Page 20 of Enchantment of a Highlander

The way he’d touched her, looked at her, taken such great care with her—she knew without a doubt he would protect her no matter the cost.

No matter the cost.

She knew all too well how high the price could go.

The very thought left her skin too tight against her nerves and her mind screaming.

She would not see another person die for her sake.

Never again.

She’d only ever let one person know her, care for her.

Fiona.

The name wrenched at Celia’s heart.

She’d been stupid to come to the laird like this, to think sating her need for pleasure could be without emotion.

Her throat constricted.

She hadn’t expected to feel so much.

Alec’s thickly muscled leg draped over hers and his arm flexed, pulling her tighter against him. He gave a lazy groan and nuzzled his prickled jaw against the top of her head.

It hurt too much to want this too badly.

Her breath came faster and her heart pumped so quickly it left dots of white in her vision.

She never should have done this, never should have come here.

The ache of loneliness in her chest squeezed, but loneliness was better endured than loss.

She slipped from his arms, scuttling away on shaking legs, and gathered her clothing. The sun left the cloth hot and scratchy where she balled the bundle against her belly. She crept past him and should not have looked down one last time.

Yet she did.

Alec’s brow was smooth, his lips more sensual when they weren’t pressed so tightly together. Powerful muscle carved his body, even in his sleep.

It was just a glance, but the image would forever stay in her mind.

And then she did the only thing she knew to protect herself and those who might love her.

She ran.

Chapter Seven

Alec hovered in the languid state between asleep and awake. He drew a deep breath and let out a slow groan. The scent of crushed grass filled his nostrils.

And rosemary.

But he did not feel the heat of a body curled around him.

He sat up, but saw nothing more than the flat lake in front of him and the shadow of his horse tied to a tree in the forest.

He pushed himself up to his feet and stalked over to his clothes. Irritation bristled along the back of his neck.

She’d left for some reason he did not see.