Page 12 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
So, she followed him.
Too focused on carrying out their Laird’s orders, Niall and Taran didn’t say goodbye before they left.
“Laird MacReid…” she called him again, as she realized he was deliberately ignoring her.
“So, we’re callin’ each other by our titles again,” he joked, but his voice was unyielding and harsh.
“Ye have to stop,” Leana urged, practically trotting to catch up, but he ignored her. “Please, Sir… I mean it, Kenneth. Stop!” she cried, reaching for him.
Her fingers barely brushed his sleeve before he twisted away, his movements fluid and instinctive, like a shadow slipping beyond her grasp. She lunged, but he was already out of reach, the space between them widening in a heartbeat.
He caught it, gripping her wrist between his long, thick fingers and pulling her to him while Leana's heart was racing with giddiness because of the unexpected closeness between the two of them.
How was he so quick to move? He didn't even give me time to react…
Startled, she looked up at him… only to feel his breath on her lips, close enough to taste. His piercing silver eye bored into her, brimming with a thousand unspoken words.
“I’m nae one to take orders, lass,” Kenneth whispered, low enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Leana’s heart rate quickened, but she kept her composure. “Ye will have to learn to do so. Ye willnae live long if ye daenae listen to me.”
She took a step back and placed a hand on his chest, feeling the muscles through the layers of leather and linen. “Ye need tolet me look after ye. Yer wound can get infected—or worse, the arrow can be poisoned.”
Kenneth’s lips curled in a grimace. “In the castle, ye can tend to me wound.”
“Nay. I need to take care of it now.”
For a moment, Leana thought he was going to object. She was so ready for a long confrontation that she didn’t notice when he fell hard on a wide, flat rock behind her.
She fell on top of him, as he did not let go. Their bodies collided for only a moment before she managed to regain her balance, one leg resting on the rock. She pulled herself up and stared down at him as his plump lips curled into an almost victorious smile.
“Then get on with it, lass. But make haste.”
For once, Leana was at a loss for words, feeling her heart race dizzyingly in her chest as her hand remained on his chest.
They stared at each other, their eyes full of indecipherable words. Hers of fire and ice, his of silver and steel.
And even if he seemed unmoved, she could tell the truth by his pulse—that he was as troubled by her presence as she was by his.
Enough that a moment’s carelessness could inadvertently cause her to lose control over all her impulses and senses.
CHAPTER 6
“Daenae move.I have to get the arrow out.”
Pain shot through Kenneth as Leana broke the arrow in two. She had to, or else his wound would be aggravated when she pulled the tip out of his shoulder. Her teeth chattered, and her jaw clenched tightly when he let out a hoarse grunt. But she didn’t even flinch. She just carried on as if nothing could disturb her.
Kenneth fell silent after that, admiring the woman in front of him. Her hands moved across his shoulder and chest swiftly and meticulously. She did nothing unless it was necessary, but her touch was driving him mad.
He had stopped paying attention to the pain. He couldn’t when she was close enough that he could smell her scent, inhale the perfume of her hair, and feel her breath on his neck.
But he did not tell her, letting her work, admiring her efficiency.
“I daenae have much with me,” Leana warned, hastily checking the satchel she had tucked under her cloak. “I would have prepared better if I had kenned that I would have to solve this emergency…”
“Dinnae worry.” Kenneth seemed indifferent. “I can get ye whatever ye need.”
“I appreciate that.” Leana's tone was slightly sullen. “It's the least ye can do after kidnapping me.”
