Gasping to regain her breath, Hannah forced herself to sit up and when she did, she saw that it was her husband throwing Muir around as if he weighed nothing. What shocked her even more, though, was that his barbaric expression made him barely recognizable.
This was what Blair had warned her about.
This was the savage.
“You dare touch my wife.”
Hannah backed away, Slain’s voice sounding more animal than man.
Muir was barely able to move from the last toss against a thick tree trunk, and she watched as Slain picked him up and flung him as he released a fierce roar that had Hannah cringing.
This time when Muir landed on the ground, his head lolled to the side, his wide, lifeless eyes staring at Hannah.
Hannah feared looking at her husband, for what she might see. She slowly raised her eyes to him. He stood over Muir’s dead body, his eyes narrowed, glaring at her. She saw then that he wore no shirt, only his plaid and boots. His chest heaved as heavy breaths racked his body and flared his nostrils.
He was trying to control the savage.
He walked toward her, every powerful step a warning that he would not go easy on her.
Her own breathing was still labored, though it may have been out of fear from what she had just witnessed.
He came to a stop so close in front of her that she had to crane her neck to look up at him. Fury swirled in his dark eyes and his scowl was so harsh that she thought it might bruise her skin.
She would suffer for this, but first she had to make sure the two women were safe. “The women… I must see that they are all right.”
Slain pursed his lips tightly, his hand shooting out to grab her arm and hoist her roughly to her feet. He rushed her out of the woods at the edge of the village and she was not surprised to see that the cart and the two women had not waited. They were gone. They had their freedom.
He swung her around and hurried her back through the village. People had stirred from their cottages, no doubt having heard Slain’s vicious roar.
Hannah caught sight of Blair and wished that she had not, the fright on the woman’s face when her eyes fell upon Slain and the worry when her eyes went to Hannah, caused her own unease to twist in her stomach.
No one whispered a word, though a few people crossed themselves, and there was a tear or two in some eyes. But not one single person attempted to stop Slain.
A voice raced through Hannah’s head.
Beg him for mercy. Beg him for mercy.
Her worry grew when he rushed her through the Great Hall and up the stone stairs, keeping her from slipping a couple of times. But then his hold was so firm on her arm that there was not a chance of her falling.
He released her with a shove into her bedchamber, slammed the door closed, and turned to face her. The fury had not subsided in his dark eyes, though his breathing was not as heavy.
His lunging step toward her had her stumbling back away from him and once again his hand was there to prevent her from falling, though it left her when her feet were steady.
“You gave me your word.”
Hannah thought she saw a spark of hurt in his eyes, but it was so faint, so foreign there amongst his anger that she could not be sure if she had only wished it there. He was right, though, she had given him her word that she would not leave the village.
“For that I am truly sorry,” she said, sincerity filling her every word. “I was all too familiar with what those poor women suffered and I could not stand by idle. I had to do something.”
“It was not for you to do.”
“If not me,” —Hannah slapped her hand to her chest— “then who? I felt as helpless seeing them as I did when I was in their position. How do I justify doing nothing when I am fully aware of what they suffered?”
“You could have died,” he challenged.
Hannah’s hand dropped away from her chest and her shoulders drooped. “I would rather have died trying to save those women, then have died a little each day because I was too cowardly to do nothing.”
Slain’s fury rose and fell with her every word. While he was angry beyond reason with her for what she had done, he also admired the courage it took to do it. Not only the bravery it took to free the women, but the sheer strength it took to defy him. No woman ever had and any man who had dared tried, regretted it.
“Please believe me when I tell you that I truly regret betraying my word to you, but I will never regret what I did for those women.”
“You should have come to me.”
“And what would you have done? Tell me it did not concern me and dismiss it without thought?”
“You think that little of me?” Slain snapped, annoyed that she may have been right and wondering what he would have done.
“I know little of you.”
“You do not want to know more of me,” he warned.
“You are my husband yet a stranger to me. How do I trust a stranger? How do I bring any concern of mine to you when you will not even share a meal with me and,” —she silently warned herself to hold her tongue, but her words were out before she could stop them— “how am I to be intimate with you when you do not even speak to me?” She shook her head. “Why did you truly wed me?”
“To settle a debt.”
His curt words pierced her more painfully than she had expected. What did it matter though? As she had expressed to him… they were strangers. Their marriage had served a purpose for them both, his to settle a debt and hers for protection.
“We mean nothing to each other,” she said, though she had not meant to say it aloud.
“On the contrary, wife. You are my responsibility and I take that seriously. As I have told you before, I will protect you and see you kept safe.”
“Aye,” Hannah said with a nod, “so you have shown me.”
“And you will show me respect by keeping your word to me.”
It was not a question nor a warning, simply what would be, and Hannah nodded once again.
