Page 35 of When a Highlander Weds a Hellion
Broch thought about that for a moment. “Have there been more killings, or attempted killings, in the clan in the years since that ye can recall?”
“Nay,” Brodee answered immediately, “which means my new thinking was nae correct.”
“I believe,” Broch said, considering, “that whoever killed yer leman and Katreine’s sister, and tried to kill Katreine, dunnae hateallBlackswells.”
Brodee nodded. “They hate us,” he said, motioning between the two of them.
“Aye,” Broch replied. “They hate the heirs of Blackswell.”
The question was, why?
Katreine paced the small confines of her bedchamber, cutting through the shadows brought on by the night as she muttered.Stay here,he’d demanded. He’d return shortly, he’d said. That had been hours ago! She marched to the window that overlooked the courtyard and cursed at the empty space. Why was she obeying her husband anyway?
She drummed her fingers on the window ledge as the question repeated in her mind. Why? Why was she listening to a Blackswell?
I will nae let go… Dunnae ye dare leave me.
His words echoed straight to her heart, making it beat faster. That was why she was still here. She could not ignore that plea. In truth, she did not want to. Broch had a claim on her whether she wished it or not, and she was not entirely certain that she did not wish it. He had shown her nothing but honor, and caring, and need. A need she also felt and wanted to fulfill with him.
She continued to pace their bedchamber as she thought. The man was blind when it came to his family, and she could not seem to make him see the truth. His brother had pushed her. The only reason Brodee had tried to save her was because he’d known Broch would kill him if he suspected that Brodee had done so. She had to smile at that. Her husband was protective of her, and for once in her life, she did not mind it in the least. It was nice to know someone was always watching out for her. She intended to do the same for him.
She needed a different plan, and thinking upon his words, she decided that it was time for them to officially seal their marriage. She had to admit she was eager for it, and if Broch was half as eager as she was, which she suspected he was, then his desire not to lose her would be so complete that he’d surely agree to go live with her clan and not stay here among liars and killers.
Just as her decision was made, the door to their bedchamber opened with a swish, and her compelling husband stepped over the threshold, making her breath hitch, her belly tighten, and a thrill course through her. The wary look he gave her almost made her chuckle. He expected a battle, and she was launching one, it was true, but secretly and disguised under sweet surrender.
He shut the door behind him, then stopped as if uncertain what to say or do. She was glad to see her husband had uncertainties, too. “Did ye discover anything?” she asked.
He shook his head, and she pressed her lips together on telling him that he’d not found anything because the person responsible had been looking with him. When he arched his eyebrows at her, she swallowed a laugh. He was surprised she had not launched into blaming his brother. Good. Maybe her new line of attack would work.
“I dunnae wish to quarrel,” she said, taking heart when he smiled with obvious relief.
“Neither do I, lass.” He walked toward her and reached out, then stilled. And she thought she knew why. She captured his searing gaze as she pressed her palm to his heart. Underneath her fingertips, his warmth seeped into her and the steady beat of his life comforted her.
He smiled slowly, devilishly. “Ye’re touching me.”
She nodded, licking her lips in anticipation of what she hoped was about to happen.
His brows dipped together in bafflement. “Ye recall that touching me means I get to claim a kiss?”
“Aye,” she said, purposely rubbing her fingers back and forth over the hard muscle of his chest.
“What are ye doing, lass?” His tone sounded strained, as if he were struggling to control something. She very much hoped it was his desire for her.
“I’m attempting to get ye to seal our wedding vows without asking ye.”
He caught her fingers, pressed them to his lips, and then released them as his other hand slid to the small of her back. A triumphant gleam came to his eyes.
Good. Let him think he had won.
“Nae that I’m nae verra pleased to hear this,mo bhean mhaiseach,but I am surprised. Why the change?” he asked.
The strong emotion that gripped her when he called hermy beautiful wifescared her a little. What if she could not persuade him to come with her? What if all she accomplished was him sending her away and never coming for her? The thought made her breath hitch deep within, but she had to press on. She didn’t see another way.
She reached up and grasped his plaid, then started to unwrap it as her blood sang in heady anticipation. “I almost died, and ye risked yer life to save me.”
She let the plaid drop to the floor between them, and she raked her gaze boldly over Broch’s perfect form. She wanted to run her fingers over the dips and swells, the muscle and bone of what made him such a man.
He slipped his hands into her hair, his fingers sliding over her scalp and making her hiss before he cradled her neck with his strong hands. “I’ve risked my life to save ye before,” he said, his gaze seeming to delve into her. She had the feeling he was sifting through her eyes to try to discover her secrets. “Tell me the truth,” he demanded. “Why are ye standing before me now, giving yerself to me this night?”
