Chapter 20

20

T he path back to the castle glimmered faintly in the moonlight, but Erica’s steps were slow, her mind elsewhere. Her heart raced in an unfamiliar way—a deep thrumming that had begun the moment Hunter had pulled her into his arms. She had told herself it was just the rush of the chase, the thrill of the night air, but the way his hands had lingered on her waist told a different story.

The way he looked at her now, walking quietly beside her, told yet another story.

Hunter had been uncharacteristically vulnerable tonight, sharing his grief and his fears. She had seen a side of him he rarely revealed—a man burdened by responsibility, guilt, and love so fierce it frightened him. And yet he had trusted her enough to let her see it. The weight of that realization settled over her like a warm cloak.

That’s enough excitement for the night. What’s wrong with me?

“Are ye quiet because ye’re tired,” Hunter asked, his deep voice breaking through her thoughts, “or because ye are plottin’ yer next escape?”

Erica glanced over at him, her lips curling into a smile. “Maybe a bit of both.”

His answering smirk was quick, but his gaze lingered, tracing her face with an intensity that made her shiver despite the warm night. “Ye are a terrible liar,” he said softly as he tugged on her arm, spinning her toward him.

Erica opened her mouth to retort, but the words caught in her throat when she bumped into him. The silvery light carved shadows into his sharp jawline, and his gray eyes searched hers with a heat that made her breath hitch.

“We’ve had enough excitement for one night, wife,” he murmured, his gruff voice laden with confidence that made her instantly hot and bothered.

She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she simply tilted her chin up, her eyes locking onto his. Something passed between them at that moment, a silent understanding that left her stomach in knots and her skin humming with anticipation.

Hunter reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek. The calluses on his fingers were rough, but his touch was achingly gentle. Erica felt herself leaning into him, her body betraying her resolve. She told herself to step back, to break the tension between them, but her feet were rooted to the ground.

His thumb traced the line of her jaw, and she couldn’t stop the faint gasp that escaped her lips. His expression darkened at the sound, his gaze dropping to her mouth, and his grip tightened slightly.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispered.

She couldn’t. She didn’t want to. Instead, she closed the small distance between them, her lips brushing against his in a kiss that started soft but quickly deepened.

The world around them faded. The cool night air, the faint chirping of crickets—all of it disappeared as Hunter wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against him.

Erica’s hands found their way to his chest, the firm muscles beneath his shirt sending a bolt of heat through her. His kiss was demanding, all-consuming, and she matched it with equal fervor. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his tunic, her grip tight as if the thin cloth was the only thing anchoring her to reality. She felt his hand slide into her hair, tilting her head back to deepen the kiss further.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard.

Hunter rested his forehead against hers, his gray eyes dark with desire. “Ye drive me mad, woman,” he said, his voice rough.

Erica’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “Good,” she breathed.

He growled softly, the sound sending a thrill through her. “Ye have nay idea what ye do to me.”

“I might have some idea,” she quipped, emboldened by the heat in his gaze.

Hunter didn’t wait for her to elaborate. He kissed her again, this time with an urgency that left her dizzy. His hands roamed over her back, her waist, her hips, pulling her closer as though he couldn’t get enough.

Erica’s hands wandered, tracing the broad expanse of his shoulders, the lines and sinews on his arms.

Without breaking the kiss, Hunter guided her toward a large oak tree at the edge of the path. The rough bark pressed against her back, a sharp contrast to the heat of his body. His lips moved to her neck, planting hot, open-mouthed kisses on her skin.

Erica let out a soft moan, her head lolling back against the tree as her fingers tangled in his hair.

“H-Hunter,” she gasped, her voice trembling with a mix of need and disbelief as he dropped to his knees in front of her.

His hair was disheveled from her hands, and when he pulled back just enough to look up at her, she saw the devilish glint in his eyes.

His breath was warm against her torso as he rested his chin on her navel. “Say the word, Erica,” he said, his voice thick with desire. “If ye want me to stop?—”

“Nay,” she interrupted, her hands gripping the front of his tunic, pulling him up to meet her lips. “I dinnae want ye to stop.”

That was all the encouragement he needed.

Hunter rose to his feet and slid his hands down her thighs, lifting her effortlessly against him. Erica wrapped her legs around his waist, her skirts pooling around them as he pressed her back against the tree bark. His kisses were relentless, searing a path from her lips to her collarbone and back again.

Erica had never felt anything like this—this overwhelming desire, this uncontrollable need. Every touch, every kiss, every whisper sent sparks through her veins. His hands slid under her skirts, skimming the bare skin of her thighs before brushing against her wet heat. That touch sent a bolt of earth-shattering pleasure to her core.

She wanted more. Needed more. She pawed at his shoulders, suppressing a throaty moan.

