“I suffered no wounds,” he confirmed.
She stepped closer after rinsing the cloth to soap it again and placed it on his chest. Images reminding her of times she had rested her head there after they had made love flashed through her mind and a sudden ache took hold of her. She closed her eyes against it.
“Elysia.”
Saber. That was Saber’s soft whisper, and she murmured, “Saber.”
“Aye, it’s me.” He couldn’t resist, his hand went to the back of her neck and he eased her toward him as he brought his face to hers. His lips touched hers gently, tentatively, not wanting to frighten her away. And when her lips responded willingly, he deepened the kiss.
Elysia was lost in the familiar kiss, a kiss she had missed, had ached to taste again. The tip of her tongue probed his slightly parted lips and they opened like magic and her tongue darted in and his tongue welcomed hers with a gentle urgency. She needed this, needed Saber, wanted him desperately.
“Lord Odran!” came the shout before the pounding on the door. “Important news!”
Elysia jerked away from Odran, her eyes turning wide as if realizing she had been kissing the wrong man.
Odran wanted to kill Finch. A moment just a moment longer and all would have been different with his wife. He would have climbed out of the tub and taken her to the bed and made love to her, reunite with her, make her see he was no different than before—though that wasn’t entirely true. Though, nothing was different when it came to their love for each other.
“Enter!” Odran bellowed and silently cursed himself when he saw his wife wince and rush to curl herself up in the chair at the table.
Finch bobbed his head.
“What is this news that cannot wait?” Odran snapped.
Finch kept his focus on Odran. “Clan MacFarden has surrendered to Clan MacBridan.”
Odran nodded. “That is good news, Finch. We battle no more. Spread the news so all can rejoice.”
“Aye, my lord,” Finch said and hurried out of the room.
Odran finished washing and stepped out of the tub and snatched up a towel to dry himself. His wife avoided looking at him and he wouldn’t mind if she was busy eating, but she had touched not a morsel of food.
“Eat, Elysia,” he said a bit more strongly than intended.
She snatched up a piece of cheese to appease him and nibbled at it.
He didn’t bother to cover himself. She was familiar with his body, had quite enjoyed it as he had her body. And only moments ago he had seen her eyes spark with a familiar passion. Unfortunately, that was now gone, but at least it had been there. At least, she still desired him. He was grateful that hadn’t been lost between them, since if anything his desire for her had spiraled, leaving him constantly aching for her. But never would he force her. He wanted what they had once had—a strong, undeniable, passionate love.
He walked over to the table and she turned her head away, avoiding looking at him. He sat in the chair opposite her. He went to talk with her as he had promised when a knock came again to the door.
“Sorry, my lord, but I must speak with you,” Finch called out.
Odran got up mumbling and once again cursing beneath his breath. He grabbed a fresh plaid left on the bed and wrapped it around his waist before opening the door.
“What now?” he demanded of Finch.
“A bit of a problem,” Finch said, his voice turning low.
Odran looked to his wife. “I’ll be only a moment.”
She nodded, glad for the time alone as her husband stepped outside the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. She didn’t care to hear what the men had to say. She didn’t care what anyone had to say. She was too weary to listen to anyone. She didn’t even want to talk with her husband. She was far too tired to pay attention to his words. She could feel her body draining of all strength, her mind surrendering to her fatigue, and sleep creeping up on her.
The piece of cheese slipped from her hand and her head lolled to the side. She straightened it with a jerk and it lolled to the other said. She looked at the bed, but it was too far away, her body far too tired to walk the distance.
Her head bobbed a few times before it finally lolled to the side and remained still.
Odran returned only a few minutes later, leaving his fury outside the door after hearing that a few prisoners had escaped after learning the news of their clan’s surrender. It made no sense. They would be released on the morrow. Unless they didn’t take kindly to the loss and the loyalty and obedience they would now owe to the Clan MacBridan.