She nodded and took a seat beside him.
She didn’t know what he wished to say, and the anxiety from earlier rose tenfold.
“I—” “My—” they said simultaneously, then laughed.
“Ye can go first,” he offered with an easy smile
She nodded.
“I wanted to say that my father has decided to return to England to help explain this situation so that we do not face any repercussions,” she began, not meeting his eyes. “I was worried about how this ordeal would affect the clan, but his wordscomforted me, and I just wanted to tell you so you could rest easy.”
He was silent for a moment, which caused her to risk a glance at him. There was a look of relief on his face, and his shoulders had relaxed, which made her realize he had been thinking about it as well.
“I must admit I am comforted by yer words, Violet,” he said softly. “I had been worried about what killing that bastard would mean for the clan, but I am thankful for yer faither.”
“Indeed,” she sighed. “He surprised me. I was thinking of going myself, but?—”
He took her hands in his own, cutting her off. “Ye wanted to leave?” he asked, looking worried.
She nodded again. “I wanted to go and explain your innocence so the clan would be spared from war.”
The fear she had had earlier and the relief her father’s words brought caused tears to well up in her eyes again.
“I am so sorry, Ruaridh,” she croaked. “I have done nothing but cause ye trouble.”
“Daenae say that, Violet,” he said fiercely. “Ye have done more than that.”
She looked up to find him grinning brightly, and knew he was trying to joke. She laughed despite herself, slapping his chest.
“You tease me.”
“Aye, but ‘tis the truth I speak,” he countered. “Ye have indeed caused me trouble since I met ye, but I wouldnae have it any other way.”
Her eyes widened at his confession.
“When I saw his hands on ye today, I admit I have never felt fear like I did at that moment,” he continued. “Because ye have come to mean more to me than I would have thought possible, and failing to protect ye would have killed me.”
Violet blinked, unable to believe her ears. The day had started off with her wondering if perhaps she had misinterpreted all the moments they had shared, but his words now confused her.
“What are you trying to say, Ruaridh?” she asked, needing to hear the words from him.
He cupped her face in his hands, staring into her eyes intently. “I love ye, lass,” he confessed, “more than I could possibly hope to say.”
A lance shot through Violet’s heart, and her tears spilled over. She couldn’t help but kiss him, not knowing how else to show him how she felt.
When she pulled away, she couldn’t fight the smile that crossed her face. “I love you too, Ruaridh.”
Ruaridh kissed his lovely bride with all the emotion he could muster, hoping she could feel everything he felt and had been unable to sufficiently express with words. Then he deepened the kiss.
Now that he had expressed the depth of his feelings for her, he found himself feeling vulnerable as they kissed and could almost claim he could read her heart as well.
She moaned into his mouth, her hands coming to rest against his chest, and the heat of her seared him, his heart thudding an unsteady rhythm in his chest.
He had nearly lost her today, but she was here, safe and in his arms, and he had no intention of letting her go again.
His hands moved lower, and he leaned forward till he lay atop her on the settee. It was uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break the moment.
Putting his weight on his hands, he kissed the side of her mouth, then her chin, and then kissed his way down her neck. Her hands slid into his hair, pulling as little gasps escaped her.
