The Rogue’s Redemption

by Mecca, Cecelia

  “No.”

  She would not be deterred. “My sister loves me and has been protecting me her entire life. She asked, and I agreed to make her happy. For her, I would agree to almost anything.”

  “Allie, this is madness.”

  “This changes nothing,” she said. “I want to be with you, Reid. We will be together. But if I can make Gillian feel better about the match, I will.”

  He didn’t like it and was prepared to tell her so when Alex’s words came back to him.

  I am happy for you.

  Instead of believing him, Reid had fought back. Why couldn’t he trust the people he loved? Believe them?

  “Can we not enjoy the remaining time you have here?” she pressed, then looked down. “And Gillian isn’t all wrong. We’ve only just met. Maybe we should both take a little time to ensure this is what we want.”

  He cupped her face gently, angling it up so their eyes met.

  “It matters not. If we’d met just this eve I would already know. I love you, Allie. I’ve never said that to a woman before, and I’ll never say it to another one. I love you and want you to be my wife.”

  She placed her hands over his. “And I love you, Reid.”

  Every muscle in his body relaxed at the sound of those three beautiful words. He placed a kiss on her lips so tender that even as his body willed him to take more, he wanted only to stand there, in her presence, allowing the goodness that was Lady Allie Bowman to overwhelm all of him, to wash over him and make him somehow better.

  He did not need any more than that. For now.

  17

  “Your feet must change positions more quickly.”

  Allie tried to concentrate, but Reid’s intense gaze made her lose focus. He was still very much a mystery in some ways. At times, he appeared so serious that Allie was sure he contemplated a purpose so deep it would take years to uncover it. But he also tended to be the center of joviality. Whenever she heard laughter at the midday meal, she would dart a glance at Reid’s table, and more often than not, she’d see the men around him laughing uproariously and clapping him on the back. Even so, some of the men regarded him with a leery look, as if they feared he’d use his way with words against them.

  He stood back and lifted his own sword in front of him at shoulder height. “Front foot back. Move your sword, turning with the hilt and changing your feet at the same time.”

  As he moved, the muscles beneath his tunic strained.

  “My feet,” he said, cutting back and forth. “You’re looking at my feet.”

  But she clearly was not.

  Reid stopped what he was doing, waiting for her to shift her attention. When she did, he resumed the cutting drill, but it was still quite impossible for her to focus on his technique. He stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing at her.

  “I thought you wanted to learn,” he teased, moving toward her.

  Allie raised her sword. “I do.”

  He met her sword with his own. “You think to stop my advance?”

  Truth be told, she didn’t want to.

  “Aye,” she said, full of false bravado.

  He tapped and thrusted, testing her. Allie pulled from every one of her sword-fighting lessons and met each of his movements as skillfully as she was able. She tried to forget about his high cheekbones and his muscular body and remember to move her feet as quickly as her sword.

  Then he smiled, a slow, sensual smile that robbed Allie of her next breath and saw her sword knocked to the ground. He was next to her immediately, grabbing her wrist with his free hand.

  “You forgot our first lesson,” he said. Allie licked her bottom lip in anticipation.

  She struggled to remember what he spoke of. All she could think of was kissing him.

  “And now you will suffer for it.” His eyes told her a very different story. They held a wicked promise.

  “It sounds dreadful.”

  His face was close enough to hers that she could feel his breath on her cheek. Lowering his head toward hers, Reid took her lower lip in his mouth. In the next moment, he took everything. Covering her lips with his own, he thrust his tongue inside without apology. The kiss was demanding, but Allie did not mind. In fact, the more he demanded, the more she gladly gave. A warmth enveloped her as she returned the kiss with vigor.

  Reid pulled back, his eyes hooded. “If this continues, the promise you made to your sister will not stand.”

  “Why?” she asked, feigning innocence.

  Though he was in complete control, restraint overcoming the desire she knew he felt, Allie was sure she could break through.

  Now why would you do that?

  “Because,” he drawled. “Every time I touch you, every time my lips taste you, I want more. Do you remember, sweet Allie, that feeling in the tub?”

  As if she could ever forget.

  She nodded. “Aye, very well.”

  “I will make it my life’s purpose to give you that same pleasure every day we’re together.”

  “But what—”

  “Though, I am no monk,” he continued. “There will come a time when you will do the same to me. I can wait.”

  She inadvertently looked down. Did he mean—

  He turned away then, his shoulders rising and falling.

  “Reid?”

  He tilted his head back and squeezed his eyes shut, groaning loudly in frustration, before he turned to face her once again.

  “Training,” he said. “We should get back to the training.”

  Allie smiled. “Are you saying you have difficulty restraining yourself when you’re this close to me?” Of course, she knew the answer. Reveled in it.

  “Aye, lass. Very much so.”

  “Hmmm,” she said, taking a step toward him. “Then would you mind if I—”

  He jumped back from her touch so quickly that Allie forgot her game for a moment. “How do you move so quickly?”

  Reid tossed his training sword next to hers on the ground.

  “You mean, like this?” He took off running toward the dovecote.

