Page 30 of Trapped By the Exiled Bastard

He kissed her lightly. “Yer wish is me command,” he told her. He glanced behind her and saw a familiar jacket hanging from the bedpost. Smiling slightly, he reached over her head and unhooked it, then drew it over her shoulders before arranging the bedcovers over them both.

They lay like that, lost in each other’s comfort, for what felt like an eternity. At long last, Keir felt that he should speak.

“Elin?” he whispered.

He was met with only the soft, steady breathing of sleep. Smiling, he held her close and closed his own eyes.

For the first time in over a decade, Keir MacKenzie slept in peace.

14

Elin woke the next morning to the sound of birdsong and Keir’s gentle breathing in her ear. She shivered with delight as the events of the night before, her body satisfied and relaxed despite the fact she had refused the physical pleasure in return. She’d heard herself called a whore or a pet so many times that part of her had been broken, and she’d almost started to believe it. Now, though, as she turned her head to look into Keir’s face, she knew the truth. She was not broken. She was capable of making the kind of choices she’d spent so long denying herself, and she was ready to take back her life.

“All thanks tae ye,” she whispered.

Keir’s eyes fluttered open. He seemed surprised for just a moment, then his expression relaxed into a slow, lazy smile. “Good mornin’,” he said. “What did ye say?”

“Good mornin’,” she replied, her heart so full at the sound of her voice she could have almost cried from joy. “And it doesnae matter.” She paused, then, daringly, bent down to peck his lips. He smiled against her and pulled her close into a short but deep kiss.

When she surfaced again, Elin’s cheeks were tinged pink. She felt unaccountably shy, which was new to her—she had never allowed herself coyness or shyness before. There had been no space nor time for it. But when Keir slipped out of bed and began to dress, she averted her eyes despite the silliness of doing so.

He laughed a little. “Ye’ve seen it all already,” he reminded her.

“I ken,” she replied, still looking away. “But allow me tae be polite. It’s new tae me.”

“As ye wish,” he teased.

Was this what it was to be…in love? She barely dared think it, but it felt so different from anyone before, even Eamon. Especially Eamon. All she knew for sure was that she wanted to wake up at Keir’s side every day from now on, and all she wanted was to be sure that he felt the same way.

At last, the haze broke with a knock at the door. A now fully-dressed Keir winked at Elin and made his way over to let the visitor inside. Briana stood there with a tray upon which were two hunks of bread, some cheese, and a little leftover dried meat. She caught Elin’s eye and a knowing smile unfolded on her face, though she didn’t say anything.

“Good mornin’,” Keir said, instantly with that same gruff voice that always came out when he was speaking to Briana. He looked at the floor, avoiding her gaze. Knowing now the truth of where his behavior came from, Elin’s heart broke a little for him.

“Good mornin’ tae ye both. I brought breakfast. Nothin’ warm, I’m afraid; the camp is too wet and torn up after the storm tae even attempt a cookfire,” Briana replied. She handed Keir the tray. “Theon and Noah are workin’ on the cleanup now, and Graeme’s gone tae see what he can charm the locals intae sharin’ for our midday meal. Theon suggested ye might wish tae take the mornin’ tae yerselves since ye cannae do yer usual trainin’ or whatever it is ye do up there on the grounds.”

Keir bristled. “Why would he think we’d want that?” he demanded, and Elin had to hold back a laugh at his automatic but needless defensiveness. Clearly, their secret was not as secretive as they had both believed. Elin didn’t know how she felt about that, but it was sweet to see Keir so worked up about it.

Briana just smiled that same smile again. “Whatever ye please,” she said. She nodded to Elin, then she left, closing the door behind her.

With a grunt, Keir placed the tray down on the bed, and the two of them sat together quietly, just enjoying each other’s company as they ate. She resisted the urge to tease him for his defensiveness, and besides, he distracted her well enough with little kisses and compliments that she soon forgot all about it. When she was done eating, she leaned against his chest and he put his arm around her shoulders. It felt so natural that it was like they had been doing this same thing their entire lives.

“Ye ken,” she said idly, “There is somethin’ I’ve been thinkin’ about doin’. Something I didnae think I’d get a chance tae do. But maybe ye’d be willin’ tae take me, now that I’m nae a prisoner anymore?”

“Take ye where?” Keir asked, his fingers dancing in her hair.

“Aberholme. Ye ken, me old home near Loch Aber. It’s where ye found me in the Greyhorn that day. The first time ye saved me.”

“When I kidnapped ye, ye mean,” Keir laughed. “Ye can say it. I’m a monster.”

She smacked his chest lightly. “Stop that. Ye did save me that day, and ye’ve saved me so many times since.”

He lightly kissed her forehead. “Well, ye’ve returned the favor. Aye, of course I’ll take ye tae yer home. Where in Aberholme did ye live?”

Elin hesitated. She knew how silly it was to hide behind her pride after everything, but it had been her one secret, the one that only Eamon had known. “Well…technically I lived in a wee row of farmhouses outside the town. Aberholme is still looked after by the Grants because it’s a favorite place for the soldiers tae go, and Eamon convinced me tae make it look like I lived there as it was a respectable place for his lover tae come from. But…”

Keir’s arm tightened around her. “Ye lived in the abandoned village I passed on me way to the loch?”

“It’s nae abandoned. Just… empty. The funds were taken from us and poured intae the town, but the poor and the desperate still come tae the cottages and farmhouses tae at least have a roof over their heads. Me landlord was fair and me rent affordable on the allowance Eamon gave me, so I stayed,” Elin said with a shrug. “And if anyone asked, I said I was livin’ in Aberholme. It was less embarrassin’ that way.” And, though she didn’t say it, the nameless little village reminded her more of her first home in Bancraig. It wasn’t a comfort, but it was familiarity. It was easy.