Page 50 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander

There’s me opening.

“It was brigands. They set the place on fire and set the livestock loose after nay doubt stealin’ some. They were surrounded by the villagers by the time we got there. Tristan led a group from the castle, and we defeated them.”

“When did ye get that new wound?”

“Right after I realized that Tristan had moves like the assassin’s, and was distracted thinkin’ about it and watchin’ him.”

“Tristan?”

“Aye, the same,” he confirmed.

The words left unspoken hung heavily between them.

Tristan Gunn could ken something about the attack. He could have also orchestrated the whole thing.

Damon’s mind lingered on the events of the night before.

“I’m still wonderin’ who’s behind all of this,” he admitted. “The brigands… it’s nay coincidence.”

Lilith nodded, her expression thoughtful. “We’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice steady. “Together.”

As they passed a stall filled with flowers, Lilith paused, her eyes lighting up at the sight of a familiar bloom.

The vendor, an elderly woman with kind eyes, greeted her warmly and handed her a flower. “For ye, Lady McCallum,” she offered. “It suits ye.”

Lilith smiled, her fingers brushing over the delicate petals. She reached for her purse, but Damon stepped forward, placing a coin in the woman’s hand before Lilith could protest.

“That’s kind of ye,” he said, nodding to her.

Lilith glanced at him, her cheeks flushing as she clutched the flower. “Ye didnae have to do that.”

“Aye, but I wanted to,” he replied, his voice soft. “It does suit ye, lass.”

She looked away, her blush deepening, and Damon found himself smiling. Despite the chaos and uncertainty surrounding them, this moment felt… right.

That evening, the inn was full to bursting with Damon’s men once more, all on high alert. Ryder settled himself upstairs on a bench that had been brought up.

It was their third night together, and Damon figured that now was as good a time as any to bring it up.

“Lass, I had something else planned for our third night together, I’ll admit.”

“We could just finish last night’s game.”

“Nay, I owe ye one answer to the sun-six that ye rolled before we were interrupted, but our next evening will be different.”

Images of her in his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist flashed across his mind.

“And what, precisely, will our next evening include?” she asked defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest even as she waited for his response.

Looking her over once more, he turned and walked over to the hearth, where they had played the game. “Ye will find out shortly—once I plan it,” he said, carefully sitting in the armchair and gesturing for her to join him.

Lilith laughed and crossed the room. The moment she sat down, he leaned forward, slightly closing the distance between them. “Ask.”

The squirming she tried to hide was simply sensational, and he wanted to see her squirm more often. He knew the question would have something to do with last night—it had to. And if it wasn’t, then he already knew how frustrated he would be, because he hadn’t stopped thinking about it.

Finally, Lilith stopped fidgeting with the hem of her skirts and leveled a fiery look at him through her long eyelashes. “Do ye wish to kiss me again?”

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