Page 105 of Desiring the Highland Laird
“Good morning,” she whispered.
“Ah, so, yer awake.”
“I am.” She flattened her palm on his bare chest.
“Ye ken what this means?”
The sultry tone of his voice made her stomach swoop. In that moment, she knew she would never get enough of being with him or loving him. Smiling, she lifted her head and looked up at him, their eyes meeting—his that dazzling blue.
“I’m sure I can guess.”
Without waiting for him to respond, she hoisted herself on top of him. His hands landed on her hips, urging her onward. But before they could enjoy each other again, a knock sounded on the door. He growled his annoyance.
“Oh,” she breathed. “Are they here to check on us? To see if we completed the bedding ceremony?”
He gave her a mischievous grin. “If so, they can wait.”
But the urgent knock sounded again. With a huff, she rolled to her side and landed on the mattress.
“You best answer it,” she said. “They’ll never go away if you don’t.”
Callum gave her a quick kiss before sliding out of the bed, grabbing his plaid and wrapping it around his hips as he padded to the door. He jerked it open.
“What?” he growled.
“Ah, begging yer pardon, my lord, but…I thought ye should ken…”
It was Dougal on the other side sounding as though there was dire news. She lifted up on her elbows, the blankets tucked around her and peered through the opening in the curtains on the bed. At the door, Callum stiffened, his muscles in his back going rigid.
“What is it?” he asked, sounding on edge.
“Rory MacDonald and his men approach.” His gaze flickered to the bed, making Evie shrink back. “My apologies for disturbing ye both, but—”
“Have Malcolm and Jamie returned?”
“No as yet, my lord.”
“Get to the armory. Ready the men. I dinnae want to waste time waiting for them.”
Dougal stepped back away from the door as Callum closed it. He turned to her, one hand holding the plaid around his waist, the other scraping over his jaw as he looked at her. Sheunderstood, then, what it meant to be the wife of the laird. She would watch him lead his men into battle and she would hate every moment of it.
“Go,” she said. “I know you have to.”
His gaze softened as he approached her and perched on the bed to face her. He reached for one of her hands, taking it in his and holding it.
“I dinnae want to leave ye this morn.”
“But you have to,” she said, finishing for him. “I understand. The keystone will be safe with me.”
“Good. Keep it with ye at all times. I want ye safe.”
“I will be,” she said. “I love you, Callum.”
He reached for her, cupping her face in his hands, something she had come to love. “I love ye, too, lass.”
He kissed her, a long, sweet kiss that she wanted to last forever. But it didn’t. He released her and began to dress. When he was finished, he laid more wood and peat in the hearth and relit the fire for her. Then he bid her farewell and was off to see to his men, leaving her alone and bereft in a sea of worry.
*
