The Fire's Center by Shannon Farrell

the heat from the foot warmers and Lucien’s own large frame soon caused Riona’s eyelids to droop, however.
     
    Lucien tucked her head against his shoulder, and still clasping her right hand firmly in his own, only this time without the hand warmer, he slid his other arm around her waist and allowed himself to drift off to sleep as well.
     
     
     
    A jolt several hours later awoke him, and a signpost encrusted in snow outside the window when he opened the shade a crack informed Lucien that they were on the outskirts of Monaghan. He was about to wake Riona, when he halted.
     
    The dim light entering the carriage rested on her face, and he saw her smile in her sleep. Unable to help himself, he leaned forward and kissed Riona on the lips.
     
    She sighed softly, opening her mouth a fraction as she did so, and the kiss deepened. Riona could feel the kiss, and for a moment thought it was dream.
     
    But as she fluttered her lids drowsily, she could see Lucien quite clearly, and wondered what she should do. If he knew she was aware of him kissing her, what might he think? Wouldn’t it be better simply to pretend she was still asleep? At the same time, curiosity over the kiss told her to respond.
     
    In the end, however, Riona decided upon the first option, and waited for him to lift his head before making a show of opening her eyes sleepily, and asking if they were there yet.
     
    "Nearly at the inn," he confirmed, gazing down at her warmly with his tawny golden eyes.
     
    Riona held onto his hand tightly, and moved her left hand over to cover them again with the blanket, before placing it on the arm he still had securely wrapped about her waist.
     
    "Now where were we, coronal suture..." she said with a laugh.
     
    Lucien laughed too, a full-throated, hearty chuckle. Riona marvelled to herself at how young he looked compared to when she had first met him, when he had seemed so serious and careworn.
     
    Lucien’s thoughts were running along similar lines, as he thought how young and innocent Riona had looked as she slept and how he had taken advantage of her.
     
    But she seemed to be completely unaware of what he had done. Best just to leave it at that, and not do anything which might destroy their growing friendship for one another.
     
    She was a poor girl, a stranger to Dublin, with a needy family, looking for her father, and some way to support herself if she couldn’t locate him. It would be the height of stupidity to try to kiss Riona whilst she was awake. The last thing Lucien wanted was for Riona to feel grateful to him, and mistake that feeling for something more.
     
    So he listened as she recited her list of bones, and enjoyed the luxury of simply holding her hand and being with her. He wondered if her whole family was very close, as she certainly seemed to be utterly at ease with him holding her hand. Unless of course she had had a suitor?
     
    The thought dampened his spirits somewhat, until he cheered himself up by reflecting that since none of the married couples he knew ever even sat side by side, let alone held hands, it was probably extremely unlikely.
     
    Antoinette had always possessed such a rigid demeanour, Lucien had on more than one occasion felt himself surprised that she and his brother had ever managed to have a child at all, let alone two, but then Lucien pushed this uncharitable thought aside as he began to add to Riona's list of bones.
     
    Once outside of the inn, Lucien swept her up into his arms as she tried to step out of the coach, and carried her into the foyer.
     
    "Sorry, my dear, but even with those new boots there's too much snow underfoot. I wouldn’t want you to get a chill," he explained as he carried her into the hotel and set her down in front of the desk.
     
    After ordering the two best rooms available, Lucien observed that the dining room was filled with guests having tea, and so ordered their tea and evening meal up in their room, as well as a hot bath.
     
    "Which