Page 7 of Trapped By the Wicked Highlander
The bed seemed to shrink with his presence beside her, yet somehow, Cassandra didn’t mind. His warmth radiated throughthe blankets, and though they lay so close, there was a strange comfort in it. She stared at the ceiling, trying to will her racing thoughts to slow, but sleep came easily despite her best efforts to stay awake. The steady rhythm of Hunter’s breathing beside her was strangely calming, a quiet reassurance that wrapped around her like the blankets themselves.
Before long, her eyelids grew heavy, and she gave in to the pull of sleep. She didn’t question it—why should she? In the presence of Hunter, her usual wariness seemed to dissolve, replaced with an unexpected ease. As her mind drifted into slumber, she marveled at how easily she had let her guard down, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in years. Something about Hunter made her feel safe, and for the first time in a long while, that comfort was enough to carry her into dreams.
Cassandra awoke with the soft light of morning filtering through the narrow window of the inn room. The bed beside her was empty, and for a moment, she wondered if she had dreamed the comfort of Hunter’s presence. The fire in the hearth was crackling, its warmth filling the room, and the smell of wood smoke lingered in the air. It was clear that Hunter had been up before her, having tended to the fire while she slept soundly, something she hadn’t expected from him.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes and taking in the quiet of the room. Hunter’s absence left a strange emptiness that she couldn’t quite shake, though she told herself it didn’t matter. At least he had thought to start the fire, which was more than mostmen would’ve done. She found herself momentarily grateful, but then quickly scolded herself for it—after all, she couldn’t let one good deed cloud her judgment.
"Most men are rakes," Cassandra muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she pushed the blankets aside.
She quickly stood, pacing the small room, trying to banish the thoughts of Hunter from her mind.
I shouldnae let this laird confuse me thoughts.
The words repeated like a mantra to remind herself to stay cautious. She had always been wary of men, and the last thing she needed was to let one act of consideration lead her astray.
Cassandra glanced toward the door, half-expecting him to walk back in, but the silence remained. She scolded herself again, mentally shaking her head at how easily she had become distracted. Hunter had been kind enough to start the fire, but that didn’t change the fact that he was a laird—a man of status, someone who was used to getting what he wanted. She had no time for any more distractions.
Nay matter how much of a brute… or charmin’ or considerate he might seem.
CHAPTER FIVE
The door creaked open, and Hunter stepped into the room, the scent of the morning dew still clinging to his cloak. He had been out early checking the sky and the horse. As he closed the door behind him, his eyes fell on Cassandra, sitting up in the bed, her brow furrowed in a mix of frustration and curiosity.
The sight of her, looking so wound up, made a small smile tug at his lips, though he quickly masked it with a more serious expression.
Cassandra’s gaze was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she met his.
“Where’ve ye gone, Laird McDougal? I demand to ken where ye are before ye disappear,” her voice holding an edge of annoyance that he couldn't help but find intriguing. Her fiery spirit was one thing that set her apart from other women, but at times, it seemed to get her into trouble. He had learned early on that Cassandra didn’t mince words, even when they were cutting a bit too close for comfort.
Hunter leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest, his posture relaxed but his gaze steady.
“Be careful, lass,” he warned, his voice low and serious. “Daenae demand things from me unless ye want to face the consequences.”
He could see the way her face flushed with indignation, and though he knew she’d bristle at the words, he couldn’t help himself—she needed to learn that some things were best left unsaid.
He watched Cassandra’s cheeks redden, her eyes flashing with defiance as she pushed herself to her feet.
“Ye think ye can just disappear and leave me to wonder where ye’ve gone?” she retorted, her voice filled with a mix of anger and something else—was it concern?
Hunter didn’t know, but he found the blend of emotions in her voice stirring, even though he wasn’t one for complications. He had no intention of explaining himself to her, not when she had such a way of making everything seem like an accusation.
“I dinnae disappear, lass,” he replied, his tone softening just enough to convey he wasn’t truly angry. “I had things to see to, and ye cannae expect me to be at yer beck and call all the time.”
He could see that she was about to snap back at him, but he held up a hand, cutting her off. “I promised ye me protection, naeme constant company,” he added, his eyes never leaving hers, challenging her to accept it.
Her expression shifted slightly, the defiance in her gaze wavering, but the stubbornness was still there.
“I dinnae ask ye to stay by me side all the time,” she said, her voice lowering. “But I’ll be damned if I stand around here waitin’ for yer return, like some fool.” Her words, though sharp, carried an undercurrent of vulnerability that didn’t go unnoticed by Hunter, and it made him feel a way he hadn’t expected.
Hunter straightened, pushing off the doorframe, and took a few steps toward her. His movements were deliberate, slow, but with a sense of purpose. He wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially when it came to a lass who could so easily stir his emotions.
“Ye may nae be a fool, but ye are reckless with yer words, lass,” he said, his voice a low rumble, filled with a dangerous calm. "I am yer superior, remember that. Though ye may nae be of me clan."
Cassandra opened her mouth to argue, but Hunter raised a finger to silence her. “I warned ye,” he continued, his gaze never leaving hers. “The next time ye demand somethin’ from me, think long and hard about the consequences ye’re willin’ to face.” He stepped closer, until there was barely a breath between them, his presence engulfing her like the warmth of the fire in the hearth.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension between them thickening with every passing second. Cassandra stood her ground, her back straight and her chin lifted, as though daring him to push her further. Hunter’s eyes softened for just a moment, his usual teasing demeanor replaced with something more serious, more protective.
He wanted to make it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate her pushing him around, but part of him admired the fire in her—she wasn’t like the other women who cowered at his presence.
