Page 20 of Highlander’s Evil Twin

He seemed sincere but she couldn’t believe it. “No harm done, but I need to find Hiram, he is expecting me.” She hobbled over to her horse, who was waiting patiently for her, and tried to haul herself up but her muscles were bruised and stiff from her fall.

“Here.” Connor held out his hand and pushed her up as she took the weight through her leg.

She nodded to him and then turned the horse and began to head towards her destination. Connor watched her go, wondering why he hadn’t just taken her. He could have done it. There was no one around for miles. Hiram would never have made it here on time. She had been his for the taking. He felt his desire begin to course through him again. Even now, he could pull her down from the horse...did he want to do that? He shook his head in confusion. He didn’t know what he wanted. That was the trouble. He wanted her but he enjoyed the chase more. Sighing, Connor moved back over to his horse and patted him on the neck before swinging his body agilely up onto the saddle. He watched Heather moving further away from him and reluctantly turned his horse in the other direction and made his way slowly back to the castle.

10

“He didn’t touch you did he?” Hiram was aghast that Connor had chased after her.

“Only to help me get up actually,” she admitted. “He doesn’t seem to understand personal space though.” She remembered his hot breath against her skin.

“What did he want?”

“Apparently, to say sorry. He said he had been giving Shadow a good run and chased me. But he admitted he often gets things wrong and he did back off when he realized I was feeling uncomfortable.”

“Maybe he has learned.”

Hiram thought for a moment, wondering if there was the potential for his brother to change. He wanted to think that was the case but, deep down, his gut told him otherwise. They were back in their quarters, a large bedroom with an adjoining bathroom and sitting room with a large comfortable sofa. Most of the time they were together there, they simply went to bed and talked, or made love. Hiram grinned. They didn’t need a huge castle to be happy, they just needed a giant bed.

“What are you thinking?” she asked quizzically as she stepped out of her clothes.

“Oh,” Hiram breathed heavily. “That's quite a bruise.” He pointed to her hip, thigh, and bottom with a purple mass that was still formulating.

“It hurt...a lot. Not just to my physical self but my pride too. Still, no long-term harm done.”

Slipping into her gown, Heather climbed onto the bed, wrapping one leg around Hiram’s, and molded her body to his shape. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and she nestled against his warmth.

“I am glad you weren’t hurt and that Connor wasn’t deliberately trying to frighten you this time. I just don’t understand him. I wish he would just go and then, we could get on with our lives. He’s done so much damage to this family.”

“I think it is time you told me,” she stated simply. “I want to know more about your life.”

Hiram sighed. “Connor was the one that everyone adored. I was the quiet, studious one and as a result, I missed out on a lot of attention. It wasn’t until my fight with Connor the other day that I realized it wasn’t me who had something missing in life, it was him. He was doted on, adored, loved. But he is not complete. Something is broken inside, damaged. He needs that attention. He believes he can take whatever he wants. He knows that others will cover up for him.”

“In what way?”

“He was seeing a girl from the nearby village. Pretty little thing, quite sweet. She really liked him and I thought, well, we all thought he liked her too. At least, he did until he realized she liked him. His reasoning changed. He demanded sex. When she said she wasn’t ready, he took what he wanted.”

Heather gasped. “He raped her?”

“She said so. She was certainly shaken. But, he refuted it. Said it must have been someone else. Apparently, it was dark, and he felt she had made it all up to cover up for her infidelity. Mother even asked me if I would take the blame. I, of course, said no.”

Heather sat up. “Your mother wanted you to be blamed for raping someone? What sort of mother is she?”

“One only capable of loving one son, it would seem.” Hiram seemed matter-of-fact about it.

“Why was he sent away?”

“That was father’s doing. He’d had enough. He was appalled by the way Connor was acting and equally appalled that mother had this needy, clingy infatuation with him.” Hiram shrugged. “But now of course, I must be strong and make the decisions. It won’t always be easy.”

Heather realized that Hiram’s mother was completely blinded by her love for Connor. She couldn’t see him for the vile creature he really was. She had convinced herself otherwise. Connor could do just about anything in front of her and she would cover it up.

“Let’s forget about him. He’s a dark cloud on the horizon. A blot on the landscape. But we are perfect, here, in this room. Just us against the world.”

Heather laughed. “We are rather perfect aren’t we?”

“Even more so, if you would see to the needs of your husband sometimes,” Hiram teased and pulled her into his lap, kissing her deeply. His hands roamed over her breasts and he played with her nipples, lowering his mouth, sucking on them both in turn. She moaned and ran her fingers through his hair.

He licked a clear path to her sex. She moaned as she thought of what was about to happen. Hiram licked her some more until she screamed his name.