“A dutiful wife,” she said on a sigh not able to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
You cannot live on dreams and wishes, Hannah.
Another of her mum’s warnings she had learned the hard way, and her present situation confirmed it even more. There would be no love or an ounce of caring from the man she wed. She was no more than a responsibility to him. And after seeing his savage side for herself, she should be relieved. Why then did the thought pain her heart?
“Is that possible for you?”
Hannah turned a scrunched brow on him, not understanding his question since she had been lost in her thoughts.
“To be a dutiful wife… is it possible for you?”
Hannah went to answer and stopped, holding her tongue a few moments before she finally spoke. “At one time I would not have thought so, but now with what I have seen and been through, I wonder if it will be difficult for me. I cannot honestly say that if I came across women who needed help that I would not help them even if it did place me in danger.”
Though her response did not please him, that she did not lie to him did please him. She had integrity and that was something rarely found in a woman or a man.
“Then I will have your word that you will come to me if that should ever happen again,” he ordered.
“You will help?” she asked hopefully.
“Aye, I will help, if help proves necessary.”
“Who will decide if it is necessary?”
“We will decide together,” he said and felt a punch to his gut when she smiled at him. She truly was a beautiful woman in more ways than one.
She could not keep the joy from her eyes or her smile from spreading as she said, “I am grateful, my husband.”
The pure joy in her green eyes and growing smile not only sent another punch to his gut, but it also sent a twist to his heart and stirred his loins. He dared not say another word to her or remain there. He walked to the door, warning himself not to do it, not dare go nea
r her, but his warning fell on deaf ears. He turned and reached her in quick strides, his arm reaching out to hook her around the waist as she backed away from him.
His other hand caught at the back of her head, holding it firm as his lips came down on hers in a bruising kiss. He wanted to leave his mark on her, wanted her to know that she belonged to him, wanted her to feel how much he ached to taste her. And she did, since after a brief hesitation she returned his kiss in kind, greeting his tongue eagerly as he slipped it into her mouth.
He did not think he would ever be able to smell the scent of mint again without thinking of her, the refreshing taste of it forever on her lips, but then he already thought about her all the time. And he grew hard every time he did, just like now.
End it. End it now!
He ignored the warnings bellowing in his head, telling himself he would end it in a moment... just a moment more was all he needed. But she grew as hungry for more just as he did and he had yet to safely contain the savage to chance coupling with her now.
It took more strength than he ever would have imagined to end the kiss, resting his brow to hers after he did and whispering, “Never frighten me like that again.”
He released her and walked to the door, leaving a stunned and silent Hannah staring after him.
Chapter 14
Hannah sat at the table in the Great Hall alone, lost in thought, her morning meal growing cold. She could not forget the way her husband had kissed her last night or his words.
Never frighten me like that again.
If she had frightened him by what she had done, then he had to care at least a little for her. Did he not? And the way he had kissed her, as if he could not get enough of her, had to have meant something. She had felt it herself. His kiss had awakened and stirred something inside her that continued to stir her whenever she thought about him. She wanted him to kiss her again, though if she was truthful she would admit she wanted more from him than just a kiss.
They were wed and their vows needed to be sealed and her curiosity satisfied. If coupling with him would be anything like the kiss, then she would be overjoyed. She would rather look forward to welcoming her husband to her bed than dreading his every visit.
“Your food grows cold… eat.”
Hannah looked up so startled by her husband’s presence that a tingle raced through her. Or was it that he looked so handsome and his lips so inviting? She stopped herself from shaking her head at the thought and said, “How do you know it grows cold?”
“I have been standing here watching you for some time now.”
“Why?”
“Do you always question?”
“What other way am I to find the answer?”
Helice entered then and stopped, as startled as Hannah to see Slain there and though she knew he had already eaten, she asked. “My chief, may I get you something?”
“A hot brew for me and,” —he walked over to the table and snatched up Hannah’s bowl of porridge— “a fresh, hot bowl of porridge for my wife.”
Helice hurried to take it from him.
Hannah and Helice could not hide their shock when Slain slipped onto the bench opposite Hannah, though Helice quickly recovered and hurried from the room.
“What are your plans today, wife?” Slain asked.
Hannah stared at him dumbfounded for a moment, then said, “I was going to go to the village to see if a couple of women would help here at the keep.” She did not add that she also wanted the clan to see that her husband had not harmed her, since they had all stared at him last night when he had practically dragged her through the village, most appearing as if they feared for her well-being.
“They will be glad to see you are safe,” Slain said and he was surprised when she smiled.
“And glad to know their chief saved me from my own foolish actions.”
That she would make sure his clan knew what she had done to draw the ire of the savage astonished him. But why should it, when she had proven to be an honest woman?
