Chapter 6

6

H unter’s patience was wearing thin. Erica’s coy comments, her subtle flirtatious movements, and the glint of a challenge in her eyes had been teasing him since they left McFair Keep.

He glanced back up to find her still white-knuckling her spoon and squirming in her seat. The act tugged at some place deep in his chest and made his mouth water.

Denying himself the simple pleasure of claiming her was the right thing to do. He knew that he wasn’t worthy of experiencing any pleasure in this world. Not after what happened to his family.

This was his penance.

Good . I deserve this.

He caught sight of Kara, who had been staring at the two of them blatantly, and immediately understood the reason behind her wide-eyed, scandalized expression. He then caught his men exchanging knowing glances and trying their best to hide their smirks.

Christ, of course they had overheard us…

He glared at his men, who excused themselves in quick succession and even dragged Kara with them, giving their Laird and Lady some privacy. Hunter wasn’t sure which bothered him more, Erica’s insistence or the growing urge to let her continue.

Watching her lift her spoon to her mouth, he finally addressed her, his voice edged with barely contained frustration. “Enough. We’re leavin’.”

“What do ye mean, we’re leavin’?”

“Just what I said,” he said, standing up abruptly. “Come, now.”

“Ye cannae—” she started to protest, but he ended up pulling her up from her chair.

Her soft skin burned his hand in the most delicious way, and he knew the carriage ride was going to be challenging if she kept this up.

Erica followed and remained right beside him, deliberately close, as he led them back to the carriage. The sun had started to set and was casting eerily long shadows on the cobblestone. Hunter let her intoxicating scent assault his senses.

If this is goin’ to work, it has to be timed perfectly…

They reached the carriage rather quickly, and he slowed his pace.

He felt her fingers graze his arm.

“Hunter?” she said quietly, her hand lingering on the sleeve of his jacket long enough to make him pause.

That’s it, lass. Let’s play.

Hunter halted abruptly, turning to her with a look he knew was darker than he’d intended. Erica didn’t shrink back. In fact, she met his gaze, almost daring him to react.

“Are ye tryin’ to provoke me, lass?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.

He stepped closer, his hand rising almost of its own accord. His fingers brushed against her cheek, then trailed down to her jaw.

The softness of her skin against his calloused hand stirred something within him that he had been fighting to keep buried since the moment he met her. He backed her up until she was flush against the side of the carriage.

Erica tilted her head up invitingly, and he couldn’t help but trace the curve of her cheekbone with his thumb. For a moment, he let himself savor the feeling, the tension between them crackling.

Just like that, lass. Let’s see how far ye are willin’ to take this…

He felt the fire inside of him roar as he leaned in and she stayed perfectly still, watching him, her breath hitching slightly as he grabbed her skirts.

However, when his lips were mere inches from hers, she whispered, “Wait.”

That single word felt like a bucket of ice-cold water. He pulled back, looking down at her with a mix of anger and something else he couldn’t quite name.

“If ye are goin’ to play these games, wife, then ye had best be prepared to see them through. Dinnae tempt me unless ye intend to follow through.” His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable.

Erica’s eyes widened, and a blush rose to her cheeks. For a brief second, he could see her confidence falter, and that was enough. He’d won this round as well, and the satisfaction of it steadied him.

He was about to turn back toward the carriage when he felt a sudden sting in his arm.

Erica gasped, and his eyes locked onto hers. “Hunter!”

Her voice was filled with panic as her hand shot out to grip his arm.

An arrow.

Hunter looked down to find blood welling up from a shallow cut on his bicep. Anger surged through him as he scanned the area, but the archer was nowhere to be seen.

He let her examine the cut a moment longer while he scanned the area once more—though the concern in her eyes was not lost on him.

“Ye’re hurt—dinnae go!” She clung to him, her fear catching him off guard.

He steeled himself, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. “Stay here. I’ll handle this.”

Without another word, he handed her into the carriage, his touch firm, leaving no room for argument. He took another look at her, saw the fear in her eyes, and clenched his jaw. “It’ll only be a minute, lass.”

And then, he disappeared, whistling to alert his men as well.

He and his men tore through the village with ease. They searched the nearby woods and buildings, their senses sharp, their eyes scanning every corner and shadow. But the attacker had slipped away without a trace.

Frustration simmered low in Hunter’s gut as he searched the skies before returning to the carriage. Kara’s voice drifted through the slightly open window, and he could overhear their conversation.

“I just thought—Well, ye were in the inn…”

“Kara! Out with it already!” he heard Erica say impatiently and smiled to himself before wrenching open the door to save Kara from whatever misplaced frustration she was about to receive.

He kept his expression serious, reminding himself where they had left off before the attack.

Aye, how could I forget…

He held Erica’s gaze for a moment, a warning clear in his eyes. She didn’t back down, her worry for him evident, but she kept quiet as he took his seat and closed the door behind him.

As the carriage lurched forward, Hunter found himself clenching his jaw and looking out the window again. He hadn’t even noticed the sting in his arm before Erica leaned forward and extended her hands toward him—a silent demand to let her examine his wound.

Reluctantly, he took off his jacket and lifted his shirt over his head to bare his arm to her. Only, he realized too late that he was now naked from the waist up. Her green eyes lingered on his body for a moment longer than he had anticipated.

