Chapter 30 #2
“A lady who kens what she wants,” he murmured. “At last.”
He kissed his way upward. Her skin warmed beneath his mouth as he moved from her breast to the delicate hollow at the base of her throat, then along the line of her neck. His hand never ceased.
Elspeth trembled. Colin felt the change in her before she understood it herself. Her body tightened, her breathing became short and broken, and her grip upon him turned desperate.
He brought his mouth to her ear. “Let it come.”
Pleasure overtook her. She arched against him with a startled cry, her whole body trembling beneath his hand. Colin held her through it, watching wonder cross her face like the first time as she surrendered to something she had once believed women could not feel. The sight was almost unbearable.
“Are ye finding yer pleasure, wife?” he murmured against her ear.
She made an incoherent sound that might have been accusation, agreement, or his name. He kissed her temple.
“That will dae.”
Her eyes opened slowly. She looked dazed, vulnerable, and so beautiful that something painful shifted beneath his ribs.
Colin kissed her before tenderness could betray him further.
Her arms rose around his neck, drawing him down.
She opened beneath his mouth without hesitation, meeting his tongue with an eagerness that nearly undid him.
He kissed her fiercely. She tasted of cold air, desire, and the impossible sweetness of being chosen. Colin settled more fully over her, taking care not to press against the healing wound at her ribs. His body ached for hers, but he forced himself to remain still.
Elspeth felt the effort. Her gaze moved over his face, lingering upon his clenched jaw.
“Ye look as though ye are suffering,” she whispered.
“I am exercising restraint.”
“Is it painful?”
“Presently, aye.”
A wicked spark returned to her eyes. “How unfortunate.”
His mouth almost curved. “Ye will find it less amusing in a moment. Unless ye tell me tae stop.”
Her breath caught. Colin searched her face once more, needing certainty even now.
“I willnae. I want ye.”
The words stripped him of every defense. He lowered his forehead to hers, breathing hard as he positioned himself between her thighs. She remained open beneath him, her trust more intimate than nakedness.
Colin kissed her slowly, but at that very moment, a branch cracked in the trees. Every instinct in him changed as he pulled away from her.
“Hide.”
Elspeth did not argue. That frightened him more than if she had.
She gathered her clothing and moved behind the rocks while Colin seized his sword and pulled on his breeches. Another sound came and a horse emerged from the trees.
The man upon it was one of the four Colin had stationed at the northern passage. Blood covered half his tunic. Colin ran and the guard fell before the horse had fully stopped. Colin caught him, lowering him onto the wet grass.
“What happened?”
“Men,” the guard gasped. “Munro’s. Came from above us.”
“How many?”
“Couldnae count.” His face twisted. “The others are dead, me laird.”
Colin’s blood went cold. “All three?”
“Aye.”
Elspeth appeared fully dressed, though badly fastened, leading both their horses. She did not ask questions. Colin saw fear in her face but also trust.
“Can he ride?” she asked.
“He must.”
Together, they lifted the wounded man onto Colin’s horse and secured him before the saddle. Colin mounted behind him. Elspeth took the grey mare and the other horse.
“Stay beside me,” Colin ordered.
For once, she only nodded.
They rode hard. By the time the castle came into view, the guard had lost consciousness. Men ran from the gate at Colin’s shout. Fionn was summoned, and the wounded man was carried into the healer’s chamber with blood dripping from one limp hand.
Colin remained only long enough to hear that the man still breathed, then he turned to Breac and Murdoch.
“Council chamber. Now.”
The following meeting was brief.
“Three men dead at the northern passage,” Colin informed them. “Perhaps more enemies still in the hills.”
Murdoch’s face hardened. “I will take men there.”
“Nae until daylight. Robert may be waiting for us tae ride blind intae the same trap.”
Breac nodded grimly. “Double the walls?”
“Triple the northern watch. Close the smaller gates. Nay one leaves alone.”
His thoughts went to Elspeth before he could prevent it. Murdoch noticed. Wisely, he said nothing.
“At first light,” Colin continued, “send twenty men for the bodies. They come home with honor. Search every foot of the ridge, but nay pursuit beyond our boundary.”
“And if Robert’s men remain?” Breac asked.
Colin looked toward the darkened window. “Then kill them.”
The room fell silent.
A letter had driven Elspeth beyond the walls.
Robert had murdered three men guarding the path into Colin’s lands.
Every threat was drawing closer to the castle, closer to his clan, closer to her.
Colin placed both hands upon the table.
“We have waited long enough,” he said. “From this night onward, Robert Munro isnae merely an enemy.”
His gaze moved between Breac and Murdoch.
“He is war.”