Page 38

“ A re ye well, husband?” Mabel asked, running up to him.

Her heart had been pounding since they had crossed into McCormick lands after hearing how Darragh had caused Aidan and sweet Layla’s deaths. But seeing her husband now, relief flooded through her.

Her breath caught in her chest, however, when she laid eyes on him in the moonlight.

He looked ethereal. She had thought him handsome before, but now he looked glorious in his ripped shirt and kilt.

Blood stained his face and garments, and the metallic tang of it, though it nauseated her, stirred her desire.

Her husband was no gentle laird. He was a battle-ready creature to be feared, and her heart stuttered as she spotted his grandfather’s men quivering behind him. He was so strong and looked as unmovable as a mountain.

It was still hard to believe that she had married such a beautiful man. Her mouth went dry when she saw his lips curl into a soft smile.

She worried her lip as she watched him, his hair messy and matted, but then froze when she saw the red patch on his side. She rushed to him and pressed a hand to the spot, her eyes widening when he winced.

“Husband,” she gasped, lifting her eyes to his. “Ye’re injured.”

“‘Tis only a scratch. Dinnae worry,” he told her. “Why are ye here? ‘Tis too late for ye to be outside the castle and too cold. Why are ye without a cloak? Do ye want to catch yer death?”

Of course, he would worry for her when he was the one who had nearly fought an army and was now bleeding.

His concern for her was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him, and it amazed her to see that while he was injured, he still worried about her.

“How could ye expect me to stay back and stew in me worry?” she countered.

“Talia told me everything that happened with yer braither and Layla. I cannae… I cannae believe he is responsible for their deaths. I just… I couldnae help but fear he would hurt ye and the boys. I kenned ye would need the men. I only hoped I would come in time, but I see me worry was unfounded.”

That had been her only concern when she had run to his man-at-arms to inform him of the danger her husband was in, and had been her way of convincing the men to let her come along.

They had ridden slower than they would have because she was with them, and all the while her heart had soared for the loyalty they showed to her as well.

While she had been worried about finding Campbell hurt or in danger, she had also been grateful that she had been accepted by his men.

“And ye came? Even though ye kenned ye would be in danger?” he asked, his expression unfathomable. “Yer worry is well founded, but I cannae understand why ye would risk yerself when ye could have let the men come on their own.”

His lovely eyes were ablaze with emotion that winded her and stole whatever pretenses she could have put up in front of him. Warmth spread through her, and her heart soared with emotion. She felt naked before him, as though he could see into the depths of her being, and she didn’t care.

Her love for him had her forgetting any fear she would have felt speaking to his men. Had her ready for battle if the need had arisen.

“I couldnae keep meself from alerting yer men,” she told him, fisting her hands in his shirt. “I didnae want ye any more hurt than ye have been. Aidan and Layla couldnae have been saved, but I wanted to protect ye. Yer grandfaither was?—”

“I have put an end to his threat,” he interrupted, his voice as cold as ice.

Emotions flitted across his face, and even though she was relieved that their little family was finally safe, she knew it could not have been an easy thing to do. Darragh had been an unpleasant, evil man, but he was family, nonetheless.

“It must nae have been an easy task,” Mabel murmured, lifting a hand to her husband’s face. “I am sorry ye had to be the one to do it.”

He kissed her palm and cupped her face in his hand. Her cheeks flushed at the intimacy of the gesture, knowing well that his men were present.

“I am nae,” he sighed, his eyes softening. “I wanted to make sure that ye and the boys willnae live in fear of him again. I already warned him to stay away from me clan. This was a fair judgment.”

She nodded in understanding.

“Is that why ye brought the entire clan?” he asked with a teasing smile.

Her face heated further, and she hid it in his chest, not knowing what pushed her to be so bold.

“I worried that he would hurt ye and…”

His arms went around her, and she didn’t mind the stains the blood would leave on her dress. Her only concern was how hard her heart was pounding as he held her in his arms.

“Me brave little wife,” he murmured into her hair. “Ye were worried about me.”

“Aye,” she answered honestly, sagging into his hold.

His scent was comforting, chasing away the chill that had plagued her as she rode through the Highlands after him.

“Ye are me husband.”

“I am most fortunate to have a wife who cares for me the way ye do,” he sighed. “I thank ye, Mabel.”

