Chapter 13

13

H unter’s frustration simmered as he strode out of his study and down the hall, trying to force his thoughts away from the image of her stubborn defiance.

I need to get some air.

Erica was recklessly brave to have followed him all the way back to the castle without a single word, her small but purposeful footsteps echoing behind him. His pulse thundered, a mix of fury and something far more potent roiling within him.

He shouldn’t be feeling this—shouldn’t want to turn around, pull her against him, and silence her with a kiss. But she’d pushed him to his limit.

He felt a tug on his arm—a gentle but unyielding pull. It stopped him in his tracks, snapping him back to the present, and at that moment, the tension broke.

“Hunter, look at me,” he heard her say from behind him, her hand on his arm burning him like a red-hot iron.

He spun around, his eyes locking onto hers, and without giving either of them a chance to think, he claimed her mouth in a deep, demanding kiss filled with everything he’d been holding back.

Erica’s breath hitched as his lips met hers, her body instinctively arching into him. Her fingertips dug into his shoulders, and he could feel the fire in her touch, an equal frustration and desire seeping out of her and into him. She tasted like wild freedom—something he hadn’t allowed himself to chase but found impossible to resist.

“Ye are mine now, Erica,” he whispered against her lips, his voice hoarse. The words left his mouth in a rush, surprising even him. “Every part of ye. Yer body, yer heart… and ye arenae allowed to get hurt. Nae ever.”

His words seemed to sink into her, and for a moment, the whole world froze. Her grip on his shoulders tightened, her breaths becoming labored. He could feel the way she trembled beneath his hands, her eyes dark with a desire he recognized all too well.

Christ above, I need more .

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but he cut her off with another kiss, deeper, rougher, pulling her close so there wasn’t an inch between them. His hand slid around her waist, and he pressed her against him. Her heart pounded under his touch, mirroring his own, and he felt as if he was sinking, pulled under by the intensity of the moment.

The door to her chambers was just a few steps away.

Without breaking their kiss, he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside, the world around them blurring into insignificance. She held onto him, her breaths coming fast, her lips soft and eager beneath his. He nudged the door closed with his foot, shutting out everything but her.

Once they were inside, he set her down, his gaze intense as he drank in the sight of her.

She was beautiful, her cheeks flushed, her hair slightly disheveled from his hands, her lips parted and swollen from his kisses. And damn it all, he wanted her. Needed her in a way he hadn’t needed anyone in a long, long time.

“Ye drive me mad,” he murmured, his voice rough as his eyes roamed over her. He reached out, his fingertips stroking her cheek before trailing down to her collarbone. “Reckless, stubborn woman… but ye are mine.”

Erica shivered at his words, her eyes never leaving his, and he saw something flicker in them—something vulnerable, hesitant even. But then, she jutted her chin, her lips curling into a faint smile as she whispered, “Maybe I am.”

Those three words unraveled him. He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers, his hands trailing down her sides as he pulled her flush against him. He felt the heat of her skin under his touch, the way her body responded to his, and a thrill shot through him, stoking his desire.

Slowly, he guided her toward the bed, his lips trailing down her neck, tasting her sweet skin. Her hands slid over his shoulders, then tangled in his hair, and he could feel her pulse racing under his lips. He wanted to savor her, to make her feel just how fiercely he wanted her with every touch, every kiss.

But still, something niggled at the back of his mind. It urged him to suppress the urge to claim her fully—it was the reason he hadn’t done it till now, despite the privacy they had in her room.

They were husband and wife, and he hadn’t claimed her still.

But she read me letter. She kens well enough that I willnae claim her and why.

The guilt of moving on had been debilitating at times, and he found himself surprised that it wasn’t bearing down on him as strongly at that moment. Living with the anxiety of letting down his family by moving on but also failing to move on was something that had never left him.

His eyes refocused on Erica. Her brown strands framed her face, and he felt that tugging sensation again.

I cannae leave her like this, I’m in too deep. I have to have more of her. I need it.

Hunter knew what he had to do, and he took a steadying breath before leaning down further.

He kissed down her throat, his hands mapping out every curve, every dip, until they reached their destination. He pushed her skirts up to her waist as he slid his fingers into the wet heat of her core. Her breaths were shallow, her body arching into his touch as his fingers glided softly between her folds. The pads of his calloused fingers gently and rhythmically circled her bud with expert precision.

Erica’s moans stoked the urge to claim her right then and there, before the guilt washed over him, tugging relentlessly on his focus. He felt his manhood stiffening, straining almost uncomfortably against his pants.

He needed to hear his name on her lips. He couldn’t stop, nor did he want to.

“Promise me,” he murmured, his voice a low rasp as his lips brushed against her ear. His fingers stroked her sex before hovering, delaying her pleasure and sending her into a frenzy. “Ye must be careful, Erica. Promise me that ye will look after yerself.”

Her inner thighs tensed up as her gaze met his, and he saw the flicker of resistance, the same fierce independence that had both drawn him to her and driven him mad, even as he held her in the palm of his hand—quite literally.

But then, her expression softened, and she whispered, “I promise.”

The simple words broke whatever restraint he had left. He captured her mouth again and slowly slid a finger inside her, letting her warmth ignite his senses. His kiss was deep and heated, filled with every ounce of desire that coursed through him.

Erica moaned softly into the kiss, her hands pulling him closer, and he was swept up in the sensation, caught up in her warmth, her softness, the way she responded to him so quickly. His hooded eyes feasted on her core as he slid another finger inside her, his mouth watering with anticipation. Her loud cry of pleasure went straight to his manhood.

I will taste her tonight. I will watch her fall apart.

He wanted to watch her unravel beneath him, to know he was the one who brought her to this point. His fingers pumped into her, making her moan louder.

But just as he felt her body tremble, he held back, making her wait, drawing out her pleasure until she was nearly begging. He wanted her to feel every moment, to know that she was his—that he wouldn’t let her slip away.

“Promise me again. Now,” he demanded. “Promise me, and I’ll let ye come.”

Her lip trembled, and he felt her walls clench around his fingers, a silent plea for him to keep going. His lips curled into a wicked grin, and he curled his fingers slightly, nearly groaning as he heard her breath hitch.

Stubborn piece of work.

Erica furrowed her brow defiantly. Her voice was barely an audible murmur, but it was filled with the need for relief that only he could provide, and he couldn’t get enough of it. “I promise.”

That was all he needed.

Finally, he let her fall, his touch guiding her over the edge, feeling her body shudder as he held her close, his breaths ragged and uneven as he watched. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as she cried out.

When she stilled, her breathing soft and even, he pulled her close, letting her rest against him, content to feel the warmth of her body, her steady breaths lulling him into a calm he hadn’t felt in years.

He crawled up to rest on her pillows, and she nestled against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. He stroked her hair, feeling an overwhelming sense of peace wash over him.

As she drifted off in his arms, he held her close, his heartbeat steady and sure. And as he felt the warmth of her skin against him, he knew he would do whatever it took to keep her safe, to keep her by his side.

For the first time in a long time, Hunter felt grounded in a way he hadn’t realized he needed. Yet, there was still that nagging guilt that he couldn’t shake.

It was the guilt that made him look at her like she would be his downfall. It was the guilt that knocked the breath out of his lungs and nearly made his heart stop. It was the guilt, even with her scent all over him, that made him get up and leave.