“Aye, ye have yerself a deal,” the Laird nodded sharply. “Now, up. Go get some sleep.”
Erskine left the room quickly, sharing one last sad smile with his father as he parted from the room.
On the other side of the door, Erskine was surprised to find Dearg in the corridor. Erskine jumped at the presence.
“Dearg! Ye’re back.”
“We received yer message that the brigands retreated,” Dearg’s gaze was flicking to the closed study door, beyond which their father still sat. “What news?”
“Speak with faither. He can explain all. I need some sleep,” Erskine said the words quickly as he walked away down the corridor, eager to find his bed. Yet as he went, he felt Dearg’s eyes were still watching him. At the end of the corridor, he glanced back, seeing Dearg was still looking directly at him.
How long was he outside of that room?
Erskine frowned as he found the nearest spiral staircase and climbed the steps toward his chamber. Surely it would not have mattered had Dearg overheard them, but the fact that he may have heard Erskine talking about the ‘delicate matter’ he wished to discuss with their father left Erskine feeling very unsettled.
He tried to brush the feeling off, choosing to focus on the thrill that had come from finally indulging in his infatuation of Laura that afternoon as he reached his chamber. He would have liked to have opened the discussion of Laura there and then with his father, but he knew the Laird was right. The clan should always come before Erskine’s own feelings.
It did not change much, though. As Erskine collapsed down on the bed, he thought of Laura from that afternoon. Her touch, her words, her kiss. The way her body had moved with his had been beyond anything he had imagined. He had never known such heat, and the reality of being with her had made all the fantasies of her pale in comparison.
He would not give up on making her his wife now. That was one of his final thoughts as he slipped into sleep.
We will sort this soon, Laura. I give ye me word.
* * *
“Magret, ye’re needed,” Erskine pleaded as the door opened once again.
“Another battle?” Magret looked shocked, her gray eyebrows shooting up as Laura appeared at her side in the doorway, dressed as usual as a serving boy with her hat pulled low over her features. Erskine couldn’t help the excitement that soared through him as his eyes landed on Laura.
“The injured are bein’ taken to the castle.”
“I’ll go at once,” Magret said quickly and bustled out of the door.
“I’ll follow ye up there,” Erskine promised, yet as Magret stepped down, Erskine had no intention of following her.
Erskine stayed behind with Laura as the older woman hurried off. He stepped inside, and the moment the door shut behind Magret, Erskine reached for Laura, kissing her and pressing her against the wall behind her. It was so animated, filled with such ardor that he knocked her hat off by accident onto the floor.
“Wait…” Laura was trying to murmur between kisses. “Erskine!” she laughed as he kissed her again, silencing her completely for a minute and claiming her tongue with his. Then he held the end of the kiss, turning it into something sweet that was just a lingering press of their lips together.
As he parted from her, he kept his body against hers, unable to stay away. He was extremely aware of the brush of every part of their bodies. Her hands were braced on his biceps, her chest was flattened against him, and he had one leg between hers.
“Ye were sayin’ somethin’?” he whispered, holding her gaze and marveling at how bright the blue color now looked.
“Was I?” she asked innocently.
“Ye’ve forgotten what ye were goin’ to say?” he smiled.
“Well, you did distract me a little,” her words prompted him to laugh.
“I can offer more distraction if ye like.” He,” he stole another kiss, but this one was slow and gentle, just their lips moving together as his hands circled her waist, slowly brushing the curve of her body. As he parted from her, she smiled again.
“You are certainly very good at distracting me,” she looked up at him and smiled., “I remember what I was going to say. What happened? Are the brigands still there?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “Though, “though today I escaped unscathed. It’s as I predicted. They are tryin’ to launch attacks along the borders from the mountains. The Laird and I think it will take two weeks to capture them and defeat them in that terrain.”
“Two weeks?” she repeated, her eyebrows raising.
“I ken, it’s a long time,” he lifted a hand and threaded it into her hair, pulling the locks free from their tie. “I couldnae bring up the matter of ye with me faither last night, but in two weeks, I promise, I will.”
