Page 66 of Defy the Highlander

It was beauty beyond measure.

Brody’s mouth fused with hers again, kissing her with all the adoration and lust he felt for her. The woman was embedded in every fiber of his being, a part of him as he could have never imagined. The experience of their first coupling had been one of the greatest moments of his life, knowing that this woman was made for him and him alone.

There was no doubt in his mind.

When the heavy breathing eventually faded and their bodies relaxed, he pulled her into a snug embrace as he lay there, staring at the ceiling.

“Are ye well?” he whispered. “I dinna hurt ye, did I?”

Lilia was burrowed against him. “Nay,” she said. “But now I realize something.”

“What?”

“I know why Lady Currie is so anxious tae do… this. It all makes sense now.”

Brody started to laugh, his body shaking gently. “But not with everyone.”

“Nay, not with everyone. Only with ye.” She paused a moment. “I have a confession tae make, Brody.”

“What is it?”

“When I first took ye tae Hawkhill, do ye remember when I barged intae the cottage while ye were taking a bath?”

He thought back. “Aye,” he said. “Ye were embarrassed.”

She grinned. “A little. But I caught a glimpse of yer naked arse and I liked it.”

“Do ye still like it?”

“Better than before.” Her smile faded as she looked into his eyes. “I love ye, Brody McKay. I’ll love ye until I die.”

“And I, ye.”

He kissed her forehead, pulling her closer if such a thing was possible. As he cuddled with her, feeling her body relax as she began to doze, there was a knock at the door.

“Brody? Brody, are you in there?”

Lilia’s head shot up so fast that she clipped him in the chin. “It’s Lady Currie!”

Terror filled the air. Brody was on his feet in a flash, pulling her off the bed. “Get under the bed,” he whispered urgently. “Hurry!”

Lilia dropped to her knees, rolling under the small bed as Brody shoved a coverlet in after her. But he was mindful to reply to the woman just outside his door.

“What do ye want?” he boomed.

There was a pause as he tucked the coverlet in and around Lilia to shield her from all angles. “I want to speak with you, please,” Lady Currie said, muffled.

With Lilia covered, Brody moved for the door but he realized he was stark naked. Quickly, he grabbed his breeches from the bottom of the bed where he’d kicked them off and yanked them onto his body. He was fastening the ties as he unbolted the door and opened it.

The door cracked open to reveal Lady Currie standing there, wrapped up in her finery and smiling politely at him. He looked around outside to see if anyone had accompanied her, but she appeared quite alone.

“How did ye find my cottage?” he asked warily.

She maintained her polite smile. “I gave one of the camp guards a coin and he told me,” she said. “May I come in?”

“Nay. State yer business, please.”

She struggled to keep the smile on her face. “I was hoping we could… speak.”