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had to act. Tearing her shirt, she tied it around his arm just above the cut, pulling it tightly to stem flow.
    “Shh,” he soothed. “That can wait. Are you all right? Did the beast hurt you?”
    “No, but he could have. We are so weak, so defenceless like this.”
    “We beat it. Together we beat the beast. Come.” He stood, and then bent down to pick her up, cradling her to his chest. “Let’s get inside. I’ll come back for the food and we can eat. That will make you feel better, and then we will sleep. Tomorrow it will all seem better.”
    “How? How can it be better? We will still be stuck here, and we will still be powerless.”
    “And we will still be together.”
    She had no answer for that. Did he really believe that it was better for them to be powerless as long as they had each other? One thing it did confirm: the only reason he was here was her.
    “You chose to touch the dragon. For me?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m so sorry, Dòmhnall. For everything. You would be better off if I’d never come into your life.”
    “On the contrary, Tara. Until you came into my life, I had forgotten what it was like to live. To feel. You drive me to distraction, and it scares me what we are to each other. But it is better than the nothing I felt before. I promise to try to be more open to you, to be more of the man you deserve.”
    She laughed. “I don’t think I deserve any kind of man, really. Not after the things I’ve done. Even if you were the worst man on the planet I probably wouldn’t deserve you.”
    “I hope I’m not that bad,” he said, bending his neck and kissing the top of her head. “But I am what I am. And it is time we both accepted that about each other.”
    “I am willing to try if you are, Dòmhnall. Let’s stop our stupid squabbling and be what the fates want us to be.”
    “Very well. Tara.” He took her inside the cabin and placed her on the bed. She looked up at him expectantly, but then knew this was not the time and probably not the place.
    “I should treat your arm before it becomes infected.” She set to work, a warm feeling in the pit of her belly that made her want to squirm. Every time her fingers brushed his flesh, she was filled with a sudden burst of nervous energy. She wanted him more than ever; could they ever find a way to safety so that they could act on this new understanding between them?
     
     

Chapter Ten – Dòmhnall
    Her hands on his skin ignited the fire he had tried so hard to quench. It burned inside him, like the flame of his dragon used to.
    “Thank you, Tara,” he said, his hand covering hers as she tied off the makeshift bandage.
    “You are welcome. Now we should go and get the food.” Her stomach rumbled in response.
    “Maybe we should chop the wolf up and eat wolf steaks for dinner,” he suggested.
    “That sounds disgusting.” She stuck her tongue out in disgust.
    “I know, but if all we have is nuts and leaves, we might regret not trying it. Meat is meat, right?” he asked, watching her face as it screwed up in utter disgust.
    “I think I might rather starve,” she said.
    He got up but kept his hand on hers, drawing her up so that she stood facing him. Raising her fingers to his lips, he kissed them lightly, his eyes fixed on hers. “Such gifted hands.” He stroked her palm with his thumb, seeing the desire cross her face.
    “Dòmhnall…” she said, her voice soft but broken with emotion. “I…”
    “There is nothing to say.” He bent his head and kissed her, feeling her soft, round curves fill his arms as she leaned against his hard body, And he was hard, his cock straining to be released, to bury itself inside her for the first time. He had abstained too long.
    Ever since he had met her, he had not taken another woman to his bed. It didn’t seem right. Despite having no real intention of consummating their bond, to bed another woman would be cheating on his true mate. Call him old fashioned, or just old, but it was important to