Page 48 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
Emma’s eyes dropped to the ground as a blush of embarrassment kissed her cheeks. “He got close,” she whispered, her voice cracking under her emotional turmoil. “Isobel stopped him. She… she was practicing her archery and saw him coming towards me. She loosed an arrow and nicked his arm. That’s why she’s so good, ye see. That’s what sparked her study of the bow and arrow. She vowed she’d nae let Geoffrey lay another finger on any of us.”
Hunter’s hands tightened into fists, his fingernails cutting into the palms of his hands, but he ignored the pain. A hot, seething anger took root in his chest, blossoming like a weed within the depths of his being. His heart pounded in his ears as his mind raced.
Bitterness filled his mouth as Emma dropped her head.
Hunter knew he had to say something to calm her fears, but as he thought over what transpired, he could see the pieces started to fall into place. It was like a jigsaw puzzle of memories that formed a picture he didn’t want to see.
Geoffrey, the man who had caused so much anguish, might also be the same man who stole him from his former life. The mere thought was like a physical blow, his anger flaring white-hot and intense. His jaw clenched, and his gaze hardened, the flame of his fury reflected in his eyes. The undeniable truth was looming ahead, a phantom from his past that refused to stay buried.
“Geoffrey never bothered with Nora. He called her a witch and had her thrown in the dungeon. When I went to confront him about it, he blackmailed me.”
“How?” Hunter hissed.
“He said the only way to free Nora was for Lydia or me to agree to marry him,” Emma continued as her voice threatened to break. “It was that very day we broke Nora out of the dungeon and fled. We kenned that if we stayed any longer, our future wouldnae be certain.”
Hunter’s fury ignited at the revelation. He seized a nearby pitcher of water, hurling it across the room. The resulting crash startled Emma.
His voice was an icy, lethal whisper. “I’ll kill him for this.”
18
Her heart pounded in her chest as Hunter’s gaze pierced her. She could see the anger flashing in his eyes, but it was an anger that seemed to be directed more towards her than towards Geoffrey.
His outburst left her trembling. She knew telling him would be a bad idea, but after Geoffrey’s sudden appearance and the fact she was married now, she felt she had no choice.
“I’m sorry,” Emma said as she rushed over to start picking up the shards of clay. She could see the rawness of his emotions, the intensity of his reaction to her story.
Does he still want me?Or will he see me as nothing but damaged goods?
Emma didn’t dare glance at him as she piled the shards into her hand.
“Leave it,” Hunter said, his voice steady, the razor’s edge dulled a bit. “Ye dinnae need to be doin’ that, lass. I’ll send someone up here to clean it up. I’ll nae be havin’ me wife treated like a servant.”
Slowly rising, her mind swirled with insecurity and fear. “I’m sorry. I shouldnae have told ye.”
Hunter’s hand covered hers as he took the shards from her, his touch sending a shiver through her. She watched as he picked up the rest of the shards, methodically searching for every last piece.
“Dinnae say that,” Hunter said gruffly, his eyes still holding that intensity that made Emma feel both vulnerable and desired. “We’re married now, and there should be nay reason ye dinnae come to me wit’ yer troubles.”
“Ye have enough of them as it is,” Emma said as her eyes met his. “I’ll nae bother ye wit’ mI
“I kenned what I was gettin’ meself into when I made that promise to ye,” Hunter said.
“Aye, but it goes both ways,” Emma said, causing her heart to pound wildly in her chest.
It was dangerous to be traveling down the path her mind was taking, but she had to know.
“Is that so? And what are ye sayin’?” Hunter asked as Emma wondered if he could see the questions lurking in her red eyes.
The words dangled off the tip of her tongue.
“Well,” she managed before pausing. “Ye ken me past…”
“Nay,” Hunter said abruptly, shaking his head. “I told ye before, ye must nae ask me about me past.”
“Dinnae push me away when ye tell me to come to ye,” Emma said, reaching out for him. “I told ye everythin’ that happened to me. What I went through wit’ that man.”
“Aye, and I’ll kill him for even thinkin’ such thoughts about ye or yer sisters,” Hunter snapped. “And I swear if I kenned what ye were goin’ through, I’d have stopped it.”