The memory of her little game in the inn was fresh in his mind, and he could scarcely believe how easily she’d gotten to him. It was unthinkable that someone he’d only known for a few days could knock him off balance. And yet, here he was, his arm tingling under her gentle touch, every brush of her fingers stirring something inside him he’d thought long since buried.

“Ye dinnae need to fash over it, lass,” he muttered, watching her nimble fingers work.

She shot him a defiant glance, her eyebrow arched. “Dinnae tell me what I need to do. If ye are me husband now, I may as well keep ye from bleedin’ to death.”

“If?” A chuckle escaped him before he could stop it. “And here I thought it was nothin’.”

She rolled her eyes and finished tying the bandage with a light tug, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her gaze as if she’d just won a battle.

Hunter could feel the warmth of her hands lingering as she sat back, her posture triumphant, the soft curve of her lips betraying her smugness. He bit back another laugh as he pulled his shirt and jacket back on and settled into the silence.

Later, a soft knock sounded on the roof of the carriage—it was the only hint Hunter needed to know that they were back at MacKinnon. Erica met his gaze with wide, questioning eyes, and he simply tilted his head, motioning for her to look out the window.

She had been trying to mask her nerves, but the slight tremor in her fingers gave her away. That and the way her eyes darted between him and the towering walls they had neared.

For the first time, it struck him just how overwhelming this must be for her—their rushed wedding, the move, the strangers. Yet, she hadn’t let that fear stop her from verbally sparring with him, or from trying to catch his attention in that inn.

He found himself feeling proud of her—a thought that sent desire through his veins.

The carriage shortly pulled to a stop, and Hunter was grateful for the reprieve. He stepped out first, offering his hand to help her down. She hesitated, just long enough for him to notice.

“Welcome to MacKinnon Castle, Lady MacKinnon,” he said softly, trying to gauge her reaction.

Erica stepped out of the carriage, raising her eyes to the massive stone fortress, her jaw set with an almost steely determination. “It’s… grand,” she forced out as if trying to convince herself. “It’s a strange sense of peace ye have, Hunter,” she added, recalling his one-word response to her earlier.

Hunter couldn’t help the faint smirk that tugged at his lips.

The doors opened as they approached, and there, in the wide entrance hall, stood Lily, her eyes lighting up the moment she spotted her uncle. Hunter watched her restrain herself from running over to him. Instead, she took slow, measured steps toward them, her curious gaze flicking to Erica.

A hint of anger rose in his chest, but he couldn’t pinpoint the reason behind it. “Lily, I’d like ye to meet me wife, Erica,” he said, giving Erica a slight nod.

Erica crouched down, at eye level with the girl. “Hello, Lily,” she said, her voice soft but tinged with uncertainty.

Lily took a step closer, her small hands clasped together in front of her. She looked as though she was studying Erica before her gaze flicked back to Hunter. “Is she stayin’, Uncle?”

“Aye,” Hunter said simply.

“I suppose that makes me yer aunt now,” Erica added, her voice warm.

Lily’s face lit up, though she bit her lip. She fixed her gaze on Hunter, and he caught a glimmer in her eyes that always hinted at something unsaid. There was a silent question there, one he could never quite catch. However, what or who the question was about was lost on him. He hoped Erica would have better luck as the two of them got to know each other better.

He gave his niece the briefest of nods, hoping it would suffice—as it usually did.

At Lily’s side stood Calvin, his trusted man-at-arms, who was observing the exchange with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk.

Ach, great. Always somethin’ smart to say.

Hunter let out a breath, realizing he couldn’t afford to linger any longer. He nodded to Calvin. “A word.”

Calvin’s expression turned serious, and he gave a brief nod before following his Laird down the hall, leaving Erica and Lily behind.

As they stepped into the corridor, Hunter’s thoughts drifted back to the arrow and whoever was bold—or foolish—enough to aim it at him. Calvin fell into step beside him, his usual laid-back manner replaced with a rare tension.

Knowing Calvin had already been informed about the attack, he started without any further delay. “Any sign of them?” he asked, his voice low.

Calvin shook his head. “Whoever it was, they’re long gone. But that arrow was meant for ye, there’s nay doubt about it.”

Hunter clenched his hands into fists and clenched his jaw.

Someone had aimed that arrow at me but had nearly injured me wife.

The fact that Erica had been nearby—that she could’ve been hurt—angered him in a way that surprised him.

“We’ll double the guards around the castle,” Hunter said. “And I expect ye to keep an eye on Lady MacKinnon as well.”

Calvin nodded, his expression grave. “Aye. I’ll tell the men and make sure they ken it is an order.”

Hunter turned, glancing back down the hall where he’d left Erica and Lily. His hands still tingled where she’d touched him, and he forced himself to ignore the sensation.

This marriage was meant to be a matter of necessity. He hadn’t expected it to unsettle him at every turn, and he certainly hadn’t anticipated the way his wife seemed to draw him in, tempting him to let down the walls he’d carefully built around himself.

But he knew he needed to remind himself—and her—that their arrangement was not meant for romance or folly.

Not just yet, though …

“Gather them now—I’ll tell them meself.”