Page 64 of The Herald's Heart
She heard a mighty yell. Talon gave a tremendous heave. A wave swelled beneath her. She fairly flew through the air, straight into his arms, with such great force that she knocked him flat.
She lay there atop him and tried to breathe. It wasn’t easy. She hurt everywhere. Every breath brought a fit of coughing. She was freezing. Water sluiced over her, maintaining the chill.
Talon’s arms were locked around her. His chest moved beneath hers, so she knew he lived. For the moment, they had solid rock beneath them. But for how long?
He shifted into a sitting position, and she found herself cradled against his chest. He rose and staggered a few steps to a second rock that thrust higher into the sky. He settled her onto a shelf on the new rock, then climbed to join her. Eventually they climbed together to the topmost portion of the rocks.
They huddled in the small shelter of the stone’s landward side. Spume still showered over them from time to time. With their arms wrapped around each other, Larkin knew they would be safe, as long as the water did not rise above the rocks. Slowly she began to feel warmth from Talon’s body seep into her. She placed her lips near his ear. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“And I thought I’d see you broken on the rocks. What foolishness caused you to turn back from the shore?”
“Your hand slipped from mine. I had to find you. Had to know what happened to you.”
“My hand did not slip.”
“Of course it did.” her gaze widened as comprehension dawned. “You let go? Why?”
“You would swim better with both hands free.”
“But you didn’t swim. You didn’t even try.”
“Aye.”
“Are you daft? Did you want to drown?” she raged at him like the tide storm.
“Nay.” He clutched her close. “But I wanted you to live.”
“So you let me go. This I understand. But why not try to save yourself?”
“I don’t know how to swim.”
He’d gone with her into the maelstrom, knowing that he had no skill to get himself out. Water splashed into her open mouth. She sputtered, then laughed and laughed some more.
Talon held her secure until the fit subsided.
“You foolish, foolish, dear, brave man.” She kissed him.
He kissed her back. The warmth that had begun between their bodies became a fire that not even the seas could douse.
“Talon.” Larkin’s voice caressed his name when they finally stopped for air.
“Yes?”
“Love me. Please.”
“Here? Now?”
“Yes.”
“’Tis not safe.”
“Aye. But if the seas wash us from this rock to die, I would drown in your arms first.”
He smiled at her. “I will give you that drowning, sweet Larkin, but wait until the tide ebbs and we reach the shore. I want you in my arms with all my being, but I want you safe more.”
She smiled back at him and arched a brow. “’Twill be difficult, but I will wait.”
“Good. Now rest while you can, for you will need every bit of energy when I get you to the shore.” He settled her within the shelter of his arms and fixed his gaze on the slow rise of the water against the boulders.
