Chapter Twenty-six Several nights later as they lay in bed together after making love, Duncan sensed a change in Caitlin. Even though he still held her tightly against him, a part of her seemed to have faded away. Brushing her temple lightly with his lips he asked. "Caitlin, is there something wrong? I know I'm holding your body here in my arms, but I feel your mind is somewhere else." Unable to voice her feelings about their relationship, she answered quietly. "No, nothing's wrong, I guess I'm just tired." Kissing him lightly just below his ear, she brushed the bridge of her nose against the warm column of his throat, and felt his pulse beating there. A pulse that had been beating for over 400 years. She thought about all the people he'd met, all the events he'd witnessed and taken part in. And yes, she couldn't help it. All the woman he must have held just as he was holding her now. All the women that had grown old and died, while he stayed the same. Even the lovely Tessa would have eventually. She envied her selfless devotion to Duncan and their life together and wished she could be as noble as she. But, as she lay there quietly in the circle of his arms, she realized she wanted more than that. She loved him deeply, she would always love him, but she couldn't give him the unselfish devotion Tessa had. The time they had spent together, had been in their own little private world. Just the two of them loving, parting and coming back together again. But now, the realities of the outside world had been spoken out loud and she knew the invisible wall around their private eden had been breached. As they both drifted off to sleep, she knew she had to make a decision.