Forever Her Champion by Suzan Tisdale Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t quite strong enough to dissipate the damp chill. As the night drew on, she scooted closer and closer to Aiden. By dawn, she was nestled in beside him, her back to his chest, wrapped warmly in the blankets and his arms.
    ’Twas as glorious a feeling as she had ever felt. Warm and safe and as close to feeling at home as she reckoned she’d ever get.
    This.
    This is what she had been longing for all her life.
    ’Twas foolish, she believed, to long for something one would probably never have. For now, she would soak up every moment, every bit of warmth and happiness, much like a squirrel hoarding nuts for winter. She would tuck it all away in the safe confines of her heart’s memory, only to use it on the coldest and loneliest of winter days.

    * * *
    A iden woke to warmth . But the body lying next to him, curled into his groin? He hadn’t a clue who she was. Lifting his head ever so slightly, he glanced at his surroundings through sleepy eyes. The sun was just coming over the horizon, painting the sky and morning clouds in deep shades of vermillion, violet and indigo. A cool morning breeze flittered through the trees and tall summer grass.
    He had no recollection of how he’d come to be in this glen, lying next to a woman whose face he could not see. She was covered from her toes to her ear in a blanket he did not recognize. The only thing he could clearly see was the top of her dark locks.
    Closing his eyes tightly, he fought to remember. Mayhap he was not as awake as he believed and the gods were playing tricks on him again, as they were so often wont to do.
    Taking in a slow, deep breath, he caught the clean scent of her. Was it lilacs he smelled?
    He tried to resist enjoying the warmth of her body curled against his, for he knew ‘twould all evaporate at any moment. ’Twas foolish to allow himself to feel warm or content or happy, for the gods would swoop in and destroy it all. He took in another deep breath, held it and waited. He waited for the dream to turn to horrific nightmare. He waited for the fleeting images of headless bodies, of blood and gore and death and agony to come crashing in to remind him of all he’d done, of who and what he was.
    But the nightmare never came.
    Time went on, stretching out before him, and still, no nightmare to disturb the quiet of the glen, of this moment.
    She stirred against him, sighing contentedly. Aiden lifted his head again, feeling all at once stunned, confused, and more than just a bit hung-over.
    For a long moment, he stared in disbelief at the top of her head. Unable to resist not knowing what she might look like, he dared crook a finger around the long, soft locks and pull them away.
    Thick, dark lashes, high cheekbones, and full pink lips. He needed only that glimpse of half her face to see just how beautiful she was. She looked vaguely familiar, but from where and whence, he could not place her. What women of sound mind would lie next to him voluntarily? She had to have come from the tavern, he surmised. No woman of good grace, reputation, or family would be here next to him.
    But she appeared to be far too beautiful to be a whore. She was far too clean in appearance and smell to be that.
    More confusion settled in. Briefly, he allowed himself to think that mayhap he’d spent enough time in his hell on earth as punishment for the man he’d been, and the gods were finally smiling upon him. Was she his reward for all his suffering?
    Before his mind could form another thought, this beautiful, sweet smelling lass rolled over to her back. Still asleep, still bundled in the blanket, she smiled softly. He’d never seen a woman more beautiful. Neither had he ever witnessed one asleep, next to him, looking so … content?
    His heart stopped beating; his breath stilled; his fingers ached to touch her.
    Nay, he chastised himself. Ye do nae deserve such a woman as this.
    Slowly, she began to open her eyes and stretch. When she looked up at him with such warm regard