Page 51 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

Gordon carried her to the bed slowly. Her arms remained around his neck until he lowered her gently onto the mattress. When her hands finally slipped away, he felt their absence immediately.

He covered her with the sheets. Then he stood there, staring at her while breathing hard.

What am I doin’? What madness is this?

She looked too small beneath them. He wanted to climb into the bedding and hold her close, but of course, he could not.

He walked to the door and pulled it open, but Ailis murmured his name in her sleep right then, and he froze.

“Gordon,” she muttered again, the breathless sound taking him by surprise. His hand froze on the knob.

Is she dreamin’ of me?

His pulse hammered, and he closed his eyes for a heartbeat, dragging in air to fill his over-labored lungs.

I am doomed, he thought as he closed the door again and walked to the narrow settee in the farthest corner of his chamber.

I will only sit here until she awakes… to keep an eye on her.

Gordon told himself that, but as he settled in to watch Ailis sleep soundly under the covers, a small smile lifted his lips, and soon, he was lost until the day’s exhaustion pulled him under.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Gordon had not slept this soundly in years. He knew it even before he roused to consciousness. He kept his eyes closed and breathed deeply, wondering why the air around him smelled so warm and alive.

Like lavender.

The scent settled in his insides, stirring tingles in him before a shadow fell across his face, before he opened his eyes and his entire body stiffened with awareness as he realized there was someone hovering around him.

His body reacted before his mind could think. His hand moved to his blade, and he surged upward as his eyes flew open. He caught the intruder in a swift move and pressed the steel to the person’s throat.

A gasp tore through the darkness. It was a shaky, breathless one that made Gordon freeze.

Blue eyes stared up at him, wide, round, and terrified.

Ailis.

Her face was pale with terror, her breath coming in quick, frightened pulls.

“Oh, heavens,” he grunted, recalling now that she had slept in his chamber the night before.

Gordon released her as though burned. He stumbled backward.

Ailis pressed one hand to her throat as she fell away from him too, gasping for air as she shook her head.

The fear in her eyes went straight through him. His stomach dropped, and he looked down at his own hand. “I apologize,” he stuttered again.

“Gordon…” Ailis began.

“I didnae…” His chest heaved. “I do apologize.”

One wrong move, and he would have cut her. Gordon’s insides tore with the ravaging burn of guilt as cold slithered through him.

“I didnae mean to hurt ye⁠—”

Ailis reached for him while he rambled again. “It is all right,” she said softly. “It is all right… I am all right, Gordon.” She caught his hand and lifted it to her chest, her fingers warm around his. “I am nae hurt.”

Gordon kept breathing too hard, unable to steady himself, as Ailis lifted his hand and pressed his palm against her chest.