Page 8 of Saved by the Cruel Highlander (Lairds of the Loch Alliance #1)

CHAPTER SEVEN

E lias was going to kiss her. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to press his mouth to hers and claim her as his. He could see the desire in her green eyes, even though she didn’t want to admit it. Her eyelids lowered as her body relaxed.

The feel of her bottom atop his swollen member was driving him mad. He felt the hardened length twitch and swell as if trying to reach her through her thin chemise.

Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to stay in the chamber and watch as the seamstress measured her for new gowns. Seeing Holly in her chemise had nearly undone him. She was tall and lithe, her arms slender but toned. Her waist was narrow, and she wasn’t overly large in the bust area, but her breasts were large enough to make his mouth water.

Now, as she sat compliant in his lap, he drew her closer. The smattering of freckles on her small nose was enchanting. Elias vowed that one day, he would take the time to kiss each one. But for now, he ached to taste her.

A knock at the door startled him and yanked Holly out of her daze. She jumped to her feet before he even had the chance to respond. He started to chuckle at her maidenly embarrassment, but then he noticed she was off balance.

He jumped up from his chair but not in time to catch her before her head hit the corner of his desk. The sound of her head striking wood was loud enough to make him wince.

“Och, lass, are ye all right?” he asked as she bounced off the desk and fell backward on her arse.

Another more insistent knock sounded at the door, but Elias ignored it as he reached down to help her to her feet.

“Aye. Just a bit dazed,” she said, but her voice sounded strained, as if she were in pain.

When she looked up and extended a hand to accept his proffered one, fear spiraled through his body. Blood—a lot of blood—poured from the corner of her forehead.

Elias reached down, picked her up under her arms, and sat her in his chair. Blood dripped down her face and splattered across her chemise, the deep red a sharp contrast to the white material.

The knock sounded again.

“Get the healer!” he ordered, his voice loud enough that whoever was knocking could hear him through the door.

He was aware that the door opened, but his focus was on Holly and the amount of blood she was losing. Logically, he knew head wounds bled more than others, but the sight of her in his chair, pale and bleeding, sent panic through his veins.

“What have ye done now, Elias?”

He knew who that voice belonged to without looking up. It was Cassandra, his childhood friend. He breathed a sigh of relief. Cassandra was a healer, and a good one at that.

“She’s bleedin’,” he said, surprised that his voice sounded so breathy.

Cassandra went around the desk. “I see that.”

Even though her voice was calm, Elias wasn’t relieved. Head wounds could be dangerous. It was a good sign that Holly had not lost consciousness and was even now trying to bat his hand away.

“I’m fine,” she tried to argue, but he wasn’t taking any chances.

He’d covered her wound with his hand, since he didn’t have any cloth nearby, and had been pressing against it, cupping the back of her head in his other hand for leverage.

“Move away, Elias, so I can get a look at the lass,” Cassandra ordered him.

Elias waited until she was standing next to him, then carefully removed his hand and stepped away. He looked down, a lump of fear forming in his throat at the sight of his hand soaked with Holly’s blood.

“Are ye goin’ to hover there like an overprotective nurse?” Cassandra chided. “Go sit by the hearth or somethin’—just give me some breathin’ room.”

Elias wasn’t happy. He hesitated for a minute but then reluctantly moved over to the hearth. But he didn’t sit down. He was too anxious to be still.

“I’m fine, really,” Holly protested. “I just hit me head.”

“Is that why ye’re bleedin’ all over the place?” Cassandra said, a smile in her voice.

Elias watched as Holly’s eyes widened in surprise. How could she not know she was bleeding? Had she not felt her hot blood running down her face? Perhaps she was still too dazed from hitting her head.

“I’m bleedin’?” she asked, then raised her hand to her head. Her eyes widened even more when she pulled her hand back and saw the blood.

“Dinnae swoon on me now, lass,” Cassandra said. “I can tend to ye lyin’ down, but I’d rather ye were awake and assistin’ me.”

“I dinnae swoon,” Holly said indignantly, but her face drained of even more color.

Elias started pacing, stopping every few steps to look at her. He didn’t understand why he was so afraid. He barely knew the lass. Although she was to become his wife, he knew next to nothing about her, but for some reason, he felt like he was drowning with worry. He felt helpless, and he hated that feeling.

After Aidan had held him hostage and confessed to murdering their parents, Elias had sworn never to feel so helpless again. But here he was, feeling exactly that. And over a stranger.

He shook his head and paced to the other side of the room. There was something about Holly that had drawn him to her the first time he’d seen her. Which was only yesterday, he reminded himself.

It wasn’t just her beauty, although that had been the first thing he’d noticed. She had fire and courage—two things he respected. She’d not cowered when she’d seen his scar, unlike every other woman and most men. She’d even made him laugh while talking about his scar—something he’d never done.

“Bring the poor lass a blanket, Elias,” Cassandra said. “She’s tremblin’ so much that I cannae see to her head properly. And why is she in a chemise anyway?”

Elias felt his face heat up. Was he actually about to blush? It was Cassandra’s disapproving tone that had him feeling like a schoolboy caught staring at lasses instead of paying attention to his lessons.

He walked over to the couch nestled under a large window and plucked the blanket off the back of it, then hurried with it over to Holly. He winced at the sight of her wound, still bleeding and now starting to turn black and blue.

He draped it around her shoulders and then stepped back, but apparently not far enough, considering the glare Cassandra shot him.

