The Outcast Highlander by R.L. Syme

Author:R.L. Syme
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hewlett-Packard Company

***

Kensey’s every muscle ached. She’d finally managed to escape without being seen. Putting on a show of happiness for hundreds of people had exhausted her beyond words. She would be the happiest finding her bed and sleeping for a few days in a row.

Or at least just ridding herself of the confines of this dress.

Out of a shadowed corner, Malcolm surprised her. With a hand over her heart, she couldn’t help laughing. What a night.

“Malcolm.” She continued walking and turned down the back corridor toward the far stairs. “I didn’t see you.”

“I need to speak with you, Kensey.”

“Can it not wait until tomorrow?” She yawned purposefully, but got caught in the motion and paused to let it overtake her. She was much more tired than she’d realized. Broc had known and if she hadn’t been so intent on pretending to be happy, she might have at least acknowledged his observance and retired early.

“I’d prefer to speak with you in private.” His voice carried so much urgency, but she kept imagining the warmth of her bed and it drove her on. “If you could spare me a few minutes. It’s about something Broccin told me this evening.”

Kensey stopped at the mention of Broccin’s name. She couldn’t help wondering what Broccin could have told him that he needed to speak to her about. Her heart raced, thinking of how he’d held her hand as they’d danced. He’d only asked her to dance just the once, but his nearness had practically made her heart stand still, and even given his injury, he’d done so well. But his hand in hers, his eyes on her, his body’s nearness. She could still remember every moment. She watched Malcolm walk through the huge doors and into the darkened stairway, her mind still on Broccin.

Ever since she’d stopped tending his wounds, she’d noticed his absence and it pained her. She had taken for granted the long hours she used to spend, just in his company. Even while he was sleeping. And being around him had always made her feel so at ease, so comfortable. Taking care of him and helping him to heal made her feel useful and important. Now that he was well and moving about on his own, she felt as though he didn’t care if she were even alive or not. And the way he looked at her, with the veiled disinterest in his eyes, was enough to bring on tears.

As they approached the dark stairs, Malcolm reached up for the torch and she paused as though he planned to escort her up the dimly lit stairwell. Instead, he threw the torch to the ground and it sputtered out. He pushed her against the cold wall and pressed his mouth onto hers in hot desperation.

His hands roamed her body and something hard pressed into her abdomen as he crushed her up against the smooth stone with his large body. Panic rose from her stomach and she tried to scream, but his mouth was so fully covering hers that she almost couldn’t breathe.

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