Page 89 of Intrigued By A Highlander

Knox came up behind her and slipped his arms around her. He didn’t speak, he just held her close, enjoying a moment of peace.

Dru rested her hand on his arm. “I love you. No matter what, I love you.”

He spun her around to face him. “Then do nothing to jeopardize that love.”

“Is that up to me or is that for fate to decide?”

“I am your husband—it is my decision,” he said with such a fierceness that Dru didn’t argue. “We let it rest for the night and enjoy an evening of peace.”

His arms firm around her, his words powerful, his strength undeniable gave Dru a shred of hope.

“Aye, an evening of peace,” she agreed.

Knox filled a bucket of water from the rain barrel and they both did their best to wash off the stench and remnants of battle. By the time they finished, the monk had returned with food and drink, and they were soon enjoying both.

They avoided speaking about what they might confront tomorrow until they couldn’t.

“I can feel the heaviness of your thoughts, wife,” Knox said after the meal was done.

“They are difficult to ignore,” she admitted.

“None of this is your fault.”

“If not me, then who?” she asked as if pleading for an explanation.

He had none.

Her shoulders sagged with the burden. “Secrets. Lies. Revenge. I do not know what brought me to this moment, I only know that?—”

Knox stood so quickly that he knocked over the bench he sat on. “Do not say it. Do not dare say it. You will not suffer for something you had no part in. I will not allow it.”

“And how will you stop it, husband?” she asked with a calm she didn’t feel, her body humming with worry.

He leaned down, placing his palms flat on the table. “By whatever means necessary.”

She smiled softly. “You love me that much, do you?”

He was glad to hear the challenging Dru. “Aye, that much and more.”

“Not as much as I love you, husband,” she continued to challenge.

He moved fast, his arm settling around her waist to snatch her off the bench and up into his arms. “More,” he whispered and walked them to the bed and dropped her down on it.

“Prove it,” she challenged again.

“With ease,” he said as he shed his garments.

Dru watched as parts of him were revealed. A muscled chest she loved resting against. Arms burdened with muscles. A stomach nearly as hard as a steel blade. Legs so strong they could squeeze a life from a man. And a manhood with the power to render her senseless. And a heart that loved her beyond reason.

“I’m waiting,” he said, standing naked over her.

Dru sat up to slip her garments off, revealing herself to him as he had done to her. At one time, it would have been a difficult task, finding herself lacking. But their first introduction, naked in his arms, and then when he saw to protect her from Cleric Freen and all that had followed changed all that. She was comfortable revealing herself to him, letting him see whatever flaws she may have, which were few, if any, according to him. He loved her as she was not how he wished her to be. And he made love to her with a fierceness that robbed her of any and all sanity, and she loved him for it.

He stared at her a moment once she was naked, admiring her. “You are beautiful, and you are all mine.”

“I’d have it no other way,” she said, stretching her arms out to him.

He dropped down into them, relishing the feel of the way she wrapped her arms around him and gripped him tight. For one so petite, she had a mighty grip.

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