Highland Avenger by Julie Johnstone

Author:Julie Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Historical Romance
Publisher: Julie Johnstone
Published: 2019-07-04T16:00:00+00:00

The need to relieve herself dragged Eve from her slumber. As she struggled to come fully awake, she became aware of two things: someone had her wrapped in his very sturdy arms, and she was no longer lying on the ground. Well, she was on the ground, but something soft was under her and covering her. She blinked her eyes open and gasped. Grant’s face was a hairsbreadth from hers, and there was just enough moonlight that she could clearly see that his eyes were wide open and intently upon her.

“How long have you been awake?” she asked, careful to keep a hushed tone, the sound of snoring coming at her from both Ross and Kade.

“Since ye fell asleep,” he said in a low voice.

Eve frowned. “Were you awake when I was talking with Ross and Kade?”

“Nay. I suppose when ye quit talking, when I could nae hear ye any longer and ken ye were safe and near, it eventually woke me.”

His words and what they meant struck her to her core. She didn’t know what to say. She was touched—and confused. He’d wed her only because of Linlithian, but his actions kept showing honor and kindness, the sort of things she’d hoped to gain from a marriage of love. She swallowed, and her bladder reminded her of why she’d woken. “I need a private moment,” she whispered, hoping he’d understand.

“I’ll accompany ye,” he said, unwinding his arms from her, but she grasped him by the hand before he broke all contact.

Her face heated, but she forced herself to try to be clearer. “I, er, would rather you did not. You see, I—”

“Dunnae fash yerself, lass,” he said with a low chuckle. “I dunnae intend to watch ye. Just stand guard and be near should ye need me.”

“Oh.” She found herself smiling at him. “That’s very considerate of you.”

His fingers curled snugly around her hand, and he pulled her to her feet so fast that when she came up, she was propelled forward into his hard chest with an oof.

His arms circled her and his lips brushed her ear, making her shiver. His warm breath caressed her skin as he said, “’Tis nae considerate. ’Tis my duty. Ye are my wife now.”

Some of the warm feelings his actions had given her dissipated. Duty. Of course she was merely a duty. “You may release me,” she said. “I can hardly walk with you clutching me so.”

“That is likely true,” he said with a chuckle and relinquished his hold on her waist, only to immediately take her hand. When she tried to tug her hand away, he simply increased his grip and started to walk around the fire toward the woods.

“Is it your duty to hold my hand, too?” she asked, feeling mulish. To her, holding someone’s hand was an intimate gesture and not one of duty.

“Aye,” he said, walking slightly ahead of her to lead her. “If ye trip and injure yerself, ye will slow us down. I’d rather nae contend with that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.