Page 49 of The Ruthless Highlander's Hellion
She stepped up beside him and followed his gaze across the moors. “Any news?”
He shook his head. “Nay. Nothin’ yet.”
Alexandra hesitated before speaking again. “May I have a moment with ye… in private?” she said, acknowledging the guards on the walls in earshot.
Nicholas looked at her, eyebrows lifting slightly, then gave a sharp nod. “Come with me.”
He led her down the winding stone steps, past guards and servants, until they reached the stable yard. The earthy scent of hay and horses filled the air, and inside the stables, the low nicker of a mare greeted them. Nicholas gave a pointed nod to the stable hands. Without a word, the men dipped their heads and quietly filed out.
The space fell into a calm hush, broken only by the occasional rustle of hooves and straw. Alexandra turned to him, her heart fluttering like a bird trapped in her chest.
“I… I woke this mornin’ in me chemise,” she said, lifting her chin. “Did ye?—?”
Nicholas smirked, his eyes gleaming. “Couldnae let ye sleep in cold, rigid clothes’, could I?”
A deep blush warmed her cheeks. He leaned casually against the stall post, his arms crossed, watching her with that same infuriating confidence.
“I dinnae do anythin’ to ye,” he said gently, almost teasing now. “Even if it near killed me nae to press me lips to yers. Ye looked so soft and peaceful, I…” He trailed off, clearing his throat.
Alexandra’s heart stumbled in her chest. Her eyes drifted over him, unwillingly at first, but then with a slow ache that surprised her. His broad shoulders were tense beneath his tunic, his square jaw dusted with the shadow of a beard. His lips, though drawn in a tight line, seemed far too tempting.
She swallowed hard. “Thank ye… for bein’ a gentleman.”
He stepped closer, close enough that she could smell the faint trace of leather and smoke on him. “Ye neednae thank me. I’d never harm ye, lass. I’m nae Leo Rankin.”
“Nay,” she whispered, staring up into his eyes. “Ye’re nae.”
For a long moment, they stood there in silence, the tension between them thick as mist. Alexandra tried to will her pulse to calm, but it only quickened under the weight of his gaze. There was something dangerous in the way her body responded to his nearness—something undeniable. And she feared she didn’t want to fight it anymore.
Alexandra turned her back to Nicholas, the heat still alive in her chest from standing too close to him. Her hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the desire she dared not name.
She needed to steady herself, to shift the air between them. “I came to ask ye a question,” she said, her voice low.
“What is it, then?” he asked, his tone softer now, though she could still hear the tension beneath it.
“It’s about Erica… and how we can rescue her.” She clasped her hands tightly before her, forcing herself to focus.
Nicholas stepped around her slowly, eyebrows drawn together. “Aye. And how do ye plan on doin’ that?”
She met his eyes, resolve steeling her. “Yer father-in-law, Oscar… ye have him in the dungeons still, aye?”
His jaw clenched. “That I do. What of it?”
“He stole Charlie away once, did he nae?” she said quickly, before her courage failed. “Maybe ye can ask him how he did it. Maybe there’s a way we can use his knowledge to steal Erica back.”
Nicholas’s expression darkened at once. “Leo’ll never let Erica go. And if she ends up missin’, he’ll ken exactly where to look. He’ll come stormin’ back here with his sword raised.”
“But we cannae just sit here and do nothin’,” she snapped, stepping closer to him. “There’s got to be a way.”
“I willnae crawl into the filth to ask that man for advice,” Nicholas growled. “He’s a traitor. He stole me son—me blood. Put him through hell and nearly destroyed me.”
Alexandra’s voice rose. “But how was it done? Maybe there's somethin’ useful he can tell ye.”
Nicholas shook his head, turning away. “I’d sooner gut meself than speak to him again. I trusted him once and look where that got me.”
“Blast it, Nicholas, this isnae aboutye! It’s about Erica!” Her voice cracked with emotion. “She’s me dearest friend, and Leo’s a black-hearted monster!”
He turned back, his eyes flashing. “And ye think I daenae ken that? Ye think I’d let that devil lay a hand on her if I had a choice?”
