Page 25 of Love Beyond Words
There was no need for anyone else save me and this stranger to know the truth about just exactly how much touching had gone on.
“No. When I woke, I was on one side of the bed. He was on the other. It just scared me is all. I’m so sorry for causing this whole mess.”
Harry placed a light hand on my back.
“This is my doing, lass. Calder was right when he said I shouldna have put ye in his room. I shall pay for it when Raudrich wakes. This is hardly the welcome he expected.”
Marcus’ voice was shaky but I knew he was satisfied that I was okay. He took one look at the blood pouring out of Raudrich’s nose as Ludo and Quinn struggled to get him situated on the bed and winced.
“I’m sorry for hitting him.”
Harry laughed and slowly ushered us out into the hallway.
“Doona be sorry, lad. Ye did what any good brother would do. Ye both need to rest after such a scare. We will see all of this settled come morning.”
Marcus nodded and turned to lead me away.
We both knew we were done sleeping for the night.
Chapter 14
Raudrich didn’t know if he’d ever been in such pain before. There was no part of him that didn’t ache dreadfully. He didn’t care at all. He would gladly accept such pain forever for the blessing it had brought him.
He could see. Not as well as he once had, but so much better than the day before. The man to his left was more than a blurry blob. If he strained and looked past the swollen knob between his eyes, he could see that it was Maddock.
“What are ye smiling for? Ye really dinna need anything to make ye any uglier. Yer nose was large to begin with. It will be even larger when this heals.”
Raudrich laughed but stopped abruptly at the sharp pain that shot through his side in response.
“I can see ye. Ye canna know how happy that makes me.”
Maddock’s brows pulled together in confusion and Raudrich delighted in the fact that he could see the gesture.
“What do ye mean? Marcus hit ye in the nose, he dinna poke yer eyes out.”
“I’ll tell ye all about it in a bit. First, I need one of ye to explain to me what happened last night. Who is the man that did this to me, and why did he wish to kill me?”
The entire night was a blur to him. It had been one of the happiest night’s sleep of his life. He rarely dreamt of anything, but last night—on his first night home in far too long—he’d dreamt of a woman. Naked and pressed against him, he held her warm breast in his hand as her silky leg rubbed against his manhood, stirring him to arousal. It had all ended much too abruptly as Paton kicked him from the bed. The next thing he knew there was an angry voice in his ear and a fist flying toward his face. Then, everything went dark again.
Maddock shrugged.
“I doona have any idea. Harry willna tell me anything. I doona believe Nicol, Calder, or Paton even know ye are back yet. Harry woke me…”
Raudrich held his hand up to stop him.
“What do ye mean Paton doesna know I’m back yet? Was it not he that I found in my room last night?”
Maddock’s eyes widened in understanding.
“Ach, no wonder he broke yer nose. Ye thought Paton was in yer bed?”
An uncomfortable sense of dread began to creep up his spine.
“Aye, ’tis what I said. ’Twas it not?”
Maddock started to grin.
“And ye crawled in bed with him?”
