Page 73 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

If she didn’t know any better, she would swear it was Torrance who had spoken to her. And it did make her wonder if perhaps a bit of Torrance existed in Ryland.

Then he placed his hand on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze and that was not something Torrance would do. He would have squeezed her thigh until she cried out in pain. So,she held her tongue and waited for a better time to speak with him.

Evening fell with a slow hush,the gray sky giving way to deep indigo as a thin flurry of snow drifted down like ash from a weary sky. The village quieted early, as if sensing that something—or someone—rested uneasily among them.

The cottage that had been prepared for Torrance and Esme stood at the edge of the village, its thatched roof rimmed with frost and smoke curling from the chimney. Inside, the warmth from the hearth filled the small space, casting a soft amber glow across the room. It was modest, no more than one room with a curtained alcove for sleeping, but it was enough.

Torrance stood near the fire, his hands outstretched toward the flames. He had not spoken since they’d left the hall, tension etched in every line of his body.

Esme removed her cloak and shook the light snow from it, hanging it by the door. She watched him in silence for a moment, the glimmer of firelight dancing over the hard planes of his handsome face.

“You’re angry,” she said softly.

His hands dropped to his sides. “Nay. I’m frustrated. There’s a difference.”

She stepped closer, folding her arms against her to warm them. “At Brack? Or me?”

He turned and stepped behind her, slipping his arms around her to stroke her chilled arms. “Never you, but everyone else.”

Esme smiled softly, hearing the sincerity in his voice while enjoying his gentle touch. “You didn’t confide the truth inhim about Chieftain Eagan. Do you doubt Brack’s loyalty to Torrance?”

His jaw tightened. “Loyalty can be a fragile thing. But Brack is known to be fiercely loyal to Lord Torrance and if he discovers who I am, he will not hesitate to kill me. And he would no doubt believe that you had a hand in the plan., putting your life at risk.”

A silence settled between them, the fire popping softly as such dire consequences settled in on them both.

With the realization of how precarious their situation truly was, Esme broke the silence. “We are not safe anywhere, are we?”

“Nay,” he admitted. “But I’ll keep you safe and if for some reason that becomes impossible, I will send you away where you will be safe.”

Her eyes turned wide and her voice firm as she turned around in his arms to face him. “I’ll not leave you.”

“Aye, you will if I order you to,” he insisted.

Esme was even more insistent. “We are in this together.”

He tightened his arms he had settled around her waist. “I will not see you harmed, and you will do as I say and that means not going to see the Old Woman on your own.”

“But if it is the only way?—”

His expression darkened. “Nay! My word is final.”

Esme rested her hand on his chest. “I am not fragile. I can do this.”

“Your courage was never in question—” He bit back any further words, then as if he could hold them back no longer, he let them loose. “Fear like I have never known would eat at me and my heart would never survive sending you off alone. And if you never came back to me…” He took hold of her chin. “I do not want to live a moment without you, Esme. I have loved you from afar too long and now that you are mine, I intend to make sure you stay mine and let nothing happen to you.”

He kissed her as if it had been too long since he last had and he lingered, having been eager for the feel of her lips. Her response told him that she was just as eager for his kiss. And just like him, she wanted more. He could feel it in the way she pressed her body against his and she no doubt felt his desire grow hard against her.

His mouth left hers and he looked into her passion-filled eyes. “Tonight, we seal a vow between Ryland and Esme joining us together us one.”

“Aye,” she whispered and was surprised when his hands began to strip her of her garments. Her hands quickly grabbed his. “What are you doing?”

“I want you naked and myself as well so we may enjoy each other.”

“Is that proper?” she asked, the image of her being so exposed leaving her feeling vulnerable.

“Anything is proper between a husband and wife,” he assured her.

“But we aren’t husband and wife,” she reminded him.

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