Page 62 of Sinbound to the Highlander
“I daenae mind, Lady Ruthven,” Freya barely managed before she was whisked away from the room and down the corridor into Evan’s.
Another kiss, more potent than the one before, had her head spinning. Evan grasped her and lifted her and carried her to a chair near a window and sat. Quickly, Freya shifted her legs to a kneeling position. Evan still had not lost that admiration. Cupping her cheek, Evan stroked her cheek, and she leaned into it like a cat preening under the sun.
“What made ye go to me Maither today?”
“I realized that I had nae seen her at all today and grew concerned,” Freya admitted. “I was afraid she was ill.”
“Nay one has kent of doing such, but me,” Evan’s thumb smoothed her eyebrow, his eyes showing her his deepest respect and admiration. “Ye’re an angel, Freya.”
“Wings included?” she quipped cheekily.
His response was a tender kiss, “Now I ken I will be among the happiest of men with ye as me wife.”
“Me also,” Freya leaned into his hand, “I kent I’ve found some peace with me family, as Elspeth and I talked about it this morn. I felt so guilty that she had her hopes broken, and now that I’ve taken her place…I apologized for it.”
Evan made to speak, but she shook her head, cutting him off. “I ken what ye are going to say, that I daenae owe her anythin’. But if I were in her place and saw our happiness paraded before me, I’d be inconsolable. She needs to ken that I never expected all of this. She accepted me apology and even gave me her best wishes.”
“Hm,” Evan’s expression was contradictory. He looked both doubtful and appreciative over the same time, “There are times I have seen some wisdom and insight coming from her, so I am nae surprised. I do wonder why she came to this enlightenment now.”
“She told me that she blamed herself for her actions and doesnae hold me responsible for anythin’. I ken she is starting to be more gracious to me,” Freya looped her arms around Evan’s neck. “Mayhap, we can be a family, after all.”
“Will ye stay here tonight?” Evan requested, though it felt more like a command. “I want ye with me. Say yes, Love, stay with me.”
Tensing a little, Freya debated staying with him. It wasn’t that her family did not know about her and Evan—Lady Grace had sent her a dress that morning after her passionate night—but for it to be another night, she felt torn.
“Evan, I love ye, but I ken I might have to sleep in me bed tonight,” Freya rubbed his arms. “I fear its nay a good look for me to share yer bed so frequently. ‘Tis nay that I daenae care for ye, I care for ye more than I have anythin’ in the world, but sometimes, I ken its best for us to be apart at times.”
Plucking her hands from his chest, Evan placed one of them on his face and the other behind his neck. “Forgive me for being greedy, but ye are right. We will need to separate at times, but be warned, after the weddin’, I’ll have ye all to meself.”
“And rival a wildcat at the same time,” Freya teased him. “Ye growl at times, me Love.”
“All the better for it,” Evan kissed her palm. “Anyone will ken nay to cross ye as they will have me to reckon with. But ken that on the last day here, ye will share my bed.”
“Until then,” Freya kissed his cheek. “Pray for me that I will make a deeper connection with Elspeth. I want there to be peace in me home.”
He nodded, but a flicker of something across his face told Freya that he was holding something to himself. She did not ask about it as she pulled away, but the question kept rotating itself in her mind as she went to her room.
What is he nae telling me?
