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“Never ye mind that,” Conner said. “I wish to get out today.”
“I’ve never ken ye to run away from things,” Damon said. “Or is the Lady already tyin’ ye to the bedposts and stranglin’ the life from ye?”
“Ye’ll bite yer tongue,” Conner snapped. Damon threw his hands up in surrender as he let out a chuckle.
“What’s got ye in such a foul mood today?” he asked. “Did last night nae go well?”
“It was fine,” Conner answered in a hush voice as he scanned the faces in the room. Last thing he wanted was for rumors to spark about how he was unsatisfied with his wife. After all, last night was the best night of his life. He’d never been with a woman like Olivia before. She was responsive to his touches, and the way her moans touched and tickled his soul made him want to rush back upstairs to be with her.
Conner’s eyes flickered to the doorway behind him as he could easily see himself rushing to Olivia and taking her again and again. There was no doubt in his mind he needed her. She was refreshing, like spring water after a hard winter.
“Come,” Damon said, patting Conner on the shoulder. “Ye look like a man in need of a drink, or somethin’ to take the edge off.”
“Tell me, Damon, have ye ever been wit’ a woman that consumes ye? I had the impression that a man would consume a woman, but has it ever been the other way before?”
“Are ye tellin’ me ye love yer wife?” Damon asked in a hush whisper as the people around them seemed to draw in closer, itching for news about the Lady and Laird.
“I daenae think this is the proper place to have such conversations,” Conner said as he caught a glimpse of the council walking into the Great Hall.
“Aye,” Damon said. “Nothin’ but a bunch of jackals. Come, let us find better quarters to spill our guts in.”
Damon curled his arm around Conner’s shoulders and led Conner out of the Great Hall. The sound of their footsteps falling in sync echoed and bounced down the corridor as they walked. With each step, Conner felt the distance between him and Olivia. It was as if he were trekking across a gorge and severing ties with her.
Her absence was a stark reminder of just how much he really wanted her. Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes shifted to the top of the stairs. The moment his eyes found her descending, his heart skipped and his body trembled.
“She has that much power over ye already, does she?” Damon whispered as Conner realized Damon had noticed his abrupt change. “Ye have it bad, ye ken that right?”
“What’s that?” Conner asked, trying not to stare at Olivia as she made her way down the steps unaware of him. Watching her was like spying on an angel in heaven. He wanted to go to her, and would have if not for Damon holding him back.
“Ye love the lass,” Damon said. Conner shook his head and sighed.
“Nay,” Conner growled.
“Ye sure do act like it though. Look at ye,” Damon chuckled. “Ye havenae taken yer eyes off her since ye spotted her.” Damon pressed his hand to Conner’s chest and sighed. “And yer heart is beatin’ like that of a hummingbird. Daenae tell me ye daenae have feelings for her.”
“What if I do?” Conner snapped. “Tis nae like I can do anythin’ about it. If I get close, my enemies will see her as a target. But if I keep my distance, she’ll remain untouched and safe.”
Conner’s chest tightened as he confessed. He didn’t mean to, but there it was now, out in the open for all to hear. Damon’s fingers curled like talons into Conner’s shoulders, drawing Conner’s attention.
“Ye need nae worry about such things,” Damon said. “It’ll turn yer hair gray. Do ye want to look like Alibaster? Ye’ve seen how he looks, all wrinklin’ and such. That’s yer future if ye keep troublin’ yerself as ye dae.”
“Easy for ye to say,” Conner snapped, shrugging Damon’s hand off him. “I daenae recall yer family bein’ stolen from ye.”
“True,” Damon said, straightening his vest as he rolled his shoulders back. “But what good does worryin’ dae? Does it add any time to yer life? If somethin’ is to happen to Olivia, God forbid, it will be God’s choice, nae yers.”
“Perhaps, but why give any cause for such events to transpire?”
“Because ye and I both ken what that woman does to ye. If ye keep up the charades, ye’ll drive her away and ye’ll end up hurtin’ yerself and her in the process. Just go to her. Be wit’ her and enjoy every moment ye can. For ye never ken what could happen. Nae one kens what the future holds and ye cannae be caught up in the what ifs.”
Conner nodded as he swallowed hard. Although he knew very well Damon was right, he couldn’t bring himself to go to her. Turning on his heels, Conner moved down the corridor praying she didn’t notice him leaving. With Damon on his heels, Conner turned toward the main door and stepped out into the cool midday air.
The refreshing breeze seemed to steady him better than a stout drink. Conner hadn’t realized how intoxicating Olivia was until the moment her scent faded from him.
“Care to go huntin’?” Conner asked Damon with a smirk. “I could use a bit of this fresh air.”
“And leave Olivia here alone?” Damon asked in mock horror. “Are ye sure?”
“Yer right,” Conner said, pursing his lips into a tight line. “I cannae be wit’ her everywhere she goes. And I cannae keep pretendin’ I daenae have feelings for her. But I can distract myself. I figured that was yer specialty, is it nae?”
