Page 105 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander

“Oh, ye really want me to tell ye,” Morgana said when he nudged her.

If it weren’t for his legs cradling hers, she’d have toppled to the ground.

“I love ye. Is that what ye wanted to hear?” she asked.

“Aye, it is,” Ryder said.

Just then, the gray stone walls of the castle appeared on the horizon.

Morgana wasn’t ready to be back. Not yet. Not when she hadn’t thanked Ryder for everything he had done for her. The very thought of him tracking her down made her heart overflow with such gratitude that she felt like she would explode. The sight of the archway sent a shiver up her spine.

“Would ye look here,” Ryder murmured. “Is this nae the place I first laid eyes on ye?”

“Can ye demolish this archway?” Morgana blurted, glaring daggers at the stone.

Ryder let out a hearty chuckle, his chest vibrating against her back.

“I suppose.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “We can tear down the whole place if ye like—start from scratch.”

Morgana shook her head as they crested the hill. No doubt everyone in the castle could see them now. And while she was thrilled to be back home, she ached to have Ryder all to herself just a bit longer, despite knowing her sister was there, waiting for her.

Her world had been upended far too fast, and she needed a moment to catch up.

“I dinnae think we need to go that far,” she said. “I happen to like the castle.”

“Is that right? Did I nae tell ye that the place would grow on ye?” Ryder murmured, pulling the horse to a stop in front of the gates.

“I suppose ye did. Maybe it has somethin’ to do with ye,” Morgana quipped as she slipped down from the saddle and landed firmly on the ground.

Ryder jumped down and landed right beside her. She stared into his eyes, seeing her future and her hope.

“Did ye bump yer head a bit too hard back there?” Ryder asked as he checked her head.

She giggled and threw her arms around him, wishing she could melt into him.

“I love ye,” she whispered into his chest.

Ryder hooked his hand under her chin and tilted her head up. Her heart skipped a beat as he studied her, as if he could read every word she would never utter.

“Never do that again,” he hissed, startling her. “If ye’re goin’ to say those words, ye say them to my face. Do ye understand? Nae my chest or my back. I want to see ye when ye tell me such things. Understand?”

Morgana rolled her shoulders back and nodded her head. She pulled in a deep breath and tightened her arms around his waist, a smile tugging at her lips.

With her eyes locked onto his, she said, “I love ye.”

His answer was swift and fierce. His hand curled around the back of her head and drew her lips to his.

His kiss was deep and overwhelmingly tender. It felt like an angel whispering against her lips. Heat rushed through her limbs as her grip tightened on him.

“Morgana?”

It was a voice she had been dying to hear, a voice that snapped her right back into reality.

Reluctantly pulling back, Morgana cleared her throat and craned her neck to spy around Ryder.

“Feya!” she gasped.

She froze in place, uncertain if she was ready to leave the safety of Ryder’s loving embrace for that of her sister’s arms.