Page 47 of Promised to the Ruthless Laird
Pulling back, she let out a quiet breath and rested her forehead against his. “Finley,” she murmured. “What are we goin’ tae dae now?”
His eyes opened fully at that, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them before he kissed her forehead. “All the pieces will fall together soon. The plan is moving forward as it should.”
She wanted to melt into him again, to lose herself in the warmth of his words, but she couldn’t ignore the flicker of unease curling in her chest.
“What d’ye mean by that?” she pressed, pulling back just enough to search his face.
He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I gave Margaret a letter tae send tae me parents.”
Edin blinked. The words took a moment to settle in her mind.
Then, suddenly, the warmth that had wrapped around her like a cocoon was gone, replaced by a sharp jolt of awareness that sent her heart pounding. A chill ran over her bare skin as she sat upright, the sheets pooling at her waist, forgotten.
Confusion tangled with unease, knotting deep in her stomach as she turned to face him fully, searching his expression for some sign that she had misheard. But the look in his eyes told her otherwise.
Her pulse quickened.
“Ye did what?”
Finley stretched, unbothered by her reaction, his expression calm. “I sent word tae them. Our army is likely already heading tae our meeting point as we speak. It should be there by the time we get there.”
She pushed herself further away, sitting up straighter. “And when exactly were ye plannin’ on tellin’ me this?”
His brow arched slightly, but there was amusement flickering in his eyes, as if he had expected this reaction. “Now, apparently.”
“Finley.” Her voice was edged with frustration, the softness they had shared just moments ago gone. “Ye took a reckless step, acted before we even kent exactly where yer sister was! What if she isnae there? What if this only brings more trouble than we can handle?”
He exhaled, sitting up as well, his gaze locking onto hers. “Some choices must be made swiftly, lass. This is bigger than just us sneakin’ intae a castle. It couldnae wait.”
Her lips parted, words balancing on the tip of her tongue, but before she could speak, he reached out and grasped her thigh. He caressed her skin, and then, without warning, he pressed a lingering kiss just above her knee.
She forced herself to ignore the warmth pooling low in her stomach. “Dinnae think ye can distract me wi’ that,” she muttered, though her voice lacked its full bite.
His head lifted, a slow, knowing smile curving his lips. “I wouldnae dare, lass.”
And yet, the way his fingers squeezed her thigh told her he knew exactly what he was doing.
Edin’s body tensed, and the fleeting intimacy of the moment shattered, slipping between her fingers before she could grasp onto it.
Without thinking, she shoved him away. It wasn’t forceful, but enough to put distance between them, enough to remind herself of the lines she should never have crossed.
He smirked in response, that infuriating glint of amusement dancing in his eyes as if her anger was nothing more than a game to him. But then, just as quickly, his expression shifted. The teasing faded, replaced by something serious.
“I have tae return tae Lennox Castle soon,” he said, his voice quieter now, as if the reality had settled heavily upon him.
The mention of his life beyond this mission sent a cold ripple through her, reminding her that whatever had blossomed between them existed in a world that was never meant to last.
She frowned, watching the way his gaze drifted for a moment, as if seeing something beyond the walls of the room, something that pulled at him in ways she had never seen before.
“Why?” she asked, though she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.
Finley inhaled deeply, running a hand over his face before meeting her gaze again. “Me faither… he’s ill. Has been fer a while now.”
The words took a moment to settle, building a heavy wall in the small space between them on the bed.
His face had taken on an unfamiliar look, something almost… sad. It wasn’t a feeling she associated with Finley Lennox. He was a man of action, of quick decisions and confident steps. Seeing him hesitant, vulnerable, sent a sharp ache through her chest.
“He willnae make it,” he added, voice gruff, as if forcing the words out made them more real. “It’s why we need tae find Davina. She has tae return tae her rightful place before he dies.”
