Page 101 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
She sighed loudly as his tongue slid into her wet desire.
“But first, I will taste every inch of ye,” he growled possessively, his fingers making quick work of stretching her.
After what seemed like hours later, they lay together beneath the blankets.
Hunter watched Erica, who was fast asleep in his arms, and before he drifted off, he whispered, “Nay matter what the future has in store for us, Erica Buchanan, I will fight for ye, for the life we are buildin’ together, and for our love.”
EPILOGUE
The crisp morning air carried the faint smell of peat smoke and damp earth as Hunter led Erica and Lily down the winding path toward the village. The sun hung low in the sky, its golden light spilling over the rugged Highland landscape.
Though the world around her seemed to hum with life, Erica felt an unusual nervous energy radiating from Hunter. He walked beside her, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, while Lily skipped a few paces ahead, humming a cheerful tune.
“Ye are bein’ awfully quiet this mornin’,” Erica teased, glancing up at her husband.
His expression was unreadable, but there was a glint of mischief in his gray eyes.
“Aye,” he said, his lips twitching as if fighting a smile. “But that doesnae mean I dinnae have somethin’ planned.”
“Somethin’ planned?” Erica repeated, narrowing her eyes. “Should I be worried?”
Lily spun around, her dark curls bouncing as she grinned at Erica. “I ken what it is!”
“Do ye, now?” Erica laughed. “Care to give me a hint?”
Lily clapped her hands over her mouth, giggling. “Nope! Uncle Hunter made me promise to keep it a secret.”
Erica glanced at Hunter, raising an eyebrow. “Conspirin’ with an eight-year-old, are we?”
“She’s a trustworthy accomplice,” Hunter said, his voice light. “And ye will find out soon enough.”
The path led them to the heart of the village, where clusters of stone and timber cottages lined the cobbled streets. Smoke curled up from chimneys, and the occasional villager waved as they passed by. Erica smiled and returned their greetings, marveling, as she always did, at the sense of community here. This place had become her home, and its people had become dear to her heart.
They rounded a bend in the path, and Hunter stopped abruptly in front of a modest, two-story stone building. The structure had an air of quiet dignity, with wide windows framed by dark wooden shutters. Though weathered by time, it stood sturdy and proud, its roof freshly thatched and its front stoop swept clean.
Erica blinked, unsure why they had stopped. “What is this place?”
Hunter stepped aside, gesturing toward the door. “Go on, take a look.”
Her curiosity piqued, Erica climbed up the steps and pushed open the door.
Inside, sunlight filtered through the tall windows, illuminating the spacious interior. The main room was open and inviting, with a large stone fireplace on one wall and polished wooden floors that gleamed as though they were recently sanded. To her left was a smaller room, and she could see shelves lining the walls, perfect for books and supplies. Upstairs, the faint creak of floorboards hinted at additional space—perhaps a study or a closet.
Erica turned to face Hunter, her heart racing. “What is this?”
Hunter crossed the threshold, his boots clicking against the floorboards. He stood a few paces away, his expression softer than she had ever seen it.
“It’s yers,” he said simply. “I had it renovated for ye. Ye said once that ye dreamed of openin’ a school. I thought it was time to make that dream a reality.”
A maelstrom of emotions surged through Erica, leaving her momentarily speechless. She stared at him, her lips parted, her chest tight with the sheer weight of his gesture.
“Ye… ye did this for me?”
“Aye,” he said, his voice warm. “For ye, for the children of the village, and for the future. I ken how much teachin’ means to ye, Erica. And I wanted to give ye the chance to share that with others.”
Tears pricked her eyes as she stepped closer to him, her hands reaching for his. “Hunter, I dinnae ken what to say. This is… it’s perfect. It’s more than I ever could have hoped for.”
His fingers closed around hers, rough and calloused but reassuringly strong. “Say ye will make it yers, Erica. That ye will fill it with laughter. That ye will make it a place where bairns can thrive.”
