Page 18 of A Highlander’s Heart

Despite them both sprawled on the floor with the chance of anyone entering the hut, he leaned forward and instead of her pushing him away, she waited, studied him as he moved closer and covered her lips with his.

Since Enoch had already taken Morgan to the small creek behind the hut for his daily ablutions earlier in the day, the scent of the soap he’d used surrounded her.

During his bath, he’d shaved his chin and cheeks, so he had no stubble and his lips were full and softer than she’d thought. He must have picked some mint to chew while outside with Enoch because she could taste the fragrant herb. He started off slowly, but obviously a man his age certainly knew how to kiss a woman. He nipped at her lips, then slid his tongue into her mouth, shocking her. But in an interesting way. She’d had no idea such a thing would cause such a reaction through the rest of her.

The flutters had spread throughout most of her body, adding the need to move closer to Morgan’s familiar warmth. His large hand left her face and his arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her even closer.

Hearing a noise behind them, she pulled back and covered her mouth with her fingers, her eyes wide.

The door to the healing hut opened and Elizabeth, one of the kitchen maids, entered. “Oh, my goodness, Emma. Did ye both fall?”

“Nay,” Morgan answered, apparently much more composed than she. “I fell out of bed and Emma was trying to see if I made my injury worse.”

Still feeling the heat in her face, Emma stood and brushed off her skirts. “I shall get one of the men to help ye back up.” Before he could answer, she scooted off and hurried from the room.

Whatever was wrong with her? Morgan Gunn was a prisoner. Well, mayhap not a prisoner, but an enemy who had attacked their castle and was recovering from a serious injury.

Chapter Nine

Morgan drew up his good leg and rested his forearm on his knee. Bollocks, that had been a bad idea. After spending so much time with Emma, and not only admiring her bonny face and curvy body, he’d also been taken in by her kindness and bit of spirit when she came back at him. No weak lass was his healer Emma Mackenzie.

His?

Whoever the maid had been that interrupted them walked closer to him. “I canno’ help ye up, but do ye want me to bring yer evening meal tray over from the table Emma left it on?”

Tray? He was still trying to calm his body down and was grateful for time to do so while Emma was out of the hut and wouldn’t see how she had affected him.

He smirked. “Nay, I’ll wait until I’m off the floor.”

The maid blushed. “Of course.” She dipped in a curtsy and left the room. Minutes later, the door opened and Emma and Enoch entered.

With the three of them they got Morgan back on his feet and onto his bed. Emma glared at him. “I hope ye dinna cause damage to yer stitches.”

She turned to Enoch. “Thank ye, lad. I spoke to the laird once more and he said ye should be free to join me all the time in a couple of days.”

Enoch nodded and left the hut. Emma picked up the tray of food she’d brought for Morgan and placed it on the table next to him.

With just the two of them in the hut again, he noticed Emma seemed a bit uncomfortable and kept her distance from him. “Once I am back from eating my evening meal, I will help ye up and let ye walk a bit.”

“Outside?”

She thought for a minute. “Aye.”

He picked up a piece of bread and then grinned, wanting to see the redness on her cheeks again, even if this time it was from annoyance. “Then I can return to Clyth Castle?”

She sighed and her serious expression wasn’t the one he’d been trying to cajole from her. She was concerned for him, he realized. “Please stop asking me that. I will ken when I feel it’s safe for ye to return.

“However, remember, that is no’ my decision. Right now ye are considered a prisoner of Laird Daniel Mackenzie. He will be the one to decide if and when ye can return.”

She shook her head slowly. Was that sympathy he saw there? “My job is to make sure ye keep from damaging yer ribs more and seeing that the gash is healed enough for me to feel comfortable in declaring my work finished.”

He shrugged. “What would be the point if I will be thrown into the dungeon once ye are finished?”

Emma stopped examining him and looked into his eyes. “I canno’ speak for the laird but I know him to be a fair mon, as well as a smart one. I believe he would no’ allow ye to be under my care these two weeks if that was his intention once ye are healed.”

He shrugged. “Mayhap yer laird intends to ransom me. Although, I doubt my uncle would spend one coin to set me free, even though I am his heir.”

It bothered Morgan, because as laird there were so many things that he would do with the Gunn clan that needed doing. His uncle was stingy with the tenants, the very people who supported the castle.