Including Erik.
It was late in the afternoon that Finley started back toward the keep, not looking forward to another night dining with their visitors. She hadn’t seen Erik at all around the warriors or even at luncheon, her concern growing by leaps and bounds. It was very unlike him not to be wherever she was.
But as she drew close to the keep, she caught sight of him following the path she often took at night, causing her to change her direction and follow him against her better judgment. She wanted him to tell her who Isabel was to him and why she wanted his help.
She wanted to know if she needed to protect him as well.
As Finley rounded the corner, a hand shot out, and she was clamped against a hard body, her heart hammering in her throat. “Finley?”
Erik’s voice filled her ear, and she didn’t bother to fight out of his hold, enjoying it far too much. He removed his hand from her mouth, and she gasped. “Wot are ye doing?”
“I’m stopping whoever was following me,” he growled in her ear, making no move to remove the arm clamped around her waist. “Why are ye following me, lass?”
Finley was all too aware of his body pressed against hers, the way his breath teased the skin on her neck. What would it feel like if he placed his lips there?
What would he do if she asked him to do so? “I-I want tae talk.”
He grumbled and released her, her body mourning the loss immediately. Finley’s knees were trembling as she turned to face him, finding his handsome features laced with hardness.
“Will ye answer mah question?” she challenged.
He clenched his jaw. “Depends on wot yer question is, lass.”
She wanted to ask him about their last time together, but she held back, swallowing instead. “I overheard yer conversation with Isabel this morning.”
He swore and rubbed a hand over his face. “All of it?”
“A fair bit. Tell me wot she was tae ye, Erik.”
She watched as pain flickered into his expression. “I dinnae know if ye want tae hear that story, lass.”
Finley did something she thought she would never do. She wrapped her arms around his taut waist and pressed her cheek to his chest, reveling in his warmth. “Tell me, Erik.”
She felt him shudder in her arms before his own arms slid around her, pulling her tight. “I dinnae know if I want tae tell ye wot she did tae me,” he said softly, resting his chin on her head. Even though she was a tall woman, Erik towered over her still. “But I loved her, Finley. I gave her everything. She helped me through mah darkest times, through mah da’s beatings, and mah mam’s drinking. Her da, he wasnae a Scot that was kind either, and we took solace in each other.” Erik drew in a breath. “She became someone special tae me, someone I couldnae live without.”
Finley felt the spark of emotion in her throat as she listened to his soft words, wondering what it would be like to have Erik care for her in the manner he had cared for Isabel. She imagined that when Erik cared, he cared greatly, and Isabel had no doubt broken his heart.
“Her da killed her mam,” he continued, his voice soft. “I had already told her that I would take care of her, protect her from him, but he got himself thrown into the dungeon instead, and she, well, she decided she wanted more out of life than I could give her.”
What could Isabel have wanted that Erik couldn’t give her? “Wot does she want now?” Finley asked instead, her voice muffled by his tunic.
Erik sighed. “She wants protection. She claims that her husband is beating on her.”
Finley lifted her head then to meet his eyes. “Claims?”
“I dinnae know whether tae believe her or not,” he answered honestly. “I saw the bruises.”
She could see the conflict in his eyes and knew that this was hard for him. Isabel had been his love at one time, and while Finley had never experienced love before, she knew that some would do anything for those that they loved.
“Wot are ye going tae do?” she asked softly, not releasing his gaze. “I mean aboot Isabel.”
Erik stepped away from Finley, and she felt the loss of his arms around her immediately. “I will figure something out,” he said, his jaw now clenched as he refused to meet her eyes. “I beg ye tae keep this between us until I do.”
“But this is mah clan,” she replied, wrapping her arms around her waist to fight off the loss of Erik’s touch. “We need tae tell mah aunt.”
“I will,” he bit out. “When the timing is right. Leave it be, Finley. Please.”
She didn’t want to. If what he was saying was true, no matter if Isabel was telling the truth or not, she needed Erik to back her up on her claims to her aunt, and he was refusing to do so. “I will give ye a day or so,” she finally stated, deciding to compromise. “Then I wilnae take nay for an answer.”
“Fine,” Erik said.
Finley drew in a breath. “I am not out tae hurt ye, Erik.”
He gave her a tight nod. “I know, Finley. I have tae go.”
She didn’t try to stop him, watching as he stalked off and out of sight. She wasn’t so certain what had happened between them, but what was for certain was that her bloody feelings had grown by leaps and bounds with Erik sharing something so private.
Now she would have to protect him from the woman that he had loved, the woman that could pull him back into whatever plans she had by being here now that Erik was here as well.
Did Isabel still love Erik? Finley didn’t know, but she was going to find out quickly.
