Marcello sighed, lay back down, and wrapped his arms around her. "I know, love. I feel the same way. I'd like everything to melt away, even if just for an hour, have no interruptions, just peace and quiet."

"No . . . " She shook her head, tired and frustrated and unable to articulate what it was she wanted. "I mean . . . I want things to stop happening. I want people to leave me alone. Like Duncan. If I wasn't the countess, he wouldn't want anything to do with me. I wish I could just . . . pluck her out, and let her go deal with all the people who want her and leave me out of it.

"Oh." Marcello frowned, and ran his hand over Niabheara's brow. "I'm sorry, love. I don't know what that's like. I suppose someday I will know, but I still don't. I wish you could send her off to deal with things, too."

She sighed again, turning back to him, and took his hand. "Don't be sorry. I'm being silly. I don't really wish for it." Although her tone had been much more convincing when she was wishing than when she denied it. "We have right now?" she offered.

He slid his fingers through hers and kissed her again. "Can you do that thing where the doors from the hall don't go to your room for a little while?"

She put an arm around his shoulders and drew him down to her, kissing him back. "Mmm. Done." She felt an instant stab of guilt for potentially shutting out Morgana as well, but tried to put it aside. "Are we making up for the wolf jumping on us before?"

Marcello cackled, and tugged her over, his hand on her thigh. "Maybe? Do you want to make up for yesterday?"

Niabheara immediately rolled on top of him. "I don't want to 'make up' for anything. I want to spend as much time with you as possible before the next thing goes wrong and one of us is dragged away again." She kissed him again. "And the wolf," she added lightly, "is outside digging holes in the snow."

"Very industrious of him," Marcello said approvingly, kissing her back as he slid his hands around her hips. "I hope he finds something exciting. Maybe we should get him a lady wolf."

"No, no, if he starts getting pups, he's going to think he's the alpha. There'll be no controlling him." Smirking, Niabheara sat up to begin working on his trousers. "You are the only rogue wolf I want under this roof."