Page 18 of Highlander’s Evil Twin

Self-consciously, he raised his fingers to the angry line, now puckered and raised as the wound began to heal itself. “I had forgotten about this for a moment.”

“Are you okay my love? You got this in battle? ” she asked tenderly.

“Connor.”

The word sent a ripple of fear down her spine. “He did this to you?”

“Brotherly love, you know.” He tried to smile but when he did so, the wound, taut across his cheek, made him flinch. “He will be leaving soon. That’s all you need to know.”

She suppressed her curiosity, knowing that Hiram did not want to talk about it just yet. She nestled into his arms and let the sunlight cast its healing spell over them.

“I am surprised to see you up and about. I was sure that I had exhausted you today.” His fingers dug deep into her shoulder as she squeezed her affectionately.

Heather’s eyes sparkled in reply. “I certainly was, and may I request that you do the same every single day?”

He reached across to kiss her lips. “My lady, I would be most honored.” He pulled her closer and kissed her fully, taking control of her lips, his tongue invading her mouth, teasing her. “Mmm. My wanton wife. What man could ask for more?”

“You could ask for more anytime you please.” She grinned at him.

“I will make it my life’s work to satisfy you.” He laughed with delight. “That day we met at our engagement party, I had no idea just how amazing you would be in the bedroom. I might have been tempted to whisk you away then, had I known.”

“I thought you were going to kiss me. Do you remember? You stared at me with such intent and I thought, desire.”

“Aye, I was. I was torn between being a gentleman and seducing you right there,” he admitted to her, and pulled her close. They sat in peaceful silence, looking over the distant hills where clouds scurried and threatened to dampen the greenness of the landscape.

“I love this place,” Hiram breathed. His eyes were dark, appreciative.

“Aye, it’s beautiful,” Heather admitted.

“I could never leave this place. It’s a part of me.”

“Do you think you might have to?” She frowned suddenly, sitting up to question him.

“Not me. Connor.”

She waited for him to share the details with her, aware that her heart was thumping beneath her ribs.

He drew in a deep breath. “The fight was bad. He pulled a knife on me.”

Heather gasped, her hand across her mouth in horror.

“It caught the side of my face but in that moment, he realized the craziness of the situation. He put the knife away and has since apologized. I realized something though. There is something wrong with him. Something missing. There is a madness. I think he inherited it from mother.”

“Your mother?”

“Oh yes, I believe Father kept her under control all these years. You have noticed that she is aloof with me but all over Connor?”

Heather recalled his mother’s rejection of him when he had announced that his father had died. She had thought it was just shock, but now...

“Mother has always been...difficult. Her love for Connor is overwhelming. Maybe she sees a part of herself in him, something that is not there in me. It used to hurt me so badly that I wasn’t loved as much. In fact, I had no idea what real love was until you came along.” He reached out and squeezed her hand.

“But your father…?”

“Oh yes, he was a strong, disciplined man, but his heart was in the right place. I think he loved mother, but he also knew that there was a side to her that he did not like. He controlled her which was a good thing and it was he who sent Connor away, but he had a lot of affection for me. I think I am quite like him.”

“From the little I saw of him, I think so too.” Heather breathed a sigh of relief. “He is someone that I could have respected. I see the same qualities in you. I am so glad you are the way you are. It is very sad for your mother if she cannot see you for the wonderful man you are. She is missing out. But know this Hiram...I have enough love to give you to make you feel like the most loved man in the world.” She paused, her fingers tracing the outline of his hand. “What would I have done if I had been married to Connor?” She shuddered visibly.

“I do not believe it would have happened. Father was a good man; he would have made sure Connor did not marry. You were chosen for many reasons. Beauty, personality, charm, and of course, that our union secures the future of both lands. Connor could never look after a woman. Father sent him away hoping it would act as a wake-up call that if he continued to misbehave then he would be cut off without a penny, or worse.”