Enough. I am not even sure of where we travel. It could be right into the arms of the soldiers. We need to take shelter until morning.”

She almost fell against him in relief. Her body ached, and she was wet to the bone.

It wasn't much of a shelter, a tall pine so heavy and thick that the rain could barely penetrate the preponderance of branches. And a large stone that hugged the tree trunk helped block the windy rain. The trio sat huddled together, Charlotte in the middle.

Bryce wrapped himself around her, tucking her in the crook of his arm, then threw a blanket around them. She gratefully cuddled closer, and though he was as wet as she was, there was warmth to his body. It seeped inside her and helped to chase her chill.

He kneaded and rubbed her arm, sparking more heat to her cold flesh.

“We leave at first light,” he said.

“We pick up the trail where we found my da's message?” She could not keep her voice from trembling.

“You are cold,” he said, and, with a quick lift, had her in his lap and the blanket wrapped completely around them both.

Charlotte tucked her legs up, cuddling into a ball in his lap. He continued to stroke and knead heat into her, and his efforts as well as his combined body heat slowly began to chase away the deep-rooted chill.

“Our search does not go well,” he said.

“It will now that we know about my da's messages.”

“We don't know if we will find any more or even if he was able to leave more.”

Her head popped up. “You are not suggesting that we give up?”

“It might be wise for us to return to my home, rest, regroup, and gather one or two of my brothers, then continue.”

She got so upset, her heart started pounding, and the chill returned sending shivers through her. “No! I will not desert my da.”

“That is not my thought at all.”

“Then why suggest it?”

“It is the wisest thing for us to do at this point. We have run into obstacle after obstacle, and it grows more and more dangerous for you to be parading around as a lad.”

“So it would be less dangerous for me after returning home with you to continue our mission as a woman?”

His hesitation made her realize his intentions.

She bolted up in his arms. “You intend to leave me at your home and continue the mission with your brothers.” She didn't give him a chance to respond. She poked him hard in the chest. “That will never happen.”

She tried to move off his lap, but he clamped his arms tightly around her. She struggled for a moment, but her useless effort only served to aggravate her aches. She calmed and settled once again, deciding it was better to conserve her strength.

“I will search for my da with or without you.”

“You know I will not leave you on your own.”

“Then the matter is settled,” she said.

He reached up and stroked her cheek with his finger, slowly turning her face to look at him. “At least tell me you will think on it.”

Her annoyance with him deflated as soon as she looked into his eyes. It truly frightened her to see what she saw for a second time, and though she realized that she could be wrong, she knew she wasn't. It was love she saw, potent and powerful.

“It would be easy for me to lie to you,” she said, “and tell you what you wish to hear. But I cannot. I will take no time to rest or be left behind. I will search for my da until I find him.”

“You are a stubborn one.”

“I am stubborn when it comes to those I love.”

He smiled. “Then your husband will have his hands full.”

“My husband will always have my hands to help him, to hold him, to care for him, to protect him, and to make love to him.”

Her words sparked something in both of them, for their lips came together simultaneously. At first, it was a gentle kiss, a simple need to touch and linger in the inexplicable anticipation of what was to come.

Desire exploded in them both, driving them to taste like lovers long starved for each other. She didn't object when his hand moved over her breast and gave a gentle squeeze. She liked the play of his hands so intimately on her. It rushed heated tingles through her body.

It also gave her the need to touch him, and she ran her hand down inside his shirt to stroke his hard chest. Though wet, his heated flesh stung and made her want to touch him all the more.

He laid her back on the ground, his hand pillowing her head and his mouth going to nip at her nipples through her clothes. It felt good, and she could only imagine how it would feel if naked. And oh, how she wished she were. And oh, how she wished he would not stop, not ever.