“Dinnae hold back,” she gasped as he slid a finger inside her, playing her like a puppet.

Hunter chuckled low in his throat, the rumbling sound sending a thrill through her as he pumped his finger into her again and again, and then added another finger. “Ye will be the death of me, lass.”

His lips captured hers again, more demanding as she pulled his shirt free from his trousers and slid it up over his broad shoulders. He broke their kiss long enough to let her tug it over his head, then retook her lips with an intensity that stole her breath.

His free hand made quick work of her bodice, and he took one of her nipples in his mouth as he thrust his fingers into her relentlessly.

“Now, please,” she begged, feeling herself coming undone.

“I told ye, I willnae take ye here,” he said and sucked almost painfully on her erect nipple, coaxing a whimper out of her.

“Take me now, or ye will never have me,” she threatened, half-crazed with desire as he buried his fingers so deep inside her that she threw her head back and gasped for air.

“Now,” she pressed.

In an instant, his fingers slid out of her, only to be replaced by his rock-hard length.

He was drenched in her arousal, surely dripping with it as he guided her onto his member. The feeling of being overfull made her vision blur.

“Oh… my…” she gasped, only to be cut off as he suddenly thrust into her.

The moan she let out was so loud that anyone who may have been passing by might have thought she was yelling.

Hunter held her securely in his arms, but he took a step back from the tree to push into her deeper. He pumped into her fast and hard. Each thrust pushed her closer and closer to the edge.

Between her crazed moans, Erica heard his heavy breaths and groans with each deep thrust.

“Christ alive, ye are gorgeous, Erica,” he grunted before they climaxed.

Her body shuddered around his throbbing member as she came undone. He had claimed her. Every inch of her.

I am his.

It was the only thing she could think about as they stood there. She was still in his arms as she came down from her high. They stayed joined, their breaths slowly evening out.

Hunter rested his forehead against hers, his hands cradling her face with surprising tenderness. Erica felt a lump form in her throat, a realization dawning on her with startling clarity.

I think I love this man.

She didn’t know when it happened or how, but the truth was undeniable. She loved her husband—the brooding, infuriating, stubborn man who had stolen her breath and her heart in equal measure.

Eventually, Hunter pulled out of her and lowered her to her feet. She smoothed down her dress, her cheeks still flushed. He adjusted his tunic, his gaze soft but unreadable as he watched her.

Just as she stepped away from the tree, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She froze, her heart leaping into her throat.

“Hunter,” she hissed. “I think… I think someone’s watchin’ us.”

Hunter was immediately on high alert, reaching for the sword at his belt. “Where?”

She pointed toward the edge of the gardens, where the shadows seemed to shift unnaturally. Hunter moved in front of her, his posture tense as he scanned the area. After a few moments, he shook his head.

“There’s nay one there,” he said, though there was a note of uncertainty in his voice. “Are ye sure?”

“I thought I saw…” Erica trailed off, her confidence wavering. The shadows looked undisturbed now, the gardens as still as ever. “Maybe it was nothin’.”

Hunter didn’t look convinced. “Stay close,” he said firmly. “Just in case.”

Erica nodded, and the earlier warmth was replaced by a lingering unease.

As they made their way back to the castle, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone. That someone, somewhere, had been watching them.

The walk back to the castle was quiet, but Hunter’s senses were anything but still. Erica’s earlier comment lingered in his mind, prickling at his nerves. She thought she’d seen someone watching them. On his land.

His arm was wrapped around her waist as they walked, her warmth against him grounding, though the tension humming in his body refused to subside.

He glanced down at her, noting the way her cheeks were still slightly flushed from their shared passion in the gardens. It wasn’t the way he had wished to claim her—she deserved better than a rough tumble against a tree. But she looked content, relaxed even.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something—or someone—had been out there.

Nay one trespasses on me land without consequences.

As the castle loomed closer, Erica tilted her head up to look at him. “Ye are quiet,” she noted softly, her hand slipping into his as they walked.

He gave her a small, reassuring smile but didn’t slow his pace. “Just thinkin’,” he replied gruffly, his thoughts swirling too fast to offer her more.

She furrowed her brow, but she didn’t press him. Instead, she leaned into him slightly, as though she could absorb some of his tension. “I’m sure it was nothin’,” she said. “Probably just a shadow or an animal.”

“Maybe,” he uttered, though his tone made it clear he didn’t believe that for a second.

A shadow doesnae set me teeth on edge like this.

They entered the castle, the warm glow of the torchlight in the corridor doing little to ease his restlessness. Erica’s hand remained in his as they made their way upstairs, her light footsteps contrasting with his loud ones.

“Do ye wish to stay with me tonight?”

