Loved By a Warrior Read Online Free PDF Page A

covered the ground. They could continue their journey home.
    He entered the cottage, glad that the cold air had tamed his desire and pleased that they could be on their way.
    â€œCan we leave?” she asked with concern, before he had a chance to speak.
    He nodded and smiled. “Only a few inches, though there are drifts. We can leave now, or I can hunt, and we can eat then—”
    â€œI’m not hungry,” she said, interrupting him. “Perhaps later, unless, of course, you’re hungry?”
    â€œI can wait,” he said, preferring to get started as well.
    Reeve saw to putting out the fire while Tara gathered her things and once more hung her bundle on her back. They were on the road again in no time.
    There wasn’t much chance for chatter, focus was essential. There was no telling what was hiding beneath the fallen snow. More than once, Tara almost fell from her boots catching on a hidden rock or fallen branch.
    Reeve had been quick to grab her arm and steady her. She didn’t object, but then there was no need for him to wrap her in his arms as he had done in the snowstorm. And he thought what a shame. He actually wouldn’t mind holding her again.
    Where had that thought come from?
    Sure, she had felt good in his arms. Damn good.
    He shook his head. He didn’t need to be thinking about this.
    â€œSomething wrong?” she asked from behind him.
    â€œNothing,” he said, not turning around.
    â€œYou shook your head.”
    â€œClearing it,” he said truthfully.
    Silence followed, and Reeve thought the matter settled until. . .
    â€œAre you having second thoughts about helping me?’
    He stopped abruptly and turned around, causing her to come to a similar abrupt stop though nearly on top of him.
    â€œThat wasn’t a thought in my head,” he answered honestly.
    â€œThen what troubled you?”
    â€œToo many thoughts.”
    â€œI suffer from the same affliction myself,” she said.
    â€œThen you know it takes a good shake to rid yourself of them.”
    â€œA chore I do quite regularly.”
    â€œGood, then we understand each other better than most,” he said, finding more things in common with her and also realizing that her lips were ripe for kissing. Slightly plump and moist, having worried at both with her teeth as they had spoken.
    Damn, but he wanted to kiss her, and when she scurried back away from him, he realized that his desire to do just that must have shown in his eyes.
    â€œWe’d best keep walking,” she said.
    He nodded, turned, and did just that. He silently berated himself for his foolish thought. Whatever had he been thinking? She certainly wouldn’t be receptive to a kiss, and what if this myth was true?
    Now he truly intended to berate himself. He never believed in foolish nonsense. It was usually ignorant people saying ignorant things that caused problems. He had used his brawn to settle such matters. And it had never failed, people always surrendered to strength.
    â€œReeve!”
    He turned at her scream and lunged for her, grabbing hold of her hand just as she went over the side of an incline, her momentum pulling him along with her. They slid down the steep slope on their stomachs, facing each other, picking up speed as they went. Reeve gripped her hand tightly, letting her know there was no chance of her slipping away from him. She clung just as tightly to him, and for a sheer moment, it felt as if their hands melded together as one.
    With a thud, a whack, and a bump, they came to rest at the bottom of the hill. Reeve landed on top of her, their limbs all tangled.
    â€œAre you all right?” he asked before trying to move.
    She turned her face, and having no choice, she rested her cheek against his. “I believe so.”
    Her skin was silky soft and lightly flushed, and he liked the feel of it pressed to his. “We need to slowly untangle ourselves and make certain there are