It was empty because it was half in ruins. There was still some of the roof overhead, thatching that needed repair but held out the rain in one corner. Gryff looked around and saw nothing but beaten earth, blessedly dry where they stood – a patch large enough to build a fire.

He watched Fuss shake the rain off and imitated him, shaking his head, wiping his hands over his face and through his wet hair. When he turned to her all he could see was how the rain-splattered dress showed the outline of her legs more clearly. The edge of linen beneath it clung to the skin at her collarbone, droplets chasing each other down her chest.

He knew he was staring. He could not seem to tear his eyes away from that pale crescent moon of flesh showing through the soaked linen. When he finally did, it was to find her looking at his mouth again. He held his breath as she moved her eyes restlessly, glancing over the floor and the dog and the walls but always returning to him.

Instinct made him walk to her, slowly, prepared with every step to halt. She only watched him as he came closer, her eyes trained at the base of his throat as he advanced. He stopped inches before her, the slightest bit too close, near enough to just barely feel the heat that rose from her body.

He reached very carefully to take the bag from her hand. There was a stiffness in her, a quivering tension, but she did not move away from him. He spoke softly, as though sharing a secret.

“Would you have me build a fire?”

She swallowed, and nodded. He reached behind her with slow and controlled movements, attuned to her every breath, and pulled her cloak forward over her shoulders. He drew the edges together over her chest to cover her fully, hiding the sight of her damp skin, savoring the little shiver that came from her.

Then he stepped away and built the fire, not regretting that he had spent his day’s words on such a mundane question, preparing himself for another torturous night of unfulfilled lust.

Chapter Sixteen

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Nan’s habit was to wait, hidden in the dark, watching for an hour after the sun had set to be sure no villain lay in wait to attack them in the night. It was long past an hour, and she could hardly see anything for the steady stream of water that ran off the eaves. Still she stood and listened to the rain fall as she tried to forget the heat that rose off his body, the huskiness of his voice offering to light a fire.