Page 172 of The Defiant Curse

The Castle

Nightfall

Scotland

Luckily for them, they just made it back when the snow started falling all around them. Any longer, and there was no doubt that the two men would have sent out a search party to make sure they weren’t lost on the estate grounds.

The whole time they rode back, one thing hit them both.

It was absolutely beautiful here in the mountains of Scotland. Oh, and that it appeared they were going to have a white Halloween at this point.

Elizabeth hoped that Ian and Gryphen were good with that for their wedding.

While she could change up decorations, she couldn’t make the weather change.

That was all about Mother Nature and her fickleness.

As they put the horses away and scared the goats together, just to get their giggle on, Ethan did something he hadn’t in a long time.

He gave her his back and expected her to jump on so that he could do something he rarely got to do anymore.

Give Elizabeth a piggyback ride.

They’d done it countless times when they first found each other, and now, he wanted to go back there, feeling her legs around his waist, as she laughed outrageously.

He missed those moments.

So, he tried to recreate this one next.

At first, she went to worry, but she knew he was asking for trust too.

So, she gave it to him.

Hiking up her skirt, she jumped and let him piggyback her into the castle.

At the back door, they headed in and were met with Graham and Michael in the kitchen, sitting at the island.

Both had wet hair, and Elizabeth doubted it was from being out in the snow.

That was shower-sex hair.

She knew it well.

Oh, and she missed it too. Maybe later, when they went to bed, she might be able to convince Ethan of some fun water games. God knew the shower was big enough for some competitive team sports.

Callen, if anything, was predictable.

That was for sure.

“We were just going to send out someone to find you,” Graham admitted, pointing at his husband.

Oh, and the man being pointed at got it.

Michael laughed.

“I see where your loyalties lie when it’s cold and wet outside. I’m the search party.”

Graham gave him a kiss.