Page 34 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

For a while, the three of them continued to train, with Bane showing more and more of his skill as they fought. What he lacked in proper technique, he made up for in speed and strength, matching that of Knox and Magnus. In the end, though, Knox managed to disarm him, sending his sword flying in an arc in the air before it landed a few steps away from him.

“I yield,” Bane said good-naturedly, just as the dull tip of Knox’s sword grazed his neck, and then, perhaps from a deep-rooted reflex to protect himself, stumbled back upon feeling the steel on his skin and promptly fell over.

The first thing he did was erupt in laughter, along with everyone around him. Knox offered him his hand, pulling him back up to his feet, and thought that perhaps, even if his secret became known, he wouldn’t have any troubles in the castle.

While he was lost in his thoughts, Bane and Magnus struck up a conversation, but Knox could hardly hear what they were saying. So focused was he on his quest to make Bane feel as comfortable as he could that everything the man said flew right past him, never to be absorbed by his mind.

As he watched him, he noticed that he was staring at another soldier who was just stepping into the training grounds, removing his shirt in the process. It was Arran, a young man with dark hair and eyes, his corded muscles on full display now and his grin as cocky as it was playful when he faced his opponent.

Knox narrowed his eyes. He supposed he could see it. Objectively, Arran was an attractive man.

“Bane,” Knox called, beckoning him closer. Bane glanced at him over his shoulder and gave a nod to Magnus before approaching Knox, a smile on his face. “Dae ye like… that?”

Subtly, he nodded his head towards Arran, trying not to give anything away, but the enthusiasm with which Bane replied surprised him.

“Och aye!” he said. “Lovely, truly lovely.”

A hum escaped Knox before he could stop himself, as surprised as it was curious. Fia had asked him to say nothing on the matter, but Bane seemed perfectly at ease with it, neither embarrassed nor fearful of what others would say. If anything, he seemed rather excited to have someone to whom he could talk about this.

Daes Fia nae talk with him about lads? Or is it because she’s a lass herself?

If there was one thing Knox knew for certain, it was that it was much easier to talk to another man about women, so perhaps it was the same for Bane. Maybe he was more comfortable discussing such matters with other men than he was discussing them with women, especially when it came to the woman who was practically his sister.

Knox didn’t know if he was the right person for this. He was hardly an authority on what was lovely, as Bane had put it, on a man and he wouldn’t even know where to begin if Bane came to him for advice. But if nothing else, he could listen; he could be there for him if he needed someone to talk.

“Bonnie built,” Bane continued, and Knox found himself making a rather undignified, high-pitched noise of shock, one that he barely managed to suppress, but which Bane didn’t even seem to notice as he gazed longingly at Arran. There was no other way to describe that look he was giving him. Knox could even call it loving. “But it’s quite large, is it nae?”

It was Knox’s turn to choke on thin air. It seemed that with every interaction they had, one of them ended up shocked and blushing, and it was now he who felt the heat creep up his face and all the way down to his chest, rendering him speechless for what seemed like eons.

Bane glanced at him with a small, confused frown. “Well… perhaps he’s used tae it.”

“Perhaps,” was all Knox managed to say. On that chilly day, it suddenly felt as though he had been dropped into the flames of a volcano. Everything felt stifling hot and he had begun to perspire, sweat dripping down his temple as he tried his best to push the images Bane conjured out of his mind.

“Are ye alright, me laird?” Bane asked in concern, a hand reaching out to grab his shoulder.

Knox nodded firmly, gritting his teeth to stop himself from making another such undignified sound. “I just didnae ken ye would be so… open about this. Fia made it sound like ye never wished anyone tae find out.”

Bane’s frown only deepened at that, his confusion evident. “Find out what?”

Knox couldn’t say it. He couldn’t utter the words.

Please dinnae make me say it.

But the more Bane stared at him, the more Knox realized there was no end to his torment other than coming clean. He only hoped it wouldn’t embarrass either of them more than it already had.

“That ye… that ye…”

“Aye?”

Knox leaned closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. “That ye like… ye ken,” his voice was mere whisper, “… lads.”

Bane’s head snapped to the side to stare at Knox, their faces suddenly so close that their noses brushed against each other. They seemed to realize it at the same time. Snatching his hand away as if he had been burned, Bane took several steps back and so did Knox, until they were suddenly too far from each other to even have a conversation.

I’m bein’ ridiculous! He’ll think I’m odd now!

“Listen—” said Knox.

“This isnae—” said Bane at the same time.