She lifted her eyes to his at the emotion in his voice. This would be the first time he had said her name, and the sound on his lips was more beautiful than anything she had ever heard.

How was she to stop loving this man when even the mere breath he took around her had her falling deeper for him?

Her eyes searched his, just as his eyes searched hers, flicking briefly to her lips and then back to her eyes.

For a second, she wondered if he would kiss her.

Campbell was filled with emotion like he had never experienced before. He watched the beautiful woman in his arms, unable to understand why she had put herself in danger for a man so undeserving.

He knew she was reserved, especially with strangers, but she had spoken to his men and had them riding by her side to save him.

He had realized her courage when she had ridden across the Highlands to get to the boys, and now she had done it again just because she worried for him.

He couldn’t understand why she thought that he, who men feared, would need protection when he had done nothing but reject her heart time and again.

He knew she loved him, and he had stayed away, knowing he was to blame. Yet he had struggled to keep the distance between them. He was always drawn to her, even when he knew he should stay away.

Admiration for her blossomed in his chest as he looked at her. His woman, his wife.

She had stolen his heart in bits and pieces with her selflessness and beauty. She owned his heart, but he had been too damn stubborn to admit it. Now, he knew his heart was fully hers.

Seeing her now in his arms, clinging to him as though he were something to be cherished and loved, he could no longer hold back his feelings.

“Ye dinnae have to thank me, husband,” she said with a smile. “I was only doing me duty.”

“Ye didnae have to come,” he reminded her, staring into expressive green eyes that told him every word he had already heard her lips say. “Ye could have been in the castle, warm and protected, yet ye rode here in the cold. Nay one would have faulted ye for staying.”

She beamed at him, looking beautiful in the moonlight. His men and Darragh’s faded to the background as he watched her lips.

He wanted to kiss his pretty wife and tell her he loved her, and he wanted to do it now, among other things. His body stirred as she leaned into him, her hand on his abdomen.

Instantly, the wound on his side was forgotten, and the only pain he felt was between his thighs as his cock swelled with need for her.

“Me place is by yer side,” she declared firmly. “At yer side is where I shall stay.”

His heart soared again, and he cupped her face in his hands.

“I am most lucky to have earned yer loyalty,” he breathed. “And I am most fortunate that I get to love ye for the rest of me life.”

Her eyes went wide at his admission, but he didn’t want any words to ruin what he had planned.

He slanted his lips over hers, feeling as though he was finally taking the first breath after being underwater. He heard the uncomfortable shuffling of feet around them, but her moans egged him on and made him forget that they weren’t alone.

Now that he had confessed his feelings for her, he felt as though a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and all he wanted to do was sink into her warmth. Instead, he pulled back, smiling when she whimpered.

“Later, wife,” he whispered in her ear and turned to the men. “Find the boys.”

Magnus took over and ordered Darragh’s men to take him to the boys.

It was only then that Campbell became aware of the fact that he was still covered in blood. The boys might be frightened if they saw him in such a state.

“I should?—”

“Uncle Campbell!” they cried, rushing to them.

He could barely process what was happening before they launched themselves at him. He shared a look with his wife, who had tears in her eyes.

“Aunt Mabel!” they cried, turning to hug her as well.

She squeezed them tight, burying her face in their hair in turn, rubbing their backs as they cried.

Magnus stepped beside him and smiled at the scene. “Do ye want to sleep here, or do ye want to return to the castle?” he asked.

Campbell eyed McCormick Castle with all the disdain he could muster and shook his head. “Find a carriage in this Godforsaken place and prepare for our return home,” he instructed.

While it made more sense to stay and ensure they were all warm for the rest of the night, he itched to be rid of the remnants of his grandfather’s legacy.

His family was whole again, and he wanted to ensure they were in his home, warm and cared for, as soon as possible.

Magnus nodded and set about making preparations, and soon Campbell handed Mabel and the boys in a carriage and wrapped them in a blanket.

She gave him a grateful smile, but he saw a hint of desire in her gaze and winked. She lowered her eyes, which caused his smile to widen.

“Ye can flirt with yer wife later, Me Laird,” Magnus whispered behind him. “‘Tis freezin’ out here.”

Campbell glared at the man and closed the carriage door.

Yes, it was indeed time to return home.