When all were settled, Morgann snuffed out the candles and they were plunged into darkness.Even the clatter of arrows had ceased and only faint whispers and the whistle of wind through the shutters accompanied them.Logan slid close and wrapped her into the cradle of his arms, her bottom nestled against his thighs.The pounding of her pulse became the reigning sound as she absorbed the heat and strength of him.He swept aside her hair and kissed the back of her neck.Much like the previous night.And much like the previous night, tingles raced through her and their memory of the decadent, daring lovemaking seared her mind.
To think she had lost so much and now it had returned to her.Lorna savoured his breath on her neck and his protective touch around her.It was hard to believe they had been at odds not so long ago and yet in the space of days—now the truth had been revealed—they were closer than they had ever been.Were it not for the events of last year, would this have ever happened?She regretted much of what had occurred and her stubbornness, but she could only be grateful for all she had learned and for having Logan back in her life.
Now all they had to do was survive the coming days.
Chapter Nineteen
The following morning they were up well before any stray arrows could startle them.Lorna groaned and stretched before reaching for Ewan who had begun to grumble for food.The babe nuzzled into her—a brief moment of blissful happiness before the truth behind their situation flooded back.
The enemy was at their gate and by all accounts could likely break it down this day.
While everyone ate and she saw to her son, tension clouded the air like a thick, sticky web.She saw tension in the grim expressions, nervousness in the occasional shaking hand.Finn, particularly, tried to jest to keep the atmosphere light but even his ready smile appeared forced.When he leaned into Catriona, a hand to her rounded belly, and whispered something she assumed was intended to be reassuring to her, tears burned her eyes.
She sniffed and held them back but not before Logan caught her eye and strode over to take Ewan in his arms.She paused to take in the sight—one she never dreamed of seeing not so long ago—and fervently wished the circumstances were different.His large, sun-kissed hands covered Ewan’s dark head and engulfed his body, but she saw tenderness behind every movement.This huge, powerful warrior had a gentle side that assured her even if he had changed in some aspects, the man she had fallen in love with—and had probably always loved—was still there.
“Dinnae be afeared.”His gruff tone washed over her like lemon balm, soothing and cooling.
“I am no’ afeared,” she replied in a calm tone, aware they repeated their conversation from the night atop the battlements.
Logan’s lips twisted.He saw through her.Her boldness was no use in front of him, yet he understood her well enough to let the comment slide and allow her disguise to remain.An arm looped around her shoulder, he pressed a fierce kiss to her forehead and held her there for a moment.
“I willnae let anything happen to ye.Trust me on that.”
She peered up at him and swallowed the aching knot in her throat.“I do trust ye.”The words came out harsh and whispered but they were there, floating in the air, and she could not help but release a tiny triumphant smile.
Mayhap he still did not understand what that had cost her.He didn’t remember her past or the way she had pushed him away for so many years.Men had used and hurt her, and forced her to close herself off from people.But this warm, expanding feeling in her chest did not frighten her.She had given him her trust—something she gave no less easily than her love.An odd sense of freedom washed over her.
Lorna stroked a finger over the scar that had nearly cost him his life and felt his pulse beat against her fingertip.He swallowed and his gaze grew intense.If she looked long enough, she could probably lose herself to that gaze and forget all that was happening around them.Logan used his thumb to skim the ridge of her nose and press against her bottom lip.
“I shall die before they touch ye,” he promised gruffly.The thick grittiness to his voice had increased.Was it emotion that caused the change?“With my last breath, I shall ensure ye and my son are safe.”
“Dinnae speak of yer last breath,” she begged.
He let his thumb rest on her chin and used his hand to keep her from dropping her gaze.“I cannae recall the moment I fought for ye before or how I came by this scar, but I do know one thing...”
“What?”
“I did it gladly because of my love for ye.As do I go gladly into battle now.”
The air vanished from her lungs.She froze—waiting, hoping.
“I love ye, Lorna.”
The words whirled through her mind and eased every aching, lonely part of her.Any lingering doubt about what they meant to one another, about this man who had been lost to her but somehow found his way back, was swept away with those four small words.
“I—” For some reason her throat refused to obey her command and return the words.It was too clogged and aching.
“I know.”
He kissed her again before he left and she tasted the desperation on his tongue, the fear they may not repeat it ever again.His tongue tangled with hers, his lips moved hard and demanding.They were not alone, yet the others were too concerned with their own farewells to notice their frantic embrace.It took all her will not to collapse to the ground when he kissed their son on his cheek.A dark gaze locked briefly onto hers before he left, twisting her stomach into knots at all the unspoken sentiments hanging between them.But words were not needed, not after that kiss.
Her brother paused to speak with her, his brow set with concern.“We have little intention of being defeated,” he murmured and glanced at his wife, “but should the worst happen, ye are the most capable of handling a blade.”He nodded toward the top of the spiral stairs where two men-at-arms stood guard.“Do whatever ye have to do to ensure ye are all safe.These men have been instructed to do the same.”
“What of Alana?”Lorna glanced at her cousin’s wife, who had one of the fieriest temperaments of all of them.She could not see her standing aside and letting her fate be dictated.
“She is with child,” Finn whispered.“’Tis very early.”
Lorna almost groaned.Two pregnant lasses and herself.What chance did they have?Still, it gave them all that extra incentive to fight on and triumph.
