Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
As they rode, the wind screamed around Cameron’s head. He knew that this was a mistake, that he should have insisted that they go back to the castle. But Margo’s energy was intoxicating.
“Daenae get too far from me!” he called after her.
She turned back to him, flashing him a grin before she continued on her way. She did not pull too far ahead, but she went far enough to test his resolve. Instead of yelling again or forcing her back, he picked up his own pace, refusing to let her out of his sight.
Something deep-seated and instinctual seemed to be yelling for him to follow her anywhere. She was the kind of woman that shouldn’t be held back. She thrived in these situations.
At least, in this moment, it seemed as though she did.
He knew that his body, the bubbling desire he had for her, was controlling his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop it. Her joy felt worth his animal brain running the show. If true danger presented itself, he would intervene. That’s why he had to stay so close.
“The wind is pickin’ up!” he called just as the weather began to shift.
Margo slowed, but did not stop. Sweeping gusts battered the land. The cliffs themselves seemed to be upset. It was as though they were trying to eject both of them from the earth.
Then, as if in slow motion, Margo’s horse slipped. Her hoof landed on uneven terrain. The wind roared, strong enough to push Margo in her seat.
Before he could think, Cameron was rushing forward. As the mare steadied herself, he grabbed onto Margo with both hands, hauling her from the saddle. As soon as he ahd pulled her away from the edge, he dismounted, putting both hands on her shoulders and steadying her on the ground.
His hands slid over her body, checking her for any injuries. Her chest rose and fell heavily, but she did not push him off. It seemed that the shock of what had just happened had rendered her completely speechless.
“Have ye lost yer mind?!” he demanded, his furious relief coming out as anger. “I told ye.”
“I am fine,” Margo said, instantly dismissing the danger she had been in as soon as she could get her voice to work.
“Fine?” he snapped, his hands stalling on her elbows. “Ye werenae fine! Ye were one step away from breakin’ yer neck. If it hadnae been for me and the horse’s skill—”
“I was righted before you pulled me off,” she countered, her face flushing with the power of her indignation. “And if you truly didn’t want me to come, you did not have to follow!”
“I allowed ye to come and I followed ye because I kent ye would come alone if I told ye nay,” Cameron countered harshly. “If I hadnae come with ye, nay one would have kent if somethin’ were to happen to ye! Ye could come back to the castle heavily injured or not at all!”
“It would have spared me a lecture!” she smiled back at him, her own anger dissipating so rapidly that it left her shaken.
There is nay way that she is truly smilin’. She’s wind-beaten and nearly lost her life, and she’s smilin’!
“Are ye tryin’ to provoke me?” he growled, his hands moving to her waist.
She went quiet, as if she were processing his touch. That damned smile was still fixed upon her lips, though. It was infuriating.
Somewhere below, the sea crashed against the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff. Margo’s breathing came faster now, her pink lips parting. They were so close that he could feel the warmth of each breath she exhaled.
His gaze settled on her wind-battered lips, her mouth still carved in this teasing smile.
She never seemed to stop challenging him, even when she was scared, even when he was sure that she knew better.
Worst of all, that pretty mouth somehow made him want things that he had spent years denying himself.
Slowly, painstakingly, he dragged his eyes up to hers. She was watching him with open interest, her hazel eyes calling to him even louder than the howling wind. When a curl fell loose from her braid, sweeping in front of her face, she didn’t even flinch.
He reached forward, still letting his body guide his actions rather than his mind. As he tucked the hair behind her ear, his knuckle skimmed the soft skin there. She gasped softly, a tiny shiver running through her body; and that tiny reaction was enough to break him.
For days, Cameron had avoided her, found reasons to be out of the castle or locked in his study. For days now, he had vacated the chambers that had belonged to him. For days, he had convinced himself that what he was doing was protecting her…and himself.
But I daenae ken if this will be any better.
He leaned in, capturing her lips in a claiming kiss. His hands tightened on her waist, hard enough to leave bruises through the layers of fabric, and he brought her closer. The world seemed to narrow down around them, down to her, down to this moment.
The wind whipping around them created a bubble for them. The sea crashing wildly below matched the storm in his mind. He could still envision the way she’d looked at him; and the way she felt in his arms, the way she moaned lightly at his touch, was enough to drive him crazy.
Licking into her mouth, driving the kiss even deeper, he couldn’t care less about the contract. The Clan was the last thing on his mind. He even forgot about himself as he pressed in closer, trying to consume every bit of her, needing to have her completely.
He no longer cared about the fall Margo nearly took nor the way the salt spray from the sea was wetting their clothes. He wanted to take her, to claim every inch of her right here. She was his wife, after all.
As she melted further into him, he remembered exactly why she was his wife. He had taken her in exchange for a bargain, to make good on a debt owed to his clan. While she might have been kissing him because she wanted him, it could all be because of the duty she felt she owed him.
That she had no choice.
Cameron kissed Margo harder, his tongue dominating her mouth shamelessly. Her tongue met his, hesitant at first, getting more confident as the seconds ticked by. She was learning, trying to match his own enthusiasm.
Do I even care about the difference when she feels like this in me hands? Me father wouldnae.
The thought hit him abruptly. He jerked away, breaking the kiss and looking down at Margo with dawning horror. He would become his father, if he did not stop right now. He drew a shaky breath and steadied himself. He would not touch her again.
There was no way to know if she truly wanted his touch. She was here under duress. He would keep her safe, even if that meant keeping her safe from himself.
Without speaking, he rested a hand on her elbow and turned her around. With a gentle push, he guided her to her horse. Then, as gently as he could, he helped her into his saddle.
Margo sat atop her horse, confused at what had just transpired. Her lips still tingled from meeting his. She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her waist.
