She swatted the fur beside her. "Sit." Growling, he shoved his dirk back in its sheath. "I'll listen, but if ye lift a finger against me, I'll slit your throat afore ye can draw your next breath." "I'll keep that in mind." Eva smoothed her fingers over her throat ...

Nothing could stir Eva's passion like a tall, muscular Scotsman disrobing. Lordy, she could watch him stand before her in the nude for hours.

Wrapped in a fur-lined cloak, Christina paced in the guard tower above the main gate of Roxburgh Castle. For two days she had maintained her vigil. …Awhile later, a guard entered with an armload of fuel. “Twill be dawn in a couple of hours, m’lady. Ye really ought to try to sleep.”“Nay, not when I could see my son any moment.”“They could be another day, mayhap two.” He placed a square of peat onto the coals.She held her hands out to the warmth. “What are two days out of three and ten years?

--- He knit his brows as she stared at him. "Do I have a pustule on my face?" "No." She continued to stare. He may be a bit more time-weathered, but that only served to increase his allure. And his eyes. Lord, his eyes were the same crystal blues that could pierce through her soul. Tilting his chin up, he folded his arms. "Then why are ye looking at me like that?" "I want to remember." His gaze softened. "I've never forgotten." "Nor have I.

God, I've missed ye," he heard himself say. Fear of failure? Mayhap when it came to her. He'd endure a mangled shoulder any day if he never had to suffer losing Eva again. Her inhale spluttered as she looked up into his eyes, moving her hands to his whiskered cheek. "I--" Dipping his head, he kissed her. Aye, finally kissed her, like he'd been aching to do for three days. And God bless it, she kissed him back.

God had given him a gift when he opened his eyes to see her smile and the lovely glimmer of fathomless green pools. Her gaze reminded him of the rolling hills of his beloved Scotland. With Eva, he was home. With her in his arms, he could achieve anything - fear nothing. If only...

Her face grew suddenly serious as she cupped his cheek in her palm. "Oh how I love you, William." The angel had spoken. He closed his eyes and let her words seep into his soul.

What a sight the big man made, sitting his horse with a commanding presence as if he were born to the guardianship. If she hadn't known him, Eva would have guessed him to be as regal as a king.

What was this future world where people aged so slowly? Were they protected in cocoons of silk? "What say ye? Are there no warriors?" "There are soldiers who join the army - and they learn combat, but most of the fighting is done..." She glanced aside. "Pardon?" "You wouldn't believe me." He snorted. "The fighting is done by banshees and fairies? She threw back her head with a belly laugh. "Now that would be a good name for a video game.