Page 84 of The Highlander Steals a Virgin
I could stay here… with him.
Once bathed, she dressed in a fresh chemise and pulled a robe over her shoulders. Her supper had been left on a tray. It was lamb stew, oat bread, and blackberry jam, and smelled heavenly.
She ate slowly at first, then realized how hungry she was and devoured the rest in short order.
Just as she was settling into bed, a knock sounded at the door.
Her heart jumped.
She stood quickly, smoothing her robe.
“Just a moment,” she said, breathless and hurrying to the door.
She wrenched open the heavy oak, and revealed Finn and Mabel waiting in the corridor.
Amara blinked. “Oh, hello!”
“Disappointed?” Finn asked with a knowing smirk.
Mabel gave him a light swat to the stomach. “Daenae tease her.”
Amara laughed, cheeks pink. “Nae disappointed. Just surprised.”
“Ye werenae at supper,” Mabel said. “We came to check on ye.”
“I had a full day,” she said honestly. “A good one.”
“Well,” Finn said, stretching, “Good. We’ll leave ye to rest. But we’ve plans for cards tomorrow, aye?”
“I’d like that,” Amara said, genuinely warmed by the gesture.
Mabel smiled, then looped her arm through Finn’s. “Rest well, dear.”
As they disappeared down the passageway, Amara smiled, noting how attractive the two of them looked together.
Could be a fun match… maybe I’ll mention it to Rhys next time I see him…
She slowly latched the door closed, crossed the room, and slipped beneath the coverlet, heart full and body worn. Thoughts swirling in warmth and need, but exhaustion winning out.
The grounds were still damp from the morning dew as he crossed the courtyard. The familiar clang of steel and the dry thump of bodies hitting earth rang well passed the training grounds long before Rhys stepped into it.
Young lads swung wooden swords with clumsy precision, sweat already darkening the backs of their tunics. William barked instructions from the sideline with his usual flair, making a show of every correction.
Rhys rolled his shoulders, arms still sore from the day before, not that he’d admit it.
Finn was already waiting for him, leaning lazily against one of the practice posts like he hadn’t nearly bled out just days ago. The bastard even had the gall to smirk.
His familiar voice called out, “Thought ye’d sleep the day away, cousin.”
Rhys glanced to his right as Finn pushed off the post and walked toward him in greeting. He was limping only slightly, with a grin stretched across his face. He looked better. There was somecolor that had returned to his skin, and his eyes had lost the glassy sheen of fever.
“Ye should be in bed,” Rhys said, eyeing him carefully.
Finn stretched his arms above his head. “Aye, but that’d be boring. And I’ve a point to prove.”
“Oh? That ye can limp in a circle without fallin’ over?”
Finn snorted. “That I can still take any of them down. Need to keep the young’uns in line.”
