Page 43 of Hunting for a Highlander (Highland Brides 8)

“Nay, o’ course no’! I—” Dwyn paused abruptly when she saw the sparkle in his eyes. Clucking her tongue, she said, “Ye were teasing.”

“Aye,” he said gently. “And I do no’ think ye’d have tried it with me either.”

“Nay,” she admitted. “But it has proven a very effective threat with Aileen and Una. I just used it with you out o’ habit.”

“Surely yer sisters do no’ really believe ye’d do such a thing to them, do they?” Aulay asked with disbelief, pausing in front of the door to his study.

“I do no’ think they’re quite sure whether I would, or would no’,” Dwyn admitted as she reached out to open the door for him. When she looked back to see his doubting expression, she smiled faintly and said, “Ye’d understand did ye see the size o’ Angus’s and Barra’s teeth. Me sisters canno’ believe I put me face that close to their mouths without fear, so are no’ sure what else I might do.”

Aulay chuckled at that and carried her into his study.

Chapter 11

Geordie stirred sleepily, and turned on his side to wrap his arm around Dwyn, but blinked his eyes open when he found only empty bed. Frowning, he rolled onto his back and looked to the other side of the bed, but she was not there either. That realization had him jerking upright to quickly scan the room. Dwyn was not there.

Panic clutched at him at once. While Catriona and Sasha had been sent away, and they all hoped that would bring an end to the attacks on Dwyn, they couldn’t be positive it would since they had no proof the two women were behind the broken glass and poison. Aulay had offered to put guards on Dwyn for the rest of her stay there, but Geordie had assured him that would not be necessary. He would stay by her side every moment of every day while she was here, and even after, once they left for Innes. Yet, here it was, not even twenty-four hours later, and he’d already lost her.

Cursing under his breath, Geordie scrambled off the bed and rushed out into the hall. When Aulay barked his name, he glanced over his shoulder, mouth open to explain that he’d lost Dwyn, but he whirled toward them when he saw her in his brother’s arms. Her father was behind and to the side of them, he saw, eyeing him with raised brows.

Ignoring both men, Geordie sighed her name with relief and rushed toward them, asking, “What are ye doing up, lass? Why did ye no’ wake me?”

“Perhaps she was scared off by that monster between yer legs, brother,” Aulay said dryly, and then added with exasperation, “Could ye no’ have at least grabbed yer plaid on the way out the door?”

Geordie ignored that too. He had eyes only for Dwyn, who was staring at his erection with a concern he didn’t understand, until she asked worriedly, “Did ye damage yerself, husband? There’s blood on yer pillicock.”

Geordie glanced down at the dried blood on his cock, and almost laughed aloud. It was her blood from the breaching, and while he would have expected it to have been removed the second or third or even the fourth time he’d loved her, it had apparently merely mixed with their juices and dried on him all over again after each use. Or perhaps she’d continued to bleed after the breaching, he thought with a frown. It was possible. She had assured him she was not feeling any pain, but perhaps they shouldn’t have been so enthusiastic and vigorous after the breaching. The thought made his erection begin to wane.

“Geordie?” Dwyn asked, real worry in her voice now.

Sighing, he raised his head, and offered a reassuring smile as he took her from his brother. “Nay. I’m no’ hurt. The blood is yers, lass. The proof o’ yer innocence.”

“Oh.” She flushed a bit at that, but then rolled her eyes. Whether it was from exasperation with herself for not realizing the source of the blood on her own, or because of the pinch of embarrassment she was now feeling as her father and Aulay saw the proof that he’d breached her, Geordie didn’t know. He merely squeezed her affectionately, and kissed her nose, before demanding firmly, “Now, what were ye doing out here? And why did ye no’ wake me up ere ye left the room?”

“I had to go to the garderobe and ye were sleeping so soundly I did no’ wish to disturb ye,” Dwyn said quietly.

“The garderobe is the other way,” he pointed out dryly.

“I spotted her coming out of the garderobe, realized she was hopping around without her foot bandaged and had Rory come up to me study to bandage her up,” Aulay said before she could respond. When Geordie glanced to him, he added, “And then her father and I lectured her on leaving the room again without someone to accompany her until we are sure the attacks on her person have ended. She will no’ be hopping around without ye again. Will ye, Dwyn?” he added sternly.

Dwyn didn’t seem at all upset by his brother’s lecture, Geordie noted. In fact, she seemed more amused than anything, though she did promise, “I shall no’ hop around alone.”

“Well, then,” Laird Innes said brightly. “Now that’s settled, I guess we should leave these two to . . . er . . . Good sleep,” he said abruptly, and turned to head for the stairs.

When Geordie raised his eyebrows at the man’s odd behavior, Aulay said dryly, “I believe Laird Innes is a bit uncomfortable having his daughter’s handfasted husband waving his manhood around quite so boldly. Especially with his daughter’s blood on it. Speaking o’ which, the sup has been over fer a while, and the women shall soon be retiring. Ye may want to take that—” he nodded toward Geordie’s groin “—and yer wife back to yer room ere ye scandalize the lasses.”

Grunting at the suggestion, Geordie turned and carried Dwyn back up the hall toward his room.

“Good sleep,” Aulay called after them with amusement.

“Aye,” Geordie called. “Good sleep to ye too.”

“I am no’ like to sleep this night, m’laird,” Dwyn said apologetically as he carried her back through the door he’d left open.

“Nay,” he agreed wryly, kicking the door closed. “After sleeping the day away, and then the short nap I had after bedding ye, I’m no’ likely to sleep this night either.”

“It was an hour at least. More like two,” she corrected.

“What was?” Geordie asked with confusion.

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