Page 77 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
“This feels suspiciously like ye’re tryin’ to keep me distracted,” she remarked, her voice tinged with amusement despite her earlier concern.
“Aye, maybe it is,” he admitted, crouching before her and taking her hands in his. “But I mean to keep ye safe, Erica. Always. Let me take care of this so I can sleep better.”
Her expression softened, her fingers curling around his. “I trust ye.”
Those words sent warmth through him, easing some of the tension in his chest. He kissed her hands, lingering for a moment before rising. Just then, a firm knock sounded at the door.
Hunter strode to the door and opened it to reveal Calvin.
The man-at-arms looked as sharp and ready as ever, though his expression shifted to one of concern when he saw his master’s grim face.
“Erica thought she saw someone,” Hunter muttered, stepping into the hallway and closing the door slightly behind him. “In the woods, near the clearing by the northern path.”
Calvin’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. “Ye think someone’s been skulkin’ around?”
“I dinnae ken, but I want it checked. Now.”
“Aye, I’ll take some men and look,” Calvin said without hesitation. He turned to leave, but then paused. “Hunter… if it’s naught but shadows, what do ye wish to do?”
Hunter tilted his head slightly, a sign that he would not be pleased with a non-result and would not let anything rest until he was certain that his clan and his family were safe. “See to it. I’d like a report at first light.”
With that, Calvin disappeared down the hall, his footsteps fading quickly as he made his way to gather a search party.
Hunter lingered for a moment, his hand resting on the doorframe.
I’ll be damned if I let anyone threaten what’s mine.
When he reentered the room, Erica was sipping her tea, her eyes rising to meet his. She smiled softly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. He could see the questions there, the worry she tried to mask for his sake.
“Is everythin’ all right?” she asked.
“Aye, it will be,” he said, crossing the room to stand before her. “I’ll nae let anythin’ harm ye or Lily.”
Her expression shifted, a mix of gratitude and something deeper that made his chest tighten. She stood up and stepped closer to him, her hands brushing lightly against his arms. “Thank ye, Hunter.”
He cupped her face, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. “Ye dinnae need to thank me, lass. It’s me duty and me honor.”
The moment stretched between them, the crackling of the fire the only sound. Her gaze fell to his lips, and his resolve crumbled. He kissed her, slow and tender at first, but the embers of their earlier passion quickly reignited. Her hands slid up his chest, tangling in his hair as she pressed herself against him.
“Stay with me tonight,” he murmured against her lips, his voice thick with need. “I need to feel ye near me.”
She nodded, her breath coming in soft pants as she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. “I’ll stay.”
Relief and desire surged through him, and he wasted no time in leading her to the bed. But as they passed the table, her laughter stopped him.
“What?” he asked, furrowing his brow.
She pointed to the plate of pastries. “Are we just goin’ to ignore the fact that ye tried to bribe me with tea and sweets?”
His lips quirked up into a rare smile. “Did it work?”
She laughed, the sound light and free. “I suppose it did.”
They shared a smile before he pulled her close again, the humor fading as the weight of their connection settled between them.
He kissed her once more, slower this time, savoring the taste of her. As they fell onto the bed, the worries of the night slipped away, leaving only the two of them, tangled together in the sanctuary of his chambers.
The firelight danced on the walls, its warmth mirrored in the way he touched her, his hands and lips tracing every curve, every inch of her. He poured his emotions into each kiss, each caress, as if trying to convey everything he couldn’t put into words.
