The Daring Twin - Donna Fletcher Page 0,54
abducted. How, then, can I blame them, for they must have suffered greatly.”
“It will take time,” Tarr said.
Do we have time? Fiona thought. He allotted her time to visit with her parents, but then she would return home with him.
Or would she?
If she did, it would be as his wife.
“Time seems to be my enemy of late.”
“Your enemy is my enemy; we will combat it together.” He raised her hand and licked at the honey on her finger. “Sweet. Is it Fiona I speak with?” He teased with an endearing smile.
“You have tasted, you tell me,” she challenged, while her stomach suddenly flip-flopped and her arms crawled with gooseflesh.
“I must taste again.”
Not a good idea, Fiona.
She ignored her own warning, smiled, and wiggled her finger in his face.
His laughter was barely audible as he brought her finger to his lips and licked slowly, as if savoring the flavor of her. Several long lingering licks later he said, “There is a tartness there.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, her flesh tingling at her finger, up along her arm and crawling slowly over her neck.
He leaned over the table. “If I dare taste you again, it will not be your finger my tongue licks.”
Fiona yanked her hand free as if his words scalded her.
“We will join.” He stood and spoke before she could deliver her usual response. “It is your choice when.”
He delivered a stunning blow to her without raising his hand. She was too shocked too move, too shocked to watch him walk away. His words stirred in her mind like a whirlwind unable to settle.
He had suddenly changed the tactics of their skirmish. It would not be he who forced their union but she. So he thought.
He was an idiot.
Or was she?
Would she finally surrender to him?
Or would it be what she wanted?
“Are you all right?” Aliss asked, taking the seat where Tarr had sat.
Fiona nodded, shook her head, nodded again then shook her head adamantly.
“Tarr passed me in the same confused state,” Aliss explained. “His response, when I expressed concern for him, was identical to yours.”
“Really?” Fiona asked, perking up.
“He shakes his head harder than you.”
“It is his own fault.”
“Why do I doubt that?”
Fiona glared at her sister. “You take his side.”
“I do not think sides exist in this matter. I think you are both stubborn and refuse to see the truth.”
“What truth?” Fiona demanded.
“That you both love each other.”
Fiona was ready to give a quick response, instead her mouth dropped open.
“It is obvious.”
“Truly?”
“Raynor even made mention of the way Tarr looks at you.”
“How does he look at me?” Fiona asked anxiously.
“Like a love-sick puppy,” Raynor said, joining them at the table. “If the man were not my enemy, I would feel sorry for him.”
“He cannot be your enemy,” Fiona said curtly. “For then I would have to be your enemy too.”
“You put this man before your brother?” Raynor asked incredulously.
“I do.” Fiona was unyielding.
“It must be love,” Raynor said with a laugh.
Fiona leaned across the table. “If we had grown up together, I imagined I would have clobbered you more than once.”
“You wish.”
“I know—”
“And I—” Aliss interrupted—“would have continually settled your foolish disputes.”
“While we both protected our little sister,” Raynor said like a pompous older brother. “Lord, but it feels good to sit here and talk with my sisters this way.”
“It is strange to learn we have a brother,” Fiona admitted.
“I can understand. It will take time for you to grow accustomed to me. But please understand that I have missed you both these many years and that I feel I reunite with you.”
“We were mere babes when we vanished,” Aliss said.
“True, but I was your older brother and loved you from the day you were born. My love did not tire and grow old or dissipate through the years. On the contrary it grew in strength and determination to find you and return you home. When word came of the twins Tarr was bringing to Hellewyk, I dared to pray for a miracle.” He grinned proudly. “And I got it.”
“Attention was drawn to us because of Tarr,” Fiona said.
“Aye, I had heard no word of the twins of the clan MacElder before that,” Raynor said. “I had passed through that clan years before but saw no twins.”
“We had yet to arrive,” Aliss said.
“I missed you by a few months according to what you have told me of your mother’s passing.” The sadness that had marked his tone turned cheerful. “Now we are together again, and we have much