Page 113 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
“That isnae what I want either.”
Lydia’s gut clenched as she stared into his dark eyes, the moonlight flickering over his skin.
“What do you want?”
“That is what I came to tell ye. It wasnae about savin’ ye, although I thank God I did. I dinnae want ye as a convenient bride anymore, Lydia.”
Lydia swallowed. “You don’t?”
“Nay. The thought of bein’ without ye, of watchin’ ye leave me, it was the worst thing on this earth.”
Lydia stared at him, unable to believe what she had heard.
“I love ye too, lass. I wish I didnae. It is a fool’s feelin’, but I do. More than anythin’.”
Lydia shook her head.
“You love me?” she whispered. “But you have no interest in love. Love ruins men. You said so yourself.”
Callum chuckled. “Aye, and I am livin’ proof of that. I finally understand why me braither didnae leave Moira. I have never felt anythin’ like this for anyone. I always believed I didnae want it, but bein’ without ye is far worse. I have a clever, beautiful woman at me side, and it has taken me too long to realize how lucky I am to have her. If she’ll have me.”
He pulled her toward him, his big arms coming around her body, keeping her close. Lydia was beginning to believe that it was the best place in the world. Cradled in his arms—safe and warm.
“I was a fool to fight it, right from the beginning. I think I might have loved ye in those gardens. Runnin’ for yer life from a room full of halfwits, and ye werenae goin’ to let any man rule ye. Ye and I, we belong together, and I will dae everythin’ I can to prove it to ye.”
The rain was so heavy now that it had created a cocoon of sound around them. The rest of the world faded away, and in that moment, all she could see was Callum.
Soaked to the skin, standing with his sword in his hand, ready to fight the world to win her. He was everything she had ever wanted and more.
Lydia ran to him, his arms coming up to encircle her as he buried his head in her shoulder.
He squeezed so tightly that she could not breathe, but she did not care. She put her arms as far around his torso as they would go, clutching at him.
Callum pulled back, and their eyes locked before he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his own. He lifted her, her whole body balanced against him, steady and strong as a mountainside.
He kissed her deeply, longingly, as if he would never let her go.
Lydia opened her eyes to find him gazing up at her, the rain slowly dissipating around them as he lowered her gently to her feet.
“I love ye,” he murmured.
“I love you too,” she said, and as the words left her mouth, the rain stopped.
Callum took her hand, squeezing her fingers gently before they turned to the carriage. The driver had pulled the arrow free of his shoulder, wadding his shirt in place, and was sitting upright again.
“Get back to me castle, man,” Callum said. “Can ye drive in that state?”
The driver nodded. “Aye, M’Laird. I’ll get yer lady safely back.”
“Nay, I’ll see to her. Ye get back and speak to Alexander. Ye need medical attention, and dinnae delay. Take the guard’s body with ye. He’ll need a proper burial. He gave his life for his Laird’s family.”
Callum gently lifted the guard’s body into the cab and closed the door.
The driver turned the carriage back around, and they watched as it slowly made its way up the path from where they had just come.
Lydia looked up at him with a frown.
“We aren’t going back with him?” she asked.
