Page 33

Her breath hitched at the mention of her name, but she didn’t acknowledge it.

“Let me help ye escape.”

“Dinnae worry, ye have done quite enough for me. And I appreciate ye,” Keira murmured.

She turned back and made her way to the castle, leaving him and her disaster of a wedding behind.

She hurried to her room, her feet quickening across the floor.

She just needed a moment of peace. A moment of complete silence to herself, where she didn’t have to fake a smile for anyone or respond to subtly jealous clanswomen.

She pushed the door to her room open and froze at the sight that greeted her. Her eyes swept over the space before her, as that was what it was now—just space. Everything was gone. Her clothes, her dresser, her trinkets. The only thing left in the room was the bed, now stripped bare of its covers.

A maid stepped out of the bathing chamber, carrying vials of bathing oils and towels. Keira gave her a quizzical look.

“M’Lady,” the maid greeted, bobbing a short curtsy.

“What the devil happened here?” Keira asked, disbelief written all over her face as she continued staring at the empty room.

“The Laird ordered that all yer things be moved to his quarters, as that is where ye shall sleep from now on.”

Keira swallowed as the maid made her way out of the room, leaving her to her racing thoughts and memories evoked by the scent of bathing oils.

Everything was happening too fast. Way too fast.

She stood there for a few more minutes, staring out the window at the distant mountains and the sun dipping beneath the horizon. The scene beyond her window looked more alluring than the castle. The growing longing she felt as she continued to watch made her heart pound.

On the other side of this world was freedom. The ability to do whatever she wanted without being persecuted. Without being accused of murder at every corner. She could grow several gardens and rear a thousand animals.

She would be free.

Hudson’s words replayed in her mind, over and over again.

Ye can leave if ye want.

It made wonder if running away was truly the worst idea. She didn’t think too hard about it. Instead, she made her way to the Laird’s quarters, watching the maids rearrange the last of her things in the room.

She was back in her old room now, but with a man and at a cost. One she was not certain she was willing to pay.

As the last of the maids finally filed out of the room, leaving her alone once again, Evander stepped inside, his eyes immediately landing on her.

“Ye’re here already.”

Keira swept her hand across the room. “Apparently.”

A tense silence descended between them, and it was clear neither of them knew what to say.

Keira sighed and reached for the laces at her back. Slowly, she pulled at them, and her corset loosened. She exhaled slowly.

“Ye ken, I should be helping ye do that.”

“Now is nae the time for jokes, Evander.”

“Who said I was joking?”

“’Tis a marriage of duty, is it nae? We dinnae need to pretend that it is more than that.”

Evander moved closer to her, a smile playing on his lips. One that signified his playful side had returned.

“When ye moaned me name last time, lass, was it out of duty?”

Keira felt her breath hitch. He reached for her chin and gently tilted her face up to his, the golden flecks in his eyes almost coming to life on their own.

“Evander—”

He leaned closer and kissed her. It was passionate but soft and gentle, almost like he was conveying his empathy. Like he knew what was happening to her, and he wished he could do something about it. His lips felt soft against hers, yet insistent at the same time.

He broke the kiss and looked at her. “I may nae be able to give ye everything ye want, wife, but at least I can give ye this.”

His hand slid beneath the skirt of her dress as he resumed their kiss. She resisted him for a while before finally giving in, arching against him, her eyes closed.

He lifted her off the floor, not breaking the kiss, and carried her to the bed. Her body sank into the cold covers, and she lay still beneath him, her breathing shallow. He said nothing, and she knew it was because he did not need to.

His palm trailed along the inside of her thigh, his fingers spreading wider as he explored the warmer parts of her skin. He moved slowly, as if nothing else mattered in the world except her and the bed.

She trembled slightly beneath his hand, her body responding to him incredibly quickly. He trailed his fingers higher, and her breath caught. Instinctively, her thighs tensed, and she could see his jaw tighten in response.

“Ye’re softer here than I remember,” he murmured. “Warmer, too.”

She didn’t respond. She was too breathless to do so.

Every part of her focused on how slowly he explored her, never quite touching her where she needed it the most. He finally lifted her dress over her hips, and the cold air kissed her heated skin.

A red hue crawled up her cheeks, but Evander didn’t notice it.

And if he did, he did not acknowledge it.

“Lift yer arms,” he muttered.

She did as he asked, and he pulled the dress over her head and tossed it to the side.

Goosebumps rose all over her skin, but the look in Evander’s eyes warmed her, almost to the bone. He leaned down again and kissed the hollow at the base of her throat. She could almost feel his restraint, how hard he was holding back, from the way his lips traced and kissed her skin.

His mouth trailed lower, and Keira slid her hand into his hair, feeling the thick strands between her fingers. He peppered kisses all over her breasts and then down the valley between them. Her fingers tightened in his hair as he continued, a ragged breath escaping her lips.

His hips bucked against her thigh, his arousal searing through his clothes and poking her skin. He shifted slightly, just enough for her to feel how hard he was.

Another breath escaped her lips, coaxing a satisfied smile from him. He kissed lower, his mouth stopping right beneath her navel. The feel of his hot breath against her skin made her arch her back as his hands spread her thighs.

He glanced up at her, the look on her face enough to make him explode.

Then, he lowered himself between her thighs.

Her moans filled the quiet room as his tongue began to move in slow, deliberate strokes, at first up and down and then in tight circles, causing her to run out of breath.

He groaned against her, causing her hips to buck almost of their own accord.

He didn’t stop. Instead, he continued to explore her with his mouth, his hips rutting into the mattress.

He changed the pressure, finding every spot that made her tremble.

Then, his fingers joined in. One at first, then two.

Her body clenched around him as he moved gently.

His fingers curled, and his tongue teased at the same rhythm.

Keira clawed at the sheets, her eyes squeezed shut as he pumped into her harder and licked her faster. Her legs were quaking around his head now.

“Evander!” she cried out, his name barely escaping her lips.

“I ken,” he said, his voice low.

Her fingers curled into the sheets as she shattered. But he didn’t stop. Not when the pleasure swept through her body in waves. Not when her walls tightened around his fingers.

Not until her thighs stopped quaking. He didn’t stop until she went limp and the tremors racking her ceased. His lips were damp when he pulled back, and they trailed up her inner thigh, her navel, to her lips.

She reached down, brushing the thick length that strained against his trousers. She cupped her hands over it, gently rubbing him through the soft fabric.

He caught her wrist immediately. “Nae yet,” he said, his voice clear. “I want ye to be fully ready for me.”

“And what makes ye think I am nae?” she shot back, the snark he had grown used to and loved slowly returning to her voice.

He smiled and lowered himself beside her, all the while she panted, trying to catch her breath. “Now, was that out of duty or nae?”

Keira didn’t respond. She was still trying to catch her breath.

Evander fell silent momentarily, and she stared at the ceiling as if her body had not just shattered mere minutes ago. As if she didn’t almost see stars from just his touch.

“Are ye certain ye dinnae want me to do the same to ye?” she asked, her eyes still fixed on the ceiling, expecting an answer.

None came.

“Evander,” she prompted.

Still no response.

She turned to him, her brow furrowed in confusion. And her breath caught in her throat.

He was shaking violently and clawing at his throat, his body writhing on the mattress.

Her eyes widened with fear. “Evander,” she called, shaking him gently.

His eyes were bloodshot red, and his muscles flexed as he continued to claw at his throat, clearly unable to breathe.

“Evander!” she screamed this time, full-blown panic ripping through her.