"Nuggle?" She stroked the horse's muzzle softly. "That's an odd name."
"She's named after a problem-causin' water spirit that takes the form of a horse," he explained. "Though the Nuggle from the stories is always a male. She's just got the same disposition. Smart as can be, and she uses it to play jokes on the men and me."
Anna laughed, giving Nuggle the scratches she was now demanding. "Well, I quite like her, then. She's a lovely animal."
"Aye," he agreed, allowing a fond smile to settle over his features. "She is. She keeps me on me toes. And she's smart when we're ridin'. I'm fairly certain her foal has inherited that."
"Then I'm quite eager to meet this foal," Anna said as Nuggle lifted her head and stepped back. "Please lead the way, Hugh."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
"Oh, she's beautiful," Anna said when they came upon the filly.
She was lithe, strong, and tall. Her black mane fluttered gently in the light wind drifting through the stables. When her eyes, wiser than any animal had a right to be, met Anna's, Anna felt herself melt.
"She's a smart little thing," she murmured, even though the horse wasn't small by any means. The animal looked to be nearly a year old. "I'm quite certain that she's inherited her mother's spirit."
"Aye, I am too," Hugh agreed, gently settling his hand on her back and urging her forward. "Now introduce yerself. She's a good judge of character, so I imagine she'll take a likin' to ye."
Anna took a step forward. When she reached the stall gate, she held out her hand to the filly. Almost immediately, the horsestepped toward her, sniffed her fingers a few times, then shoved her nose into Anna's palm.
"See?" Hugh said from behind her, sounding satisfied. "I told ye that she would like ye."
"What is her name?" Anna asked, stroking the soft, brown coat.
"Ye'll have to name her," he said after a beat. "But ye daenae have to right now. Take some time to get to know her."
She hummed, immediately running through possible names for the beautiful horse in front of her. Nothing stuck out, and as she stared into the animal's intelligent, hazel eyes, Anna knew that she'd need to take her time deciding. The filly deserved that kind of attention.
"Everyone, even the animals, has been so welcoming," she said softly. "In England, it wasn't like this. Even the people I knew for my whole life would be cold to me."
"I still daenae understand their reasonin'," Hugh said, sounding as though he were upset on her behalf. "Ye've got a lovely spirit. Anyone could see that."
Anna focused on the foal, her face heating up as she admitted, "Well, I'm not… attractive. They aren't the nicest to people whom they don't deem 'beautiful.'"
"Ach, but ye have a bonnie face, and an even bonnier body," he said, the words coming from him so easily that her knees nearly buckled. "Perhaps they're just a lot of dobbers who are blind or have terrible taste."
Despite the embarrassment that was still coursing through her, she couldn't help but giggle. A bit shyly, withdrawing her hand from the filly and making her way to the exit for fresh air, she said, "You know that I'm not thin like most of the women. I… believe that my curves are the reason they seemed to steer clear of me."
Hugh huffed, shaking his head and taking a step toward her. His shoulders were pulled back, his strong, broad chest sticking out. As she tilted her head to return the burning stare, her mouth went dry. He was so much taller than her, and so incredibly strong. The way he lifted her onto the saddle yesterday rocketed to the forefront of her mind, and she swallowed hard.
"What I said stands. They daenae ken what's attractive," he rasped, his stormy blue eyes drinking in her form. "I've never seen anyone quite like ye, lass. That's why I made ye mine. And that's why one day, I'm goin' to put a bairn in ye."
The implication made her head spin. She could still feel the way his mouth had worshipped her most private places—the warmth, the wetness, the absolute devotion. Her core lurched as phantom sensations rippled through her limbs.
"Hugh," she said breathlessly as he took another step into her space. She took half a step back, her shoulders hitting the outer stone wall of the stables. "You?—"
"I'm just gettin' ye used to the idea," he said, getting ever closer. He was nearly touching her now. "I told ye. Ye must bear me an heir. I'm givin' ye yer month to get used to it."
"You must… That's not… I don't think…" she sputtered, starting over and over again. It was suddenly hot beneath her gowns despite the slight chill still in the air. Her brain was overloaded, and he kept adding to the rush of her thoughts.
"Ach, ye must think I only care about the heir, then?" He brought his hand to her cheek, cupping it reverently. "Ye're wrong about that, Anna. Ye're nay a transaction. I want ye regardless of what ye can give me."
He moved in closer, his mouth so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her lips. A shudder racked through her body, urging her even closer. It would be so easy to close the distance, but she was frozen by the strength of her desire. It was as if Hugh had her under some sort of spell, held completely captive by him as she desperately awaited his next move.
"Ye're mine," he growled, his right hand coming up to grip her chin. He held her in place, looking into her eyes and finding the unconcealed lust there. "And I can tell that ye're just as pleased with the arrangement. Ye've nae said a word but yer still beggin' me for this."
Finally, blessedly, sinfully, Hugh connected their lips. The firm, claiming contact, sent Anna pitching forward. Her breasts were pressed flush against his chest, and she could feel the evidence of his burgeoning arousal against her thigh. It sent a rush through her, like plunging into a hot bath after a long winter's day.
