Chapter 25
Ethne wrapped her hands tightly around Lachlann, her cheek warm against his back. He urged his horse into a steady gallop across the glen. The rise and fall as they moved as one with the horse soothed his inner turmoil. He wanted to speak to her, but there’d been no time. Her eyes wide with fear had tugged at his heart. His need to protect her so fierce it nearly overwhelmed him.
It was late by the time they arrived at the copse of trees tucked into the valley, far enough away from Aidan’s that they’d not be getting any unexpected visitors. With great care he slipped off the horse, careful not to awaken Ethne, who leaned forward onto the saddle. He couldn’t say he was surprised she’d fallen asleep. She’d been through a lot.
“Wha—where are we?” She sat up and stretched her back. “Where’s the castle?”
Lifting his arms to take her by the waist, he helped her down, but wasn’t willing to immediately release her. He liked the sight of her tucked neatly up against him, the horse at her back.
“I’ve taken us another way, a quicker route,” he said in a quiet voice.
The horse snorted as if recognizing the lie for what it was—a chance for them to be alone.
“But Niall said the castle was safest,” she said, her fear still apparent in the tightness of her voice.
“I will not let anyone harm ye, Ethne.” Lachlann held her sparkling gaze on him before lowering his lips to hers. She reached up on the tips of her toes, her head close, and accepted his kiss. A tender moment, mayhap a touch of passion, but a steadfast seal was more his intent. He hoped he could replace her fears with the strength of his protection.
Breaking the kiss before it ignited into more than reassurances, he remained close. “Ye said ye’d no use for me.”
“What I said was ye are more trouble than ye are worth.” She flashed him a small smile. “I lied.”
“I know.”
She nibbled her lower lip before speaking. “He threatened to kill ye unless I could convince ye to leave me.”
Lachlann closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh before looking at her again. He shook his head and cupped her cheek. “I was sore afeared that somehow ye dinna realize…”
The words were escaping him. All that practice to say it just so, and his thoughts just scattered.
She touched her lips to his. “What do ye think I dinna realize?”
“That I’m in love with ye.” The simplicity of those words worked just fine. A huge weight lifted from his shoulders, and his chest expanded with a deep, relaxing sigh. It suddenly became far less important that she say she felt the same. It didn’t change how he felt because he would not be leaving her side. Not again.
Her eyes welled, her gaze dropping to his lips where she lightly traced her finger along them. The bottom and then the top. “I am not sure if this is what love is but please”—she looked into his eyes again—“do not leave me behind again. No matter what I say.”
His chest tightened, his heart seeming to explode with joy. Despite such strong emotions, he was gentle when he took her into his arms. Even taking time to marvel that the length of her fit so perfectly against him. Her head against his chest. His hardness against her softness.
He rubbed his cheek against the side of her head, her hair still smelling of the stinky cave, but it didn’t matter. “I want to take ye now and love ye again.”
She hugged him tighter. Her consent. The horse was quickly seen to and hidden from the sight of anyone coming across the glen.
“Come.” Taking her hand in his, he was again amazed at how small it was and, as he’d done that first time, he ran his thumb along it before kissing her palm.
“Do I still smell like flowers?” she teased.
“Ye smell like heaven.” He tucked her hand through the crook of his arm and led her deep into the woods.
It was a warm night, thick with moisture and the promise of rain come the morn. The nighttime birds went about their hunting, unbothered by their presence. The sliver of moon cast the slightest bit of light through the trees. Stopping there, he pushed her long plaited hair back over her shoulders and kissed her again.
“Ye were verra brave,” Lachlann said.
“I didna feel brave. I felt petrified.”
He dipped his head to nibble at her lower lip. “Ye were brave, my love. Do not doubt it.”
His hands gently caressed up her sides, squeezing and rubbing, to finally rest at her breasts, which he cupped with the same reverence. “More than brave.”
Finding the ties at the neck of her garment, he kept his voice quiet as he loosened them. “Ye have always been brave.”
