Page 80 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
“Sometimes, Hel, ye are too clever for yer own good, and I swear that’s why Providence chose to bring us together.” He grinned down at her in a way that revealed the warrior. “Ye always feared a husband who would bank yer fire, who would drown ye. But ye never thought of what ye might need. Or what might happen if ye met a man who wants to stoke yer fire, who might warm ye with his own.”
Those words pierced straight through Helena, but in a way that felt so good that it almost hurt. Her eyes nearly closed as she held onto them,memorizedthem, and failed a moment too late to realize what Damien was up to until he pounced.
One moment she was standing there, feeling the wind sneak through the blanket and hearing the sea crash in the distance. The next she was thrown over Damien’s shoulder.
“What are—what are you doing?” she nearly shrieked as he carried her through the gardens, not pausing once, not answering till they got to the castle. “Damien!”
“What ye need, Hel,” he replied in a maddening tone that made her truly consider biting him again.
He was weaving through the castle at a near run. The few folks out and about gaped at them. Damien had the audacity to merely nod at them.
“And forgive me, I thought ye might run.”
“Liar,” Helena shot back as she tried to wriggle free, but his arm clamped tighter around her.
“Nae on the goddamn stairs,” Damien said as he took them two at a time.
“You knew that those words meant a lot, that I was nearly dazed, that I?—”
“Ye need reassurances, more of a plan for our marriage. So, we shall discuss.”
“Buthere?” she hissed.
For Damien had just walked into a room she had not been in. He set her down and shut the double doors, blocking them as she tried to dart toward them. He took her by the shoulders and spun her.
“I ken why ye havenae come in here yet, sweetheart,” Damien whispered in her ear. “Ye wanted me to take ye, sure, but ye also couldnae believe that this was all true. That this is yours.”
Helena’s chest rose and fell, and she couldn’t help it—she fell against Damien as she took in the massive library. It was not just one room, but several, and it seemed to sprawl around her in welcome.
“I…” She shook her head. “I’ve had no time to translate. And what if Sophia isn’t happy here? I have not been a good sister to her. And…”
Damien brushed her hair to the side and kissed the back of her neck. Helena gasped and pulled away, dropping the blanket. He stooped to pick it up and then tossed it on a chair.
“We are in the middle of a huge celebration, with too many guests to count, Hel,” Damien said in a low voice. “Of course, it’s busy. But in a week and a half, this will all be over. Things will return to the way they were—perhaps with more duties here and there.” He gave her a soft smile. “Ye will have time, I promise. And also, ye are allowed to enjoy this.”
Helena shook her head, not even glancing around at this beautiful place. It was even better than she could have dreamed.
“Hel, ye are scared. It’s nay wonder, with the way yer family behaves. Sophia told me about yer maither’s gowns, about how yer bastard of a stepbraither stole yer books or denied ye them.” He moved closer. “How yer faither blames and belittles ye.”
Her eyes closed, but the stupid tears slipped under her lashes.
“Emma said the same. But I could see it, the way ye hold yerself like a warrior always waitin’ for a fight.” Rough hands cradled her face and wiped away her tears. “Ye can put down yer sword, Helena.”
A sob hitched in her throat, and more tears spilled over.
“Or ye can run me through.” He paused as a strangled laugh escaped her lips. “Ye ask what our life is goin’ to be like. All I want is ye, here.”
Helena’s eyes opened, and Damien gave her a soft look.
“This is what I meant. Sometimes ye are so clever as to be foolish.”
“Never,” Helena whispered, even as she gave him a tremulous smile. “I…”
I think I’m falling in love with you.
The thought dizzied her, and before she could get her bearings, even fully grasp them, Damien had pulled away.
“Here. Little did ye ken who ye were dealin’ with when ye decided to marry me,Sassenach.” He walked toward a table piled with books, with crates below, and Helena wiped her face as she slowly followed. “I dinnae play fair.”
