“A loan, perhaps?” Eric rubbed a hand over his eyes. “He did say something about seeing us again, though my memories are fair muddled after drinking that mead of his.”
Her memories of the evening were slightly confused, too, as if she’d watched the events from outside their circle rather than actually participating.
“It was all very strange, do you no agree? If no for the horse, I could almost believe none of this happened.”
“It happened, true enough.” Eric tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his gaze fixing upon her as his thumb lingered on her cheek. “All of it.”
“I suppose we should . . . what I mean to say is, do you think we . . .” Her face heated under his stroking touch and she struggled to finish her thought. “Should we prepare to leave early?”
“No,” he responded, lifting his other hand to cup her face. “I think we should finish what we’ve begun.”
“I’m no sure that’s a wise path for us to take.” No matter how much she might want the same thing.
“Wise or no, it’s the one laid out for us to travel.” He reached down for her hand, clasping it between his. “I’m slow to think a thing through, Jeanne. I take overly long to look at all sides. But I’ve done that now and I realize I’d be a bigger fool than I already have been if I let you slip away from me again.”
He lifted her hand to his lips to place a kiss upon her palm. “None of what’s passed is half so important as the love we shared. The secrets you kept are of no matter. I accept the reason you chose as you did. You did what you thought best because I was too busy trying to outwit what was to come. I see now that I canna control what the future brings. But whatever that may be, I want to meet it with you at my side, as my wife.”
“Oh, Eric!” she sighed, tangling her fingers in his hair to pull his lips to meet hers.
He loved her! As he lay on his back and pulled her down on top of him, she thought her heart might burst with her happiness.
“You’ve yet to answer me, sweet Jeanne,” he breathed into her ear. “Do you want me still? Will you take me—selfish, slow, stubborn fool that I am—as yer husband? Will you agree to spend yer life at my side?”
How could he possibly doubt her answer?
“There is nothing I want more than to spend my life with you. Yes, Eric, yes. A thousand times yes.”
He rolled her to her back, swallowing her words in his kiss. With his knee, he pushed her legs apart and she welcomed him back to the spot where he belonged.
It had been such a long, long time since last he lay over her like this. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her nose into his strong, solid chest.
The hard, ready evidence of his desire pressed against her and she lifted her hips to meet his thrust.
“You are mine,” he whispered into her ear. “Just as I am yours. Now and for all time.”
He filled her, thrust after thrust, her need for him growing until the muscles in her body seized, tightening and releasing in happy little spasms that left her gasping for air.
Once more he drove inside her, holding her so close that his heartbeat drummed in her ear as he found his own release.
“This is how our lives are meant to be,” he said tenderly, sweeping her sweat-dampened hair from her face. “We’ve been given a second chance, and I will grab on with both hands and never let go.”
He rolled to her side and curved his body around hers, holding her close until his breathing turned slow and steady.