Rescued by a Highlander(39)

She held her breath as the distant sound of footsteps came closer, hoping she wasn’t visible and it was only a guard. A booming “What say you?” caused her to jump up from her spot. Alex’s dark eyes locked with hers. He towered over her much like a dark menace standing with his hand on his sword.

“Maddie?” he asked. “What the devil are you doing here?” He studied her up and down slowly. He tugged at the robe around her. “What are you doing about at this time of night?”

“I could not sleep. I thought fresh air might help. Alex, do you have a moment for us to talk?” she asked as she gazed into his steel gray eyes. She still needed to apologize for hitting him, and she wanted to talk him out of jeopardizing his clan. His eyes almost looked silver in the moonlight. She shivered as his stare raked over her.

“Aye, but you need to keep yourself warm, the nights are cool.” He sat on the stone, pulled her onto his lap, and wrapped his plaid around her. “Now, what has you so upset this eve?”

Maddie sighed relaxing in his warm embrace. How was it she didn’t mind his touch tonight? She forced herself to focus on her words. “I do not know what to do to stop the hurt Kenneth is causing around me. I fear I have endangered your family, and that is not right. You know I would not do anything to hurt any of you. If he attacks, lives may be lost, and it is completely my fault. What can I do to stop this from happening?”

He rested his chin in the hollow of her neck. She loved his warm breath on her skin. “Maddie, it is not your fault. Your stepbrother is a danger to us all. If we do not stop him now, he will continue. Our king wants peace, and I gave my word to keep it. I will not allow Kenneth to threaten my people. It is my job to stop him before he hurts anyone.”

“Maybe it would be better for everyone if I go back. I will not be able to bear it if anyone is hurt because of me.” Maddie twisted her hands back and forth in her lap repeatedly. The only reason she would ever go back to Kenneth’s keep would be to protect Alex and his family.

Alex’s voice turned gravelly. “He will never touch you again. I will not allow it. I gave you my word that I will protect you and I will. And what about you, is it right that he beats you whenever he feels like it? Brenna told me of your bruises when you arrived. I don’t think when we found you it was the first time he beat you.” Alex’s jaw clenched. “Nay, Maddie, you will never go back to him.”

Maddie feared she had made him angry again. “Then maybe I belong in a convent. That may be better for everyone concerned. Neither one would be able to reach me,” she turned and stared at Alex with pleading eyes.

“Maddie, do you no’ trust me to keep you safe? I train my warriors every day to keep my people safe, including you. Why would you want to go to a convent?”

“Alex, you do not understand. Things sometimes are not what they seem.” Maddie cringed at the thought of revealing her past to Alex, but she didn’t want to deceive him. Not being a maiden could cause him to push her away. Men wanted a maiden as their wife. It probably would make him hate her, and he wouldn’t be willing to find her a husband either. He could send her away tomorrow. But honesty was important to her. She could not lie.

“I understand what I need to understand.” As he spoke, he brought his thumb up and grazed it lightly across her cheek, then brought it down to rub her bottom lip. Her heart pounded against her chest. “You are mine, you do not understand it yet, but you will. You belong with me. I know you are no’ ready for it yet, but I can wait.”

He brought his lips down to hers and kissed her lightly. He increased the pressure and ran his tongue across her lip to get her to open to him. She whimpered and leaned into him as she wrapped her arms around him. He ran his hand up and down her arm and lightly brushed her breast. She thought it must have been by accident. She started, but did not pull away.

She moved closer to him, wanting more, not knowing exactly what. But was it right to satisfy her needs when his actions would certainly change after he learned of her secret?

She slowly pushed away from him and whispered, “Alex, you don’t understand. Niles…”

“What is it, Maddie? Whatever it is, it does not matter to me.”

She gazed in his eyes and realized that she loved this man. He was staring at her with such care and concern. She didn’t want to ever leave his arms. But she had to.

She recalled what Alice had said to her about being honest with him. She placed her hand in his and mumbled with her head down, “I am sorry I hit you when you kissed me, Alex. But I cannot seem to stop. When a man touches me, I jump, I cringe.”