Page 17 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

Says the woman who quite literally slept through it all…

His lips curled upward as he quickly closed the distance between them, looking her over for too long of a moment. The way she blushed under his gaze made his loins tighten, and more than ever he wished he had her pinned against the wall in his chambers again.

“And are ye unharmed?” he inquired.

Her eyes narrowed. “Unharmed? What is this about?”

“Answer the question, Lilith!”

Damon’s frustration startled her.

Clearly understanding that the time for joking was not that moment, she hissed, “I am fine,Damon.” Her chin jutt out defiantly as she continued, “But I would like to ken what is happenin’.”

Damon hesitated, wanting to put his lips on the growing blush creeping up her neck. He wanted to shield her from danger, but he knew she wouldn’t accept vague reassurances.

Avoid it altogether, or have this conversation here.

His mind was reeling from the unproductive council meeting, the way Lilith smelled, and the assassin’s attempt on his life. Thoughts of pinning her against the wall right then and there joined the fray. His leg between hers, feeling her warmth on his thigh?—

Shite.

“Ye willnae leave her side, Finley,” Damon barked suddenly.

He tore his eyes away from her and glanced at the man standing off to the side of the corridor. He waited for Finley to acknowledge the order before he turned around and sauntered off toward his chambers without another word.

“Christ!” he exclaimed once he was in the safety of his chambers, slamming the books down on the table.

He gripped the back of the armchair tightly, wanting to pick it up and smash it on the ground just to see it break into smithereens. The tension he felt building in his loins was unbearable. He needed release, and soon. In the wee hours of the morning and the dead of night, she was gorgeous, and she was his.

His eyes traveled up the spot where the assassin had been, but there was no trace of blood or struggle. The rug had been scrubbed thoroughly, and the floorboards looked so clean that they could have easily just been replaced. And, best of all, the curtains had been replaced with heavier fabric to block out the brightening daylight.

As if nothin’ had happened…

“Damn, Smith,” he mused, impressed by the housekeeper’s handiwork.

He shuffled over to his bed, then sat on the edge and kicked off his boots. His trews were haphazardly tossed into a corner, along with his jacket. Before pulling the blankets aside, he checked that his dagger was replaced under his pillow and that his pistol was still loaded in the top drawer of his bedside table.

Satisfied with his sleeping arrangement, he slid into bed. His shoulders were still tense, and his wounds stretched painfully with each breath he took, but worse of all, his torso remained unbelievably tight. Thoughts of Lilith took over the events of the evening, and he once again fought the need for release as he tossed and turned, desperately seeking sleep.

“Never leave me side?” Lilith scoffed.

Finely stood stoically behind her. “Within reason, I’m sure, Me Lady.”

“To be sure!” she huffed before storming off toward her chambers.

Lilith knew that Finely was aware he was to stand outside her chamber doors. In fact, the man knew exactly what it all meant, because even Finley Reynolds knew what was going on in this castle. For all she knew, even the servants knew. Everyone knew what was going on, except her.

She grabbed a pillow and threw it as hard as she could at the wall. The muted sound as it slammed against the stone was anticlimactic, but she wasn’t in a destructive mood. Instead, she wore a circular path in her floorboards as she paced and stewed in her thoughts.

“Everyone else kens what is goin’ on, and he didnae even respect me enough to clue me in?” she hissed to her empty room.

Seeing the bell pull, she gripped it and yanked hard. “Since he refused, maybe Greer will tell me.”

Moments later, Lilith’s maid stood in the doorway. Before Finley shut the door, they exchanged knowing looks. One that said,“She isnae goin’ to tell ye,”from Finley, and one that said,“I’ll be damned if I dinnae try,”from her.

“Me Lady?” Greer said, bowing as the door finally closed. Straightening quickly, she set the tea tray down and moved closer.

“I’d like to get ready, please. What is the weather like?” Lilith asked, twisting around and looking out the window briefly.