"Me chambers,"Ewan said, and his voice held a roughness that sent heat pooling low in her belly. "I'm nae takin' ye through the main hall where everyone can see ye like this, bruised and bloody and half-terrified. Ye deserve privacy. And I—" His arms tightened around her waist. "I need ye alone. Need to see for meself that ye're truly safe."
Maia leanedback against his chest, feeling the solid strength of him, the steady beat of his heart. "I'm safe now."
"Aye.Because I'll never let anyone hurt ye again." It was a vow, spoken with such fierce conviction that Maia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
They approachedthe castle from the east side, where a small door was set into the stone wall, clearly a private entrance. Ewan dismounted and lifted Maia down, then led the horse to a nearby post and secured it.
"Someone will see to him,"Ewan said, taking Maia's hand. "Come."
He ledher through the door and up a narrow staircase that wound through the castle's interior. Maia recognized none of it; these weren't the corridors she'd walked with Aisla, weren't the routes the servants used. This was clearly a private way, meant for the laird alone.
Finally,they reached a heavy wooden door. Ewan pushed it open and guided Maia inside, then closed and locked it behind them.
His chambers were largerthan Maia's, dominated by a massive bed with dark furs and heavy quilts. A fireplace crackled with banked embers, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. There was a desk covered in papers, a wardrobe, several chairs, and?—
Maia's attentionsnapped back to the bed as Ewan's hands settled on her shoulders.
"Are ye hurt?"His voice was gentle now, concerned. "Besides the bruise on yer temple. Did they hurt ye anywhere else?"
"Nae."Maia reached up to touch the tender spot where the guard had struck her, wincing. "Just this. And me lip, but it's nae serious."
"I should have killed them slower."Ewan's jaw clenched. "Should have made them suffer for every moment of fear they caused ye."
"Ye killed me uncle."The words came out flat, emotionless. Maia knew she should feel something about that—grief, maybe, or horror. But all she felt was a profound sense of relief. "He's really dead?"
"Aye.He'll never hurt ye again. Never threaten ye or lock ye away or make ye believe ye're anythin' less than extraordinary." Ewan's hands moved to cup her face, his thumbs brushing gently across her cheekbones. "I meant what I said, Maia. I love ye. And I'm nae lettin' ye go."
"Even though I ran?"Maia's voice was small. "Even though I dinnae trust ye, dinnae give ye a chance to explain about Laura?"
"Even though."Ewan's lips curved into a slight smile. "Though we are goin' to discuss why ye thought runnin' into the forest alone was a better option than just comin' to me study and askin' what was happenin'."
"I saw her on yer lap,"Maia whispered. "Saw her hands on ye, saw her leanin' in to kiss ye. And I just—I couldnae watch. Couldnae see ye choose her over me."
"I would never choose her.Never choose anyone over ye." Ewan's voice was fierce. "She forced herself on me, Maia. Came into me study uninvited, ignored every warning I gave her, and then straddled me lap before I could stop her. And the moment—the very moment—I realized what she was doin', I threw her off. Told her she was banned from McGill lands entirely, that if I ever saw her again I'd exile her whole family."
Hope bloomedin Maia's chest, warm and fragile. "Truly?"
"Truly.I daenae want her, lass. I've never wanted her. She's cruel and vain and everythin' I despise." Ewan's thumb brushed across Maia's split lip, gentle and careful. "But ye—ye're everythin' I never knew I needed. Everythin' I never let meself want because I was too afraid of what I might become."
"And ye're nae afraid anymore?"
"Oh, I'm terrified."Ewan's laugh was rough. "But I'm more afraid of losin' ye than I am of turnin' into me faither. And I realized—when ye ran, when I thought I might never see ye again—I realized that lovin' ye doesnae make me weak or dangerous. It makes me better. Makes me want to be better."
Maia's breath caught."Ye really love me?"
"I really love ye."Ewan bent his head, pressing his forehead against hers. "I'm in love with ye, Maia Ferguson. So deeply in love that I cannae imagine me life without ye in it. And I ken—I ken it's fast, and I ken ye probably need time, but I?—"
"I love ye too,"Maia interrupted, the words tumbling out. "I told ye that in the forest, but I need to say it again. I love ye, Ewan. I love the way ye look at me like I'm precious. I love the way ye defend me. I love yer strength and yer kindness and the way ye took in Kian even though ye dinnae have to. I love—I love everythin' about ye."
Ewan's eyes darkened,and then he was kissing her. Not gentle this time, not careful. This kiss was claiming, demanding, full of all the fear and relief and desperate love he'd been holding back.
Maia kissedhim back with equal fervor, her hands fisting in his shirt, pulling him closer. She needed this. Needed him. Needed to feel alive and wanted and safe after the terror of the past hour.
Ewan's handsmoved to her waist, then lower, gripping her hips and pulling her flush against him. Maia gasped at the contact, at the solid evidence of his desire pressing against her belly.
"I need ye,"Ewan growled against her mouth. "Need to see ye, touch ye, taste every inch of ye. Need to make ye mine in every way possible."
"Yes."Maia didn't hesitate. "Yes, Ewan. Please."
