Page 79 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
26
Soft orange hues kissed the landscape as the sun rose over the moors. Astrid’s heart fluttered wildly, her body tingling with a new sensation.
Had she known what she was missing, she never would have waited so long. But as she tilted her head up and gazed at Thomas’s face, a smile spread across her lips, knowing that it had been well worth the wait.
“What’s troublin’ ye?” Thomas asked, his deep voice a soothing balm to her restless mind.
His protectiveness made her heart flutter, despite the shadows lingering in her thoughts.
“What makes ye think I’m troubled?” she asked back, arching an eyebrow as she nuzzled the ook of his arm.
She felt warm and secure, pressed against him, and she didn’t mind the chill that nipped her calves.
She nestled deeper into the crook of his arm, searching for the right words. The last thing she wanted was to ruin the moment between them, yet history suggested that she should expect the shoe to drop and misery to crash back down on her.
“All right, now I ken that there’s something wrong,” Thomas said, his hand curling around her head, securing her to his body.
“I cannae help but feel that we’re balancin’ on the edge of a precipice, and sooner or later, I’m goin’ to fall off it, unable to make me way back up.”
Her confession hung in the air.
Thomas’s fingers ran through her hair, sending a shiver of pleasure down her spine.
“How many times do I have to tell ye?” he said, his voice filled with conviction that rattled her to the core. “Ye’re mine, and nothing will harm ye or Melody. Ye’re happy for the first time, as ye deserve to be. I promise ye, nothing is goin’ to happen.”
His words wrapped around her like a warm embrace, filling her with the safety and security she had craved. Her heart swelled with admiration for the man who held her so tightly. He was both a protector and a partner.
She leaned in, showering him with kisses. Time stood still as she lost herself in him once again. It didn’t matter that the golden ball of light drifting through the sky marked the passing hours; Astrid had given herself over to Thomas yet again.
“I could stay like this forever, ye ken. Ye, like this, wit’ me, without a care in the world,” Thomas sighed, playing with a loose strand of her hair.
It was the clap of thunder overhead that shattered their idyllic moment. The sudden sound broke through the stillness of the loch and sent a jolt to Astrid’s heart, as if lightning had struck her.
Thomas groaned, reluctantly pulling away from her. Astrid couldn’t help but notice the concern etched on his features.
“I suppose it’s time to go,” he said, the disappointment in his voice mirroring her own.
Large drops of rain began to fall from the sky, and dark clouds rolled in like a hurricane, threatening to drown the warmth they had just shared.
As the drops fell faster, Astrid jumped to her feet, scrambling to gather the blanket and other items Thomas had packed for their picnic into the saddle bag.
“Dinnae tell me ye’re afraid of a little bit of water?” Thomas teased as she tried to climb into the saddle, only to slip down theslick leather. She glared daggers at him and stuck out her tongue playfully as she tried once more.
“Hold up now, I’ll help ye,” Thomas offered with a hearty chuckle.
Warmth radiated from his body as his fingers curled around her waist, hoisting her up into the saddle.
“There’s nothing to worry about—it’s just water. It’ll dry,” he assured her, flashing her a crooked grin that instantly put her at ease.
His words washed over her like a balm, soothing the lingering fears that had taken root within her.
“Ye need nae worry. We’ll arrive home in nay time,” he added as he mounted the horse, settling into the space behind her.
The clap of thunder echoed through the valley, and lightning streaked across the sky.
Astrid had thought it would be a playful storm, just something to get them wet. But as the wind picked up, she realized that a tempest had formed.
“I’ll need ye to trust me,” Thomas said, his hot breath tickling her ear.
