Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen

ADA

Gosta and Egil were beginning to grow restless. I could tell they hated being here when ale and women awaited them in the town.

They sipped their drinks in silence as I sat by the fire, altering Lugh’s old clothes, which were much too small for Cayden and his men. I thought to tailor them to my measurements.

It was becoming harder to see my needle and thread as the fire died down. I put my sewing down and went outside to retrieve more firewood.

There was a full moon in the sky tonight, and I took my time walking to the barn, greeting the animals that were still awake. I felt lonely for the first time in a while.

For so much of my life, I had longed for any time I had to myself. It was a strange feeling to me to want company now, to want to be with Cayden.

I gathered enough pieces of wood for the night and headed back to the house.

When I entered, Gosta and Egil were gone. I turned around to walk back outside to see if their horses were missing when I saw Cayden standing by the front door. The logs fell out of my arms and onto the floor.

“There’s something wrong with you,” I said, startled. “You agree with me?”

A shadow of a smile played at his lips. “Lesson number one in fighting, always know your surroundings. There is only one way to learn that lesson.

“My brothers and I spent years of our childhood scaring one another until it was impossible to do so.”

“The lesson has been learned.”

I bent down and picked up the pieces of wood while Cayden continued to look at me. There was something different about him tonight.

He seemed timid and more reserved than usual, and I suddenly became very aware that we were alone.

“Ada, come here,” he said with a nervous, mischievous smile. My heart was pounding in my chest. I could dismiss him with a joke or do as he said and walk toward him.

I did not know if I was ready for our relationship to change yet. Cayden patiently waited for my decision.

I took a step toward him, and then another, and then another, until we were inches away from each other. He looked at my eyes and slowly ran his finger from my temple to my lips and then to my chin.

In a gentle motion, he pushed my chin up to join his lips with mine. It was a long, deep kiss. I felt my body sink into his while one of his hands pushed through my curls, grabbing the back of my head.

We continued to kiss there for some time, both becoming more confident with where our hands ventured.

He stepped back, looking at me as I tried my best to catch my breath. I had never felt such attraction to a man before; it felt entirely intoxicating. He took my hand to lead me upstairs.

We were almost to our loft when we heard the sound of horses approaching. As if deciding what action to take, Cayden looked at me and then to the door. He pulled out his dagger and placed it in my hand.

“Take this and wait upstairs. I’m not expecting anyone back for a while.”

I ran up the rest of the stairs and hid behind the bed, still able to see down into the main room. Cayden was already standing by the door, as he had just moments ago with me.

We waited quietly for the visitors to enter.

Padriac came in seconds later with Caxton draped over his shoulder. It was strange to see such a big man carrying another large man. Cayden relaxed and helped his friend lay Caxton down in front of the fire.

“After twenty-two years, the man still does not know when he has had enough ale,” Padriac said to Cayden. “It was actually quite a sight to see, one you would have enjoyed very much.”

“He began yelling at your cousin. Sayer ordered me to bring him back to the house.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. I dare say he would not have been able to defend himself against even a pig in this state.”

“Where is Ada?” Padriac asked in Danish, smiling at him. He looked around the room.

“Asleep. She must have gone to slumber right before I returned.”

In hearing this, I placed the dagger down and silently moved back onto my blanket. Our moment was over, and maybe for the better.

I untied my dress and quietly slid it off, trying to think of anything else to calm my body down. My heart was beating so hard. I could still feel the touch of Cayden’s lips on mine.

I pulled the other blanket over me and closed my eyes, thinking about what would have happened if Padriac had not returned.