Page 78 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

It hurt Ryland’s heart to see the fear in Esme’s eyes as she hurried to step away from him. He silently cursed the resemblance to Torrance, but then if there hadn’t been he would never have had this opportunity to be with Esme, to make her hiswife. He would need to give her time, be patient, and show her that he wasn’t Torrance.

A sudden spark in her eyes and a slight shake of her head, as if realization struck, had Esme saying, “Ryland.”

“Aye, Esme,” he said, tossing his cloak aside as he took a slow step toward her, aching to take her in his arms.

He didn’t need to take another step, she rushed at him, throwing her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

His arms held her pinned against him.

She glanced at him. “You must tell me everything.” She took his hand and hurried him toward the bed. “I tied the curtain back so, the heat could warm the bed for us.”

He thought of a better and more satisfying way to warm the bed, but he didn’t say, knowing how curious she was to hear what he had learned.

Esme got into bed and held the blanket back for him to join her.

Ryland didn’t think twice, he shed his garments since he wanted her to get used to seeing him naked. Something he intended to do often when they were alone in their bedchamber.

She looked down at her own garment, but she didn’t remove it and that was alright with Ryland.

Time.

In time she would learn and feel comfortable donning her garments in front of him.

Ryland got in bed, turning on his side to face Esme who lay on her side, and he hooked his hand at her waist and drew her closer to him.

“Tell me,” she said, her hand going to rest on his arm. “I am impatient to hear.”

“Someone definitely wants Torrance dead, but Gavin insists he doesn’t know who the person is behind it all,” Ryland said and went on to explain all of what he had learned from Gavin.

Esme listened, commenting now and again or asking a pertinent question.

“What will you do?” she asked when Ryland had finished.

“Torture is the only thing left to me.”

Esme frowned and moved away from him to lie on her back.

That disturbed Ryland. “What’s wrong?”

“I hate when you must be so like Torrance.”

“I have little choice if I am to see this plan through and even less choice if I want to make sure we are never separated and—” he leaned over her. “I will do what I must to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He kissed her as if his remark was a vow and the kiss sealed it.

Esme rested her hand on his cheek. “I fear Torrance’s cruelty will stain you like it has me and I don’t want that for you.”

“Torrance could never stain such a beautiful soul. You may have been in his shadow, but you are now free of him. He can never harm you again.”

“Yet his cruelty lingers, and he knew it would when he had you give your word to revenge him. You do as he would have done, what everyone expects of Torrance.”

“Not in everything, but this one I have no choice. I must know who hunts Torrance.” He moved away from her to lie on his back. “I would have it different if I could, but there is no other way.”

Esme could not help but think that part of Torrance continued to live in Ryland and that troubled her. How could she help Ryland fight that?

Love.

The thought startled her. Evil had difficulty surviving against love. All she had to do was love Ryland and the evil Torrance left behind would die away and be no more. And loving Ryland would be the easiest thing for her to do since she already felt him deep in her heart.

She turned on her side and wrapped herself around him, pressing her body snug against him. She couldn’t speak to him of love just yet. Her heart had more healing to do but it would come in time. For now…

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