“She was bein’ fitted for some gowns,” he answered as he resumed his pacing by the hearth.

“And ye stayed here to watch?” Cassandra chastised.

“Holly is to be me wife in less than a month,” Elias argued.

Cassandra paused and looked over her shoulder at him. She held a thick strip of fabric she’d ripped from the bottom of her skirt against Holly’s head.

“Are ye bein’ serious?” she asked incredulously. When he nodded, she shook her head and grinned. “About time. I truly gave up on ye ever choosin’ a bride.”

Elias ignored her remark and shot her a scowl to which she only laughed, before returning her attention to Holly.

He caught a glimpse of Holly, whose eyes flicked between him and Cassandra as if she was fascinated by their argument.

“Does the wound need stitchin’?” he asked.

Holly’s eyes widened, a glimmer of fear in their green depths. He didn’t blame her. He’d had a few stitches himself after being injured in battle. It was a damn uncomfortable experience. His stomach churned at the thought of putting needle and thread into her delicate skin.

“It looks like a flesh wound. I dinnae think stitches will be necessary,” Cassandra said, drawing his anxious attention, and a sigh of relief from Holly. “But we shouldnae take any chances. Head wounds can be nasty things.”

Elias nodded, surprised at how relieved he felt upon hearing that Holly’s skin would not be marred by stitches, and glad that she wouldn’t have to go through the pain.

“Here, let me help ye stand,” Cassandra said.

“Are ye sure she should be standin’ already?” Elias asked, concern edging his voice.

Cassandra shot him a curious look over her shoulder, then nodded. “I need to get her to her chamber so I can properly dress the wound.”

“I’m sure I can stand,” Holly said. A pink hue climbed up her throat and stained the one cheek that wasn’t covered in blood. “Really, ye both are makin’ too much fuss over this. As ye ken, head wounds bleed a lot.”

“As I said, they can be dangerous,” Cassandra said. “Now, let’s get ye up. Slow and steady.”

Elias rushed behind the desk and hoisted Holly up, his hands firm on her body. She protested, informing him that she could walk, but he didn’t let go of her, nor did she try to remove herself from his grasp.

For the first time since she’d knocked her head, Elias felt a smile creep across his features. His soon-to-be wife was feisty. And independent. She didn’t like people fussing over her. Here was another thing he admired about her, although her stubbornness irritated the hell out of him.

Her head lolled slightly, and he tightened his hold on her, steadying her.

“Easy, lass,” he said softly. “We dinnae want ye takin’ another spill and crackin’ the other side of yer head.”

She shot him a disgruntled look which was ruined by the blood covering half her face and the bruising spreading across her forehead.

“Please, let me own,” she whispered. “I should make sure that I can stand by meself.”

Elias looked at her, making sure she was able to do so, and he saw something in her eyes. She asked to be put down, but her gaze said otherwise.

Do ye want me to put ye down because ye are embarrassed about Cassandra seein’ ye in me arms?

Elias lowered her slowly, keeping one arm around her waist to steady her.

“‘Twould be best if she rested for the rest of the day,” Cassandra remarked.

Elias nodded in agreement.

“Fetch me her clothes, Elias,” Cassandra commanded next, and he hurriedly did as asked.

Holly’s eyes widened as she watched him quickly gather her things and bring them back.

“Now, hold onto her while I dress her,” Cassandra instructed before she shot him another disapproving glare.

It wasn’t easy getting Holly into her clothing while holding onto her so that she didn’t get dizzy and fall, but they managed to do it, with her help, in just a few minutes.

“I’m takin’ her to her chamber now,” Cassandra told Elias. “Could ye have some hot broth sent up?”

Elias nodded and strolled over to the door, yanking it open.

“Guard!” he bellowed.

Almost immediately, a guard appeared at the end of the hallway and ran over to them.

“Fetch some broth!” Elias ordered. “Take it to Miss Taylor’s chamber.”

“Aye,” the guard said, before running off the way he had come.

“Did ye have to shout so loudly?” Cassandra chastised. “The poor lass’s head is already poundin’ somethin’ fierce—she doesnae need yer loud boomin’ addin’ to it.”

Elias winced, feeling instantly guilty. He hadn’t been thinking about being quiet. He’d only been focused on getting the broth to Holly’s room.

“Sorry, lass,” he said, his voice low and sufficiently apologetic.

Holly’s eyebrows rose in surprise at his apology. “Ye were a wee bit loud,” she finally said.

Cassandra and Holly slowly walked toward the door, where Elias still stood, holding it open.

“Try to keep yer distance from Holly for the day, or at least a few hours,” Cassandra said wryly.

“I’ll do what is necessary for her to heal,” he promised.

Just as they reached the door, Holly stopped, forcing Cassandra to stop, too.

“Ollie,” she said. “Where is Ollie?”

“Who is Ollie?” Cassandra asked.

“Her gray beastie,” Elias answered.

“I cannae leave him unattended in an unfamiliar place,” Holly protested.

“I will find Ollie and bring him to ye,” Elias promised.

Cassandra and Holly left his study, closing the door softly behind them.

Elias walked over to his desk and looked under it.

Just as he’d thought, the cat was curled into a gray ball underneath his desk, oblivious to the traumatic experience his mistress had just gone through.

Elias smiled. He was glad the cat had not woken up and was still in his study. It gave him the perfect excuse to check on Holly.