Chapter 6
Kester knewhe should feel guilty. So why didn’t he?
Because ye enjoyed yerself. Stop with the whining and keep enjoying yerself.
Well, aye.
She was the one who’d made the decision. She was the one who declared herself content with the here and now. Robena knew as well as he did that they had no chance for a future together….
But here and now, they had time together.
And by the saints, but that had been a remarkable interlude in the loch the other night!
To feel her squeezing him—his fingers, his body, his cock—with everything she had. To feel her come apart in his arms as he stroked her to completion….
His mouth watered at the memory.
The fact that weeks’ worth of sexual frustration had found release hadn’t hurt either.
Kester found himself more relaxed in the days following that night-time bath in the loch. He smiled more, his muscles were more at ease, and he didn’t even mind Robena’s mustache.
Well, mayhap he minded it, but at least he could look at it without cringing.
He could swear it had grown larger and fluffier. Was she adding to it?
“Ye’re doing it again.”
Her quiet observation jerked his attention sideways where she rode easily beside him. “Doing what?”
“Staring at the mountains and grinning. Well, I say grinning, but ‘tis more like a vaguely amused look. Verra different from yer normal scowl.”
She was teasing him. She’d been teasing him often in the last few days since she’d begun to ride beside him. Mayhap her nearness was the reason for his good mood.
Although the orgasm certainly helped.
But all he said—aye, with a faint smile—was, “I dinnae normally scowl. Just since we left yer father’s land.”
Since he’d received the King’s letter.
“Well, now ye’re back to scowling.”
He realized she was right, and his lips twitched reluctantly.
“There ye are,” she murmured, as if welcoming him home.
To his surprise, she nudged her horse closer to his and reached out to place her fingertips lightly against the back of his hand, which rested on his thigh.
As always, her touch sent a flood of warmth, of rightness through his limb, and he was unable to stop the instinct to turn his hand over, to twine his fingers through hers.
‘Twas awkward, riding beside her while holding her hand, but worth it.
Here and now.
Up ahead, Giric burst into laughter at something Mook said, and slowed his horse until he could ride beside Pudge.
“Did ye hear that, Pudge? Did ye hear what Mook said?”
Pudge was scowling, as usual. As he lifted a skin to his lips, he shook his head, clearly not in the mood to deal with Giric’s good cheer. “Pudge isnae here right now. Please leave a message after the beep.”