Jaxon lay on the blankets,his mind restless even as exhaustion tugged at him. Images of Hamish’s hands on Gracie, the drunken guard’s lewd grin, haunted him. He clenched his jaw, recalling the moment he had yanked the man away, the rage that had nearly consumed him, and the sharp, terrible fear he had glimpsed in Gracie’s eyes. Every detail burned in his memory, feeding a possessive anger that would not be silenced by the hearth’s warmth or the comfort of sleep.
His thoughtsthen turned to Edmund, the brother she had apparently preferred, who had run from his vows. Jaxon’s fists tightened around the blanket beneath him, and a low growl of frustration escaped his chest.
How canshe still wish for the coward who fled instead of the man standin’ before her now, offerin’ protection and loyalty?
And yet,despite her apparent disinterest, he could not deny the fierce longing rising within him, a desire that both angered and captivated him, tangled with his duty and pride.
Hours passed,the fire crackling as the great hall’s laughter and music became a distant memory. Jaxon’s eyes stayed open longer than he would admit, restless and vigilant, his body tense against the makeshift bedding. He thought of her, alone in her bed across the room, and of the strength she would need to navigate this new life. Only when exhaustion finally overtook him did he sink into a restless, uneasy sleep, dreams haunted by the memory of Hamish and the knowledge that Gracie’s heart might never be fully his.
10
Gracie blinked, startled by the morning light spilling into the chamber. Her eyes, almost unwillingly, roamed over Jaxon. He was without a tunic as he rolled up the blankets on the floor. His back was broad and strong, the muscles rippling under his tanned skin, and the curve of his shoulders made her stomach twist in a way she had not expected. She swallowed hard, realizing how heated she felt, cheeks flushing as her gaze traveled to his arms, sculpted and firm, and the lines of his abdomen, hard and defined, that made her pulse quicken.
Jaxon’s voicebroke the silence, low and steady. “I see yer awake.”
His piercingblue eyes caught hers before she could look away. “Daenae fash yerself, I will be gettin’ dressed to go about me duties. I have much to oversee today.”
Gracie nodded,fumbling with the sheets around her. “I understand… ye are a laird with much on yer plate.” Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, and she felt the heat in her cheeks intensify as he moved closer to the edge of the blankets.
He paused,leaning slightly on his elbow, his gaze fixed on her. “Ye dinnae sleep well?” His tone was calm, but there was an underlying sharpness, the quiet edge of concern that made her heart flutter.
“I… I slept well, aye,”she said, her eyes dropping for a moment, ashamed that she had been stolen away by thoughts of his bare form. She cleared her throat and tried to focus on anything else in the room, the fireplace, the blankets, the small details of the chamber, but it was impossible.
Jaxon’s eyes narrowed slightly,reading her hesitation. “Yer thoughts are nae on the day’s duties, lass,” he said, his voice low, almost teasing, though the possessiveness in it made her pulse hammer. He shifted closer, enough that she could feel the heat of his body near hers, the scent of him, woodsmoke and leather, filling the space.
Gracie swallowed,biting her lip. “I… it’s nae easy, Jaxon,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “I… I daenae ken why, but… I feel… restless.”
Her words cameout in a rush, and she could feel the tension coiling inside her like a spring, a mixture of nervousness, fascination, and something she couldn’t name.
“Restless, eh?”he murmured, leaning just a fraction closer, so that the proximity alone made her breath hitch. “Ye are mine now, lass, and I will protect ye. But ye cannae hide yer heart from me, nor yer desire, nor yer fear.”
Her breath caught,and she looked down at her hands in the blankets. She wanted to deny it, to push the thoughts away, but her body betrayed her. She could feel a warmth between her thighs, a heat in her chest, and her cheeks burned like fire.
Jaxon’s handrested lightly on the blanket near hers, not touching her skin yet, but the implication was electric.
“Ye feel it, do ye nae?”he asked, voice low, almost a growl.
Gracie’s lips parted,but no words came out. She shook her head, but the motion was feeble, meaningless even to herself. Her gaze flicked up to his, and she saw that smoldering intensity, the same possessive look that had terrified her the previous night now igniting something unspoken, something dangerous in its pull.
Jaxon let a slow,almost predatory smile curl across his lips. “Ye daenae need to speak, lass. Yer body speaks for ye,” he murmured, leaning just a little closer, until she could feel the heat radiating from him, the nearness that made her pulse race.
“I… I…”she stammered, torn between shame and longing. Her hands clenched at the sheets, unsure whether to cover herself or reach for him. The thought of touching him, of being near him, made her dizzy with desire and fear.
He lowered his head slightly,so that his lips brushed her temple, and the breathy warmth made her shiver. “Ye are mine, Gracie. Every bit of ye belongs to me now,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble that made her heart hammer in her chest.
Gracie’s breath hitched,and she could not look away. She wanted to run, to flee from this intensity, but something deep within her stirred, a longing she could not name, a pull toward him that was both frightening and intoxicating.
Jaxon straightened slightly,his hand still hovering over the blanket. “I leave only because duty calls,” he said, voice firm, but there was a note of promise in it, a quiet warning of what was to come. “But ken this. Daenae tell anyone what happened with the guard in the corridor. Do ye understand?”
Gracie’s lips parted,and she nodded slowly, caught between fear, desire, and awe. Her pulse was wild, her chest tight, and the thought of him, so strong, so commanding, standing over her, made her feel both protected and incredibly exposed. She swallowed hard, knowing that every heartbeat in her chest belonged to him now, whether she wanted it or not.
“Of course,I have told nay one and will keep such a thing to meself,” she said.
Her thoughtsthen turned to his words from the night before, the promise in them stirring both curiosity and unease. She twisted the sheet in her fingers, heart beating too fast for so early an hour. At last, she drew a breath and found her voice.
“Jaxon,”she said softly.
He lookedat her with that steady, assessing gaze.
