“Still, I think you should take it slow for the rest of the day.” She moved to take the bowl of grimy water away from the bed. “You don’t want any dirt getting in your wound. Maybe your mother has some type of salve to put on the worst of them to keep out bacteria.” She returned to his side, and sat on the edge of the bed.
“What is this thing you call bacteria?”
“Germs?”
He was still puzzled.
“Microscopic organisms that cause infection?”
“Microscopic?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Germs are small bugs that make you sick.”
“What do you know about stopping these germs from making an infection?”
She leaned against the post of his bed and started to explain. “Keeping wounds clean makes a big difference. Staying healthy so your body’s defenses have a chance to heal helps, but the biggest power against infection are antibiotics. You’re going to have to wait until the 1800’s before any of that will be available.”
“We’ll have to stay healthy and avoid cuts,” he said. She laughed at his conclusion. “Don’t make me laugh. I’m still mad at you.”
He forced his smile into submission. “As you wish.”
They stared at each other, silent.
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“I’ve missed you, Tara.”
He sat across from her. His lazy smile melted her resistance. The sight of his rippled chest muscles made certain parts of her body clench. Her desire for him increased, growing with each moment. “I’ve missed you, too.”
His hand, heavy and strong, reached for hers. “I hope you know if I could have done things differently, I would have.”
His touch made her heart beat faster. His words reached out and touched her soul. “I know. Your mother explained everything to me.” She let her thumb stroke his fingers. “It didn’t change the outcome. I needed some time.”
“Have you had enough time?”
Her eyes moved from their joined hands to his sexy mouth. From there, she sought his gaze. “It takes a lot of energy staying pissed-off at you.”
“Am I forgiven?”
“I haven’t heard an apology yet.” She was half joking.
“Is that what you’ve been waiting for? An apology?” He moved closer. She didn’t have any room to back away. Not that she would have.
“It wouldn’t hurt.”
He inched closer.
She moved in.
“I’m sorry to have caused you such grief, Tara.
I’m not sorry for keeping you from Grainna, or for keeping you alive.”
“I should be thanking you I suppose,” she said against his lips.
He used her words. “It wouldn’t hurt.”
“Thank you, Duncan, for saving my life.” She looked down at his smiling lips.
A lifetime could have passed in the moments before her lips met his.
Her mouth opened in silent invitation, which he 139
Catherine Bybee
accepted greedily. Their kiss was a homecoming.
Much more than a meeting of their lips.
Her hands reached into his hair, hair she had dreamed of running her fingers through daily since they met. Even when she was angry at him she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Every resistant bone in her body melted when he angled his head and deepened their kiss.
Duncan lowered her to his bed. Butterflies with wings the size of dragons filled her belly. Her hands drifted to his back and she pulled him on top of her so his weight pinned her in place. The long length of his body felt delicious against hers.
Tara dug her nails into his flesh. A moan of pleasure escaped him.
When his hand slid up her side, molded to her breast, a sob of pure pleasure burst from her throat.
The door flung open and banged against the stone wall.
They sprung apart.
The sensation of Duncan’s lovely body heat, the sheer weight of him, suddenly disappeared. His absence left a cool breeze drifting across her bare breasts.
Stunned, they gaped at the open doorway where Lora stood inside the frame with wide eyes.
Amusement rapidly replaced her look of worry.
Tara recovered first. She pushed Duncan back, attempting to adjust her clothing. “Ah...” What’s her name? “Mrs. Mac Coin...”
Duncan’s laugh didn’t help.
“Lady...”
Lora took the lead and added to Tara’s stress.
“You can call me, hmmm...” She tapped her chin with a finger. “Let me see... what is the term you use? Mom. Aye, you can call me Mom, if this is what I should expect to discover when entering a room with you two within.”
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Unnerved, Tara scrambled to her feet. She felt like a teenager caught in a compromised position in the backseat of a car by her parents. “Duncan had a... Well he was, ah, hurt.” The word came from Duncan’s thoughts. “Aye hurt. I ah...came here to help him.” Yes, that’s right. “He could use any salve you might have to keep his...”