Page 21 of Wicked Kilted Highlander

"My brother, Quinn, once convinced me tae sneak intae our neighbor's orchard tae steal apples," Lara recounted, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "We got caught, of course, but we couldnae stop laughing as we scarpered away."

Darragh's eyes softened, and a hint of a smile graced his rugged features.

"Yer family sounds wonderful," he murmured.

"Indeed, it is," Lara replied gently, her fingers brushing against his skin as she tied the final knot on his bandage. "I miss them dearly and I'm grateful for the childhood I had." She looked up at him, her eyes seeking to pierce the shadows she sensed surrounded his heart. "And I'm grateful for ye, Darragh. I’d have rotted to death in that room if ye hadn’t found me."

The half-moon had risen, throwing its cold, silvery hue over them. The air hung heavy with the scent of earth and heather, wrapping around Lara and Darragh like a comforting embrace. Their eyes met, lingering in a moment of unspoken vulnerability.

"Ye ken," Darragh began, his voice low and hesitant, "I've got siblings too. A brother and a sister." He took a shaky breath, as if preparing to dive into the depths of his memories. " They're everything tae me."

She brushed her fingertips against his hand, encouraging him to continue.

"My sister, Lilly, she was… she was taken from us, much like yerself, as I already told ye," he confessed, the weight of his pain evident in the tremor of his voice. "That's why I couldnae turn away when I found ye. I wanted tae help ye, give ye the chance my sister had too."

She clutched Darragh's hand more tightly, empathy and compassion surging within her.

"Yer a good man, Darragh," she whispered, her voice trembling as her emotions stirred deep within her. She didn’t know if it was all the time she’d spent locked away or the fact that Darragh was the man who had saved her, but in just over a day, he had become one of the most important people in her life, someone she relied on.

As they shared their stories, Lara discovered a connection between them that transcended time itself—a bond forged in the fires of tragedy she now was certain Darragh had been burned by, just as she had. He was no stranger to sadness.

She couldn't help but steal surreptitious glances at Darragh as he tended to the horse, his muscular form outlined by the light from the fire. She had never observed him from so close, with the opportunity to truly examine the intricate tapestry of scars covering his otherwise flawless skin.

"Ye neednae hide yer curiosity," Darragh said suddenly, breaking her reverie, and she blushed, realizing she'd been caught staring. He met her gaze with a mixture of embarrassment and resignation, as if he were bracing himself for the disgust he expected her to feel.

"Yer scars… they dinnae bother me if that what ye’re thinking," she whispered, her voice mixing with the gentle rustle of the leaves above them. "Nae in the way ye probably think they should."

Darragh arched an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her response. "Is that so?"

She nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself before reaching out a tentative hand to trace the lines on his arm. "Each one tells a story, I imagine," she mused, her fingertips dancing across the raised flesh. "A story of survival, and of fighting for what ye believe in."

"What about you? What stories do you have to tell?" he asked, staring into her eyes.

Lara's cheeks flushed at the gentle teasing in his voice. She hadn't intended to focus solely on him, but the depth of their conversation had taken them on an unexpected journey. Now, it was time for her to open up as well.

"Well," she started, her voice slightly hesitant, "I may nae have physical scars like yers, but I carry the scars of loss and heartache deep within me. My family was torn apart by tragedy, and I've had tae find me own strength in the face of adversity."

Darragh's expression changed, his gaze filled with empathy. "I'm sorry for what ye've had tae endure, Lara. It takes great strength tae persevere through such hardships."

"Thank ye," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "But like ye, I believe that our scars, both those we carry on the inside and on the outside, dinnae define us.”

His breath hitched as her fingers brushed against a particularly nasty scar just below his collarbone, and she paused, looking up at him with concern. "Did I hurt ye?"

"Nay, lass," he replied, his voice husky. "Yer touch…it is just that it's so gentle, unlike anything these scars have felt before."

Lara smiled softly, encouraged by his words. As she continued her exploration, her fingers mapping the contours of his body, she couldn't help but marvel at the strength and resilience that lay beneath his battered exterior. "When I look at ye, Darragh, I dinnae see someone broken or damaged. I see a warrior who has fought bravely for his family and his people."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "And yet, it took ye time tae look past all this," he said, gesturing to his scars.

"I'm glad tae have been able tae do that," Lara replied, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. She felt his heart beating steadily beneath her palm, a steady and reassuring rhythm.

He reached out to cup her face in his hands. "Thank ye, Lara," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "For seeing me as I truly am, and nae just the sum of me scars."

"I like who ye are," she whispered, her blue eyes shining with sincerity as she leaned into his touch.

"Ye ken," Darragh began tentatively, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. "Many others have seen me scars before, but none have ever reacted to them the way ye have. Most people are afraid of me." His voice was laced with vulnerability, and he refused to meet her gaze.

Lara felt an unexpected pang in her chest at the mention of him being with other women, and she wondered why it should cause her any discomfort. It wasn't as if she had any claim on him, nor he on her. She had known him for no more than two days! Still, she couldn't deny the warmth that blossomed deep within her at the realization that she was unique in his eyes.