Her declaration shimmered through his mind, and his heart swelled as he tucked her words safely away inside him, just as he tucked her even closer against him. “Why do I feel as if you’ve said that to me before?”
“Because I have.”
She wasn’t just his mate, not now. She was his entire heart, his only reason for living, the only person he could never survive without. “There is none who I will ever love as greatly as I love you. My wife, my lover, and the other half of my soul.”
“You spoke those words to me after we completed the bond. You were wonderful by the way. Making love with you was magical, and far beyond my wildest dreams.”
“Woman, you are about to get tossed yourself over my shoulder and taken back to that cave.”
“You tasted delicious too.” A brighter blush burst across her cheeks. “I wish to taste you again if it is ever possible.” She giggled, and the sweet sound brought him such joy.
“We’ll make sure it’s possible.” He stood, did exactly as he’d warned and tossed her over his shoulder. He needed time alone with her. Just them and no other. He needed her, even more than he needed his next breath.
Chapter 10
Arabel gasped as Finlay slung her over his shoulder and her belly thumped into his rock hard shoulder. He bounded from the chief’s solar, through the great hall and upstairs.
“Your chamber. Which floor?” he demanded as he raced with her.
“The third, the last door on the left.” Her blond hair dangled down over his firm backside and with one hand on each of his cheeks, she stroked his tight butt in slow circles. As no lady should do, but she couldn’t help herself. “I’m almost certain there’s a better way to carry me than this.”
“Not when I need one hand free to fend off anyone in case you squeal.” He patted her rear. “We also need to talk about last night and all that transpired, preferably without any interruptions.”
“Then I shall definitely be squealing, but for an entirely different reason.”
“So you agree we need some time alone?”
“I do.”
“Good.” He kept one hand firm around the back of her knees as he marched down the corridor lit by a hazy beam of sunshine streaming through the narrow window at the end of the hallway. At the last chamber on the left, he opened the thickly paneled door and bolted it shut behind him. “Is this your room alone?”
“Aye, and you’ve been here afore. The night we first met at the loch in the woods, Julia asked you to watch over me since my fire had flared so badly, and after I’d cooled down, you returned with me and insisted on remaining in my chamber. You decreed we were mated, and you wouldnae leave.” She gripped his back and eased herself up enough to loop her arms around his neck. The move made him lose his over-the-shoulder hold and she slid down his chest and into his arms. “You settled yourself in the corner chair to sleep, although that lasted all of a few minutes. You slept in my bed for what remained of the night.”
“Did anything transpire between us?”
“We talked, and by the morn I too sensed what you did and could no longer refute we were mated. We kissed and I marked you.”
“And did I attempt to mark you in return?” His sinfully sexy eyes glimmered.
“You asked for my permission, but I wouldnae allow it, or I should say my loss of control wouldnae allow it. My heat rose and you had to toss cold water on me to cool me down.”
“Interesting.” He carried her to the bed and laid her across the soft brown fur covering her mattress. Gently, he nudged her knees apart and with his legs between hers, sank down on top of her. “I would like another kiss.”
She wriggled underneath him, her breath catching. “This is the exact place where we kissed the first time, and right afore we did, you spoke of your feelings.”
“Repeat what I said. I want to hear it, word for word.” A sensual spark of heat lit his golden eyes.
“I will never desire any other than you.” She touched his lower lip with one finger and embraced the warmth of his body overtop of hers. “That’s what you said.”
“That is exactly how I feel in this moment.” He licked his lip, his tongue sweeping across her finger. “Nothing has changed. Losing you is something I’ll never survive, not now I’ve finally found you. The thought I’ve lost so many memories of our time together though pains me.”
“I’m sorry. You told me afore that losing me is something you’d never survive and now I believe you.” She slid her fingers into his silky black hair and stroked his scalp. “After we kissed, you told me you wanted the right to sleep in my bed each and every night.”