Chapter 32
Leah huddled in the corner of the damp cell, surrounded by old straw and muck. She felt as if she had been brought to a stall for livestock. She didn't dare breathe too deeply; the stench in the air singed her nose and made her stomach twist.
"What's the matter? Nae likin' yer new accommodation? Have nay fear, we'll be out of here a lot sooner than ye think."
"Nay one is comin' Mason, nay one," Leah said as she felt the despair of the situation weigh her down.
"I wouldnae say that," a husky voice proclaimed the moment the cell door swung open. Leah's heart pounded in her chest, and she was at a loss for words.
"Killian? Is that… but I saw ye," Leah whimpered as her voice broke with emotion. "Ye were dead. The hole, I saw it."
"Hush," Killian answered as he slammed into the stone wall with a thud. Leah gasped as she watched him struggle to stay upright.
"Ye daenae look well," Leah whispered as Killian inched closer to her cell with the key in hand. "Ye shouldnae have come. I would have been fine in here until ye were fully recovered."
"And ye think I could allow that to happen?
Ye think I could rest at ease kennin' ye were down here?
Nay, what sort of man do ye take me for?
" Killian asked as he turned the key to her cell and threw open the door.
Leah rushed to his side, throwing her arms around him.
She still couldn't believe he was standing there before her, alive and well.
"Let's get ye back upstairs and in bed. Ye shouldnae be on yer feet at all," Leah said as she tried to guide Killian away from Mason's cell.
"I come to rescue ye and ye're worried about me?
" Killian asked, his face riddled with shock as he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
Leah felt the sting of her tears in the corner of her eyes.
There was no doubt she was dirty and smelly, yet Killian hadn't recoiled from her.
It was as if he wasn't even bothered by her repulsiveness at all.
"I'm nae the one limpin'," Leah answered as Mason rattled the bars to his cell.
"Ye cannae leave me down here," Mason snapped as he rocked like a trapped wild animal. "I'm yer brother."
"And it is because ye are me brother, ye're still alive.
Daenae test me patience with ye," Killian warned.
Leah pursed her lips as Killian pulled her up the steps.
She was grateful he had come for her and more so that he was alive to prove her innocence, but there was something Mason said that hadn't settled well with her.
"Are ye all right?" Killian asked. "Nay one hurt ye while ye were down there, did they?"
Leah's heart swelled with the love she harbored for Killian as he led her through the dark tunnels and secret passages. She shook her head. "I daenae think Fraser would let any of them. It would seem I've grown on him."
"Aye, he once thought ye to an enemy."
"Is that so?"
"Do ye remember when I tried to feed ye before the ceilidh?" Killian asked as he pulled back the tapestry to reveal his bed chamber.
"Aye?" Leah answered as a warm comfort washed over her.
"That was a test Fraser wanted me to do," Killian confessed. "He wanted to see how far ye'd go and how serious ye were to the role."
"Did I pass?" Leah asked as Killian guided her to the plush chair beside the fire and sat her down.
"Ye must have," he answered. "Or he wouldnae have kept ye safe in there. But enough of that talk. I hate to say it, but ye smell to high heaven. I'll have the servants make ye a bath up here so that ye daenae have to see anyone."
Leah squeezed Killian's hand before she let him go and watched him make his way to the door.
As much as she wanted him to stay, being able to get clean was too much to pass up.
She turned her attention to the fire and tried to purge her mind of all that had happened.
The fact that Killian was still alive washed through her like a tonic, soothing every ache and pain she ever had.
"What are ye thinkin' about?" Killian asked, pulling Leah from her thoughts. She hadn't heard him return but was thrilled to find him by her side.
"I'm worried about ye," Leah answered. "Ye lost a lot of blood and ye’re walkin' around like ye can conquer the world."
"Maybe I can," Killian teased as he clenched his side and slumped to the bed.
"Ye were sayin'?" Leah scolded as the door swung open and servants came flooding in to set up the wooden tub.
Leah didn't dare say what was on her heart as she watched the servants rush into the room with pails of hot water.
One after another, they came until the tub was finally full. Killian stood and walked to the door.
"Ye’re nae leavin' me are ye?" Leah asked as she found her chest tightened with panic.
