Chapter 19
Archer woke up, and for a moment, he didn’t know where he was. There was a familiar yet confusing warmth in his body, and it was only when he shifted in the darkness that he remembered he was in bed with Eileen after she’d nearly fainted from the shock of remembering Mack.
He flexed his arm, which had gone numb, gently moving it beneath her so as not to disturb her sleep. He glanced around the room, concluding that it was the middle of the night based on the darkness outside the small window and the scent of the night breeze.
Warmth seeped into his body as Eileen clung to him in her sleep, and he dipped his head to nuzzle her.
The scent of lavender emanated from her hair, and a sweaty sweetness clung to her skin after being intimate.
Most of the feeling in his body resided in his stiff manhood, which was ready to claim her, delve deep inside of her warmth, but she had fallen asleep after the climax that ripped through her body sapped her energy.
He would wait for her readiness to go further.
As his arm came awake, he pulled her naked body into his, enjoying the way her soft curves fit against his hard planes—her breasts squished against his hard chest, her midriff on his, her thigh against his rock-hard shaft.
He had half a mind to wake her and make love to her, but she’d been through enough for now and needed some rest.
He basked in the cool air filtering through the window, counteracting the warmth of his betrothed. He moved his hand around to her back and rubbed gently up and down her spine, his manhood twitching as he did.
It was not a one-time occurrence. He’d woken up many times in bed with women. Perhaps they didn’t quite cling to him as Eileen did, but it was not so different. Yet, Eileen was different.
It’s ‘cause I ken her better than them.
The women he’d bedded over the years were women he didn’t want any involvement with, and he barely knew them before bedding them, often meeting them in the tavern when he was there with Calum. He hadn’t planned to get to know Eileen as well as he had, and that had changed everything that night.
There was more in his arms than just the woman.
He held her character, personality, integrity, and charm.
She would not be told to leave in the morning.
He would see her in the castle again, and as they had to pretend to be betrothed, she would stick around.
He would bed her again—that he knew and wanted.
It was unusual among the women he brought into his bed.
They were a means to an end, a way to take out his frustrations. Eileen had done that a few hours ago, but there was still more to it than just that.
Archer leaned forward to kiss her on the temple when he felt the air shift. It was so slight that it was almost imperceptible.
There was no time to lose.
He rolled her quickly but gently, not wanting her to make a noise. He was out of bed in an instant, his bare feet silent as they touched the floor.
There was no light beneath the door, but the shadows shifted ever so slightly.
Archer didn’t have time to waste. Instead of grabbing a garment, his hand found his dirk.
He took it to the door, sensing the man on the other side.
He didn’t give the intruder time to react.
He steadied himself, reached for the handle, and yanked the door open to see a figure standing in the darkness.
His instincts kicked in, immediately noticing no weapon in the man’s hands. He thrust his dirk up sideways, grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt, and slammed him back against the wall, the blade ready to slit his throat.
“I didnae think ye’d be this pleased to see me,” Calum drawled, glancing downward.
“Och, what are ye doin’, sneakin’ around?” Archer hissed, quickly stepping back from him.
Calum looked over Archer’s shoulder at Eileen’s sleeping form. He smiled, but it quickly soured when he remembered the matter at hand.
“It concerns Lady Eileen,” he began. “It’s her braither. The scouts we sent to O’Gunn… well, they’re back, and they’ve brought Reid with them.”
“Reid?” Archer echoed, furrowing his brow. “Ye’re sure?”
“Aye, positive. He hasnae said much, but he did give them his name when they found him.”
“What happened?”
“I dinnae ken yet. From what I heard, they found him in the woods nae far from where they were stationed. They brought him straight back here under the cover of night.”
“Who else kens?” he asked.
“The scouts who brought him back, one guard at the front gates, the healer, and now yerself.”
“Mack?” Archer prompted.
“Nothin’ from him since the feast. He hasnae spoken to anyone he shouldnae, and he’s in his bed as we speak. I had someone double-check that he didnae see Reid bein’ brought into the castle. We dinnae want to tip our hand if we can help it.”
