Page 45 (1/2)

They sat in front of the dark fireplace in Duncan’s roo a fla when Duncan developed other ideas on how to h to be soft and welco him even more irresistible to Tara

“I never said they’re stupid I look at handfasting as a fancy engage in here” She sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes shut like he had suggested

“Do you think they don’t notice your bed isn’t slept in?”

She peered at hi Now, can we get on with this? You promised to show me how you do it”

He shook his head at his crazy wife

Soon to be crazy wife She corrected him

Crazy beautiful wife, with pluood on his threat

“Oh, no you don’t! You pro closer “As soon as you show me this, you can dothat” She sain

“Promise?” He teased

“Yes But no cheating It has to be ers from you”

“Close your eyes”

“They’re closed”

“Feel your breath Slowly in, slowly out Listen to the roo “Feel the energy surrounding you The heat, hear the crackle of flae”

Sitting in a trance-like state listening to his voice, to his words, sweat started to bead on her brow The air tingled with static electricity The hair on her arether, felt a snap Each breath brought her closer, she could feel it

“Pull the energy in Nowlook at where you want it to go”

When her eyes opened, she saw only the dark fireplace, heard only his voice Her fingers gathered strength When she could bear the heat no longer she extended the in the hearth

To her utter amazement flames leapt from the ashes “Did you see that?” She jumped to her feet

“Did you see that?” She clapped her hands like a child receiving a gift on Christrin answered her question “Aye, lass I saw it”

“I did it, right? You didn’t help?” She turned an accusing look his way

He mimicked a movement she had shown him a time or two over the last couple months He crossed an X over his heart “Proreat” She searched the room with excited eyes “What else can I catch on fire?”

He caught her before she could reach for a candle “Oh, no, you don’t” He molded her body to his “A prorin off her face

“It’s called indoor pluer pipes take waste out” Tara stood in front of a closet trying to explain to Ian, Fin and Duncan the finer details of a modern day water closet “How is the water forced into the walls where the pipes are?”