Page 24 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

She glanced away, and he allowed her escape, fearing he didn’t want to hear her answer.

“I thought perhaps you were angry with me and had brought me out here to punish me. You’re so large, and a warrior. I don’t think I’d survive it.”

It took a few seconds for him to put her words together into some form of sense. Even then he was in shock at the absurdity.

“You think…” He paused to clear the anger from his voice. It wouldn’t do to be mad at her while explaining how wrong she was about his being angry. “You think I would bring you out here and beat you?”

She bit her lip and shook her head.

Maybe he had misunderstood after all. He hoped so.

“You don’t understand,” she finally said.

“Please explain it to me so I can understand.”

“I thought maybe you were upset. You looked upset when you came for me in the kitchens.”

He huffed out a breath and shook his head. “I dinna like seeing you working in the kitchens. You’d been a duchess before, and my station doesn’t allow you many luxuries. I was upset with myself for not being able to give you a life fit for someone like you. I wasn’t angry with you, I swear it.”

She blinked at him. “I think I might have known that in my heart, but then my mind took the small thread of fear and added on to it, piecing together memories and other fears until it got so out of control I could no longer breathe. It’s happened before. I can’t seem to stop it when it starts. Even though I see now how unrealistic my thoughts were, at the time they seemed utterly possible and imminent.”

He brushed her hair back and pulled her against him, thinking over what she’d shared. What terrible hell did she live in? And how could he help her out of it? Her demons weren’t ones he could slay with his sword.

“Do you trust that I’m a man of my word, Mari?” he asked, pulling away so he could look at her.

She nodded and offered a soft “Yes.”

“I’ll not promise that I’ll never be angry with ye. That seems the way of husbands and wives at times. But I can assure you, when I’m mad at you, you’ll know it. I’m not the kind of man to let things dwell. I speak my mind right then. But it will only be speaking—occasionally, I may have cause to bluster a bit, but it will only be words. It will never be fists or anything physical.”

She nodded again but didn’t look convinced.

“By the saints, I swear I’ll never lure you off to the woods to punish ye. We might go to our room to have words, but that would be the extent of it. Words. And I’ll hear yours as well. I’m certain you’ll have plenty to yell at me about. I’m not the most observant man and know little of women.”

Again she nodded in agreement, even though it was clear she didn’t truly believe him.

He placed his forehead against hers, making a connection. “These are things you’ll learn about me in time. I only ask that you don’t make me out to be a monster until you have reason to. Is that fair?”

“Yes. I’ll try to remember.”

“That’s something, I guess.” He barely got the words out before a raindrop landed on her cheek. Another fell on his head and another on his arm. “It appears our adventure is over for the day. Let’s get back to the castle before we’re drenched.”

He took her hand and they ran for the horses. He lifted her into the saddle and they made haste back to Dunardry. After they returned, they were each pulled into their own duties the rest of the day.

That evening at the meal they stole glances at each other. Each time he caught her looking at him he offered a smile, and she smiled back before looking away. At times he thought she was flirting with him, but then he remembered the events of the morning and held back on his plans to woo her.

She was afraid of him.

He’d have to be mindful of his next move so as not to scare her. He would give her space and time to settle with him. There would be time for more once she was comfortable.

He shifted as his cock hardened from looking upon her sweet lips. His body craved hers, but he would not claim her tonight. Or any other night.

Not until she wanted him.

He frowned at his food and wondered how he might speed the process along.

Chapter Ten

After the evening meal, Kenna asked Mari to assist her with finishing a gown in her solar. Since it was a gown meant for Mari, she couldn’t very well refuse, though she had enjoyed the playful glances with her husband across the table and would have liked to spend time with him.