Page 57 of Highland Slayer
She nodded. “Aye,” she said. “Mother Michael has asked me to be part of the night watch. She says that she needs her best warriors alert tonight, so that is where I will be.”
He simply nodded. Thinking she wasn’t going to get a reply out of him, she forced a smile and tried to move past him, but he reached out and grasped her by the arm.
“Wait,” he said huskily. “Just wait a moment.”
She paused, turning to look at him curiously. They were fairly close to one another, close enough that he could see the mist on her eyelashes. The longer he looked at her, the more protectiveness he began to feel, which wasn’t healthy. Not at this moment. This was a woman who had been raised by other women to be strong and independent, yet obedient. She’d already told him that she didn’t want to marry anyone who would order her about, so he wasn’t about to tell her what he wanted her to do. She’d probably break his ribs if he tried. But he truly didn’t want her on that wall tonight. It simply wasn’t safe.
But he wasn’t sure how to tell her what he was thinking.
What he was feeling.
And he was feeling a lot.
“We are fairly certain that it is, indeed, the Ormsfolk out there,” he murmured. “In the mist. Watching us as we are watching them. I have a great concern about that wall, lass.”
Her brow furrowed. “What about it?”
He tried to think of a way to explain it to her that wouldn’t make her defensive or angry. “Have ye never seen another castle?” he asked. “Ye’ve fought other battles, but have ye seen another castle when ye did?”
She thought about it. “In the distance,” she said. “I’ve never been to another castle if that is what you are asking.”
He shook his head. “Nay, I’m not asking that,” he said. “I’m asking if ye’ve ever seen the wall around a castle, up close. What I’m trying tae explain is that wall walks all have a parapet around them, which are short walls tae protect those on the walk. It prevents them from falling off the wall, or it protects them from projectiles fired at them from an enemy.”
She wasn’t sure why he was bringing it up. “I’ve not seen such a thing.”
He pointed in the direction of the gatehouse. “Yer wall doesn’t have a parapet,” he said. “I dunna know why, but it is very dangerous. And it’s wet up there, lass. Ye must be careful that ye dunna slip over the edge.”
She looked at him as if she had no idea why he’d just said that. “I am careful,” she said. “Do you think I am clumsy, then?”
He just snorted, seeing that this conversation could easily go in the wrong direction, so he chuckled as he put his hand gently on her face. “Of course not,” he said, touching her softly before dropping his hand. “Lass, do ye not know when someone is concerned for yer health and safety? When someone is showing… care?”
The puzzled expression on her face seemed to be permanent as she tried to work through what he was telling her. But soon enough, the clouds began to clear and her eyes widened.
“Y-you mean…you?” she stammered.
He nodded. “If it makes ye angry, I’ll not show it again.”
That only made her eyes widen further. “Why would you show it at all?”
“Because I am concerned for ye.”
“Why?”
He could see that she didn’t have any idea what he was driving at. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure what he was driving at himself, only that he was feeling… something.
He couldn’t stand the thought of her being in danger.
Throwing caution to the wind, he did something he probably shouldn’t have done. It was impulsive, but it felt right. So very right. Grasping her by both shoulders, he pulled her against him and planted a sweet, hot kiss right on her lips. Squarely on the mouth. She tasted so good that he did it again before quickly letting her go.
“Because I’m going tae court ye, ye silly wench,” he said into her shocked face. “Ye want a husband? Ye may have just found one, so get up on that wall, watch yer step, and dunna slide off or I’ll have tae come and rescue ye and ye probably wouldna like that. But if I court ye, I have every right tae tell ye tae be cautious, so ye’d better get used tae the idea.”
With that, he left her standing there, mostly because he didn’t want a fist in his face or a kick to the groin should he remain any longer. The woman had never been kissed and he’d just done it in a most inopportune way.
And he wasn’t sorry about it in the least.
Truth be told… neither was she.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
