“It’s well-knownthat he does all of Cunningham’s dirty deeds. I’ve only seen that man in person from afar,” she said. Then, with a wry chuckle, she added, “I believe that’s what you call a right-hand man.”
Swingingaround to face her again, seeming every bit as wild as Margaret was raised to believe a Highlander was, Ryan growled as he stomped across the room. His fists moved with each heavy footfall. She had to fight the urge to hide herself from him.
This anger wasn’t meantfor her.
“If Cunningham thinkshe can take ye from me,” he said with vitriol, stopping within arm’s length of her, “he’ll meet the wrong end of me sword. I can promise ye that.”
“Cunningham is a powerful man,”Margaret said, her heart pounding. She thought she should fear Ryan in this moment, but instead she fearedforhim. She didn’t want anyone getting hurt on her behalf, not even this Highlander. “He’s got so many resources, and he knows how to use them. He is dangerous.”
“Ye’re underestimatin’me,” Ryan told her, leaning in so close she could feel his breath fanning over her face. Gooseflesh erupted beneath the sleeves of her gown. “Earlier, ye called me abeast. Ye werenae wrong to call me that. But ye daenae ken how dangerous a beast can become to protect what’s his.”
He was soclose to her now, taking up her entire field of vision. His hand found the crook of her elbow, holding onto her tightly. A blush, hot and undeniable, rose on her cheeks. She couldn’t expand her lungs fully.
The moment seemedto stretch between them. Margaret couldn’t move if she wanted to. But she didn’t want to. Something inside of her was urging her to move even closer. She didn’t understand it, and she didn’t think she wanted to.
Ryan leaned in even closer,his eyes level with Margaret’s. The tension grew to a crescendo, and the strange feeling that she first experienced in the great hall returned. She felt herself being pulled completely into his space, as if some invisible force was urging her forward. She didn’t fight it.
“The momentye showed up at me castle…” he said, his voice low, burrowing into her chest and wrapping around her like a warm blanket. His hand came up to her cheek, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. “The moment ye agreed to be me wife, ye became mine.”
Her knees felt weak,as if she were going to collapse in front of him. If it weren’t for the way that he was holding her, she was sure she’d have lost her balance by now. The sensation in her stomach had spread, settling somewhere between her legs. It felt heavy and almost as if it had a mind of its own.
“I willnae letanyone else try to claim ye,” he continued, his thumb stroking her cheek gently. She leaned into the contact, her breath stuttering. “Ye are mine.”
Time slowed downas his mouth met hers. They were suspended here in this room, and it didn’t matter what was happening just beyond the threshold. The pull between Margaret’s legs became more insistent.
She gasped,pulling in air through her nose. For a second, she struggled to find her footing here, her mind swirling like a drop of ink in a pool of water. Then, she recentered herself and leaned forward as if on instinct.
His lips moved against hers,filling her from the top of her head down to the tips of her toes. She tried to match his pace, mirroring his movements. For a moment, the confusion cleared from her mind. The Laird would keep her safe. Of course, he would keep her safe.
When his handfound her hair, she was sure she would combust. Sensations burst over her skin. She shivered, swaying closer to him, feeling his body heat seep into her bones.
It was all-consuming.Her head spun like he was wine being injected directly into her veins. She liked it so much that she was almost afraid of her desire. Yet, it wrapped around her like a warm blanket—one she had no desire to tear off.
Then,his tongue swiped over her lips. It was hot and insistent. Margaret didn’t know what to do, how to respond to theattention that she was getting. She wanted to, though, even if she was unpracticed and inexperienced. Before she could try anything, Ryan pulled away.
“I’ll keep ye safe, Margaret,”he said, his voice somehow even deeper than before. He looked down at her, his eyes burning into hers. “Ye’re mine to protect. Ye daenae have to worry about Cunningham. I promise ye that. And ye daenae have to worry about me.”
When he letMargaret go and turned to leave, she wobbled on her feet. She nearly fell forward, off kilter from the intensity of the kiss they’d just shared. She was dazed, her entire body on fire. Her mind moved almost too slowly. It was as though she were swimming through molasses.
“Wait,”she called after Ryan, catching him before he was fully in the corridor outside. He glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow raised. She was still breathless, but this was important. She filled her lungs, and in a rush, she said, “I need to tell my cousin that I’m safe.”
Ryan noddedbefore continuing on his way. He didn’t even cast a look toward her. As he walked, already in the hallway, he called back, “I’ll send Cali up with a quill and some parchment.”
I’m goingto have to tell her as much as I can, so she doesn’t send the cavalry after me. But how much ofthatshould I tell her?
11
Margaret woke up the next day to sunlight streaming into her room and a bannock on the table next to her bed. Without lifting her head from the sinfully soft pillow, she glanced around her space. It seemed that Cali had already been here this morning, and Margaret had slept through her presence.
The fire was going strong,as if it had been fed recently. Hanging from a privacy screen, her second gown, one made from light blue cotton, was waiting for her. When she swept her gaze to the vanity, there was a sheet of paper, a quill, and a pot of ink.
I’msurprised he got me writing supplies so fast. You’d think he’d have more important things to deal with, especially with Duke Cunningham’s right-hand man showing up.
The thought senticy tendrils of panic through her body, and Margaret shot upright, suddenly wide awake. She slipped outof her bed, moving toward the hearth. There, she warmed her hands as she took deep breaths, reminding herself that she was safe within the walls of the castle.
I’m onlysafe if the Laird deigns to keep me safe. If he wanted, he could get rid of me much faster than any of Cunningham’s men.
Hewouldkeep her safe,though. She had evidence now. When she had spotted the man earlier, Ryan had acted without question. He was quick to get her onto the horse and then out of the village. If he had wanted to be rid of Margaret, he wouldn’t have been so quick to get her to safety. He would have let Cunningham’s man take her.