Seduced by Her Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham Read Free Book Online Page A

she refused to stop and take care of herself.
    â€˜It will stop,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll rest and it will be fine.’
    He softened his tone. ‘Let Vanora take care of the girls. And let me take care of you.’ Without waiting for the refusal he knew would come, he left Laren’s side and went to the older matron. Ross’s wife sent him a pointed look, but she agreed to look after their daughters.
    The afternoon sky darkened, Alex gave orders for Dougal to bring him a horse and supplies for the night. Laren’s gaze was focused upon the girls. When she understood that he wasn’t giving her a choice, her displeasure was evident.
    He didn’t care. Right now, he needed to confront his wife, to understand what she was hiding from him.
    The more he thought of it, the more he realised that she had never confided in him. Over the past two years, she’d hidden herself away, keeping her own secrets.
    Tonight, he wanted to learn exactly what they were.
    Â 
    Alex helped Laren onto the horse, bringing a torch with him as he led the animal into the forest. The light dappled the edges of the leaves, filtering the golden sun amid the oaks and fir trees. Nothing was said throughout the half-hour journey, and when at last he brought the horse to a stop, Laren stared at the circle of stones, her face stricken.
    â€˜Why did you bring me here?’
    â€˜You know why.’ He wanted her to remember the way things had once been between them. The circle was where they had first fallen in love. It seemed like the best place to begin again.
    Laren walked forwards, resting her hand upon one of the stones. ‘It’s been a long time since we were here.’
    He’d brought her here every Beltaine, where they had celebrated the feast in each other’s arms, in remembrance of their wedding night. But after the children were born, it had become more difficult to get away. Laren was reluctant to leave Mairin and, over time, their circle had been forgotten.
    When he turned back to her, he saw that she’d sat down. Her gloved hands resting upon her skirts, as the dying sunlight sank below the horizon.
    â€˜You don’t have to wear those,’ he offered, pointing to her gloves.
    â€˜I’m more comfortable with them on.’
    Alex didn’t argue. He supposed her hands were cold,now that winter was upon them. While he set up their tent, a thousand questions and demands poured through his mind. He struggled to keep his frustration within manageable boundaries. But the longer she held herself apart, the more he wondered how to begin.
    They were alone now, with no one to stare at them or whisper. But Laren didn’t even look at him. He supposed her injury was bothering her. His own arm ached, but he was more accustomed to working through discomfort.
    Against the fading sunlight, her hair gleamed like reddened flames. Laren was as beautiful to him now as she’d been on the day he’d married her. Her skin was milky smooth, her body slender.
    â€˜Do you remember the last time we were here?’ he ventured at last.
    She leaned against one of the standing stones, her hand pressed to her side. ‘It was before Mairin was born, I think.’ A softness came over her, and she added, ‘We were so young then.’
    He came to stand closer to her, and the sun began to dip lower. Abruptly, Laren released a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
    â€˜What is it?’
    â€˜You asked me if I found the stones inspiring.’ Her mouth tipped into a smile at the sight of the phallic monoliths.
    â€˜And did you?’
    â€˜Sometimes.’ Her face held the softness of the past, like the woman he’d first wed. She held her hand to her wounded side and rested against the standing stone. He reached out and moved a lock of her hair that had fallen against her cheek. When he kept his hand on her face, he saw the sudden confusion in her green