“I care fer ye,” he said quietly.
The words were spoken without hesitation. He leaned slightly closer.
“Dae ye feel the same, Elaina?”
The question hung between them. Elaina felt as though the entire world had narrowed to that single moment and to the man sitting only inches from her. She had tried to resist this. She reminded herself that trusting a man had once ruined her mother’s life.
But the truth had already escaped her and there was no taking it back.
Her breath trembled again. “Aye.” The word came out barely louder than a whisper.
That single moment felt like an entire lifetime. Then, he lifted his hand. His fingers brushed beneath her chin, warm and steady despite the rain that had soaked them both not long before. The touch was gentle, almost hesitant, as though he were giving her time to pull away.
But Elaina did not move. He tilted her face upward just enough that their eyes met again. Then he leaned closer. The distance between them disappeared slowly, as though neither wished to rush the moment. Elaina could feel the warmth of his breath against her lips before they even touched.
When they did, the kiss was soft. It was so gentle at first that it felt almost like a question. His lips brushed against hers carefully, lingering for a heartbeat as though waiting for her to change her mind.
Elaina did not. Instead, she leaned into him. The movement was small, instinctive, but it deepened the kiss in a way that sent warmth rushing through her entire body. Duncan’s hand remained beneath her chin, steadying her as though she were something precious he feared might slip away. His thumb brushed lightly along the edge of her jaw as the kiss lingered, slow and tender.
It was nothing like the reckless passion she had imagined kisses to be. It was soft and filled with a quiet intensity that made her heart race. Elaina felt her fingers clutch lightly at the fabric of his shirt, still damp from the rain, as though the contact was the only thing keeping her grounded.
The storm outside seemed very far away now. All she could feel was the warmth of him and the impossible, overwhelming certainty that nothing in her life had ever felt so right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The next morning felt different.
Elaina noticed it the moment she stepped into the courtyard, though nothing had truly changed. The sky was the same pale gray-blue of early morning, the air crisp with the promise of another long day, but something between them had shifted, quiet and unspoken.
She saw him before he spoke. Duncan stood near the horses, already prepared and already composed, as if the night before had not unraveled something between them. Yet when his eyes found hers, there was a flicker there, something that stole her breath away.
“Are ye ready?” he asked. As always, his voice was grounded.
Elaina nodded, adjusting her cloak more out of habit than necessity. “Aye.”
They walked side by side toward the horses, their shoulders almost brushing, but neither daring to close the distance nor widen it. Elaina was acutely aware of him, of the warmth of his presence and of the way his hand hovered for the briefest moment near her waist as he helped her mount, as if he had to remind himself not to linger.
Their eyes met again. A small smile tugged at his lips. She returned it before she could stop herself.
And just like that, the silence between them filled not with words, but with something unspoken, something that lingered in every glance, every fleeting touch and every breath shared too closely.
The ride into the village passed quietly. Elaina kept her gaze forward, but she could feel his attention on her, just as hers betrayed her more than once. She caught herself looking at him when she thought he wouldn’t notice, only to find his eyes already on her.
Each time, one of them would look away first. Each time, a small smile followed. It should have felt awkward. Instead, it felt…delicate, as if they were both afraid that speaking too much might break whatever had begun to form between them.
The market was already alive when they arrived.
Voices overlapped in a constant hum of merchants calling out their wares and villagers bartering. The shuffle of movement was weaving through narrow paths between stalls. The scent of freshbread, herbs, and livestock filled the air, grounding Elaina in the familiarity of her purpose.
For a moment, she almost forgot everything else. Duncan helped her down from the horse and she could feel his hands firm at her waist, lingering just a heartbeat longer than necessary.
Her breath hitched. When she looked up at him, he was already watching her. She could see that same tenderness in his eyes, and then, just a moment later, it was gone.
“Ye’ll be escorted,” he said, and his tone was more distant now, more… laird than man.
Elaina felt it immediately. The space between them returned. Before she could question it, he gestured toward one of his guards, who stepped forward and took position beside her.
“There are things I need tae look intae,” Duncan continued. His voice was calm and reassuring, but she could sense a slight tension in there. “Ye are safe here. Ye’ll well protected.”