His question seemed to catch her off guard, but she answered quickly. “Do ye wish for me to stay with ye tonight, then?” She raised a playful eyebrow, and he shook his head in response.

“Stay with me tonight, lass.”

“Bossy,” she quipped but let him lead her up the rest of the steps.

On the landing, Hunter stopped as he spotted a young boy carrying a basket of linens.

“Ach! Laddie,” he called, his voice firm and commanding. The boy froze, wide-eyed. “Find Calvin. Tell him to come to me chambers. Now.”

The boy nodded quickly, dropping his load to sprint down the hall without a word.

Erica tugged on Hunter’s hand gently, her green eyes full of concern. “Hunter, what are ye doin’?”

He turned to her, his expression softening slightly. “Dinnae fash, lass. I just need to make sure everythin’ is as it should be.”

Her lips pressed together into a thin line, but she nodded, allowing him to lead her the rest of the way to his chambers.

Once inside, Hunter moved with purpose, guiding her to a comfortable chair near the fireplace.

“Sit,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She arched an eyebrow but did as he asked.

He moved to the sideboard, pouring her a cup of steaming hot tea and placing it on the small table beside her. A plate of pastries quickly followed, though he noted the way her eyes followed him rather than the food.

“This feels suspiciously like ye’re tryin’ to keep me distracted,” she remarked, her voice tinged with amusement despite her earlier concern.

“Aye, maybe it is,” he admitted, crouching before her and taking her hands in his. “But I mean to keep ye safe, Erica. Always. Let me take care of this so I can sleep better.”

Her expression softened, her fingers curling around his. “I trust ye.”

Those words sent warmth through him, easing some of the tension in his chest. He kissed her hands, lingering for a moment before rising. Just then, a firm knock sounded at the door.

Hunter strode to the door and opened it to reveal Calvin.

The man-at-arms looked as sharp and ready as ever, though his expression shifted to one of concern when he saw his master’s grim face.

“Erica thought she saw someone,” Hunter muttered, stepping into the hallway and closing the door slightly behind him. “In the woods, near the clearing by the northern path.”

Calvin’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. “Ye think someone’s been skulkin’ around?”

“I dinnae ken, but I want it checked. Now.”

“Aye, I’ll take some men and look,” Calvin said without hesitation. He turned to leave, but then paused. “Hunter… if it’s naught but shadows, what do ye wish to do?”

Hunter tilted his head slightly, a sign that he would not be pleased with a non-result and would not let anything rest until he was certain that his clan and his family were safe. “See to it. I’d like a report at first light.”

With that, Calvin disappeared down the hall, his footsteps fading quickly as he made his way to gather a search party.

Hunter lingered for a moment, his hand resting on the doorframe.

I’ll be damned if I let anyone threaten what’s mine.

When he reentered the room, Erica was sipping her tea, her eyes rising to meet his. She smiled softly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. He could see the questions there, the worry she tried to mask for his sake.

“Is everythin’ all right?” she asked.

“Aye, it will be,” he said, crossing the room to stand before her. “I’ll nae let anythin’ harm ye or Lily.”

Her expression shifted, a mix of gratitude and something deeper that made his chest tighten. She stood up and stepped closer to him, her hands brushing lightly against his arms. “Thank ye, Hunter.”

He cupped her face, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. “Ye dinnae need to thank me, lass. It’s me duty and me honor.”

The moment stretched between them, the crackling of the fire the only sound. Her gaze fell to his lips, and his resolve crumbled. He kissed her, slow and tender at first, but the embers of their earlier passion quickly reignited. Her hands slid up his chest, tangling in his hair as she pressed herself against him.

“Stay with me tonight,” he murmured against her lips, his voice thick with need. “I need to feel ye near me.”

She nodded, her breath coming in soft pants as she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. “I’ll stay.”

Relief and desire surged through him, and he wasted no time in leading her to the bed. But as they passed the table, her laughter stopped him.

“What?” he asked, furrowing his brow.

She pointed to the plate of pastries. “Are we just goin’ to ignore the fact that ye tried to bribe me with tea and sweets?”

His lips quirked up into a rare smile. “Did it work?”

She laughed, the sound light and free. “I suppose it did.”

They shared a smile before he pulled her close again, the humor fading as the weight of their connection settled between them.

He kissed her once more, slower this time, savoring the taste of her. As they fell onto the bed, the worries of the night slipped away, leaving only the two of them, tangled together in the sanctuary of his chambers.

The firelight danced on the walls, its warmth mirrored in the way he touched her, his hands and lips tracing every curve, every inch of her. He poured his emotions into each kiss, each caress, as if trying to convey everything he couldn’t put into words.

Erica’s soft sighs and moans spurred him on, and as the night deepened, they found solace and passion in each other’s arms.