Page 24 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander

He glared at his men, who excused themselves in quick succession and even dragged Kara with them, giving their Laird and Lady some privacy. Hunter wasn’t sure which bothered him more, Erica’s insistence or the growing urge to let her continue.

Watching her lift her spoon to her mouth, he finally addressed her, his voice edged with barely contained frustration. “Enough. We’re leavin’.”

“What do ye mean, we’re leavin’?”

“Just what I said,” he said, standing up abruptly. “Come, now.”

“Ye cannae—” she started to protest, but he ended up pulling her up from her chair.

Her soft skin burned his hand in the most delicious way, and he knew the carriage ride was going to be challenging if she kept this up.

Erica followed and remained right beside him, deliberately close, as he led them back to the carriage. The sun had startedto set and was casting eerily long shadows on the cobblestone. Hunter let her intoxicating scent assault his senses.

If this is goin’ to work, it has to be timed perfectly…

They reached the carriage rather quickly, and he slowed his pace.

He felt her fingers graze his arm.

“Hunter?” she said quietly, her hand lingering on the sleeve of his jacket long enough to make him pause.

That’s it, lass. Let’s play.

Hunter halted abruptly, turning to her with a look he knew was darker than he’d intended. Erica didn’t shrink back. In fact, she met his gaze, almost daring him to react.

“Are ye tryin’ to provoke me, lass?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.

He stepped closer, his hand rising almost of its own accord. His fingers brushed against her cheek, then trailed down to her jaw.

The softness of her skin against his calloused hand stirred something within him that he had been fighting to keep buried since the moment he met her. He backed her up until she was flush against the side of the carriage.

Erica tilted her head up invitingly, and he couldn’t help but trace the curve of her cheekbone with his thumb. For a moment, he let himself savor the feeling, the tension between them crackling.

Just like that, lass. Let’s see how far ye are willin’ to take this…

He felt the fire inside of him roar as he leaned in and she stayed perfectly still, watching him, her breath hitching slightly as he grabbed her skirts.

However, when his lips were mere inches from hers, she whispered, “Wait.”

That single word felt like a bucket of ice-cold water. He pulled back, looking down at her with a mix of anger and something else he couldn’t quite name.

“If ye are goin’ to play these games, wife, then ye had best be prepared to see them through. Dinnae tempt me unless ye intend to follow through.” His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable.

Erica’s eyes widened, and a blush rose to her cheeks. For a brief second, he could see her confidence falter, and that was enough. He’d won this round as well, and the satisfaction of it steadied him.

He was about to turn back toward the carriage when he felt a sudden sting in his arm.

Erica gasped, and his eyes locked onto hers. “Hunter!”

Her voice was filled with panic as her hand shot out to grip his arm.

An arrow.

Hunter looked down to find blood welling up from a shallow cut on his bicep. Anger surged through him as he scanned the area, but the archer was nowhere to be seen.

He let her examine the cut a moment longer while he scanned the area once more—though the concern in her eyes was not lost on him.

“Ye’re hurt—dinnae go!” She clung to him, her fear catching him off guard.