Their cot was snug, warm as they entered, warmer even than it had been by the fire. After frigid nights in the open and on horseback, Cameron was more than happy to work off his boots and walk across a wooden floor in his stocking feet. Neve abandoned her crutches near the door and hobbled to the bed, sinking down on the edge and watching as Cameron tugged the door closed behind them in the dim light of their lamp. His gaze flicked up to meet hers and he smiled faintly as he tossed his boots into the corner.
“What?”
“I missed you,” she said softly. “I was worried.”
“I promised I’d come back,” he said, hanging up his jacket on the peg near the door and starting to unbutton his shirt. “I meant that.”
“Were you careful?”
Cameron smiled. “I’m alive and intact, aren’t I?”
“That doesn’t quite answer my question.”
He nodded slightly and came to the bed wearing only his jeans and socks. He sat down with her and slid his arm around her shoulders. “I had ample opportunity to get myself hurt pretty badly,” he murmured, resting his chin against her hair. “If Thordin hadn’t redirected my attention, I might have ended up in a nasty fight and all of us could have ended up in worse shape than we did. Then again, maybe they wouldn’t have gotten hurt if I’d stuck around. I’ll never know.” He stretched, trying to shake off the weariness that pressed down at him. Had it only been a few hours since they’d made it back?
“You’re tired,” Neve said, reaching up to ruffle his hair. “We should sleep, not talk. I shouldn’t have made you sit up waiting with us.”
“It’s all right,” Cameron said, his eyelids growing heavier. It had hit him like a Mack truck all of a sudden, exactly how tired he really was. He was sore, too, from the long ride, but that wasn’t anything a hot bath wouldn’t fix in the morning. He could probably charm Tala into helping him heat the water if he promised to help her with the smokers or something later.
Neve was lowering him down to their pillows and unfastening his jeans before he realized what she was doing. He blinked up at her, brows knitting.
“What are you—”
“Sleep,” she breathed, leaning down to kiss him before she shucked off his pants. He shivered, flesh puckering as it was suddenly exposed to the open air. She threw their blankets over him and limped to the lamp to turn down the flame. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
“You sure?”
“Of course.”
Then she was under the blankets with him, cuddled against his side. Cameron sighed quietly, wrapping his arm around her just before sleep swallowed him whole.
Are they all immortal? They sure get beat up, bruised, broken, and sliced quite a bit.
At least Phelan is back and will hopefully stay put.
Thanks for the post. Hope you are feeling better.
I am much recovered from what I had been.
As for the cast, remember it’s only been about five months since the world came crashing down around them. Thom’s lucky his ribs don’t scream at him all the time anymore!