"Nay," Killian answered. "I was lockin' the door for some privacy."
"Ye daenae have to do that. I daenae think anyone is goin' to come in here."
"Ye'd be surprised," Killian said as Leah watched his eyes shoot to the place he fell.
"I'm sorry I wasnae there for ye," Leah said as Killian walked over to the chair and grabbed one of the clean clothes.
"Let's nae speak about this day," Killian said as he motioned for her to come to him. Leah eased herself from the chair and started peeling what remained of her dress. A smile played on Killian's lip as he watched her.
"What are ye thinkin' of?" Leah asked, feeling heat rush to her cheeks.
"Thinkin' of how many dresses I've had to buy ye," Killian teased. "Do all women go through so many? Or are ye the exception?"
Leah chuckled lightly as she took Killian's hand and stepped into the huge wooden tub. Steam rose around her, and the hot water soothed her aches and pains. She lowered herself into the water, letting its warmth take away her troubles.
"I may be the exception," Leah answered as she leaned back and closed her eyes. Being with Killian was the safest place she had ever been. How she could think to leave him baffled her, especially when it was so easy to love him.
"Leah, I… there's somethin' we need to discuss," Killian said as he dipped his hand into the water and let the cloth soak it up before draining it over Leah's bare shoulders.
"Ye still want me to go, daenae ye?" Leah mumbled. In the depths of her being, she wished she could take back the words, but it was too late. They hung in the air between them like a dark cloud of smoke, threatening to choke out any hope they had of being happy.
"Aye," he whispered. "It's too dangerous for ye here. It was bad enough ye were thrown in the dungeons, what if I hadnae called for ye or shown any signs of bein' alive? Then what? Alan would have killed ye within the hour."
"Ye daenae ken that," Leah said, despite the evidence that suggested otherwise.
"I think we both do," Killian said. "But I'm nae ready to let ye go."
Leah turned to face him. Molding her hand to his face, she lured his lips to meet hers.
The moment their lips touched, Leah's heart drummed with a thrill she couldn't explain.
The kiss grew into a hunger she couldn't control.
It was a need she had to have quenched as she clawed for Killian to join her in the tub.
"Gentle," Killian whispered with her lips crushed to his.
"I daenae want to go," Leah pleaded as Killian's arms dove into the water. He curled his arms around her and plucked her from the tub as if she were a mermaid.
"I daenae want ye to either, but do ye think I could live with myself if somethin' were to happen to ye? Do ye nae ken how much ye mean to me? Nay, ye have to."
"Let me stay, just tonight. Let me have this moment before ye send me away from ye," Leah pleaded as her fingers dug into the hair at the nape of his neck. Killian's stoic expression softened as he lowered her to the bed.
"Ye daenae ken what ye’re askin' of me," Killian whimpered as Leah could see his resolve waning. She craned her neck to meet his lips. As her tongue parted his lips, Killian crawled over the edge of the bed. Leah's heart fluttered in her stomach as Killian settled between her wet thighs.
Leah watched as he entered her, filling her with every inch of his manhood he could ram into her.
A small whimper escaped from her as Killian found his rhythm.
Leah threw her head back, savoring Killian surrounding her and loving her.
His lips grazed the length of her neck as she wrapped her legs around his body, pinning him to her.
There was a desperation, a need that couldn't be quenched.
The fire burned ever brighter. Leah gave herself to Killian.
Every dream, heartache, tear, laugh, and wish she ever had or would have had, she gave to him that night.
And as she poured herself out to him, Leah could feel Killian desperate to return the favor.
As the shadows of night drifted by, Leah remained entangled with Killian. She didn't know where her body stopped, and his body started. And as Killian filled her with perfect bliss, Leah's heart cried for more.
"Killian," Leah whispered the name as if it were something sacred to be cherished.
"Daenae say anythin'," he panted next to her as he toiled with his kilt and tossed it off him the moment the straps came undone. "Let us just savor this moment."
Leah nodded as Killian shifted. She rolled into the nook of his arm and found her place at his side.
Her heart ached, knowing what the morning would bring.
But as Killian played with her hair, Leah couldn't help but be lulled to sleep.
In the warmth of Killian's embrace, Leah let the world fall away.