Taken By Storm Part 12

Footsteps. Had Storm returned?

He hurried out of his room, forgetting his s.h.i.+rt. Her door stood ajar, and he thought he heard voices, so he entered without knocking.

She stood naked before the burning hearth, her back to him and her slim body glistening from the rain that dotted her pale skin. She was exquisite; a narrow waist that curved to round hips and taut b.u.t.tocks, and skin that appeared as soft as a fresh rose petal.

She s.h.i.+vered, her skin running wild with gooseflesh, and he quickly grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around her, drawing her back into his arms to rest against his chest.

She didn't object, didn't push him away or insist that she needed no help. She simply lingered in the silence of his protective embrace.

He hugged her tightly, wanting to keep her warm and wanting to chase away whatever worries haunted her.

After several silent minutes he whispered, "Are you all right?"

She didn't answer immediately and he simply waited.

"I wasn't in time."

The despair in her voice jabbed at his heart. "You can't save everyone."

She turned around in his arms. "I would have gone immediately if I had known. I didn't know."

"You can't blame yourself."

A single tear rolled down her cheek. "He was my brother."

Burke almost reeled from her remark, and he had the good sense to walk both of them to the bed to sit.

A tap at the door preceded Janelle's entrance, and she smiled when she saw him there beside Storm.

"I brought a hot brew to warm her and cloths to change her wet bandage." Janelle placed the items on the table. "Could you see to it for me, Burke? I have more pressing matters."

Burke nodded. "I'll take care of her."

Janelle closed the door quietly behind her.

He left her side to get the hot brew, placing the cup in her hands, and ordered her to drink.

She took a sip.

"I didn't know you had a brother," he said.

"He wasn't my blood brother, but we spent a good portion of our lives together working for the same

family."

Burke understood the camaraderie of such a relations.h.i.+p. Sometimes it could be stronger than blood

relations.

"How did you learn of his plight?"

Storm hugged the warm cup. "I received a message in the middle of the night."

"Why didn't you wake me? I would have gone with you."

"Tanin was the logical choice and he was familiar with the area. You would have only slowed me down

and time was of the essence, though time had run out."

Burke listened while he redressed her wound.

"He was imprisoned for stealing food and then left to starve. It makes no sense."

"Life never does," he said, relieved to feel that her chilled skin had warmed considerably. He'd like to

think his arms had warmed her, but probably the hot brew had chased the chill from her bones.

"I want it to," she said adamantly. "I want something to make sense. Tell me something that makes sense."

"Love?" Burke questioned his own suggestion.

"You don't sound as if you believe that yourself.""It was my first thought so I went with it." He finished tying off the dry bandage. "When you think about.i.t, though, love might just make the most sense. It's what brought me here and what makes you rescuethe helpless. It's a driving force that has people accomplis.h.i.+ng extraordinary things. And once love takeshold there's no stopping it."

Storm looked as if she contemplated that as she sipped her brew, then she asked, "Have you everloved?""There's many people I've loved, but if you ask if there's a special woman, then the answer is no.""You've never been married?""Not even close," he confirmed with a laugh.

"You don't wish to wed?"

"I will only wed when I fall in love, completely, foolishly, deeply, and without doubt. I intend to share the pitfalls and the joys of life with her until our dying day."

"What a lovely thought. I wish you success in your quest to find such a love, but then you're stubborn

enough to be successful.""A trait we have in common," he reminded, and thought to ask about her husband, but realized it wasn'ta good time. She had suffered enough with losing a brother. She didn't need memories of her husbandadding to her pain.

"Leaders are never stubborn, Mr. Longton." She smiled. "We are wise."

He smiled along with her, pleased that she had acknowledged him as a leader sharing the same quality.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"For what?"

She tucked the blanket around her. "For covering me up and warming me."

"I never meant to intrude on your privacy," he explained. "The door was ajar and I hoped you had

returned safely from your journey."

"Weary, but safe," she confirmed.

He wanted to reach out, wrap her in his arms, and take her to bed-to sleep. She needed rest, and he'd

make sure she got it. He wouldn't let her out of his arms until she slept a good many hours."Now if you will excuse me, sleep will be a welcome reprieve for me.""I couldn't agree more," he said, relieved she'd finally get the rest she needed, and walked to the door.

He turned, holding the door ajar. "You won't be going off somewhere in the middle of the night, will

you?"

"To tell the truth, once I fall asleep I don't think anyone will be able to wake me."

He grinned. "Sounds good to me." He stopped again before going out the door. "But if by chance

another emergency arises, please wake me. I'd be only too glad to help out.""I'll keep that in mind."He wanted to insist, but thought better of it. Storm would do what she wanted regardless, so he'd have to sleep lightly and keep aware of sounds and make certain she didn't slip past him once again.

The rain continued for a few hours throughout the night, then stopped. Burke slept on and off, his sleep

disturbed by dreams and sounds. Finally, as the first hint of dawn rose on the horizon, he tossed the covers aside and got dressed in his trousers, s.h.i.+rt, and the brown leather vest Angus had given him.

He hadn't heard a sound from Storm's room all night. He a.s.sumed she slept soundly but he wanted to

make sure for his own peace of mind. He kept his footsteps light and with a gentle push of her door, he peeked inside.

Several oaths spilled from his lips.

Storm wasn't there.He descended the rope in an instant and made his way through the camp searching for her. She had anuncanny way of disappearing. It seemed that no one had seen her. He knew better. No one would tellhim where she went. He wasn't really one of them, and therefore he wasn't fully trusted.

Why hadn't he heard her leave? His sleep had been restless enough and he'd been alert.

Janelle bid him good morning but knew nothing of Storm's whereabouts or those of her son, Tanin.

Malcolm had also disappeared, as had Angus.

Had they all left on another mission?

d.a.m.n, he hated being left out.

He was going to have to make it very clear to Storm that he wanted to be advised of her whereabouts at

all times.

He laughed, as he knew she would. What right did he have to demand anything from her? He was a stranger and therefore a safety risk. Why should she tell him anything? She really had been generous so