Page 28 of Loving Graystoke's Heir

“Tam, talk to me.”

“Tamsin,” she corrected him. “That’s my name.”

She felt his hand on her shoulder and his breath on the back of her neck.

“I’m sorry, Tam. Please give me some time to explain.”

“Time? I need time.” She shook off his hand. “Let’s get through dinner first.”

Donal stepped back and gave her room. When she was able to breathe again without the tightness in her chest, she let out a sigh and turned around.

“Thank you.”

His smile sent chills through her body again.

“And just so you know…”

His eyes opened wider and he waited for her to speak.

“We have bread.”

“Good.” Donal tilted his head toward the kitchen with Tamsin following behind him.

Yes, things were good.

For now.

Chapter Seven

There was something to be said for the crackle of a fire on a dark night, the flames tasting the air as if the wood that fed it from below was the meal and they were searching for something more.

But Donal was happy. Well, he was satisfied to be sitting beside Tamsin, making quiet talk with the others until they all said their goodbyes and goodnights and went to their tents, or if they lived close enough, to their homes. The last to leave the firelight were Zenzile and the man who’d brought Tamsin to the camp.

Donal had made what he could call his ‘peace’ with the other man’s presence, but his beast within had not.

Once Magheli had left the fire, walking quietly beside Zenzile, Donal felt some of the tension in his body begin to work loose, starting at the back of his neck and then across his shoulders.

It was a relief.

“You don’t have to worry about him.”

He turned his head to look at Tamsin and saw a hint of a smile touch her lips even though her gaze was directed at the fire. “What makes you say that?”

Her smile deepened, and he was sure then that it wasn’t a trick of the firelight. “I’m pretty sure someone would have to be struck dumb not to feel the tension between the two of you.” She picked up a stick and snapped it in half before tossing it into the flames at the edge of the pit. “Do you want to explain what happened when he went to get you?”

“You mean, when you sent him to lend me some clothes?”

Her chin dropped a little, and he could have sworn she was fighting off a laugh.

Good. He’d rather make her laugh than upset her again.

“I didn’t see how you were going to return to camp without anything to wear.”

He took a chance when he reached out a hand and set it over hers, gently folding his fingers around it. “You always worried about me.”

He felt her breathe.

He didn’t know how exactly, but holding her hand, sitting there at her side, it felt like he was taking in the same air that she was. Breathing her into himself.

---