Page 49 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“And how could ye have possibly kenned what was happenin’? Were ye there? Locked away in some forgotten hole of the dungeon?” Emma asked.
She placed her hand on his and was shocked by his sudden recoil. He tossed the broken bits into the fire and turned his back to her.
“I might have been,” Hunter whispered. His voice was so low that Emma wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.
“What?”
“It doesnae matter,” Hunter grumbled. “Ye’re safe now, and that’s all that I care about. Ye and yer sisters are safe. I doubt he’ll dare cross me.”
“Hunter?” Her heart pounded in her chest as she inched closer to him. Every fiber of her being cried out for him, wanting to comfort him.
She couldn’t help but feel like she was walking on thin ice with Hunter, never knowing what would set him off or how he truly felt about her. But despite it all, Emma couldn’t deny the strong pull she felt towards him.
“Ye’ve had a busy day,” Hunter said, his tone icy and distant. “Ye should probably get some rest now. But ken this, ye’ll never have to see that man again.”
Emma’s breath hitched as she heard the promise in his voice that sent chills down her spine. As he turned to face her, she noticed his anger was as sharp as a razor’s edge. Hunter let out a heavy sigh, stealing one more glimpse at Emma. Her body tingled as she watched him head for the doorway.
“Ye dinnae want me to stay wit’ ye tonight?” Emma asked, her eyes dancing around the room.
She hadn’t noticed the room was Hunter’s. The revelation shocked her. She had expected to stay with him despite their argument. After all, it was her wedding night, and she felt much safer in his presence than alone or with her sisters.
“That’s nae such a grand idea,” Hunter answered.
Emma’s heart dropped at his words, and she could feel a knot of disappointment forming in her stomach. Gathering her courage, she reached out, placing her hand over his, her cheeks burning with a shy flush.
“I thought… since we are married now…”
Hunter’s gaze snapped up to meet hers, surprise and conflict evident in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, and then, very slowly, he lifted her hand to his lips. She watched, her breath caught in her throat, as he kissed her knuckles gently. When he spoke, his voice was a soothing balm to her disappointment.
“Nae tonight,” he murmured, his gaze holding her captive.
His words were firm, but his gaze softened as hurt flashed through her eyes. There was a promise in his gaze, a silent assurance that what he denied her now was not a rejection, but a deferment of what could certainly be a beautiful moment shared between them in time.
With a heavy heart, Emma moved towards the doorway, her hands trembling slightly. She paused, taking one last look at Hunter. His figure was outlined by the dim light of the room, creating a silhouette that tugged at her heartstrings. The words she had poured out, the secrets she had shared with him, seemed to echo in the silence between them.
She felt a sting, a sharp jolt in her heart as the reality of his rejection sunk in. She had bared her soul to him, allowed herself to be vulnerable in his presence, only to be met with a cold dismissal. The emotional dam broke, and a rush of mixed feelings—hurt, confusion, longing—washed over her.
Pulling herself together, she turned, her chin held high with a determination that belied the turmoil within her.
Without another word, she stepped over the threshold, leaving the room and the man who had so casually brushed aside her heartfelt confession. The last sight of him was seared into her memory, a bitter reminder of the divide that had sprung up between them.
As she entered her room, the stark emptiness was a harsh echo of the loneliness she felt within. The fears that Hunter had once calmed were creeping back, threatening to consume her. She found herself clutching at her arms as if physical contact could ease the turmoil within her.
Was this her fate—living in fear, constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for Geoffrey to strike again? She knew too well that he was not one to forgive and forget, that he would be lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike once again.
With a heavy sigh, she moved towards the window, her gaze drawn to the horizon, half-expecting to see Geoffrey hiding in the shadows of the trees. But instead, a light below caught her attention. Squinting into the darkness, she saw Hunter emerging from the side door.
Her curiosity piqued, she watched as he navigated the path leading to the lake. A myriad of questions raced through her mind. Where could he be going at this hour?
Despite the surge of mixed emotions, she couldn’t help but observe him, the sight of him providing a small solace against the pressing loneliness.
Emma’s heart constricted at the sight of Hunter disappearing into the darkness, her mind quickly turning into a whirlpool of troubling thoughts.
Why was he distancing himself, when he had been so close to her just hours ago at the feast? His impassioned kiss had ignited her senses, promising a closeness she had only dreamt of, yet his actions now suggested an aloofness that was almost cruel.
She found herself pacing the room restlessly, her heart pounding against her ribs in frustration.
His hot and cold behavior was maddening, pulling her in with his warm looks and then pushing her away with his cold disregard. She wasn’t just some plaything he could use at his whim, to fulfill his desires and then discard. She was a woman with feelings, complex and deep, and she refused to be toyed with.
