Page 126 of Evil Hearts

Katarina began to laugh at that. Though she might not have worded it quite the same, Lachlan was exactly right! It had been exactly as she was feeling—boredom!

“I think you’re right, Lachlan; Iwaspretty bored there,” she grinned, scraping the last of the stew from the bottom of her bowl and licking the spoon clean. She blushed as Munro smirked at her cleaned bowl as he stood to retrieve it from her. “Thanks again for the food.” Remembering the bottle Lachlan had offered her, she opened it and took a sip, coughing as the contents slipped down her throat.

“Ha! Easy, lass! That ale is pretty strong stuff!” Munro chuckled.

“A-ale?” she blushed. “I… I usually just drink wine, though.”

“Ain’t got no wine, but the ale’ll grow on ye, trust me,” Lachlan offered between swigs from his own bottle. “Sides, it’s what we got ‘til morning,” he shot his brother a look. “Munro forgot to pick up our water and other supplies today.”

“It’s not my fault!” Munro grumbled. “That bluidy fire-haired vamp attacked me! Nearly took me thumb off, I tell ye! That bitch is trouble!”

“Doona be so daft! She’s a vampire,” Lachlan glared. “Of course she’s trouble! Ye need to be more careful,” Lachlan sighed.

“I saw her too,” Katarina offered, hoping to diffuse the tension, “but she disappeared right as the others got me.”

“Well, it’s good we got to ye when we did,” Munro nodded, pressing his hand to her thigh.

Katarina blushed, feeling the heat in his touch through her jeans. Trying her best to ignore the sensations Munro was causing her, she took another sip from the bottle, better prepared for its contents this time. The liquor fell heavy in her gut, warming her from the inside-out. “W-would you two mind helping me back to Inverness in the morning? I lost my map with my jacket.”

“You want to go back there?” Lachlan scoffed, shrugging. “If you say so.”

She blushed at the realization that she wasn’t in any rush to get back and moved the bottle to her lips for another drink, letting the contents pour more freely now. Chugging quickly as the alcohol burned its way down her throat.

“Pace yerself, lass,” Munro warned. “That stuff’s strong for the likes ofus!”

“I’ll survive,” she chuckled and looked around once more. “Doesn’t it get cramped living in here together?”

“Aye, it definitely took some getting used to,” Munro shrugged. “But it’s livable and we doona have anywhere else to go.”

“I see…” she looked down. “Hey, do you think I could maybe paint you two tomorrow?”

“Us? So ye want to paint us together, do ye?” Munro smirked, leaning towards her. “Ye sure you doona want to paint jus’ me?”

“Go ahead and paint Munro, lass. I’m no’ interested in that kind of stuff,” Lachlan looked away.

“No! I want to paint you both! Please!” She looked up at Lachlan. “You both have helped to inspire me!”

“Come now, brother! Give ‘er what she wants!” Munro elbowed Lachlan, who in return shot him a dark glare.

Both Katarina and Munro stared back at him with pleading eyes.

Lachlan growled and rolled his eyes. “Fine! Tomorrow ye can paint us—bothof us!” he sighed.

She smiled and leaned in, hugging him suddenly. As her arms tightened around him, she felt his body tense at the contact, and she pulled away, nervous that she’d somehow offended him. Looking up, their gazes met and a silent moment passed between them. Feeling the connection, Katarina forced herself to inch away and settle back into her seat on the furs. She couldn’t afford to fall for a Scotsman, especially not a therion highlander. A fling with a random local was one thing, but what she felt…

She didn’t need that in her life right now.

Munro’s hand gently grasped her own and she looked up into his worried gaze.

Such a short time had been spent with them, but already she felt such a powerful connection with these two.

“Lass, yer freezing. We should lie together,” though his words offered concern, there was no effort to hide his smirk.

“Wh-what? I’m fine! I’ll be alright,” she blushed.

“As much as I hate agreeing with my brother, he’s right, Katarina,” Lachlan said. “You are extremely cold and my brother’s body heat can help.”

“Why not yours?” she asked, feeling her face go red again as she realized what she was saying before she’d fully thought about it.

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