  Allie followed, but when she arrived at the old building, he was nowhere to be seen. She looked inside and around the back, but—

  “Ahhh!” she shrieked when a hand caught her waist from behind.

  A moment later, when Reid pressed her back up against the stone building, her heart quickened for an entirely different reason.

  “Reid, you scared me,” she said.

  “And you, my dear Allie, do the same with me.”

  She reached up to tuck an errant strand of his hair back in place. His side was pressed up against her, but he did not attempt to come any closer.

  “Tell me,” she coaxed, the playfulness of the previous moment forgotten. “Why do you show me and no one else?”

  He knew exactly what she meant—she could see it in his expression.

  “A good question, lass.”

  She blinked, waiting. He wasn’t going to answer.

  “Tell me something,” she said, “something I do not know.”

  As Reid contemplated her words, Allie contented herself by listening to the soft sound of rustling leaves in the distance. Some small animal, perhaps? Otherwise, she could hear only Reid’s breathing.

  “Do you know anything of my family?”

  “Very little,” she said honestly. “I know you have a sister and two brothers, and that Toren is chief.”

  “And became so after my father died in battle. I was the only one of my brothers who was not there with him that day, as I was just ten and three. Toren and Alex . . .”

  “Are older,” she finished.

  “They could have taken me with them,” he said, “but they did not.”

  He wasn’t looking at her any longer. After a moment of silence, she asked, “And your mother? Graeme said she came back into your lives.”

  Reid’s eyes met hers again. “Aye, two summers ago. She left after my father was killed. Abandoned us, or so we believed. Alex would never let it
go. Every so often, he would ride out to England to look for her.”

  That surprised her. “Your mother is English?”

  “It seems my father began a family tradition,” he said. “Aye, she is English.”

  She had so many questions. How could a mother have abandoned her children at such a time? And how could they have forgiven her for it?

  “You see, she was betrothed to a cruel man before she married my father. After she was widowed, this man came to Scotland and threatened her. He told her he would kill all of her children if she did not return with him.”

  “Kill you?”

  “She believed him,” he said, seeming to understand her incredulity. “He’d snuck into Brockburg, and he told her that same stealth could be used against us. No matter how long it took, he would kill each and every one of her children. And so . . . she left.”

  Although he tried to mask his pain, Allie could see what his mother’s leaving, no matter what her reasons, had done to him. How it affected him still.

  “How was she able to return? Did your brother—”

  “Kill him? Nay, that is our only regret. By the time Alex found our mother, her new husband had died and she was living with his tyrannical son.”

  “So your brother brought her back to Scotland?”

  “He did. Our mother was eager to see us, but she was terrified we would hate her after what she’d done.” Reid closed his eyes.

  “But Alex found her. And you have a mother once again.”

  “Aye,” he said with a sigh that told her his story had come to an end. “And your parents? What of them?”

  “Hmm,” she said. “My tale is not so long as that. My father cares for Lyndwood and his position as an important border lord more than he does his family. My mother obeys him in all things. They love us, but not in the way I would hope to love my own children.”

  “Our children?”

  Allie felts a rush of pleasure at his words.

  Reid stood back and smiled. “I do believe we shall be sure to do it better. Our wee ones will never question our love for them.”

  There was a teasing glint in his eyes, and he leaned toward her in a way that reminded her of their earlier chase, only he clearly intended to be the predator this time.

  Well, she would show him. She was determined to outrun him. She only waited for the right moment.

  “And I do believe we should start . . . right now,” he said, his grin spreading wider.

  Allie turned and ran as fast as her legs would go, laughing and pushing past branches, knowing he would catch up with her soon.

  18

  “And now, we celebrate.”

  Twenty-two men cheered, as jovial a scene as could be achieved with such a group, but Reid’s world seemed to close in around him. After less than a fortnight, his time at Highgate had come to an end.

  In the end, Alex’s connections had made a difference. He and the Lord Warden had always shared a special bond, and it was Alex who’d finally convinced the Lord Warden to do as all the border chieftains insisted and reject the selection of Caxton as the English warden.

  Douglas had agreed that neither he nor the Scottish wardens under him would meet with him. They would not treat with a man who was known to accept bribes that put the Scots in danger. Douglas had pledged to inform the king of the border lords’ decision. If it led to a breakdown of the truce—so be it. It was the decision of the men who ruled from east to west.

  It was a compromise, of sorts, allaying those who were ready for battle now and pacifying others who thought continued negotiation was the only way to peace.

  “Well done, brother.”

  Alex frowned. “It is far from over.”

  Reid silently agreed.

  “If negotiations fall apart, and even if they do not,” his brother said, his eyes troubled. “Our clan, our brother . . . they will need the guidance that you can offer them.”

  God, how he hated this particular subject. “I’ve told you, and him—”

  “I understand what you’ve said, and I understand more than you realize about your reluctance to take the position, but you truly are the best man—”

  “Not now, brother—”

  “It should be you. Reid, you are a better man than all of us. If only you—”

  He could not have this discussion now. Instead, he stood and made a comment about Toren’s strength and another to adequately dismiss himself from his brother.

