Hearts of Highland Fire

Chapter 14

14

“Everything is ready for departure. We just need Gretna.”

Remy nodded, looking at the horses that were waiting patiently in their stable, saddled and ready to go. He thought that knowing they had gotten this far would ease his anxiety, but in truth, it only made him more anxious. He wouldn’t fully relax until they were off McCellan land and heading home. Remy didn’t trust that the young Scot wouldn’t retaliate in some form after knowing that Gretna had seen him and Remy worried about her safety.

Still, he couldn’t remain by her side after she had left his chambers. There was much to do and time got away from him faster than he had realized. Now they would be departing close to sunset, but Remy imagined that Gretna would rather spend the night in the forest than pass another evening in the keep. “I will go get Gretna and we will be off,” he said in a clipped tone, heading back to the keep. A part of him worried that she had thought about what they had done last night, how she had let him touch her, and be disgusted by it.

Or worse, she changed her mind completely and found that the future laird was far closer to what she wished for in her life and not Remy.

Not that he expected her to want to wed him.

Entering the keep, he strode through the great hall, his jaw clenched. He couldn’t allow this to go on between them. She deserved more than him, more than what he could offer her, but that wasn’t his priority at the moment.

Getting Gretna away from the keep was of utmost priority.

Still, he needed to apologize to her for how far he had allowed them to go. He had no right to touch her, especially not when she was upset about that arsehole who she had expected to be perfect. He would have to set everything right with her, to help her understand that what they experienced together was a moment of passion, nothing more.

Remy’s stomach tightened at the thought, his booted feet taking him up the stairs to her chambers. He might convince her, but he would only be lying to himself. All his life, Remy had hoped for someone who would give him more than just a coy smile or a good rut in bed. He wanted someone that challenged him, that made him see red with anger but beg for their touch.

He wanted someone who he could see eye to eye with, that would match wits with him.

Gretna fit all those things he wished for and more.

He knocked on her chamber door and she opened it immediately, her expression crumbling the moment they locked eyes. Remy tensed and charged into the room, finding no one inside. “Wot happened?”

Gretna shook her head and he grasped her upper arms. “Tell mah,” he demanded, his fingers biting into her skin, the panic settling in his stomach. “Did that arse try something with ye?” If he had taken liberties with her, Remy was going to gut him, alliance be damned.

Gretna lifted her tear-filled eyes to his and Remy felt the air leave his lungs. Gretna was always so strong and poised, but she was broken in his grasp. He didn’t know what to do.

So he pulled her against his chest, his hand sliding into her hair. “Please,” he said brokenly. “Tell mah, lass, so I can fix it for ye.”

Between her sobs, Remy made out the picture of what had happened and his anger grew with each sobbing word. That bastard thought he could coax Gretna into marrying him by trying to blackmail her?

“I donna know wot tae do!” she finished, her voice muffled. “I canna marry him!”

“And ye willna have tae,” Remy said tightly, pulling her away from him so that he could look into her eyes. She looked so hopeless and Remy didn’t like that look in her eyes. Not his fearless Gretna. “We will leave now.” They could get on the road just like they had planned and he would protect her. Ian would likely choose the same path of action if he had been in Remy’s position.

Gretna pulled away from Remy, wiping her eyes. “I canna. I canna take the risk of him trying tae ruin mah clan because of this.” She looked up at him. “He has more than enough funds in his coffers tae do so and if he stops the trade route, we will starve, Remy. I canna be the reason and neither can ye.”

Remy swallowed hard. Though he didn’t like to admit it, Gretna was telling the truth. They couldn’t run if there was so much at stake for their clan. He thought of the bairns, of his friends and family and his gut tightened. Nay, he wouldn’t want to have them suffer either.

“Ye have tae leave,” Gretna said tearfully. “He wants ye tae deliver the message tae mah brother.”

He let out a hollow laugh. “Of course, he does, lass. He doesna want mah anywhere near ye.” Remy couldn’t blame him. He would think the same if he was in the Scot’s shoes.

She grabbed the front of his tunic. “I donna want tae be left here alone with him!”

Remy gently reached for her wrists, wrapping his hands around them. “Donna worry, lass. I’m not going tae leave ye here alone. I will leave mah guards and ride hard tae Wallace land tonight.” He could move faster without any other companions with him anyway and the faster he got to Ian, the faster he could tell the laird that Gretna wasn’t going to marry the McCellan heir.

Not now, not ever. He had a plan or at least one that was starting to form in his mind. Removing his touch from her wrists, he cupped her face, looking into her lovely, red-rimmed eyes. “Ye have tae be brave, lass, and do yer part so that he doesna suspect anything.” He needed her to keep the ruse up, keep James enthralled so that when it came time for him to rescue her, the Scot would have let down his walls and thought that he had won.

“I wish ye could stay,” she grumbled, some of the panic leaving her eyes. “Canna I just stab ye or something tae keep ye here with mah?”

Remy chuckled, brushing his thumb over her cheek. “Och, lass, I never knew ye tae be so bloodthirsty.” His heart warmed that she truly wished him to be at her side and though he knew the time would come that he would have to walk away from her, Remy felt as if he couldn’t do it now. He couldn’t tell her that they didn’t belong together.

Stepping back from her, he let his hands fall. “I need tae tell mah men.” They were waiting on him and Gretna to make an appearance, but now it appeared they would be here on McCellan land a bit longer than intended.

Gretna wrung her hands together. “Ye will come back?”

