Page 130 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

And she no longer had the strength—or the desire—to pretend that did not mean everything.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Gordon kept his arms around Ailis until the trembling in her body began to ease.

He could still scarcely believe she was there. He inhaled her scent deeply, letting it comfort him. His hand cradled the back of her head, and he closed his eyes, savoring her warmth and banishing every guilty thought that crossed his mind.

The image of her kneeling before Kerr, blood running from her palm, would stay with him for the rest of his life. He had imagined a hundred different horrors during the ride to Kerr’s castle, but none had prepared him for the sight of her frightened face.

He loosened his hold only enough to look at her. Her cheeks were wet with tears. A smear of dirt marked one side of her face, and her hair had come loose from its pins. She looked exhausted and frightened, yet there was something in her eyes that nearly brought him to his knees.

She was looking at him as though he had saved more than her life.

Behind them, Rowan cleared his throat.

Gordon glanced over his shoulder.

“What do ye need me help with?”

“Secure the castle,” he answered, his voice settling into the authority he had used all his life. “Search every chamber and every passage. Anyone who resists is to be disarmed and taken into custody too just like Kerr.”

Rowan nodded. “And the priest?”

“Unharmed,” Gordon said. “See that he is given a horse and escorted safely from the castle once it is secured.”

“Aye.” Rowan gave a curt nod and walked away with his men.

The hall erupted into motion.

The few men they came with crossed the chamber, gathering weapons and securing doors. The priest hurried toward the rear of the hall, still looking as though he could scarcely comprehend what had happened.

Gordon barely noticed.

His attention returned to Ailis. She had not moved from his side, and when she looked at him again, tears filled her eyes.

“Why?” The word was so soft he almost missed it.

Gordon swallowed.

“Ailis—”

“Why did ye come for me?” She looked up at him, tears gathering afresh in her eyes. “Why risk everythin’?” Her voice trembled. “Why ride through the night? Why fight for me if ye daenae even want me?”

Gordon’s chest tightened.

“Ye said yer daenae want our marriage,” she whispered. “Ye let me go.”

He closed his eyes briefly.

He had no defense against that. He had spent so long believing that releasing her was the right thing that he had never stopped to consider what his decision had done to her.

Or what it had done to him.

When he opened his eyes again, he looked directly at her. There was no use fighting his feelings now. He was done with all that.

“I came for ye because I love ye.”

Ailis gasped at his words. The sound was so soft, yet it seemed to echo through him.