Page 18 of The Mad Highlander

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C ayden lifted Iris off her feet and hoisted her into the air. She responded by wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She grabbed onto his muscular back, digging her fingers in as her tongue tried to overcome his.

He had strength over her in every area and pushed her tongue back with his, invading her mouth. Iris moaned through her parted lips, tasting the warmth of the Laird. Cayden kicked the door closed with the sole of his boot and moved his hands up from her rear to her head, running his fingers through her hair and grabbing onto her as if she might flee from him.

Iris felt her heart melting. She had spent the day longing for his touch, and now that she had it, she felt like she was home. All the dangers and insecurities were taken from her when she was in his arms. She raked her fingertips down the back of his shirt, clawing at his tight muscles.

Iris pulled her head back to breathe, and Cayden dropped her to her feet. She took deep breaths like a wild animal—her entire body was quivering before him, not in fear but in expectation.

She could not keep her eyes off his chest as it expanded and contracted with his labored breathing. She wanted to lift the shirt from his body again—her eyes flicked to his lips—and feel his supple muscle tease her folds. Iris licked her lips in expectation of the pleasure to come. She took a step forward, but the Laird raised his hand and placed it on her breast. It was a welcome position, but she knew what it signaled, and the joy was sapped from her.

“I cannae,” he said.

“You cannae or ye willnae?” Iris asked petulantly.

Cayden pushed her back with his hand until the back of her legs hit the bed. He added a little more pressure, and her rear fell to the mattress.

“I cannae,” he said. “I have too much to do. We will reconvene this another time, but there are things to be done.”

“Please,” Iris begged. “Please stay with me.”

“I would if I could.”

“Och, look at me! I sound like a scared wee lass! It seems I’m nae above beggin’.” Iris looked away at the window where the sky had turned black.

“Nay one is above beggin’ when it is somethin’ they truly want,” the Laird told her. “If I were put in the situation, I would beg for yer body if I couldnae have it.”

“I would give it to ye.”

“I ken ye would, and I want it, but nae tonight.”

Iris folded her arms. She looked down at the necklace against the bare skin above her dress, and she found some consolation there.

“I understand.” She looked at Cayden and smiled. There was a fire in his eyes that told her he did want more of her. “And I appreciate that ye came to see me at all when ye dinnae have to. Ye brought me a gift, too, and that was very thoughtful of ye—more than I deserve when I am so petulant and moody. And ye were the one who saved me yesterday. I should be the one buyin’ gifts.”

“What use would I have for gifts? I have everything I need.”

Iris laughed at the way he said it so gruffly as if a gift would be an imposition. It helped to break the tension that she had built.

“Will ye nae stay just a few minutes? I can see that ye have a lot on yer mind. Ye can share it with me. Is it really true that one of yer council members was behind the attack? And what news of me brother?”

The Laird’s shoulders slumped a little—he had been carrying a great weight around. Iris knew that he had.

“Sit for a few minutes,” she suggested. “I ken ye cannae stay, but I would like yer company for a short while if ye can give me a second gift tonight.”

Cayden smiled resignedly. He walked to the chair and collapsed down into it with a thud—it was a wonder that the chair did not crack and break.

“Aye, we had a traitor in our midst,” Cayden told her. “He’s locked in the dungeon now. I spoke to him this afternoon. I dinnae ken what to make of him—he shows some strength and conviction, but when I look him in the eye, I can see the coward he is.”

“What will ye do with him?” Iris stretched her back.

“I dinnae ken yet.” Cayden chuckled and shook his head slowly. “I would have chopped his head off afore he reached the dungeon a month ago, but I took the time to question him, and even then, I wasnae rash after. The same with the man who attacked ye. He is in the dungeon and nae in a grave. Ye really are infuriatin’ with how ye have changed me. People are goin’ to think I am nae really as mad as they say. I was thirsty for blood yesterday, but I lay with ye last night, and some of that thirst has been quenched. I dinnae ken if that is a good thing or nae.”

“I think it is,” Iris replied. “I’m nae sayin’ what should happen to any of them, but I do think it takes more strength to be restrained than impulsive. If ye think it is right to take a head after that, then so be it.”

Cayden chuckled again before smiling at Iris. He appeared more relaxed as he sat back in the chair, arms resting on the chair arms. “I havenae heard many women talkin’ about takin’ a man’s head.”

Iris turned up her lip. “Aye, well, he deserves it after what he did to Robyn and me—what he would have done if ye had nae turned up.” Tears came to her eyes. She had not cried about it since the attack and believed she was over it, but the emotion swelled like a crashing wave and overwhelmed her.

“No, ye dinnae have to get up.” Iris reached out her hand when she saw the Laird move—he had so much on his plate already.

“Well, if I cannae come to ye, ye will have to come to me,” the Laird beckoned her. “Come on! Come sit on me lap.”

Iris felt a little silly, as if she were a small child, but she was not giving up the opportunity to get closer to the Laird. She got up and went to him, dropping herself onto his lap and pressing her cheek to his head. Cayden wrapped one arm around her and placed the other on his cheek. Iris sunk into his warmth, feeling safe once again. She continued to cry, wetting the front of his shirt, but he did not move once or say a word as she wept—he only held her.

