Tempted by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham Read Free Book Online

she
stroked his long hair back and watched him close his eyes, heavy tears pricked
at her. He’d suffered for so long, chained in the dark. Was it any wonder that
he yearned for human comfort?
    Although the weight of her own exhaustion burdened her,
Marguerite didn’t move. Callum clasped her other hand in his while he slept. She
let him rest against her, though her back ached. In time, she succumbed to the
need for sleep, lying back against his pillow.
    * * *
    The raucous cries of a raven
haunted him. The birds were known for circling the camp, awaiting the moment
when a prisoner died. Callum hated them, for they fed upon the flesh of the
dead. Just the sight of the birds sickened him, and he’d chased dozens of
them away from the corpses.
    Though most of the other prisoners were
nameless companions, they didn’t deserve to be dishonoured, their flesh
picked away by black-winged predators.
    And so he’d begun collecting their
feathers. He couldn’t say why, but when the guards watched him making more
arrows, he’d glued their dark tips to the shaft. It was as if he could
honour the memory of the fallen.
    One day, he would avenge them. He’d grown
to hate Lord Harkirk as much as his former master. While Cairnross had
believed himself superior to the Scots, punishing them for imagined crimes,
Harkirk cared nothing for men’s lives. Men were killed for no reason at all,
simply as entertainment.
    But Harkirk would die one day. And, God
willing, he’d be struck down by a black-feathered arrow, one of his
own.
    * * *
    Callum’s eyes opened as the remnants of sleep slid away.
Against his cheek, he felt the softness of Marguerite’s hair and their bodies
were tangled together. Her delicate scent surrounded him, his arms cradled her
body close. He savoured the moment of holding her, wishing to God he could make
it last.
    It wasn’t yet dawn and in the faint light, he saw the golden
outline of her hair. For a moment, he listened to her breathe, watching her
sleep.
    He’d never dreamed she would let him kiss her. It hadn’t been
his intention, but when she’d put her arms around him, resting her cheek upon
his, he’d lost sight of the world. Her lips had tasted sweet, but beneath her
innocence, he’d tasted the promise of more. She’d tempted him, until he could do
nothing except savour the moments that wouldn’t last. She was a duke’s daughter
and despite the fierce desire to be her protector, he knew he’d never be a part
of her life.
    A sound from outside caught his attention. Callum reluctantly
got out of bed, listening to the sounds of night. In the corner, he saw Bram
sleeping and he wondered why his brother had allowed him to sleep with
Marguerite. Silently, he moved to open the shuttered window. In the darkness, he
spied faint pinpricks of light moving towards them. He didn’t know what it was,
but within seconds the light vanished. Instinct warned him that whatever the
source of the light was, he had to warn his brother.
    Before he could say a word, he heard Marguerite moan in her
sleep. She clenched the sheets, murmuring words in French that he didn’t
understand. And when he tried to awaken her by touching her cheek, her eyes flew
open.
    She sat up and gripped him hard, still shaking from the
nightmare. Callum held her tight, stroking her hair to soothe her.
    It’s all right. I’m here.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I was dreaming about the tower and
the fire that night. I dreamed I couldn’t get out.’ Her face rested against his
neck and he kissed her hair, moving his mouth lower to console her in the only
way he knew how.
    She drew back, closing her eyes and lifting her mouth to his.
Before he could taste her lips, the door swung open and Alex entered. His
brother’s face darkened with misunderstanding, as if he thought Callum was
trying to dishonour Marguerite.
    ‘Get away from her, Callum,’ Alex warned.
    At the sudden sound, Bram woke up from his place on the floor
and stood.