Page 41 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“Felix Gilmour,” Ryder answered. “I’m hopin’ he’ll take up the position as my man at arms.”
Morgana frowned. “What of Cohen?”
Worry sliced through her irritation. After all, Cohen was her only friend in the castle, and seeing him demoted did not sit well with her.
“He was loyal to my faither,” Ryder said. “I need men I can trust, just as I want a wife who will do as I tell her the first time I tell her.”
“Why do ye do that?” Morgana huffed as she glanced over her shoulder at him. “Ye talk to me as if I’m a child.”
“When ye make silly, childish decisions, ye’re goin’ to be treated as such,” Ryder countered. “I mean, really, what were ye thinkin’? Dressin’ as a lad? Leavin’ the castle without an escort? What if ye were kidnapped? Or killed? Did ye ever consider what that would do to yer family?”
Morgana blinked as his words settled over her like a heavy, wet blanket. “Hence the disguise. But tell me, what gave me away? How did ye even ken it was me?”
Ryder shifted behind her and cleared his throat, “Yer scent.”
“What?” she blurted, dumbfounded.
“Ye smell like lilacs and rosemary. And summer…” Ryder trailed off, his hot breath caressing her neck.
Goosebumps rose over Morgana’s skin as they moved like shadows in the night. Tingles ran up and down her spine. It was as if Ryder had flipped a switch within her, causing every inch of her body to respond to him.
“Is that right?” she murmured, trying not to let her imagination run wild.
The image of Ryder tethering the horse to a tree and laying her on his tartan before taking her maidenhead flashed across her mind. Her body quivered at the thought.
The tip of Ryder’s nose traced the length of her neck, making her breath hitch. Did he have any clue how badly he was taunting her? Temptation was like chains bound to her ankles.
She chewed on her lower lip as her thoughts strayed to the feel of his strong arms around her, keeping her from falling off the saddle.
“I think that might be the first compliment ye’ve ever given me.”
“Nae true,” Ryder countered, his voice soft and sultry. For a moment, Morgana couldn’t help but wonder if he was growing sleepy. “I told ye how lovely ye looked durin’ the weddin’.”
“That must have slipped my mind,” Morgana said, just as a crack of thunder rippled overhead.
“That’s nae good. We’re nae goin’ to make it back before it starts rainin’. I hope ye dinnae mind gettin’ wet.”
No sooner had Ryder spoken the words than the heavens opened.
Rain pummeled Morgana, the icy kisses stealing the last bit of warmth she had managed to hold onto. Ryder’s body curled in on her, shielding her from the rain as he pulled the extra fabric of his tartan over his head. The fabric was enough to cocoon them in a private well of dryness and trap their warmth.
A flash of lightning blazed a path through the darkness, illuminating the road ahead. In the distance, Morgana could see the castle against the inky backdrop. The sight was both a blessing and a curse. With no news to share, she felt like a failure. But the thought was swiftly pushed to the frayed edges of her mind with each squeeze of Ryder’s strong arms.
“Out,” Ryder snapped at the stable boy the moment they entered the sanctuary of the stables.
The rain pounded on the roof, making it hard for anyone to hear anything. The stable boy gave a sharp nod of his head and scurried out.
“Was that necessary?” Morgana asked as Ryder jumped down from the horse.
He turned and held his hands out to her. Morgana swung one leg over and let gravity pull her into his embrace.
“I’ll nae have them start rumors,” he answered as he plucked a strand of wet hair from her chest. “It’s bad enough that ye’re dressed as a lad. I’ll nae have the castle thinkin’ there’s somethin’ wrong with ye. I can handle a drunk wife or even one that’s ditzy. But I’ll nae have a disobedient wife. Now, I’ll nae ask ye again.”
Morgana’s heart pounded as she watched him guide the horse into a stall. There was no doubt he’d order the stable boy to feed and brush down the horse the second they left. But at that moment, Morgana wished that she hadn’t gone out, to begin with.
Swallowing hard, she peeled the wet shirt off her as if it were a second skin. A sharp gasp escaped Ryder’s lips, causing her muscles to tighten. How she wanted him next to her again, shielding her from the cold.
“What was it ye said? There’s always someone watchin’? What makes ye think we’re alone in here?” she challenged.
