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believed him. What other choice did she have
but to trust him?
    He finished cleaning and added extra logs to
the fire. He took a quick peek out the door to check on the
weather, and to Brianna’s surprise she saw snow falling heavily
outside.
    “When did that start?” she asked.
    “Some hours ago.” He slipped out of his
shirt and boots, leaving his leggings on.
    Her glance settled on his bare chest. She
had seen it before, though today she was much more alert than the
last two days. The pain had consumed much of her waking time, and
sleep was a friend she sought often. When she had first seen his
bare chest, it had been through a hazy fog, and even then it was an
impressive sight. Now she looked with remarkable awe at his
form.
    He had to be a warrior of tremendous skill,
for his arms and chest were thick and hard with muscle. His
strength she knew of firsthand, for he lifted her effortlessly, as
though she weighed no more than a feather. His waist was slim,
though also thick with muscle, and his legs could easily support
his firm bulk.
    She glanced over the length of him quick
enough, and while she had no interest in his manhood, or so she
told herself, she couldn’t help but notice he was well endowed. Her
husband had often boasted of his remarkable size and how she was
not capable of satisfying a man so powerfully built. From what she
could see, Royce looked to put her husband to shame. Surely she
could never please a man like him. But then, she need not worry
about it. He had no interest in her and she had none in him.
    Why, then, did she think of it?
    His words caught her attention. “It was a
gentle snow at first but turned heavier fast enough.”
    Would her brother ever find her if there was
no trail to follow? She wondered over her fate. How long would she
remain with Royce? Could she trust him as she thought she could?
Could she trust herself to remain strong and. fearless? She
shivered, not knowing the answers.
    “Are you warm enough?” he asked, leaning
over the bed to once again slip his arm beneath her back.
    She nodded and tensed when he lifted her off
the pillows.
    “Relax,” he said softly. “You will only
cause yourself pain.”
    He spoke the truth, but for some reason her
situation suddenly seemed hopeless and her misgivings made her feel
all the more vulnerable.
    He adjusted the pillows and gently laid her
down and moved her over ever so gently, so there would be room in
the bed for him. He thought she might object, since he caught the
look of doubt in her eyes, but he thought it better to do as he had
done for the last two nights, and that was climb in bed with her
and soothe her troubled sleep.
    He slipped in beside her beneath the covers,
and it took barely minutes before she managed to ease herself
slowly against him, her head resting on the top of his
shoulder.
    “Comfortable?” he asked.
    “Aye, I am and thank you.”
    “Nay, there is no need for thanks. It is
good to have you here beside me. It is less lonely.” He kept his
hands to himself, though he would have preferred to slip his arms
around her and give her a gentle kiss. He would wait, for
nightmares seemed to haunt her, and it was then that she eagerly
went into his arms and remained until he released her upon rising.
He was growing accustomed to her there nightly in his embrace and
he liked it.
    What would happen between them when she grew
stronger?
    He had no answer; he would wait, have
patience, and allow nature to take its course.
    She was barely asleep when she grew restless
and began to whimper as if being hurt. He wondered if she continued
to relive the accident or if more painful memories haunted her.
    He took her in his arms, held her close, and
soothed her with gentle kisses to her face. She settled as she
always did, and together they slept, both healing in their own
way.

Chapter Five
    It was time to find out about this stranger,
especially since she had been sleeping beside him these last five
days. That he was a