  Reid made his way down to the ground floor of the keep, walked out into the courtyard and did not stop. He strode through the gatehouse and, without registering where he was going, found himself in the one place he’d found solace during his time at Highgate End.

  Of course, the woods were dark and empty. He wandered the makeshift training yard until he found the spot where he’d first suggested taking over Allie’s training. He’d realized that afternoon she was not only adept with the longsword, she was quite good. There were men who’d trained for much, much longer without becoming so skilled. He was proud of her.

  As he was of Alex.

  And yet he was, by his own design, alone. He’d rejected Alex as he had Toren and his clan. Of course he supported his brother, and would continue to do so. But just not in the way they wanted.

  Reid picked up a small rock and tossed it into the air as hard as he could throw it. A distant splash surprised him.

  Pushing his way through the branches, he came upon a stream running from north to south. As he discarded his boots and moved toward it, Reid could see it was plenty deep enough for a bath.

  * * *

  The moment it became clear Reid would not be attending the dinner, Allie had attempted to leave in search of him. But Gillian had tugged her back into her seat.

  “If you go to him,” she said, “you will not keep your vow.” It was the first Gillian had spoken of the matter in days. Surely she knew Allie and Reid had continued to train together. She must also have seen the stolen glances at meals.

  Though she clearly did not like it, Gillian had said nothing.

  Until tonight.

  “Of course I will,” Allie insisted. “I made a promise.”

  “I see the way you look at him, and he at you. Unless you plan to follow my path—”

  “Which I would be glad to do,” she said, referring to her sister’s marriage.

  Gillian frowned. “’Tis rumored Reid and his brother fought after the council’s decision this morn.”

  “No rumor,” Graeme added. Although he’d been looking out at the crowd, he had apparently heard every word. “I have remained silent on the matter until now—”

  Allie was most curious for his opinion.

  “—but I have known Reid Kerr my whole life as an ally of Clan Scott.”

  “As have I,” Aidan said from his seat beside her. But she continued to watch Graeme.

  “And I agree with everyone. He is loyal and protective and would undoubtedly keep you safe.”

  Allie smiled.

  “But he is also arrogant and lost. He is spurning a position that should be his and weakening his clan because of it.”

  Her eyes searched the hall once more. Nothing. His brother was nowhere to be found either. And if she did find him, would Allie comfort him or knock some sense into the man she would take as a husband?

  Likely both.

  “Alex—”

  “Returned to Dunmure Tower after the council’s decision.”

  For one awful moment, Allie wondered if Reid could have left without at least bidding her goodbye.

  “He is still here,” Graeme said, though Allie could not be sure how he knew her thoughts.

  “I would also urge caution,” he said, nodding to Gillian. “With some time apart, and perhaps a visit to Brockburg—”

  “Graeme!” Gillian did not appear pleased with the idea of going to Reid’s home.

  But her husband was not deterred. “We hardly knew each other when we married, and our outcome was a happy one.”<
br />
  The rest of the meal passed in a blur, and although Aidan compelled her to dance, she did not once forget this was Reid’s last night at Highgate. As soon as she could leave without causing a fuss, she did so. Only after she’d left the hall did she realize she wasn’t sure where to go.

  Should she seek him out in his chamber?

  Nay.

  Surely he had his reasons for not seeking her out on his last night at the keep. She would not go looking for him. But neither was she ready to retire.

  In the end, Allie wandered the ramparts, the cool night air making her wish she’d brought a cape. When she couldn’t take the cold anymore, let alone the constant thoughts and worries about Reid—she circled around and headed to her bedchamber.

  As she stepped through the door, it occurred to her that Gillian hadn’t had any cause to worry, but it was only because Reid had shown restraint, not her. Had it been up to her, they would have spent this last evening alone together. The thought made her laugh a little despite herself.

  “Care to tell me what is so amusing?”

  Sitting across from the entrance, his legs outstretched and arms folded as if he’d been waiting patiently for some time, was Reid.

  “Good evening, Allie.”

  19

  She wore white.

  It was an unusual gown for an unusual woman. Sweet, innocent, pure. Adventurous, beautiful, untamed. Allie was all of those things, and more.

  If she was surprised to see him there, she didn’t show it. Instead, she closed the door behind her with a finality that prickled his skin.

  “You’re wet.”

  Of all the things he’d expected her to say, that was not one of them. Reid ran his hand through his hair, confirming that it was indeed still damp from his frigid dip in the stream.

  “You’re mine.”

  Like so many of his words of late, they came out wrong. He hadn’t meant them to sound harsh, demanding. He’d only meant that, although he was leaving on the morrow, he would not go a moment without thinking of her. Wanting her. Loving her.

  He jumped to his feet, intending to take what he’d said back, but instead he found himself stalking toward her. In truth, she made it easy, standing beside the door in that white gown, her hair piled atop her head like she was some ancient virgin sacrifice. He longed to touch her—to never stop touching her—but when his hand reached out, it was only to remove one of the pins that held up her hair. She watched him as carefully as she always did in training, as if attempting to anticipate his next move. He’d taught her what to expect out there. But here, in this room, when they were alone . . . she still had much to learn.