Page 48 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“I’m glad I could warm ye up,” he said as she smiled and shook her head.

“I didnae expect ye tae warm me like that.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Scarlett awoke with a blanket wrapped around her. She noticed sunlight filtering through the cottage window. The storm had passed through overnight, leaving blue sky above. However, that was not the source of her warmth.

Turning her head, she found Noah asleep next to her, one arm slung around her waist, his lips parted in slumber.

Thinking of what they did the night before, Scarlett's heart thudded in her chest. It thrilled and excited her beyond her wildest dreams. The overwhelming sensation had left her satiated and sleepy.

Never have I kent such a feeling before.

“Keep looking at me like that and I will do it again,” Noah said hungrily, making her laugh.

“I thought ye slept!” she exclaimed, sitting up.

A lazy smile spread across his face.

“The sun is out,” she reported. All at once, his expression changed. The smile was gone, and he frowned. He stood abruptly, reaching for his clothes by the hearth.

“If the sun is out, then we can return tae the castle.” He hurried to pull his shirt over his head. “If those men are still searching for us, they will find us quicker in the daylight. We must go.” He didn’t even turn away as he dropped the plaid tartan from his waist to snatch up his trews.

Scarlett was distracted, noting the size of his manhood. Her mouth went dry as her mind began to wonder about lying with a man. Now knowing what it felt like to be pleasured by a man felt like, she wondered what truly being with Noah would be like. The sheer size of him made her breathless, making her wonder if she could ever accommodate him properly.

“Scarlett!” he said urgently. She stood, and wiggled into her chemise and gown, keeping her back to Noah the whole time. She supposed she didn’t need to be embarrassed in front of him, not after what they did the night before. However, his sharp manner this morning made her conscious all the same, and she was loath to face him.

Once dressed, she found Noah had banked the first and was already outside. He’d brought the horses round and saddled them, ready to go. Scarlett hurried to follow.

“We’ll take an underused path toward the castle. It’s a narrow one, so ye will have tae stay close tae me.”

“I’m a strong rider,” she reminded him. She expected that glimmer of his smile to show through again, but it didn’t.

Where did this coldness come from?

He kicked lightly at his horse and took off in a fast gallop, so quick that Scarlett scrambled to keep up. Scarlett glanced back and forth for possible trouble as they wound their way through the trees to the path he spoke of.

Now her body was tight and nervous this morning, and she was more aware of the pain in her arm. It ached, and though the tourniquet had helped, she was still uncomfortable.

I need a healer as soon as possible.

They took the narrow path out of the forest, constantly searching for any sign of the cloaked men, but they never reappeared. Only when they left the forest and rode across the open estate did Noah slow up and look back at her.

Still, he was cold toward her all the way to the castle.

‘Tis as if nothing happened at all last night.

Scarlett felt nauseous, thinking of the maid whom she saw fleeing Noah’s chamber. She began to understand what that night meant to him. Where she’d seen it as the culmination of their enjoyment together, he most likely saw it as just a distraction with another woman.

As their horses pulled up at the castle, he jumped and thrust the reins at the stable boy. The steward and others working at the castle stopped in the courtyard, staring at the hasty arrival of the laird and Scarlett. They began to whisper, and she flinched at their gossip.

“I need tae speak tae the council at once,” Noah called back to her before issuing orders to his steward. “Have the council prepared. There was an attack on Lady Eloise yesterday.”

“Of course, my laird. At once.” The steward hurried off to carry out the order.

“Scarlett?” Noah was halfway up the stone steps that led to the door of the keep when he seemed to remember and looked back. “Ye need the healer. Her name is Callie. Ye will find her in the east wing tower.” He turned and left her at the bottom of the keep steps.

She felt cold, bereft and empty, her heart thudding slowly in her chest.