“The clan does not need to know you rescued those women.” He raised his hand when she went to speak, though remained silent as Helice entered the room and spoke again after she placed a tankard, steam rising from the top, in front of him and a bowl that steamed with heat as well in front of Hannah. “Muir did not work alone in his capture of women and men alike who failed to pay their debt. If his partner discovers the two women are free, he could very well send someone to track them down.”
“Then I will make sure to say nothing,” she said, glad he reminded her that Muir had a partner, not that he knew she was aware of it.
“You also will not request help for the keep, you will demand it. It is the clan’s responsibility to serve the chief and his family. They did so gladly with my mother and father and they will do so with their present chief and his new wife.”
Hannah grew excited, thinking perhaps last night had given him a change of heart. “Then I will make sure to have enough servants to tend the Great Hall so it may be open to those who wish to seek a meal or companionship here.”
“No!” he said firmly. “I prefer my privacy.”
Her joy faded. “Do you not get lonely?”
“I have you now.”
“But it cannot just be the two us and what of when children come along? They will need friends.”
Slain stood abruptly. His leg caught the end of the table jostling it and splashing the hot brew over the edge of the tankard. “Do not question me, and,” —he paused with a glare— “I gave you no permission to cut down the thickets.”
“They were far too prickly,” —she smiled— “much like you.”
“You think you can cut the sting out of the savage as easily as you cut away those thickets?”
“We shall see,” she said, her smile remaining strong and determined, even though inside she quaked with uncertainty.
That she even thought she could soothe the savage gave him pause. He, himself, had a difficult time controlling the fierceness within him. What made her think she had any chance in calming him?
“Be careful, wife, a savage has no heart or soul.” With that he left the Great Hall, not having touched his hot brew.
Hannah watched him go, her smile fading. The man who kissed her last night certainly had a heart and soul, which meant the savage had to have both as well.
Tears sprang to Blair’s eyes when she caught sight of Hannah, though she cautiously asked, “You are well?”
“I am,” Hannah said and offered no more explanation. She knew the clan wondered and gossiped over what had happened last night. Over why they had heard the savage roar. But they would say nothing and either would Hannah.
“I am glad to see you,” Blair said and wiped the few tears from her eyes.
“And I you.”
“What brings you here today?
Slain may have told her to demand not request, but she could not do that. She wanted people who agreed to help, not forced to help. “Help is needed at the keep,”
Blair shook her head. “That is not going to be easy after last—” She bit back her tongue, stopping herself from saying more.
“If there are two women who would agree to help and see that it is not as bad as everyone believes, then perhaps more will follow and the keep can once again be brought to life.” She hoped Blair understood that she was not only speaking about stirring life into the keep, but into Slain as well.
“It is not an easy task to rid—a place—of darkness once it has taken hold.”
Hannah smiled, Blair understanding what she had implied. “Perhaps, but I’m encouraged by a spark of light I have seen.”
Blair’s eyes turned wide. “Many would be pleased to hear that and perhaps help after all.”
“That pleases me greatly,” Hannah said, reaching out and giving Blair’s arm a gentle squeeze.
Blair smiled. “I have some time to give to the keep and I think I can get Kate to help as well as long as she can bring Cara with her, since
she has not trusted her sons to watch after the wee lass since last they failed to keep her with them.”
“I think the keep could do with the sound of a child’s joy and innocent laughter.”
Blair patted Hannah’s arm as her smile faded some. “We have prayed for our chief for he has suffered much, lost much, and I believe the heavens have answered us… you were sent to him. You are his salvation.”
Hannah was glad that Kate approached, Cara balanced on her hip, since Blair’s words had struck Hannah silent. She was also glad that Blair explained to Kate what she and Hannah had discussed, for her thoughts turned troubling.
The Clan MacKewan was accepting her as one of them. What would they do when they discovered she was not who they thought she was?
“I can spare some time now,” Kate said.
A joyous smile grabbed hold of Hannah’s face. “That would be wonderful. I started cleaning the Great Hall a few days ago, but have not been able to complete the task.”
“All on your own?” Blair asked and when Hannah nodded, Blair shook her head. “That is too big of a task for one woman.”
“I would be pleased with the help and even more pleased with the company,” Hannah said and the three women and wee bairn walked to the keep.
Helice confronted the three when they entered through the kitchen, ready to dictate orders to the two women, but Hannah stepped forward and took charge as she had seen her mum do countless times.
“You may continue with what you are doing Helice. Blair and Kate will help me in the Great Hall, though, if you like, you are welcome to join us.”
With the two women standing behind her, Hannah did not see how their eyes filled with respect for how the chief’s new wife handled the far too ornery woman. It also surprised them the way Helice acquiesced with a simple nod and not a curt word.
The three women soon were busy in endless chatter as they swept and scrubbed their way through the Great Hall. They were so busy enjoying the task and the companionship that none of them noticed Cara slip out of the room.
Embraced by a Highlander Page 11