“Aye, very wise,” Archer whispered. “The fewer people who ken, the better. I want ye to talk with the scouts and the guard. Nay one is to mention the name Reid Kilmatin until we find out what happened to him. If he’s in rough shape, maybe he escaped O’Gunn, and we dinnae want the bastard to ken that we have him just yet. And keep eyes on Mack, just in case.”
“It’ll be done,” Calum said. “What of the lass?”
“I’ll wake her,” Archer murmured. “If I let her sleep until the mornin’ and then tell her that her braither arrived durin’ the night, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Calum nodded. “Might I suggest, Me Laird, that ye get dressed afore comin’ down?”
“Well, now, that’s me decision, is it nae?” Archer gave a cheeky smile.
“Aye, that’s true, but Reid Kilmartin is already in rough shape. Perhaps he doesnae need any more surprises.”
“Aye, might be best to talk to him fully clothed,” Archer relented.
“Ye’re a wise man, Archer.”
Archer chuckled as he went back into the room and Calum strode off down the hallway. He placed his dirk on the bedside table and knelt on the edge of the bed, his other blade softening—there were other things to deal with.
“Mmm,” Eileen moaned as she rolled over, half-awake. “Were ye talkin’ to someone?”
“They found him,” Archer told her. “Yer braither is back.”
“What!” Eileen was suddenly awake. She sat up in bed, the blankets having fallen away to reveal her plump bosom. “Reid’s back? Here in the castle?”
“Aye,” Archer confirmed, finding it hard to concentrate when her breasts looked divine in the moonlight.
Eileen threw her arms around him. “I believed ye would find him for me. Thank ye, Archer. Ye have nay idea how much this means to me.”
“I’m startin’ to,” Archer admitted.
Eileen didn’t slow down. She kissed his cheeks, mouth, and neck, then mouth again, and they fell into a kiss, slow and deliberate this time. A kiss filled with gratitude and emotion.
Archer groaned as he felt his member stiffen again. He wrapped his arms around her warm body, longing to keep her in bed when he knew she would spring up at any moment, needing to visit her brother.
They broke apart, but Eileen remained dangerously close to him. He looked into her eyes, large like the moon, wet like she’d been hours ago.
“Thank ye,” she whispered.
She put a hand on his cheek, soft against his rough stubble. She held it there, gazing into his eyes, overcome by the emotion of getting her brother back.
“I made a promise to ye,” Archer murmured.
“Aye, ye did.”
Still, her hand remained on his cheek. Her breathing was soft and slow, her chest rising and falling gently. She leaned forward and pecked his lips softly before the tears began to flow.
“It’s goin’ to be all right,” he soothed, wrapping her arm around her.
Eileen leaped from the bed and out of his grip, just as he’d expected.
“They’re tears of joy,” she said. “I thought he might be dead. I tried nae to fear the worst, but it’s hard nae to.”
“He’s safe now.” Archer didn’t exactly know that. He only knew that Reid was in the castle.
“I need to find him.” Eileen looked around wildly, turning in circles. “I need to speak with him.”
“Maybe ye should put on some clothes first,” Archer suggested. “We could both do that, and I’ll take ye to him. He’s with the healer. But we need to be quiet as we go to him.”
Eileen stopped spinning around, and her expression turned serious and grim. “‘Cause there’s a traitor still and ye didnae want him leakin’ information to O’Gunn.”
“Aye,” Archer confirmed. “Ye’re a smart lass, Eileen.”
“Come on, we have nay time to waste,” Eileen urged. She turned around, looking for her clothes.
“Let me help ye.”
Archer finally got off the bed and helped her search for her clothes, most of which were strewn across the floor. He helped her into her dress before he himself got dressed.
They both left the room barefoot, moving silently down the dark hallway.
Archer felt something brush his arm as he walked, and then Eileen slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze.
Once they were down the stairs and away from the main bedrooms, he said, “I dinnae ken what state he’s in, but he’s been gone a long time and only just shown up—we daenae ken much, but I want ye to be forewarned that yer braither might be in a bad shape.”
