Page 54 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

He felt her shift beside him, turning onto her side. For a moment, he thought she might move closer. But she remained on her side of the bed, maintaining the careful distance between them.

"David?" Her voice was barely a whisper now.

"Aye?"

"I think I might like being married to you. Eventually."

Despite his exhaustion, despite the heavy weight of the day, David smiled into the darkness.

"Eventually sounds about right," he murmured. "Sleep, Elinor."

He heard her breathing slow, evening out into the rhythm of sleep. But he remained awake a while longer, staring at the ceiling, thinking about morning sunlight and windows facing east and a woman who'd been kept in the dark for far too long.

She deserves better, Better than what her faither gave her. Better than what I can probably give her.

But I'll try anyway.

Finally, as exhaustion claimed him, David let his eyes close. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges—introducing Elinor to more of the clan, beginning preparations for the Cèilidh, managing the hundred small crises that came with running a Highland stronghold.

But for that night, in that moment, there was just this: a woman sleeping safely in his bed, wrapped in blankets, dreaming perhaps of rooms with windows facing east.