They rodethe remaining distance in silence. By the time they reached the castle gates, dusk had fully settled, torches blazing to life along the walls. The guards nodded respectfully as they passed, though Gabriella caught curious glances directed her way.
In the courtyard,Noah took their horses, leaving them momentarily alone at the castle entrance. Hector stepped close to help Gabriella dismount, his hands spanning her waist effortlessly. He let her body slide against his as he lowered her to the ground.
Her breath caughtat the deliberate contact. Her hands rested on his shoulders, and she could feel the heat of him, even through his damp clothing.
“Nae attracted to me, ye say?”he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
She stepped back,flustered. “I-I should change out of these wet clothes.”
“One more thing,”Hector said, catching her arm as she turned to go. “Have ye decided? Will ye accept me proposal?”
Gabriella hesitated,then nodded. What choice did she truly have? “Aye. For protection only.”
Something dark flashedin his eyes at her words. “Protection only,” he repeated slowly, his grip on her arm tightening slightly.
“Aye,”she whispered, though her pulse quickened at the intensity of his gaze.
Another flicker in his expression,but it was edged with something more dangerous.
“We shall see about that, lass.”
He stepped closer,close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, see the way his eyes darkened as they dropped to her lips.
“Ye may thinkthis marriage will be nothin’ more than a business arrangement,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low rumble, “but I remember how ye responded to me kiss. How ye melted in me arms.”
Her cheeks flushed crimson,but she couldn’t look away from his piercing eyes.
Triumph flickeredin his gaze before he quickly masked it.
He leaned closer,his lips nearly brushing her ear. His breath was warm against her skin as he whispered, “Ye will beg for me touch, wife, before ye get it again.”
Before she could respond,he straightened and turned to a maid standing nearby. “Inform me maither and sister that I’ll join them for supper shortly,” he commanded in the impersonal tone of the Laird.
With a brief nod to Gabriella,he strode away, leaving her standing alone in the courtyard, her heart racing as if she’d run for miles.
She presseda hand to her burning cheek. What had she agreed to? This arrangement was meant to be in name only, a shield against Lewis and his men. Yet the way Hector looked at her, touched her, spoke to her… it promised something far more complicated than mere protection.
And worst of all,some treacherous part of her wondered if he might be right.
17
“Ye’ll catch yer death in these wet clothes, Me Lady,” Aileen fussed, helping Gabriella out of her sodden dress.
The maid had been waitingin her chamber, a bath already drawn and steaming by the fire.
Gabriella didn’t answer,her mind still reeling from Hector’s parting words.
“Ye will begfor me touch, wife.”
The memory sentan unwelcome shiver through her that had nothing to do with her damp skin.
“The forest-green dress, I think,”Aileen decided, pulling the gown out of the wardrobe. “It goes well with yer hair, and ye’ll want to look yer best for supper with the family.”
Gabriella steppedinto the warm bath, grateful for the chance to wash away the day’s tension. By the time Aileen had helped her into the dress and arranged her hair in a simple style, a footman had arrived to escort her to the Great Hall.
“The family awaits ye, Me Lady,”he said with a respectful bow.
The Great Hall was warm,a roaring fire casting dancing shadows across stone walls hung with clan tartans and ancient weapons. Andrea and Erica were already seated at the high table, their conversation halting abruptly as Gabriella entered.