Remy hesitated. “I should get on mah way now, lass.”

“Please,” she blurted out. “Please stay just a little while longer.”

“Gretna.”

She closed the distance between them and Remy’s lips parted as she took his face in her hands. “I’m not asking for the entire night,” she said softly. “I just, if yer plan doesna work, I want tae spend time with someone I care aboot before mah life changes.”

His heart lurched in his throat and he was overcome with emotion. “Ye shouldna care aboot mah,” he told her thickly. “I’m not the one yer destined tae be with.” He couldn’t give her this fancy keep or the things she was used to in her life. As captain of the guard, he would be gone most times, leaving her home to fend for herself and their family.

“Shh,” Gretna stated her finger brushing over his lower lip. “I donna want tae talk aboot it right now. All we have is a few stolen hours. Can ye at least give mah that?”

Remy swallowed. “I have tae tell mah men.” He couldn’t very well leave them outside, wondering what had happened.

Gretna stepped back, giving him a firm nod. “Then go tell them quickly.”

Remy thought about leaving then, but as he walked back to the stables where his men were waiting, he felt the tug to go back to Gretna. He didn’t know what would happen on his journey home or if Ian would allow him to come back to get her. She was asking for a few hours. He could easily leave in the cloak of darkness now that he didn’t have to worry about her safety on the road.

So he relayed the information to his men and made certain that his horse was readied before making his way back to the keep. As he entered the great hall, he saw the laird’s son leaving his da, his eyes narrowing as he saw Remy. “I trust ye have heard the news then?” James asked, tucking his hands behind his back. “That ye are tae depart shortly?”

Remy had to ball his fists together in order not to grab the other Scot by the tunic and shove him hard into the stone wall near them. “Aye, I am just making final preparations.”

A smug grin crossed the man’s face before shoving a folded letter against Remy’s chest. “Here is the missive that is to be delivered, lad. I expect that the seal will remain intact until it gets to Laird Wallace.”

Remy grabbed the letter and tucked it into his boot for later. “Aye, ye dinna have tae worry aboot mah reading yer drivel.” After all, he had his own tale to tell his laird.

James smirked. “Gretna will be safe in mah keep as mah intended. No harm will come tae her until her brother comes tae witness our union.” James gave Remy a once over. “Well, unless she chooses tae partake in mah bed. I’m certain I can give her more than ye ever could, Wallace.”

Remy gritted his teeth and reminded himself that he was all that stood between getting Gretna out of this situation and ensuring her brother knew. So he took a step forward, grinning as he saw the flicker of fear in the other Scot’s eyes. “Aye, she may very well choose ye tae warm her bed.” He clapped his hand on the man’s shoulder, squeezing. “But if ye do decide tae force her into anything she doesna wish tae do, be reminded that I am coming back and when I do, I will gut ye from yer chin tae yer cock.”

“Y- ye canna threaten mah!”

Remy chuckled as he stepped back, patting James’ shoulder. “I already did. Now if ye will excuse mah, I need tae make mah goodbyes before I depart.” Without waiting for another word, Remy walked upstairs, warmed by the worried look in the other Scot’s eyes. The arse might be able to talk a good game with the lasses in the keep, but Remy doubted that he would be able to hold his own in a true fight.

Gretna allowed him entrance before he could finish his knock on her chamber door, shutting it firmly behind him.

“Ye came back.”

He arched a brow. “I gave ye mah word that I would.” He was a man of his word and would always be when it came to her.

“Aye, of course,” she said quickly, looking suddenly flustered. Remy reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, allowing his touch to linger on her skin. “I dinna come back tae ravish ye, lass.” He wasn’t going to take her innocence.

Her cheeks pinkened. “I know. I dinna think ye would. I’m just, I’m nervous, tis all.”

Remy reached for Gretna, tugging her toward him until she was flat against his body. He knew she could feel his need for her pressing against her stomach and he heard her gasp as he slid his hands into her free hair, feeling the softness snag against his calluses. “I want ye every second of every day,” he murmured against her temple, breathing her scent in so that he could be reminded of it during his journey home. “I hear ye call mah name in my thoughts, feel yer hand wrapped around mah cock and it’s never enough.” His hand splayed over her hipbone, holding her in place. “Donna think for one moment that I willna come back tae ye, lass. I will always come back tae ye.” Even if it wasn’t in the manner she wanted right now. This thing between them would fade, this attraction she had for him. Remy knew that Gretna couldn't possibly have any feelings for someone like him, nor should she.

Oh, but he could dream that she did. He could pine for her, crave her, want her in his mind, his thoughts.

His very soul.

“Remy,” she breathed, her breath rushing past his cheek.

He pressed his lips to her temple and forced himself to step back before he couldn’t. “Ye should get some rest, Gretna.”

She let out a tortured breath and held out her hand. “Only if ye will lie with mah until I fall asleep.”

It would be torturous for him, but how could he deny her anything right now? They were playing a dangerous game, yet it was the only game that would give her the future she wished for.

One that didn’t involve him.

So Remy took her hand and allowed her to lead him to the bed, removing his boots while she removed her shoes. He took the space near the wall, pressing up against the hard stone and fitting her in his arms, her body against his. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine himself with her like this in their small hut after putting their bairns to bed.

“Tell mah wot ye are thinking?”

Remy pressed his face into her hair. “Ye, lass. I’m thinking of ye.” This was all he would be thinking about for the days ahead.