“I didn’t expect this,” Katie finally whispered, her voice soft, almost hesitant, as if she were afraid that speaking aloud might shatter their peace.
Aiden turned his head slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Neither did I,” he admitted, his voice a low rumble. He felt her smile against his chest, and it warmed him more than the fire ever could.
“Are you sure, Aiden?” she asked, lifting her head to look at him. Her eyes searched his, filled with both hope and a touch of uncertainty. “About us? About everything?”
Aiden met her gaze, his heart panging at the vulnerability he saw there. He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand as his thumb gently stroked her skin. “Aye, I’m sure,” he replied, his voice steady and firm. “Nay matter what, Katie, I’m lookin’ forward to our weddin’ night. I’ll be the husband ye deserve, and I promise ye that I’ll never cause ye pain or anguish again.”
Katie’s eyes softened, and she leaned over to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” she whispered, her breath mingling with his.
Aiden returned the kiss, savoring the softness of her lips and the sweetness of the moment. He wanted to stay like this forever, to keep her in his arms and protect her from everything that might come their way.
He knew he couldn’t shield her from his truth forever, but he did not want to shatter their precious moment together and decidedto leave that conversation for another day. The shadows of his past still loomed over him, but he wouldn’t permit himself to lie to her, not about something so important, and he needed her full attention when he did finally broach the subject.
As he pulled back from their kiss, Aiden studied her face, committing every detail to memory—the way her eyes sparkled in the dim light, the curve of her lips, the warmth in her gaze. He knew that she deserved the truth, but he wasn’t ready to tell her. Not yet.
“Katie,” he began, his voice catching slightly. She looked at him expectantly, her eyes filled with trust. He swallowed hard, pushing back the doubts and fears that threatened to overwhelm him. “I’ll be the man ye need me to be,” he said instead, his hand moving to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “But… there are things I need to work through. Things from me past.”
Katie’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “I understand,” she said softly. “We all have pasts. We can work through it together when you’re ready.”
Her words soothed some of the unrest within him, and he pressed another kiss to her forehead in silent thanks, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. “Thank ye,Sassenach,” he murmured against her skin.
She smiled at him, her eyes shining with a degree of affection and certainty that made Aiden’s heart skip a beat. “Shall we get dressed?” she asked, her voice laced with a touch of playfulness. “I suppose it wouldn’t do for anyone to find us like this.”
Aiden chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Nay, I suppose nae,” he agreed, reluctantly shifting to sit up.
The cool air of the room slid across his exposed skin, and he shivered slightly, already missing the warmth of her body.
They dressed in comfortable silence, exchanging the occasional impish glance, soft smile, or a brush of fingers as they moved about the room. The intimacy between them was different now—softer, more tender. Aiden found himself savoring every small moment, every little touch, as if he were trying to memorize the way they felt together.
Once they were both dressed, Aiden offered her his arm. “Shall I escort ye back to yer chambers, Me Lady?” he asked, his tone teasing, although his eyes were filled with warmth.
Katie smiled, slipping her arm through his. “It would be my pleasure, My Laird,” she replied, matching his playful tone.
They walked through the dimly lit halls of the castle, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly off the stone walls. Aiden kept her close, his hand holding hers as they moved through the familiar passageways. Every now and then, he would glance down at her to watch the way the soft light played across her features and marvel at the way she seemed to fit so perfectly against him.
When they reached the door to her chambers, Aiden paused, turning to face her. “Katie,” he began, his voice serious now.“I meant what I said earlier. I’ll do everythin’ I can to be the husband ye need. And… I hope that, in time, ye’ll see that.”
Katie looked up at him, her eyes filled with a gentle understanding that made his heart ache. “I already see it,” she whispered, reaching up to cup his cheek. “And I’m looking forward to our future together.”
Her words settled something deep within him, and he leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as he simply breathed her in.
“Goodnight, me Katie,” he murmured, his voice low and full of emotion.
“Goodnight, Aiden,” she replied, her voice equally soft.
With one last look, he released her hand and stepped back, watching as she slipped inside her room. The door closed behind her with a soft click, and Aiden stood there for a moment longer, the warmth of her touch still lingering on his skin.
As he turned to leave, he felt the weight of his emotions pressing down on him again. The happiness he felt was real, but so were his worries and doubts. He needed time to clear his head, to sort through the tangled mess of feelings that had only grown stronger.
Aiden made his way out to the courtyard, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he stepped outside. The sky was clear, and a blanket of stars spread out above him. He inhaled deeply, trying to reinstate the peace he’d felt earlier with Katie. He walked over to look at the now silent training grounds, the familiar sights and sounds of the castle grounding him as he tried to work through everything that had transpired.
But no matter how hard he tried to push his thoughts away, one thing remained at the forefront of his mind—Katie. She had become more important to him than he’d expected, and the thought of losing her, of hurting her, was almost too much to bear.
He clenched his fists, taking another deep breath as he tried to focus on the present, and on the fact that she was his and he was hers.
For tonight, that was enough.
Aiden stood in the cool night air, his breath misting in front of him as he gazed around the confines of the castle. The courtyard was empty, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze and the distant murmur of the loch. He had come out here to clear his head and rid himself of the lingering doubts and fears thatgnawed at him even after the peace he had found with Katie, but it seemed that fate had other plans for him tonight.
