Page 37 of Savage Kilted Highlander

But as when he annihilated the brigands, Bane seemed to enter a heightened state. He did not defend himself but attacked them with a calm, controlled ferocity, his movements as well-oiled and lethal as a war machine as he shoved, kicked, smashed, slashed, stabbed, while deftly dodging their blows. His razor-sharp blades flashed as he advanced up on them, giving no quarter. Constance watched in awe as his enemies’ blood flowed, and the pile of twitching bodies surrounding him grew higher. The clash of metal on metal rang through the forest as his foes fell one by one under his onslaught, until there were none left standing… except Lord Ashbourne himself.

It seemed to take Lord Ashbourne several moments to realize what had happened to his soldiers, who now lay either dead or mortally wounded on the ground, mired in their own blood and guts. He looked both stunned and furious as he glared at first Bane and then Constance. A grim-faced Bane, covered with gore, his blades dripping red, stepped towards him, clearly intending to finish the job. Panicked, Lord Ashbourne viciously heeled his horse and cantered away, not stopping until he felt sure he had put a safe distance between himself and Bane.

Bane halted, while Lord Ashbourne turned his horse and shook his fist at Constance. “This is not over, you little fool. This barbarian cannot protect you from me forever. You are not going to cost me everything that marrying the earl will bring me! I will get you back, and you will marry him, I tell you. Wherever you hide, I shall be back to find you!” With that, he turned his horse again and galloped off, disappearing into the trees.

As soon as he had gone, Constance rushed to Bane’s side, overwhelmed by worry for him. “Oh, Bane, are you all right? No, you are injured again!” she cried, turning him around, lifting his arms, examining him all over and noticing blood coming from several cuts to his forearms and wrists.

“’Tis only a few nicks, naethin’ serious,” he assured her, cooly wiping his blades on one of the fallen men’s uniforms and then sheathing them.

“Nevertheless, they need tending to,” she insisted, resting her hand on his chest and looking up into his eyes. “Thank you for saving me once again, Bane. I do not know how you did that, but I am very grateful that you did.” As she spoke, the true depth of her feelings for him overwhelmed her and she could hide it no longer.

“Bane, I have no desire to return to England, or to go anywhere,” she confessed, “not if it means leaving you behind.”

In reply, he simply enfolded her in his arms, drawing her close to his chest and resting his chin on the top of her head. She slipped her arms around his waist, holding him as tightly as she dared without hurting his side, breathing in the comforting scent of musk and fresh sweat.

“And I dinnae want ye tae go anywhere without me, Constance,” he murmured, his deep voice reverberating through her as she thrilled to feel his lips brush her hair in a gentle kiss. She tilted her face upwards and caressed his face before rising onto her tiptoes and pressing her lips to his. Their kiss was tender and delicate, a seal of their shared love in adversity.

“Come, let us find shelter so I can tend to your injuries,” she told him, finally pulling away a little but keeping within the circle of his arms.

“Aye, there’s a wee deserted cottage nearby in the forest I have camped in before. We should go there.”

They fetched the horses and made their way back into the forest, taking a trail that branched off from the main track and eventually led them to a broken down, deserted woodman’s cottage, sheltered by tress and overgrown by foliage. Constance wasted no time in settling Bane on a blanket on the floor before she set about boiling up water and ripping off more of her petticoat to clean his fresh injuries.

“I think I should also check the one on your side as well. It may have opened up again,” she said.

“Is that yer way of gettin’ me tae take me clothes off again?” he asked with a smirk, giving her a heated glance as he started to undo his jerkin.

This time, Constance did not blush but said teasingly as she smiled back. “How did you guess? Oh, do let me help you with that.” Concerned for him but excited all the same at the prospect of seeing his magnificent body unclothed once more, she helped him out of the jerkin, then his padded leather vest, and finally, pulled his shirt off over his head.

A flame of desire kindled within her once more at the sight of his powerful, muscular physique, but mindful of the importance of her task she quelled it as she knelt by his side. Carefully but thoroughly, she cleaned each one of the injuries, conscious of his eyes upon her the whole time. But this time, she did not hesitate to lay her hands upon his naked skin, marvelling at the smooth, whiteness of it and the complex interplay of muscle beneath.

Feeling bold, wanting to show her care for him as well as her gratitude for saving her from her stepfather, each time she finished with one, she pressed a tiny, butterfly kiss to it, and was thrilled to see Bane’s smile. When she had finished to her satisfaction, feeling quite proud of herself, she gently lifted his arm and inspected the wound in his side. “Hmm, that is healing nicely. And thankfully, none of the recent ones seem serious.”

When she had put aside the makeshift cloths and emptied out the bloody water from the pan once more, Bane caught her hand in his and, gazing at her intently, turned it over and gently kissed her palm. Tingles raced across her skin at his touch. “Thank ye, Constance.”

“Thank you, Bane,” she said, his praise making her feel absurdly happy, while his heated look set her heart racing.

“Now, come here,” he said hoarsely, pulling her by her waist towards him and folding her in his arms. He held her against his naked chest and lifted her hair aside before gently kissing her birthmark.

“I love that wee spot,” he murmured, trailing tiny kisses along her neck and throat until she was dizzy with excitement and desire. And when his lips took possession of hers, she put her arms around his neck and abandoned herself to heavenly bliss.