“You are completely impossible,” she grumbled from behind the screen. “I didnae heat it for you.”
“Aye, but I still appreciate it all the same.” He chuckled. His woman had a fiery temper, one that made him gloriously happy. He’d always hoped his woman would be as feisty and strong-willed as he was, and she was no disappointment. With the bar of soap in hand, he built up a good lather and before the looking glass propped on the table, smeared the suds over his jaw. Dagger unsheathed, he gently ran the blade in one slow stroke from his ear to his chin, thankfully only nicking his skin the once. He sure missed the modern conveniences of his own time.
Arabel strode out, a radiant vision in long layers of blue that matched her eyes to perfection. Even the gold lace at her wrists and along the hem of her full skirts matched the flecks in her eyes. Such a sight to behold. “You look beautiful.”
“Please watch what you’re doing. If you slice your throat and bleed all over my floor, I willnae be happy.” She stepped in behind him, lifted his shoulder-length hair, her gaze meeting his in the glass. “What are your intentions for this day?”
“To find my brothers and Isla. I need to speak to Isla about those who’ve held your skill over the centuries. She’s from Kenneth’s line and her clan live right here in the future. There is also little that passes her by. If there’s a way to get around this intimacy issue of yours, I need to find it, and right now she’s my best option.” He pulled his collar to the side and exposed the mark she’d given him. “I will of course inform them all I’ve found my chosen one.”
“Careful with that blade. You’re waving it all over the place. Allow me.” She turned him by the shoulders to face her, pressed him down until his backside rested on the table then held out her hand for his dagger. “I’ll shave you, otherwise we shall be here all day.”
“I’d love to be here all day.”
“I’m sure you would. Dagger, now.”
“Aye, but take care. You seem to be in a fierce mood, one I’ve put you in, but still...” He passed her his blade, cupped her hips and held her steady between his spread legs. “Do you shave men often?”
“On occasion, if a warrior has been injured and requires aid.” Turning his cheek with one finger, she held the blade nice and close to his skin and ran it in a smooth line down. Carefully, she drew the dagger along the next portion under his chin and down his throat. “Tell me more about the future, and why you are so terrible at shaving yourself.”
“In the future, we have electric shavers. They are a device which plugs into a power source called electricity and when the shaver is turned on, the device has sharp metal rotating heads that slice the stubble off at the root. No soap and blade is necessary.”
“Oh, I see. And what is this electri-city?” She twisted her tongue around the foreign word. “Is that correct?”
“Aye, and electricity is energy that’s been harnessed and contained. That’s done in various ways and then when the electricity is needed, the energy is dispersed and can do a multitude of things. Like bringing heat and light into a room, powering devices big and small, allowing communication between people all over the world, that sort of thing.
“That sounds farfetched. Surely people cannae speak to each other all over the world, and please, dinnae move. Each time you do you run the risk of being cut.” She ran the blade right under his nose. “I wouldnae wish to nick this beautiful mouth of yours.”
“You find my mouth—”
“Dinnae speak either.” She tapped his jaw shut and giggled. The sound of her laughter lightened his heart. Hell, he adored seeing her smile. She continued to shave him, around his lips then along the last stretch of his neck and after she was done, she dabbed his skin dry with the cloth. “Take a look in the glass. What do you think?”
Observing his reflection, he patted his jawline and traced around his lips. “You’ve done a better job than I ever could have.”
“Wonderful.” She picked up the fine bone comb on the table, brushed his hair until the dark strands curled around her fingers then nodded. “All done.”
“My thanks.” He wiped his blade clean, sheathed it at his wrist then tucked his traveling bag out of the way next to her trunk under the window.
Before the glass, she combed her hair and secured her pale locks at each side with a silver pin. Done, she set it down and faced him. “Are you ready to break your fast, Finlay?”
“Always. I’m hungry this morning, and for far more than breakfast.” He caught her around the waist and drew her closer. “I have a proposition.”