Legendary Warrior (Warrior 1)

The man nodded and disappeared after taking only a few steps into the woods.

“You think a spring storm brews?” Reena asked, glancing at the gray sky.

“I do not wish to take the chance, and besides”—he gave her a hasty kiss—“I wish to be alone with you this night.”

The thought his remark invoked caused her to shiver, and she cuddled against him.

“I will keep you warm,” he whispered in her ear and sent gooseflesh racing down her arms.

“And what of mapping?” she asked, attempting to keep her senses rational, to ignore the rush of tingles that nestled between her legs. She wished to be alone with him and get to know him intimately as much as he wished for them to be alone, but fear mingled with her desire. What if she disappointed him? She was thin and small and not as shapely as most women. And that doubt lingered and nagged at her. But since he loved her it should not make a difference. Still, there would be that moment when she would stand in front of him naked, completely vulnerable. Would he still want her? Or were her doubts her own insecurities?

“Do not fear, there is much for you to map, but right now is for you and me.”

He helped her onto her horse and they rode off toward the hills in the distance, the gray clouds thickening and a chilled wind swirling down around them.

It was not long before a sprinkle of rain began to fall and Reena was glad that the hills were not as far as she’d first thought, for the rain turned hard and steady. When finally they reached the hills, they were both soaked through, their skin wet and their bones chilled.

Magnus’s men arrived only minutes later, and they exchanged hasty words before two men and Magnus hurried off in search of sufficient shelter and the other two saw to the care of the horses. Reena waited under a large tree, which kept her protected from the heavy rain, though a fine and steady drizzle kept her wet.

Shelter was located in mere minutes, and the men hurried her and the horses into a cave large enough for them all. A small fire burned and she hurried to warm herself, shivering from her wet clothes and the chill in her bones.

Try as she might, she could not get warm. Her wet clothes continued to keep her cold no matter how close she got to the fire. The men tended the horses while one took bow and arrow and left the shelter in search of food.

Reena shivered and rubbed her hands together. It would be a long night, though not the night she had in mind. Not wanting to feel any sorrier for herself than she already did, she went to her horse, grabbed her satchel, and returned to the fire. She wanted to make certain none of the maps were disturbed by the weather. She always made certain to protect her maps with leather wrappings. Her father had taught her to do so, explaining that he’d lost several maps before he was wise enough to keep them from being destroyed by the elements.

A shiver continued to run through her every now and then, and just as she finished tucking her maps back into the satchel, Magnus entered the cave.

He walked over to her and took her arm. “Come with me.”

She had no time to respond or to pick her satchel up off the ground: his hold was firm, and she was forced to follow him. With rushed steps and rain pouring down on them they made their way a few feet past the cave and entered another cave.

Reena wiped the raindrops from her face and glanced around the cave. It was small but high enough to stand and move about. A campfire burned in the middle of the earth floor, and wool blankets were spread out on one side. A bird of some kind roasted on the wooden spit over the fire and was just beginning to scent the cave with a delicious aroma.

She turned to Magnus, smiled, and shivered.

His hands instantly went to the ties on her cloak. “I want you out of these wet garments now.”Chapter 25Reena placed her hand on his and stilled it. “I do not know if I am ready for this.” The thought of standing naked in front of him chilled her more than her wet garments and filled her with apprehension.

He slipped his hand from beneath hers. “You are not ready to rid yourself of wet clothing and seek the warmth of a blanket and the heat of the fire?” He let her cloak fall to the ground. “For at this moment that is what I offer you.”

She felt foolish and expressed her misgivings. “I will disappoint you for sure—”