Iris eventually sniffed. “I’m sorry. I dinnae ken what came over me. I havenae cried since the attack in the woods, and I think it all came rushin’ back to me.”

“Cry all ye want.” Cayden rubbed her back. “Ye went through somethin’ most people dinnae go through. I’ve been into battle with men, and I’ve seen some of them cry afterward. It’s nothin’ to be ashamed of. Dinnae be ashamed.”

“Nay, I’m nae,” Iris whispered into his chest. She placed her hand on the wet patch and felt embarrassed all over again. “Och, look what I’ve done to ye.”

“Dinnae worry about that. This shirt has been through a lot worse. In fact, right where yer head is lying is where I spilled some marmalade this mornin’”

“What?” Iris gasped.

The booming laugh almost shook the room. Or it felt like it with the way she shook atop him. She had only just been crying, but the sadness was engulfed by the Laird’s laughter, leaving her feeling better in an instant.

“I’m only jestin’ with ye. I didnae spill any marmalade there this mornin’. Havin’ said that, there’s probably been a lot worse spilled on the front of me shirt than that.”

Iris smiled and laughed through her nose. She came away from the shirt just in case and sat up a little bit on his lap, looking back at the tear-soaked patch.

“In any case, I gave it a wee wash,” Iris told him. “I ken we are in a sorrowful time, but it is welcome to hear ye laugh like that, Cayden. I dinnae ken what it is, but that laugh makes me feel safer than anythin’. When ye laughed right now, it felt like everythin’ was goin’ to be fine. It doesnae really make sense, but that’s how it was.”

“That’s all that matters to me.” Cayden rubbed her back some more. “I won’t tell ye any lies. It will get more dangerous before it gets peaceful again. I think there will be a war, and I think Laird Murdoch will be the one to start it. I dinnae ken if he has been plottin’ it for a while, but he’s allied with another clan, and that only spells trouble. I will still get yer brother back, but that will be more dangerous, too.”

“What?” Iris placed her hand on the Laird’s chest again and looked at him with pleading eyes. The threat of war sent a weight into her stomach, and she wished she had not left the safety of Castle McCabe. The Laird made her feel safe, but war was a different prospect. “What of me brother? Ye shouldnae be the one to rescue him. Ye can send someone else.”

“Nay, I have to be sure we get him. I made a promise, and while I trust me men, I trust meself above everyone. I wouldnae send men into a place that I wouldnae go meself. The only change is we willnae have any support from Hunter with the new plan.”

“What? What new plan.” Iris felt like crying again. “I dinnae ken what is goin’ on!”

“Laird Murdoch will lay a trap for Hunter if he enters the castle. I willnae risk that.”

“But ye will risk yerself sneakin’ into the castle? What if he lays a trap for you.” Iris could feel her heart pounding in her chest. It was hard enough to be away from the Laird, but the thought of losing him completely was too much.

“It’s too much to explain, but I will be in the castle with me men when he doesnae expect it, and I will fight me way out if there is a trap. There’s nae a man who can stand in me way.”

“Aye, nae one man, but what of a dozen? I ken ye saved me yesterday, but that was only two, and it took a lot out of ye to beat only them.”

“Ye dinnae need to worry about me,” Cayden growled.

“Aye, I do. I dinnae want to lose ye.”

“Ye willnae.”

“How do ye ken?”

“Because I’m tellin’ ye!” Cayden shouted. “Because I made a promise to ye to save yer brother and because I have somethin’ worth comin’ back to. Nay man will stop me when I have ye to come back to. We’re nae even handfasted yet, but we will be. I promised I would get yer brother, and I promise I will wed ye. Do ye trust me?”

“It’s hard nae to when ye look at me like that,” Iris admitted. “I just… it’s easy to make the promises when ye are the one doin’ the promisin’. If it goes wrong, I’ll be the one to lose ye and nae the other way around.”

“Better to be dead than grieve for the dead?” Cayden pinned her under his gaze.

“I dinnae ken.”

Cayden pulled her back to his chest and held her there. They sat in silence as they both contemplated what might come from their union. Iris only had something to lose now because she’d had nothing to lose previously. She only worried about the Laird now because Tristan had set the union. If there were no union, she would not worry about him, but she would worry about her brother. It was an impossible situation. She had hope of getting her brother back, but it was possible she could lose her brother and Cayden.

“Do ye really mean it?” Iris asked.

“What?”

“That ye have a reason to come home? What about yer maither or sister? Hunter? Yer clan?”

“It’s different, isnae it? Of course, I want to come home to them, but ye are different. I want to come home to them, but I need to come home to ye.”

“Are we goin’ to be all right?” Iris asked.

“The Murdochs are a force to be reckoned with, especially if they have allied with another clan. Yer cousin’s clan has a sickness, but I hope they will be ready to fight. And there has been unrest from within me clan. I dinnae like any of that. Only time will tell what will become of us all.”