Page 57 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
Thomas stepped toward her, his heart pounding violently in his chest. “Tell me what Chalium did to ye.”
“Why so ye can look at me like I’m broken? I’ll nae be pitied.”
“Ye think I have such a thin’ to give?” he snapped back. “I’m tired of this back and forth. Ye want me there one minute and push me away the next. How am I to ken what will be safe for me to dae, and what will set ye off. Because I’m at my wits end, Astrid. Ye’ve got to give me somethin’ to hold on to here. I feel like I’m drownin’ wit’ ye.”
“It was his fingers that slipped under my skirts first,” Astrid whispered as she played with the tips of her fingers. “But he dinnae stop there. By the time he situated himself between my legs, I ken I had to make a choice. I reached up and grabbed the wrought iron poker from the hearth and rammed it into his side. He tried to penetrate me, but it was I who would end up goin’ the deepest. I swore I’d never let another touch me like that again.”
The words spilled from Astrid’s lips as the tears trailed down her cheeks. Thomas hated himself for prying the story from her, but with a clear map as to what he could do, he felt it was some progress despite the pain it caused.
“I’m sorry ye went through all that,” he whispered as he reached a hand for hers. She recoiled as her face turned sour.
“I dinnae want yer pity, did I nae tell ye that?” she grumbled.
At that moment, Thomas felt a fierce determination rise within him. This vulnerable woman, this warrior with the heart of a lioness, needed him. He could not stand by and watch her suffer. He moved toward her swiftly, wrapping his arms around her, and pulled her into a protective embrace.
“I swear to ye, Astrid,” he vowed, his voice low and fierce, “I will make Chalium pay for the darkness he has brought into yer life. He hasnae just harmed ye, but he’s come for me as well.”
“Please, there’s nothing ye can do. He’s too powerful. Ye’ll just get yerself killed if ye pick a fight wit’ him.”
“Powerful? What is that? An ox can be powerful and so can a steady stream of water over the same rock.”
“Me Laird… Thomas, please,” Astrid pleaded.
It was as if she had a secret weapon to use against him. Hearing her say his name was like listening to angels singing in the heavens.
Thomas held her close on the balcony, the chill of the night air wrapping them in a tender embrace. He wished with all his heart that he could do something—anything—to ease the sadness that hung over her. As he looked down, he noticed her fingers fiddling nervously with a wayward strand of hair, one that was significantly shorter than the rest.
His curiosity piqued, he gently took the errant lock and pinched it between his fingers. Astrid’s body tensed as her hand flew to his.
“What happened to yer hair?” he asked, his voice low but firm, stopping her in her tracks.
Her eyes rose to his. Her expression was a blend of defiance and vulnerability.
“I cut it,” she replied far more sharply than he had expected.
Thomas frowned as he examined the uneven strands. “It looks as if it were ripped apart like rope or burned,” he noted, his heart aching for what she must have endured.
“It doesnae matter now,” she said, turning away again, her tone dismissive. “What matters is the hour, and ye have a busy dayahead, do ye nae? I’m sure there are loads of things to occupy yer time wit’. Perhaps ye could spend time wit’ yer faither?”
Thomas grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her back to him. He didn’t say a word as he held her, nor did he allow more carnal thoughts to intrude. Right now, he needed his wife to know that she was safe and well cared for.
“It matters because it’s something that happened to ye.”
“It’s all in the past. Can we nae just leave it there?”
“Aye, we could, if ye wouldnae flinch when I reach for ye. Or turn away from me when I can clearly see ye’re hurtin’. I dinnae want ye to hurt in any way.”
“Then let it go,” Astrid begged.
“I will, when ye do. But ye havenae. I dinnae think ye’ve ever stopped and just breathed. Have ye?” Thomas asked as he leaned back enough to see her face. Even with her red-rimmed, puffy eyes, she was stunning.
“Haveye?” she asked back. “Because I dinnae think ye have either.”
Thomas couldn’t hide his smirk. “Aye, the moment ye came to me was like a breath of fresh air, I just didnae ken it yet.”
“Still, the hour is late,” she said as she stepped back.
Thomas didn’t want to let her go, but he couldn’t keep her against her will either.
