He stared at her, startled.
“I may be stubborn, but I’m not ignorant. I realize that at the moment it will be far better for me, and those I care for, if I remain with you.”
Relieved that she would battle him no more, he almost reached out to hug her, but restrained himself. Instead he applied the salve to her palm with a gentle stroke.
“All are well?” he asked, wanting her to leave the village without worry.
“Yes,” she answered with a sigh, closing her eyes as he finished with the salve.
He watched her body relax, her shoulders slumping, her head waving from side to side as a gentle yawn slipped from a nearly closed mouth. He was glad she trusted him. It would make things easier for them both.
“I will send word to your grandmother so that if she should hear of this incident she will not worry,” he said, and held up a clean cloth, silently asking if he should bandage the burn.
She nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate you thinking of her.”
He wound the bandage around her hand, though her own hand stilled his after a few wraps.
“Let me show you,” she said, and guided the hand that held the bandage. “A light touch with only a few twists and turns will be sufficient.”
Her delicate touch was like a faint whisper on his flesh, a tingle to his senses. Her hand rested over his, as well as her glance, and it was as if time stood still and there was only the two of them.
She broke the trance, leaned forward and boldly said, “I think I want to kiss you.”
“And I you.”
He slowly captured her lips, and while he would normally tease a woman into responding, Zia needed no such enticements. She responded with enthusiasm that rapidly turned passionate. Her fervent responses never failed to astound and excite him.
She stopped the kiss abruptly and with labored breathing said, “I don’t know why I’m attracted to you.”
He was so stunned he had to laugh. “I’m not sure how to take that.”
“I’m not sure how it’s meant.” She shook her head. “I mean, I can’t seem to make sense of what I find appealing about you.” She continued to shake her head. “I mean—”
He took hold of her shoulders, then ran his hands slowly up and down her arms. “I think the problem is that I’m not quite the man you expected.”
She nodded. “You’re right. You’re nothing of what I expected of the man who I—”
Artair wanted to strangle whoever pounded at the door and interrupted. He stomped to the door, swung it open and instantly calmed himself at James’s worried expression.
“We couldn’t find the messenger,” James said, “but there’s another problem. There are some—men, mostly—who are wondering how Zia escaped the messenger’s wrath so easily.”
“That’s how the problem started in Lorne, with the men,” Artair said.
“It won’t take long to get out of hand,” James whispered.
Artair nodded. James was right. Before they knew it, Zia would be in trouble again, and with two villages proclaiming her a witch, the church council was sure to condemn her.
“Be ready to leave shortly,” Artair instructed.
“Our hasty departure will raise suspicion.”
“Spread word that we’ve been summoned home immediately,” Artair said, and turned to tell Zia.
“I heard everything,” she said, “though understand none of it. I have done nothing wrong.”
“The gossip will stop as soon as we leave here,” he told her. “The people will return to their daily lives and soon forget you.”
“The village of Lorne is not going to allow that. They seem determined to see me condemned as a witch.”
“Let’s get you to a safe place first and then we’ll concern ourselves with the rest,” he said. “Now gather your things. We leave immediately.”
She stepped toward him. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. You’ll be safe at my home.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” she said, annoyed. “As I’ve expressed before, my presence could cause trouble for your family, and I—”
“Let me worry about that.”
He stopped any further protests by beginning to shove things haphazardly into her healing basket. Zia stopped him and took over, continuing the task more carefully. She remained silent, and Artair knew her to be deep in thought. And why wouldn’t she be? There was much for her to consider, and this was only the beginning of it.
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Once we arrive at my home, I’ll arrange a small wedding ceremony for us and—”