He did not look at her as he walked back to his own horse. Gracefully, he pulled himself into the saddle. And, without glancing at her, he said, “Ye go ahead of me so I can ensure ye’re safe.”
“Of course,” she said, pressing her riding cane against the mare’s rump.
When she took her place in front of Cameron, she waited until she heard his horse begin its measured canter. Then, she set a steady pace. As they went, she felt his eyes burning into her.
The wind around them grew even stronger, and Margo shifted slightly. Though she’d joked after her near fall, it had scared her. She had already felt the Land being hostile, and now she had proof.
Perhaps whatever spirits call this place their home can tell that I am nae meant to be here, no matter how much I think I might fit in.
As they rode, she looked over her shoulder at Cameron. His eyes darted away, almost as if he did not trust himself to look at her. She wondered if she had done something wrong, if she had given him reason to pull away the way that he had.
“I wish I knew what to do,” she whispered to the mare, careful to keep her voice low enough that the wind wouldn’t carry it to the man behind her. “I am more confused now than I have ever been.”
As the castle came into view, she wondered when she had begun to yearn for his touch.
It must have been somewhere between leaving the village and riding along the cliff.
When he pulled her against him, she had not wanted to escape.
She had welcomed his mouth against hers.
As soon as he withdrew the contact, she had longed for it to return.
It did not take them very long to reach the gates. The guards greeted them, and Margo did her best to smile. After the day she’d had, though, their gaze felt much more critical than it had when they left.
“I will take yer mare, me Lady,” the groom said, running forward to greet them.
He must have been informed of our approach.
Margo hopped down, passing the riding cane to the man. She turned, looking to see if Cameron was still following her. She couldn’t decide whether she was disappointed or angry that he had so quickly occupied himself with the guards.
“Margo!”
She turned, a real smile spreading over her face when she saw Eleanor running toward her. Her sister’s hair was done; likely the work of Tilly. There was an excited little bounce in her gait.
“There you are,” Margo said, opening her arms to allow Eleanor to hug her. When they parted, Margo asked, “I hope your day was enjoyable?”
“It was,” Eleanor confirmed, grabbing Margo’s wrist and dragging her toward the castle’s main entrance. “I want to hear about your day. What did you see? Could I go next time?”
Margo’s thoughts faltered as she was uncertain about what she should say. Finally, she decided on “We visited the most charming fishing village. The people there are so kind.”
“The sea isn’t too far from here, then?” Eleanor asked, marching Margo straight up the stairs, seeming to make a beeline for her chambers.
“It is less than an hour by horseback,” Margo confirmed.
“And I can come next time?” Eleanor pressed again, clearly not willing to let the subject fall.”
“I will have to speak with Laird MacLeod,” Margo said carefully. “The lands here are unlike the lands in England.”
“It feels as if they’re alive, doesn’t it?” Eleanor muttered astutely, finally freeing Margo’s arm when they reached her door. “Tilly taught me to feed the kittens while you were away. I would like to help this time.”
“You spent your day in my quarters, didn’t you?” Margo asked, nodding politely at Tilly, who was on the floor with all of the kittens asleep in her lap.
“I spent my day with Tilly and the kittens,” Eleanor corrected as she plopped herself onto the ground next to the maid.
The movement was enough to gently coax the kittens into wakefulness. Slowly, they crawled out of Tilly’s lap, beginning to mewl. Spotting the bottle of milk that Tilly had been keeping nearby, Margo grabbed it and joined the other two on the ground.
“Ye look quite tired, Lady Margo,” Tilly noted as Margo pulled one of the kittens close to her. “Perhaps ye should rest.”
“I will rest once the kittens are fed,” Margo said, almost dismissively. Then, regretting her sharp tone, she added, “Getting them fed will be faster if the three of us work together. Eleanor said you taught her how.”
“Aye!” Tilly said excitedly, passing the orange kitten to Eleanor before picking up the tabby that was trying to pounce on her skirt. “They’re gettin’ so big, though. It willnae be long until they’re drinkin’ milk from the bowl without our help. Then they’ll be eatin’ fish and meat scraps.”
“And then they will work to keep the castle free of rodents,” Eleanor said, carefully spooning milk into the kitten’s mouth. “But I do not know if this one will be any good at it. He seems to prefer sleeping all day rather than playing with his siblings.”
“I think that if I were allowed, I might enjoy doing nothing but napping all day,” Margo mused, laughing at the way the two that weren’t being fed were apparently squabbling over which of them would be fed next.
“Their blanket is incredibly soft, and they get to sleep right next to the hearth. I do not think I can blame him for lying around.”
Tilly laughed quietly, and the room fell silent as they fed the kittens.
Once all five of them had eaten, the women supervised them until they slowly began falling asleep.
Eleanor was the first to begin scooping them up and tucking them in their blanket.
Then, she looked at Margo, her eyes narrowing.
“You do look tired, Margo,” she said after a beat. “Tilly is right. You should get some rest.”
“I will as soon as you leave me be,” Margo teased, laughing when Eleanor stuck her tongue out in protest.
“We will get out of yer space,” Tilly said, placing her hand on Eleanor’s shoulder and gently leading her toward the door. “If ye need anythin’ at all, just call for me.”
“Of course,” Margo said, staying on the ground until they had left the room.
Instead of going to her bed, she crawled over to where the kittens were asleep. Resting her head on the blanket, she stared up at the ceiling. She was beginning to drift off when she heard movement in the adjoining room.
Almost immediately, her eyes shot open. She wondered if she should go to him and demand he explain what happened. The only thing stopping her was her own confusion, her own frustration at the tangled web of emotions in her mind.
What just happened to me?