Bound to a Warrior Read Free Page A

word and kept their eyes locked. It was almost as if they were afraid to let their gazes stray, until finally Mercy found the courage to speak.
    â€œWe should set the garments to dry.”
    He nodded. “We should.”
    And yet they stood there not moving, until once again Mercy made the first move, though she didn’t plan it. She visibly shivered.
    Duncan immediately wrapped his arm around her, bringing their naked bodies flat up against each other. He quickly and steadily ran his hands up and down her back, massaging every inch of her cold flesh.
    She stiffened when their chilled skin first met. Never mind that she had never been naked in front of a man, she had never been touched so familiarly by a man. And though she was not comfortable being in such an intimateposition with a stranger, her body began to respond to his touch.
    Warmth began to spread not only over her limbs, but began to creep inside. She found herself snuggling closer against him, aching for more of the heat he provided. Her body and insides kept growing warmer and she felt ever more relieved, when suddenly she realized how selfish of her not to do the same for him.
    Her arm slipped around his back, the movement so much less painful now that a fair amount of warmth had been restored. His skin was cold and she shivered for him before she began to massage his back with one hand as rapidly and methodically as he did hers. She didn’t know when she had rested her head on his chest. It was there, so close and she was so tired.
    But she didn’t stop rubbing warmth into him, nor did he to her.
    â€œMercy.”
    His gentle whisper had her eyes fluttering open.
    When had she closed them? Her hand was no longer at his back. It was tucked between their chests.
    Her eyes sprang wide and she stared up at him.
    â€œYou fell asleep,” he said, “and I think that would be best for us both.”
    She nodded, agreeing, though she was disinclined to leave the warmth of his body. However, their wet garments did need their attention.
    â€œWe’ll hurry and get done with it,” he said and reluctantly she stepped away.
    His absence caused a blast of cold night air to hit her warmed body and sent an uncontrollable tremble through her.
    He reached out, grabbed hold of her and brought her into the warmth and safety of his arms once again. “We need to do this fast and settle next to the fire for the night.”
    She nodded, knowing he was right and anxious to be done with it, for then she would remain in the heat of his arms for the whole night.
    They set to work, her thoughts no longer on the cold, or their nakedness, but on the task at hand. First, they arranged a sizable bed of leaves for a sleeping pallet. Then she helped him spread their clothes around the fire.
    â€œBranches,” he said.
    She scrunched her brow, not understanding.
    â€œWe’ll use them as a blanket.”
    She nodded and followed him.
    They didn’t go far from the fire and he ordered her to stand back as far as the chain would allow. She watched as he reached up and easily broke a large branch from a towering evergreen. He turned to break another and her glance fell on the muscles hunching in his back as he broke the branch with one forceful snap.
    She noticed then that though wide, his waist narrowed just enough to define the sheer beauty of his form and his backside rounded thick and firm, while long muscled legs followed, completing the mighty size of him.
    He turned and she had a clear view of him. Thick,tight muscles were everywhere. There was no doubt he was a strong warrior and a generously endowed man.
    With no more time, nor wise to dally in such thoughts, she bent along with him to help with the branches and together they dragged them to the campfire.
    â€œWe’ll need to stay wrapped around each other,” he said as they both lowered themselves to the leaf pallet.
    She nodded and didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation of