Page 77 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
The smirk on Thomas’s face dropped. He glared at the fist pressing into his desk and then at Duncan.
“Tell me,” Thomas said smoothly as he pushed Duncan’s fist off the desk. “Who is the Laird? Who has taken up the mantle and carried the burden of that responsibility? Is it nae me?”
“Aye,” Duncan answered. There was no hiding the tremor in his voice as Thomas arched an eyebrow and glared at him. “It’s ye.”
“Then why are ye questionin’ me decisions?”
“Me Laird, ye’re nae thinkin’ wit’ yer head. At least nae the right head. I fear that yer wife may have more sway over ye than ye think.”
“And what if she does?” Thomas shouted.
He couldn’t believe the words coming out of Duncan’s mouth. Why would his man-at-arms be offended by his wish to have time alone?
“She is me wife and should be privy to such things.”
“Yer faither never would have let yer maither take over the clan,” Duncan pointed out, taking him by surprise.
“Since when have I ever said that Astrid would be the one to take over if something were to happen to me? The title and responsibility have only ever gone to a male heir. What makes ye think I would bring down me faither’s dynasty?”
“Me Laird, I only meant that ye have to be cautious. Ye never ken what is out there, waitin’ to attack.”
“And thanks to ye,” Thomas said, resting his hand on Duncan’s shoulder, “I have learned to consider everything a trap. Nay one in the castle will ken that we’ve left. But I am goin’ in the morning. And ye’ll see, nothing is goin’ to happen.”
The pale moonlight cut through the veil of shadow. Thomas carefully pulled the door to the balcony open and stepped out, testing the chill in the air. The sound of the critters was like a sweet melody as he pulled his cloak over his shoulder to ward off the icy nibbles of the night.
The soft, golden glow of a candle caught his eye. Turning his attention to Astrid’s door, he tiptoed over to it. Leaning closer, he pressed his ear to the door. The only sound was the popping of the fire that kept the chill at bay.
For a moment, he thought of barging in, catching her unaware. He wondered if he’d find her in her shift or nothing at all.
The thought intrigued him as he knelt to peer through the lock at the knob. Frustrated by the lack of view, he stepped back.
“I’ll be right there.” Astrid’s voice was muffled but clear.
Thomas froze. Was she talking to him? Had she completely forgotten about their trip this morning? His uncertainty triggered his panic. It was like dominoes falling one after another until he had to put a hand on the door to steady himself.
“Ye dinnae trust easily, do ye?” Astrid asked as she opened the balcony door and joined him outside.
Thomas couldn’t help but smile, knowing that she had been talking to him.
“It’s hard to when ye’re a man in me position. There’s a lot of people who want to harm the ones I love,” Thomas said as he brushed back a loose strand of her hair to admire her in the silvery light.
“How do ye nae hide away all day if such terrors greet ye every day?” Astrid asked as she stepped closer.
Thomas pulled in a long, deep breath, savoring her floral scent. It reminded him of spring and the glen.
“I dinnae think about the what ifs that can happen in life,” he answered as he curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “If I did, I’d never get anything done, and I’d been frozen wit’ fear. I’d rather live me life the way I want rather than bend the knee to fear and uncertainty.”
Astrid’s lips curled into a smile that lit up the night.
Thomas pulled her closer still, crushing her body against his, and kissed her. The kiss was sudden and earnest but sweet and tender. Her lips were like a honeycomb—there was always a bit more to savor.
“I thought ye said ye wanted to get out of the castle,” Astrid murmured as she ran her fingers through his hair.
A light, tingling sensation rippled through him, following the path of her nails as she dragged them over his scalp. He could have her do that all day—it feltsogood.
“Aye, that was the plan,” Thomas said with a wink. “But now I’m thinkin’ that there are things we could do here. Why go out so early? ‘Tis nae like the loch will go anywhere. Surely we could see it at a later date if that’s what ye want to do.”
“I dinnae think so.” Astrid planted one more kiss on his lips before pushing him away. “I’ve been stuck indoors for far too long. I miss the moors.”