“I dinnae care,” Eileen said. “I only care that he’s back to me.”
And I want to ken what happened to him and whether O’Gunn did kidnap him.
They slowed down when they reached the healer’s chambers. Eileen had seen the healer not so long ago, and the healer had helped her. Would the same hold with her brother?
Archer didn’t knock when he got to the door, pushing it open gently. He looked around."
"We cannae have people see us goin’ in together like this or they might wonder who we’re vistin’. If anyone asks, ye tell them that ye had a relapse after yer episode."
Eileen nodded.
Archer slipped quietly inside with Eileen.
The healer turned to them. “Good, ye’re both here.”
“How’s he doin’?” Archer asked.
“I’ll be honest,” the healer began, before looking at Eileen. “Yer braither is strong, there’s nay doubt about it, but he was wounded pretty badly. He hasnae been properly treated until he got back here, so he’s a little sickly.”
Eileen gripped Archer’s hand tightly. “I need to see him.”
“I dinnae think that’s a good—” the healer cautioned.
“She’ll see her braither,” Archer cut in. “I’ll be with her.”
“Aye, all right, but just dinnae agitate him or anythin’ like that. He needs his rest.”
“I only want to see him breathin’, that’s all,” Eileen insisted.
The healer pursed her lips, then moved out of the way.
Eileen and Archer approached the bed together. The room was dim, lit only with one candle near the door, so only minimal light was cast on the bed and the man sleeping on it.
Reid Kilmartin was indeed in bad shape. His face was twisted in a grimace as he slept, as if in pain. The blankets were pulled down to cover only his legs, despite the slight chill in the room. Bandages were wound around his chest, covering most of his torso, stained black and red.
Bruising covered his upper chest and neck, and a bandage was wrapped around his right upper arm, also stained with blood.
His left arm had fared better but was still cut multiple times, the wounds open and bright.
He had one black eye, the bruise twice the size of his eyes, and a large gash on his cheek, which would add to the scars he already carried.
His hair was matted where he’d bled from a head wound.
Eileen knelt by the bed, and Archer went down with her when she didn’t let go of his hand. She only released him when they were both kneeling, and she brought her hands together to pray.
Reid coughed in his sleep, and his breathing became raspy. He let out a moan.
Eileen wept as she prayed for her brother. Archer didn’t move from his spot, his shoulder pressed to hers.
Reid muttered something, and his lids fluttered open for a moment, his eyes rolling in their sockets before he closed them tight and winced again at the pain.
“We’re doin’ everything we can for him,” the healer said from behind.
“Please help me braither,” Eileen prayed. “Please watch over him as he comes back to us.”
Archer put his arm around her.
Reid opened his eyes again as if he were trying to escape a nightmare. He furrowed his brow in concentration, but his eyelids fell shut again.
“I’m here,” Eileen whispered.
She reached out a hand, but pulled it back without touching him in case she caused more pain.
“Aye,” he muttered.
“Aye, I’m here,” she confirmed.
“Aye,” Reid repeated. There was a pause before he added, “Eileen.”
“Aye, Reid. I’m here with ye. Ye’re safe again.” Eileen smiled, then burst into tears.
Archer pulled her closer, the two of them still kneeling.
Reid struggled against his heavy eyes again and turned his head to look at his sister. “Och,” he croaked. “Ye’ve… always been… an ugly crier… Eileen.”
His last ounce of strength left his body, and his eyes closed again as he snorted and fell into another fitful sleep.
Eileen burst out laughing, then choked on a sob, the salty tears falling down her cheeks to the hay-covered floor below.
“Come here,” Archer murmured, pulling her into his embrace. “He’ll be fine, I promise ye. And when I find out who did this to him, I’ll kill them all.”
“Ye’re a good man, Archer Fleming. Ye’re a good, good man.”
Archer felt something well up in his chest. It was a good thing he didn’t have to speak because a lump had formed in his throat. He tried to be a good laird, but he didn’t know about being a good man.
He’d not thought that of himself since before his father was killed. He didn’t think it now, but as Eileen said the words, he came close to believing it.