Page 30 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

‘Did you find anything to eat?’ she asked as she stepped into the main living area. The fire was going once more and she edged closer to it.

‘A couple of apples.’ He held them up for her to see. ‘They are past their best, I’m afraid. I only picked them before Jarin and I left for Ogmore, but I still haven’t worked out the best method for storing them so they don’t rot quickly.’

He handed one over; its skin was wrinkly under her fingertips. She bit into it. The fruit was soft, but still tasty. The way her stomach was rumbling she would have eaten it if it was rotten.

‘Are there apple trees around here, then?’ she asked, wiping juice from her chin.

‘Yes, a couple outside. I’m thinking of planting more, but...’ He shrugged.

They chewed in silence while she mulled over what he’d said and what he hadn’t.

‘Do you visit here often?’ The house was too clean not to be visited regularly, but if he hadn’t found his sister why did he bother?

‘When my other duties allow it.’

‘Do you bring women here?’

He spluttered on a mouthful of apple. ‘What?’

Something strange and unpleasant clawed at her heart. Now that she’d thought about it, she couldn’t get the image of Erik sitting around his exquisitely made table, talking and laughing with some nameless woman. She hated the way the idea made her stomach burn. What was happening to her? Why did she care so much?

‘Do you have a comb?’ she asked sharply.

A comb would suggest a woman’s presence.

‘I’m afraid I don’t. And...’ He pushed a hand through his hair. ‘I haven’t brought anyone else here other than you.’

He looked up at her. Their gazes caught and held. Her heart began to beat painfully in her chest. What was happening here? It couldn’t be good, whatever it was.

He blinked and she managed to tear her gaze away from him.

She moved over to the fire, pretending to warm her fingers while she finished her apple.

Erik disappeared upstairs and she didn’t turn to watch him leave the room. She finished her apple and licked her fingers free of juice.

She heard the heavy clomp of his boots returning downstairs and sucked in a breath. She would not let him know how much his presence affected her.

‘Are you ready to go?’ he asked, smothering the fire until it was out.

‘Of course.’ She smoothed her skirts unnecessarily and took one last look around the room. She wanted to remember every detail so she could picture him here once they had parted for the last time.

Outside the air was crisp with cold. She pulled her cloak tighter, but it did nothing to stop the cruel wind cutting through her clothes and chilling her skin. She shuddered and immediately wished that she was back in the cottage, curled up by the comforting fire.

Erik had been heading over to the barn where he’d stabled Cai, but he stopped when she didn’t immediately follow him.

He retraced his steps and stood in front of her. His gaze swept over her body. Her body tightened under his penetrating gaze. Her heart began to race. Her fingers itched with the urge to reach up and touch the soft curls of his hair.

She waited. He leaned forward and took the edge of her cloak between his thumb and forefinger. She held her breath, waiting for his hand to slip beneath the fabric and pull her to him.

‘I hadn’t realised this was so thin,’ he said, rubbing the fabric lightly. ‘Let me see if I have something warmer for you to wear.’

He disappeared back into the cottage and she let out a long breath.

Once again she’d proved to herself just how foolish she was. While she was thinking of nothing other than kissing and being held, he was thinking about practical matters. She needed to concentrate and stop fantasising about things that would never happen.

Reappearing, he handed her another cloak without comment. She shrugged into it while he led Cai out into the open. The horse snorted and shook his head, seemingly as displeased to be outside in the cold as Linota. She pulled the new cloak tightly around her; it was thicker and warmer and smelled faintly of Erik. She wanted to bury her nose into the fabric and inhale deeply, but she forced herself not to. She didn’t want Erik to witness her pathetic behaviour.

Erik vaulted on to Cai’s saddle and then leaned down to pull her up behind him. ‘If it’s easier, you can hold on to me as we ride. It will be more comfortable for Cai if you move with me.’

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