Page 74 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
“I think ye will be too distracted to go back to yer translatin’,” he said in an arrogant tone as he pulled back. She sat up, her glasses more askew, her breathing more labored. “I ken that I will bedistracted,too.”
Helena’s eyes went wide, and Damien fought back a grin as he gave her a smoldering look, then headed for his door.
In some ways, it was a specific kind of torture to have to stay away from his wife. But in others, this seduction and teasing almost made it worth it.
“Good night, lass,” he said before he closed the door. “Ken that I willnae be around as much over the next days, but I shall see ye at our wedding.”
“What of our courtship?” Helena fired at his back.
He half-turned, his heart catching fire at the sight of her on the edge of her bed, messy-haired, setting aside her glasses, and glaring at him.
Damien lifted a shoulder. “Do we nae have a year?”
He smiled to himself as he heard Helena make a frustrated sound and throw something at the door—probably her slipper.
And despite the storm, he managed to fall asleep, right after he handled his distraction.
CHAPTER 30
The damned stormhad rolled out, leaving the world washed clean as the sun rose, and the skies were filled with racing, torn clouds. Standing at his study window in the early hours, sipping his second cup of strong, black coffee, Damien knew he should’ve been planning what he could get done before his guests arrived.
Instead, he fought down the urge to see if his bride-to-be had woken up yet. He imagined Helena sitting up in bed, her hair tumbling over her shoulders as she stretched and gave the windows a lazy half-smile. Getting up, slipping on her glasses, throwing on a dressing gown, and diving straight into translating her play.
A kind of delirious despair went through him as he let his forehead rest against the cool glass pane.
“Aye. I remember it well.”
Damien jumped and nearly spilled his coffee. Cursing, he turned and saw Orrick lounging in a chair across from his desk, grinning from ear to ear. His windswept hair and rough clothes, along with the stubble on his cheeks, indicated that he’d just arrived and probably come straight here.
The man should’ve been exhausted, and the shadows under his eyes attested to as much, but it didn’t stop his grin from growing wider.
“Remember what?” Damien set down his mug and glared at his cousin-in-law. “And announce yerself, man.”
“Damien, Cousin, I did. More than once. Slammed the door.” Orrick’s eyes danced. “And I remember when I realized that fair Gwennie would be the death of me in a way that no foe could ever be.” His smile became soft, and he put a hand to his chest. “She had me—still does—and I’d like to see her soon. So, ye with me, now?”
Damien could feel the heat rising in his face and chest. He wanted to bark at Orrick that he’d gone mad. But he couldn’t find the words and instead turned, clearing his throat and feigning a cough, struggling to maintain a dignified silence.
A sound escaped Orrick, and Damien sharply turned back to see him shaking with laughter.
“Bastard,” he blurted out. “Enough.”
“Of course, of course,” Orrick said and waved his hand. “Worth it. Wait till I tell Gwen.”
That should’ve annoyed Damien more. Instead, he felt oddly pleased.
He threw himself into the chair opposite Orrick. “Well? Found the real bastards?”
At that, Orrick sobered and shook his head, dragging a bruised hand over his face. “Nay. And nae for lack of tryin’. We found someone on Darrow’s land who’d housed ‘em, but he didnae ken where they went.”
“Nae far,” Damien murmured. “If I believed in witchcraft, I’d have thought Lachlan was summonin’ these storms.”
“Psh, nay,” Orrick said. “But I do think he’s usin’ em to avoid bein’ caught. Probably kens enough about changes in the weather from bein’ a pirate. Or it’s stupid luck. It’ll run out.”
A sigh escaped Damien, and he thought about the Vipers who’d escaped him, nodding. “In me bones, I ken it wasnae that dog that Helena heard when we were at the falls. ‘Twas someone else.”
“Why didnae they attack ye?”
“I dinnae ken,” Damien said, even as his stomach lurched. “To observe us? Nothin’ good.”
