Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“And you truly wish to save her? What of your wish to be free?”
His glare was so heated it could scorch the woods. “I am free. I am free to love Ingrid, to spend the rest of my life with her, to feel the love she has for me.” He shook his head. “Ingrid is too kind and loving to be a witch.”
“The accused never are,” she said, bitter and amused all at once. “No true witch ever suffers or burns for what she is. Only the innocent do.”
She turned to go, already melting into shadow.
“Help me protect her,” he called after her, willing to sacrifice anything for her help.
“I already did,” she said, fading back into the trees. “You just haven’t figured out how yet.”
And then she was gone.
Raff stood in the silence, his heart heavy and his mind spinning. She always left him with more questions than answers. What did he do now?
“We’ll pack the cart tomorrow evening and leave at first light the next morning,” Raff said as supper finished. “You will tell me what you need at market and I will get it while you tend the stall. Once you sell out, as you always do, we leave.”
“Aye,” Ingrid said, focusing on her bowl of food in front of her that she had barely touched.
He could feel her worry, her fear. They wrapped around him, squeezing him tightly until he thought they might rob him of his breath. He had been tossing around an idea in case it was necessary to flee, and he shared it with her.
“We can go away. Find an abandoned place and stay there until this madness passes.”
She raised her head. “Abandon friends? My home? Leave an innocent to be accused? I would never be able to show my cowardly face again.”
That she continued to think of others instead of herself should be witness enough that she was no witch. But he knew better. Fearful minds and hearts would not care.
“How do you know not all of them feel the same about you?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter. It is how I feel. How I would treat another. I cannot live with myself if I betray my nature.”
“Most people would do anything to save themselves—”
“And I don’t blame them. But I could never accuse another of a falsehood, especially knowing what suffering such an accusation would bring,” she said and shuddered at the thought. She stood and began to clear the table. “I need to busy myself. Clear my head. Think on something else.”
Raff got to his feet and stepped around the table, coming up behind her. He slipped his arms around her waist to hug her tight against him, then rested his cheek next to hers. “I can think of something that would keep you very busy.” He nibbled along her ear.
“I don’t think I have the mind for that right now,” she said even though his nibbles sent a thrill through her.
Maybe it was because she shouldn’t feel such happiness, such pleasure in such a dire time that she believed it wasn’t the time to make love, even though she felt a spark of an urge.
“I can change your mind,” he whispered.
She turned around in his arms. “How can I allow myself pleasure during this difficult time?”
“How can you not?” he asked, stepping back but keeping his hands rested on her waist. “Tomorrow may be uncertain; danger may lie ahead. I want to embrace every moment I have with you, make endless memories to cherish forever, to think of better days ahead and the future we have together instead of dwelling on misery.” He yanked her against him. “I want to make love with you fast and hard, burning the moment into your memory to recall when we get too old to get to the bed that fast, let alone have the strength for it.” He chuckled at the thought.
Ingrid laughed softly at the image he created in her mind, but her body responded to the present, her passion sparking and catching fire.
“Your desire flares,” he said and brushed his lips over hers. “I see it in your eyes, feel in your taut body that fights not to press against me and feel the strength of my shaft aching to slip inside you. Don’t be foolish.” His lips whispered across hers once again. “Surrender. If not to me, then to yourself.”
She rested her brow to his. “I want the memory. I want it badly.”
Raff snatched her up into his arms and hurried them over to the bed. Knowing how badly she wanted him soared his own passion. There was no time to linger, his need was great and so was hers.
He dropped her down on the bed and shoved her garments aside, Ingrid helping him, yanking her garments up. She drew her legs up and spread them as he pushed his plaid aside and dropped down over her.