Lachlan grabbed hold of her arm and pressed his cheek to hers to whisper harshly, “I need you.”
“And I you,” she assured him, “but first I must see to this.”
“You make me wait?” he challenged.
“I am worth the wait,” she murmured in his ear and felt him shiver.
“Then I will wait no matter how long it takes,” he assured her, his tone more tempered.
She kissed his cheek. “I will do my best to make it quick.”
He grinned. “I on the other hand will not be quick.”
Terese laughed as he reluctantly released her and she hurried to Rowena
He called out, “I’ll wait at the cottage.”
She acknowledged him with a wave and followed Rowena into the house, asking quickly, “What’s wrong?”
“Megan suffered a wound early yesterday and foolishly ignored it, too busy tending others.”
“Is it bad?”
“It wouldn’t have been if she let me see to it right away. It already shows signs of poisoning.”
“We can’t let that happen,” Terese said and the two women immediately went to work on Megan. It took longer then either woman expected, Terese busy bathing the wound with a special brew that would hopefully flush away any poisons, while Rowena mixed a paste to be applied. Another brew was prepared to help Megan rest. Just when they thought all was done, Talon roused with a slight fever and the two women went to work on him.
It was near dawn by the time Terese was free to take her leave and at first she thought it was too late, Lachlan would have never waited for her. Tired as she was, she was more curious so she crept silently through the convent grounds and just as quietly eased open Lachlan’s cottage door.
The only sound in the one room was the crackle and snap of the fire in the hearth. As she approached Lachlan where he lay on his side in bed, she saw that he was asleep. His chest was bare and she admired his sleek muscled lines and grew curious when she noticed how the blanket rested low on his hip, meaning he was completely naked beneath.
Instead of passion striking her, a yawn did and she knew she was too tired to do anything but sleep.
“Damn,” she whispered, annoyed yet again that they had lost the chance to be together. She was about to turn and leave when she heard.
“My sentiments exactly.”
She looked and saw his eyes open and her heart gave a quick catch. “You waited.”
“I’ve slept on and off, each time hoping when I opened my eyes you’d be there.”
“And now I am here…but—” Another yawn demonstrated what she was about to reluctantly tell him. She was tired.
“I am as tired as you,” he said,” though I’d love you to sleep beside me.”
He eased the blanket back just enough to invite and not tease.
She smiled at his thoughtfulness and his invitation and without hesitation she joined him, though she kept her clothes on. She rested her back to him and he in turn wrapped her solidly in his arms.
“I’m glad you came even though you were tired,” he whispered and kissed her cheek.
“And I’m glad you waited,” she murmured as they both drifted off to sleep together.
Chapter 14
Lachlan watched Terese sleep. She purred like a contented kitten and he smiled. She felt good in his arms, so good that he wanted to keep her there, not let her go. Not now, not ever.
He rested his head back on the pillow and drank in the scent of her hair that simply intoxicated him, but then everything about her made him drunk with joy. These feelings were strange to him; while he enjoyed many women none had the affect on him that Terese did, and right from the start.
Lord, but he thought he would suffer for his unholy thoughts about a nun and how relieved he was and pleased, ever so pleased, to discover that she was simply a woman, though simply did not describe Terese.
No, she was complex, courageous, thoughtful, beautiful, and…his.
He shook his head. He had always reserved his opinion on women after he bedded them, not so with Terese. He cared for her more than he wanted to admit. He truly enjoyed time spent with her and it mattered not what they did. They could sit in silence and watch the sun rise or set, it didn’t matter; it was being with her that made the difference.
He had found himself looking forward to each and every day because he would see her, talk with her, laugh with her, tease her, and kiss her. He loved kissing her. She tasted so sweet, and she was as hungry for him as he was for her.
Damn, could he be falling in love?
He had no plans to fall in love, but then Cavan’s wife Honora had warned him often enough that love arrived in its own time. He, however, had objected, insisting he would be spared love’s burden. Had he tempted fate?