Page 21 of A Wife for the Highland Villain (Breaking the Highland Rules #3)

He wanted to pull her close and silence her sharp tongue with his mouth. He wanted to explore every inch of her body and watch her face while he did so. But he wouldn’t. Not now. So he stayed still. His bride would never forgive him if he acted without restraint.

A cold drop landed on his face. Then another. His eyes flicked up to the sky, and at that moment, thunder cracked through the clouds. The wind picked up, and the heavens opened.

Lily looked up, the shock on her face evident. “It is raining.”

Alasdair looked straight at her. “Deciphered that rather quickly, did ye nae?” he drawled.

“But I thought?—”

Another thunderclap rent the air, and her mouth clamped shut. Then, her eyes shifted to the wound on Alasdair’s arm, and a mild groan escaped her lips.

“Of course. I tried everything to keep this wound dry, and now the blasted clouds must pour on us.”

He laughed under his breath. “Follow me, lassie. Scolding the clouds will get ye nowhere.”

She shot him a glare. “Ye think this is funny?”

He smiled and started forward. “Aye. Very.”

She muttered about the injustice of nature itself as he led her deeper into the woods, and soon they found a cave tucked against a ridge. The inside was dry and dark, and the stone floor was cool beneath their feet.

Lily set his arm on her lap again and sighed.

“At least yer land is beautiful,” she said.

“The best part is that it is close to the sea.”

Her eyes widened. “The sea? Truly?”

“Aye.” He studied her face. “Ye seem surprised.”

“I am. The way ye left… I thought ye must have hated the sea.”

He shook his head. “Nay, I loved the sea. I was loyal to yer faither, too. But I had to fight for this clan alone. Ye daenae understand.”

Her gaze hardened. “Nay, I daenae.”

He looked away, his jaw tight. Finn’s words echoed in his mind.

“Tell her the story . The full story.”

But the full story was heavy, and he was not sure Lily could bear it. Not yet. And there was another weight pressing on him—the archer. No man would try to kill the lady of a clan without support. Whoever had sent that archer was not alone, and that fact gnawed at him.

Still, none of it troubled him as much as the feel of Lily’s hands on his skin.

For a while, they sat in silence as the storm raged outside. Her fingers moved slowly and carefully on his wound, turning his thoughts wild.

At last, she looked up at him. “Ye are awfully quiet. Nae a single cuttin’ remark in minutes. Did the wound rob ye of yer tongue, too?”

He laughed. “Nay. Ye ken, I often wondered what might have happened to me sweet bride.”

She scoffed. “Please. Ye only remembered me because of me connections. Nay need to lie.”

“That is nae why.”

“Well, that is what the council thinks.”

“Nae me,” he said, his voice low.

“Well, whatever ye say. I am nae a young lassie anymore.”

“And thank God for that,” he breathed. “Reality has surpassed me expectations by far.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she turned her face away. “Stop. I daenae trust ye. I daenae care to hear these things from ye.”

“But ye should. If ye are leaving as soon as the men are healed, as ye told me, then we must make up for lost time.”

She rose to her feet and began to pace the cave. Her arms were crossed, and her tone was sharp. “Ye are unbelievable, do ye ken that? Ye think ye can just snatch me away and try to seduce me? What next? Did yer council ask for an heir, too?”

His eyebrow arched. “They did. But that has nothing to do with what ye do to me.”

She froze.

“I daenae regret leaving, Lily,” he admitted. “But I do regret leaving ye .”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Well, I am glad ye did. I found me true calling.”

“Did ye?” His eyes searched hers. “Ye mean to tell me ye daenae care for the kiss we shared the other night? That yer body isnae yearning for mine?”

Her lips parted. She tried to deny it. “I would never?—”

“Uh-huh,” he said, moving closer.

His face was near hers, and his breath warmed her lips. He did not touch her. Not yet. However, the air between them crackled, and the heat contrasted with the cold outside the cave.

She cleared her throat, her voice uneven. “We will never do that again.”

“Absolutely.”

“‘Tis a bad idea.”

“Truly terrible,” he murmured against her lips.

“Ye’re nae listening to me.”

“On the contrary.”

Her breath shuddered. He was right in her face, and she couldn’t leave. He could see the resignation in her eyes as well. She was about to give in.

She did.

A smirk crossed his face as she leaned closer. Their mouths nearly touched before he stepped back.

Her eyes widened, and she stared at him, the confusion on her face clear. “What are ye?—”

His smirk widened. “Did ye already forget, wife? Ye must beg.”

Her chest rose and fell. “What?”

“Aye.”

“Ye must be jesting.”

“I never jest,” he said, then the smile dropped from his face.

His hands hovered near her body, close enough to make her shiver, yet never touching her.

Her voice broke. “Please. Just…”

“Please what, wife?” he purred.

She looked at him, the fire in her eyes enough to light him up. “Touch me.”

“Gladly,” he said, and at last his mouth found hers.