Page 49 of Married to the Highland Devil
“Duncan…”
“Listen to me, Amelia.”
He brought his face closer to hers. She felt the heat of his breath, and it tantalized her senses. Her lips parted even though she did not think he would kiss her.
Her throat dried up, her lids fluttered close, and all she could do was breathe in their shared air. She was shivering now, and even her toes could not keep still.
“I stay away from ye because if I did not, I would do all the insane things I dream of doing to ye night and day. I would kiss ye, stroke every inch of yer skin, and make love to ye like it is my last day on earth.”
“Duncan,” she called again with her last shuddering breath, “I need…”
He stepped away from her and groaned. Amelia was too flustered to speak. She turned the other direction and put her right hand on her neck.
Goodness…
She was unable to calm her quivering body.
“Amelia,” Duncan said, “I’m sorry, I shouldnae have said all those things to ye just now.”
Amelia nodded then pushed back the sensations she was feeling. “Let us eat our strawberries,” she said instead then extended a hand to him, so he could lead her away.
They sat on the blanket he laid out, and Amelia crossed her legs under the earasaid she was wearing. He handed her a bowl of berries, and she tossed one in her mouth.
She chewed first, and some birds dancing around them chirped in the sky until she smiled and began humming with them. Duncan began chuckling even before she finished humming with the birds, and just like that, she forgot all about the heated moment they had had.
The light-hearted moment only lasted a second then Amelia heard the sleek sound of Duncan drawing his sword.
“Dinnae move,” he ordered her in a tone that chilled her all the way to the bones. “There is someone watchin’ us, Amelia.”
22
Duncan moved with light steps towards the shrubs gathering by their left. He had seen the figure lurking there and heard the rustling in the leaves, but as he drew closer to the scene, he realized there was no one there.
His heart pounded. Keeping Amelia safe was his priority now, especially since the rumors were spreading faster and wilder.
“Duncan?” she called, and he spun around to her just in time to see the arrow flying in her direction.
“Amelia!” Duncan screamed at the top of his coarse voice, but he did not move fast enough.
Her whimper hit his ears as the whooshing arrow pierced through her right shoulder.
“Amelia,” he growled when he reached her side. Her blood seeped out of the pierced spot and soaked through her earasaid. “Heavens, no…”
“Duncan,” she whimpered again, and tears slid down her cheeks, “it hurts.”
Her left hand moved to the arrow, but Duncan stopped her, grabbed the sticky end of the arrow, and broke it in two to make it shorter.
“You need to take the arrow out.” Her voice shook, and he could tell she was in pain when she flinched and pressed her lips tightly together. “You need to take the arrow out, Duncan, and press a cloth to it.”
“I ken what to do when injured with an arrow, trust me,” he said then lifted her into his arms and carried her towards the horse. “We need to get ye to the healer,” he grunted as his eyes scanned her pale face.
Duncan strode towards the saddle with intent steps, and once he set her on her feet, he lifted her by her waist and sat her on the saddle.
Amelia whimpered again when he mounted behind her and kicked the horse into a light trot, so they could head towards the castle.
“I feel dizzy,” she whispered. “I feel…”
“Stay with me, Amelia,” he rasped behind her then hastened the horse’s pace.
