Page 54 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
Isolde’s eyes widened and she pulled her hands away. She got to her feet and took a few steps away from him, moving closer to the fire. With a hand over her mouth, she stared into the flames, her face etched with uncertainty.
“Marry ye?” she asked.
“Aye. Marry me,” he said.
She walked away from the fire and sat on the edge of his bed, confusion and uncertainty on her face. More than that, she looked stunned. Struan got up and sat beside her.
“It solves a lot of our problems,” he said. “’Tis a good idea.”
“And what daes yer Council say?”
“We’re… talkin’,” he said. “They’ll see ‘tis the best course of action and they’ll agree.”
“Why is it ye want tae dae this anyway? Why would ye want tae marry me?” she asked softly.
Struan was quiet for a long moment as if considering his answer. He took a seat beside her on the bed, silence stretching between them for a long moment. The air crackled with tension and the weight of so many unspoken words.
Isolde turned to him. “Struan?”
He sighed heavily. “Ever since we met out on the road… I’ve just felt protective of ye. I’ve felt the need tae keep ye safe. Tae be there tae protect ye when nobody else would. Or could,” he said. “This feelin’ tis… unshakable. But more than that, if ye marry me, ye’ll be a Cameron and ye’ll be fully under me protection. Ye’ll be safe here.”
They stared into each other’s eyes as the moments ticked by in silence. The only sound in the chamber was the crackle and pop of the fire. The quiet was so absolute, Struan was sure she could hear the thundering of his heart. After a long moment, he cleared his throat.
“The decision, of course, is yers, Isolde,” he said. “I’ll nae make ye dae somethin’ ye dinnae want tae dae. So… please think on it before giving me yer answer, eh?”
She stared into his eyes again, seemingly searching for something. Struan took her hand and raised it, planting a soft kiss on the back of her knuckles that drew a smile from her. He got to his feet and stared down at her for a moment, their gazes lingering on one another’s as that tense, expectant energy crackled in the space between them.
“’Tis yer decision tae make, Isolde.”
“Aye,” she said softly as she got to her feet. “I’ll think on it.”
CHAPTER 23
Isolde felt like she had been lying in bed staring at the ceiling for hours. She just kept replaying her conversation with Struan in her head over and over again. She kept seeing his face—the kindness in his eyes, the sincerity and warmth in his voice.
With a grumble of frustration, she threw back the covers and got to her feet. Swinging her legs over the bed, Isolde pulled a mantle over her shoulders then began to pace her chamber as her mind continued to spin out. She walked over to the window and leaned against the stone frame, staring out to the land beyond. The moon, full and bright shone down, casting the world in a silvery luminescence that gave everything a cold, sterile feeling.
Isolde thought back to their journey to Achnacarry. Despite the ever-present danger and the close calls they’d had on the road, their travels had contained moments of warmth and laughter as well. She recalled that she had laughed more in those days withStruan than she had in the rest of the days of her life combined. A happiness uncommon to her had filled her heart.
And it was nae only laughs we shared.
Even there, standing in the darkness gazing out at Struan’s lands, many days after they’d shared kisses, she could still feel the pressure of his lips against hers and the warm sweetness of his mouth. She shuddered as she recalled the feeling of his velvet-soft tongue swirling around hers and felt the heat blossom deep and low within her.
He’d made her feel things she never expected she would. Things she didn’t think she was capable of feeling. It left her feeling confused. Out of sorts. More than anything though, it left her with a thousand questions. And as she stared out at the cold, silvery landscape beyond her window, she realized she was not going to get answers to any of them if she continued to stand there.
Isolde clenched her jaw and headed out of her chamber. At that time of the night, there were not many people about, but Isolde finally found a sentry standing his post who told her she could find Struan at the kitchen.
Walking through the door, she noticed Struan hovering nearby. He stepped into the dim light cast off by the lone oil lamp and Isolde blinked, her eyes adjusting to the low glow.
He’s shirtless…
Struan wore nothing but a pair of breeches, which made Isolde’s face flush. She cleared her throat and averted her eyes
“I thought ye’d be asleep by now,” he said.
“I tried,” she replied. “I could nae sleep though.”
“Are ye all right?”
