Page 106 of Under the Laird’s Promise

"Maighread." He pushed off the wall, crossing to her in three strides. "Look at me."

She kept her gaze fixed on the stones, her jaw tight.

"Lass, look at me." He caught her chin, tilting her face up until their eyes met. "What are ye thinking?"

"Naething. I'm just… wondering about logistics." The lie was transparent, brittle.

"Try again." His thumb stroked along her jawline. "Tell me what's really going through that brilliant mind of yers."

Her throat worked. "Once Keir is dealt with, once the clan is secure, ye'll have fulfilled whatever obligation ye felt toward me faither. Ye'll be free tae return tae MacBain lands. Tae yer braither, yer home, yer life."

"Is that what ye think?" Disbelief colored his voice. "That I'm here out of obligation? After everything, after the other night?"

"Arenae ye?" She tried to pull away, but he held firm. "Ye said yerself ye owed me faither a debt when ye agreed tae this madness in the first place."

"Aye, I did. But that's not why I'm staying." He moved closer, crowding her against the wall. Not threateningly. Just… present. Undeniable. "That debt was paid the moment I kept ye safe from Keir's first attack. Everything since then has been pure choice."

"Choice tae protect an ally," she countered, though her voice wavered. "Choice tae honor a betrothal that serves both our interests."

"Nay." The word came flat, absolute. "Choice tae stay beside the woman I cannae imagine leaving. Choice tae build something real instead of returning tae a life that feels empty now that I've kenned what this could be."

Her breath hitched. "Tavish..."

"Me fate was sealed the moment I said I would marry ye. And again when I claimed ye as mine." He cradled her face between his palms, making certain she couldn't look away. "If that was a lie, then I refuse tae return tae any truth that leaves me without ye. Dae ye understand? There is nay future fer me that daesnae include ye in it."

Moisture gathered in her eyes, making the grey shine silver.

"I mean that. I've never meant anything more." He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. "I'm nae leaving, Maighread. Nae when Keir is defeated. Nae when the clan is secure. Nae ever, unless ye tell me tae go."

"Ye ken I want ye tae stay."

"Then I'll stay until ye grew tired of me.."

A laugh bubbled out of her, watery but genuine. "Ye're ridiculous."

"Aye." He brushed his lips across hers, feather-light. "So stop worrying about me leaving. Start worrying about how ye're going tae survive having me underfoot fer the next fifty years."

"Fifty years?"

"At least. I'm planning on being a very inconvenient husband."

"We're nae wed yet."

"Details." He kissed her properly, tasting salt and relief on her lips. "We will be soon enough. And then ye’re stuck with me fer good."

She melted into him, her arms winding around his neck. The kiss deepened, turned hungry. All the fear and uncertainty she'd been carrying transformed into something else entirely. Need. Want. The kind that made his blood run hot and his thoughts scatter.

"Tavish," she breathed against his mouth. "Someone could see…"

"Let them." He nipped at her lower lip. "Let the whole bloody castle see how thoroughly I claim ye as mine."

"Ye're impossible."

"Ye love it." He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "Tell me ye believe me. That I'm staying. That this is real."

She searched his face, looking for cracks in his conviction. Finding none, she nodded slowly. "I believe ye."

"Good." He pressed one more kiss to her forehead before releasing her. "Now come. We should return before the Council thinks I've spirited ye away tae some secret location."