Instead of leathers or gauzy skirts, I wear linen attire that’s much better suited for the sand. My two piece turquoise set is buttery soft like silk but this time the bottoms are flowing pants. For the ride there, though, I’ve donned a matching headscarf to keep the sun from scorching my shoulders and scalp.
Lachlan is in his same linen tunic and pants. I marvel at the outline of his muscles stretching the fabric from where he ridesin front of me. The tunic is sleeveless and his tattoos glisten in the warm glow of the sun. His charcoal scarf is tied in a way to shield his nose and mouth from the sand, but his piercing green eyes seem to shine brighter against the dark fabric whenever he glances back to check on me.
My breath hitches in the back of my throat each time our eyes meet, and I can’t help the butterflies that dance in my chest.
The desert stretches out before us, the rich red sand rises in fluttering mounds to dance with the powdery blue sky. I let go of the reins to stretch my arms out wide.
It’s like floating across the ocean, the dunes seem to roll gently in the blowing wind. We ride together in silence for a while as I take in the mounds that seem to extend on forever. Not too much longer, though, colossal pillars of red rock pierce the sky. We ride toward the first one and Lachlan dismounts, checking the rock for its climbing ability before he vetoes it and we set off for the next one.
Lachlan slows his horse so that we’re walking side by side.
“I take it ye like the desert,” he grumbles, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun.
“I love it,” I gush. “It’s like the ocean.”
Lachlan reels back and even though his face is covered, I can picture his nose wrinkling with distaste.
“It’s the exact opposite of the ocean. It’s dry and hot, and there’s no water anywhere.”
I roll my eyes and gesture out at the dunes. “Yes, but look—it moves in waves.” I wave my arm up and down, mimicking the motion.
“That’s called heat waves.”
I huff a laugh. “Yes—but it looks the same. Where’s your sense of adventure, Lach?”
Lachlan’s eyes peer into my soul as he lowers the scarf from his face, giving me a glimpse of his stubble-covered jaw. “Ye are my adventure, Key.”
His words crack my heart wide open and I grip the reins tightly to keep myself from tumbling off my horse. Happiness and fear swirl around like a chaotic storm in my veins.
“But what if we’re not mates?” I blurt out.
He scoffs, looking ahead. “That’s not possible.”
“Ok? But it is possible. And what if it’s true?” My attention never wavers from his face, taking in every minute detail. The muscles that flutter as he grinds his teeth, full lips that purse into a taught line.
Lachlan shakes his head, resolution settling into the stiffness of his shoulders. “Then I will fight fate itself.”
While I applaud his tenacity, it still doesn’t answer my more pressing question.
“Would you…use me as a placeholder until you find your true mate?”
My question stops him in his tracks, and his head swings quickly back to me. Anger and astonishment wage war across his face.
“Did ye honestly just ask me that?”
I lower my chin as heat blooms high on my cheeks.
“Key—I would never treat ye that way. And I’m offended ye would ha’ even suggested it.” His voice simmers with quiet anger. “You’re not a placeholder. And there could be no one else for me.”
I fidget with the reins in my hand before slowly raising my head. “You’re right. I’m sorry I asked.”
I nudge my horse with my heels, attempting to pass him, but he stretches out his arm, stopping me.
“If we weren’t mates, it would nae matter to me. Mates or no, you’re all I want—or need. Nothing and no one could take me away from ye.” I nod, feeling the same way. “We’ll cross that bridge if we ever get there. For right now, though, I need ye to understand that ye are it for me.My past, present, and future.”
I bite my lip. “You are everything to me,” I breathe.
We continue to the next pillar of red stone before Lachlan vetoes that one too, and we set off again.
