“You!” I thunder, muscles clenched, and sword raised as I move towards him. But he grabs my love, making her scream as he wraps an arm around her neck. I catch the flash of steel, and I hiss as my eyes land on the small knife he’s got held to her ribs.
“Another step, savage,” he spits at me, his eyes wild. “One more step and I bleed her out like a pig!”
“It would be the last thing you do on this earth.”
Chauntleroy swallows, paling, but he glares at me, his eyes twitching.
“Are you ready to trade her life for mine, Norseman?”
“Nay,” I growl. “But I am ready to separate your head from your body.”
He pales again, but he grinds his jaw, eyes flashing at me.
“Tor!” Rhona cries out, making my heart wince as I see Chauntleroy push that blade tighter against her.
“You want your whore back, savage?!”
“Take your fucking hands off of her,” I hiss through clenched teeth.
“Take your men and get out! And then I’ll let her go.”
I shake my head. “No deal. Let go of her now, and I’ll make your death fast.”
Chauntleroy’s eyes go wide with fear.
“The alternative is I keep you for your friends, the other lords of these highlands, to do with you as they will. Me? I’m quite happy to just cut your head off. I hear they have more… interesting ideas for men they view as traitors to their country and kin. Ideas that involve burning oil and very nasty looking tools that I hear go in very uncomfortable places.”
Chauntleroy shivers, freezing, his attention paused by my threat. It’s the only moment I need, and the last mistake he’ll ever make.
I’ve seen thousands of battles and seen thousands of men react in the face of death or harm. The fighters will stay and fight, but Chauntleroy is no fighter. I rush him, and he instinctively shoves Rhona away from him as he turns to run.
…He makes it two steps before my sword takes his head from his shoulders.
I whirl, giving him not another thought before I rush to Rhona, scooping her in my arms and holding her tight. She gasps, peppering my face with kisses before I cup her jaw and sear my lips to hers, pouring every single ounce of my love for her into that kiss. She moans, kissing me wildly as I carry her out of the room, away from the carnage.
“You came,” she murmurs into my lips.
I grin, my eyes burning into hers. “I’ll always come for you, little bird. I’d have thought you’d know that by now.”
She bites her lip, her eyes dancing with fire as she leans in to kiss me again.
“Are… are the other lords here with you?”
“Aye, they are.”
Rhona’s brows shoot up, and I chuckle.
“I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but for now at least, we aren’t going to be trying to kill each other.”
“I suppose it was your charm that won them over?”
I grin at her cheek, growlingly lowly as she giggles.
“Keep it up, my little love, and I may just have to do something.”
She blushes, her eyes flaming with excitement.
“Like?”
“Like tie you up and have my damn way with you,” I growl.
Rhona flushes even redder, her eyes sparking as she rakes her teeth over her bottom lip.
“Is that a promise?”
“Absolutely,” I groan, leaning in. Our lips crush together, and everything else fades away. The battle, the sounds of trumpets announcing the surrender of the rest of Chauntleroy’s men.
Because really, nothing else matters. Not battle, not treasure, not glory, not conquest. She’s my only treasure. My greatest battle. My final conquest.
My heart.
And there’s nothing I won’t do to keep her safe, and keep her in my arms, for the rest of my days.
Epilogue
Rhona
When his cock sinks into me, I gasp, moaning in pleasure as my hand claws at his hip. Behind me, I can feel his hard body press against me, muscles clenching as he grips me tight and growls into my ear. His lips tease over my neck as he pushes forward, sliding more of his thickness into my tight, eager pussy as I cry out for more.
I twist, turning my head over my shoulder to kiss him, moving into his lips as he starts to fuck me slow and deep, sending heat shuddering through me. My toes curl, feet clawing at the bed sheets as I arch my ass and thrust back to greedily take more of him inside.
“Tor,” I gasp, shivering as I feel his thick, swollen cock drive in and out of me. My arousal drips down my thighs, coating me in slick heat as his gorgeous cock begins to thrust in and out. One of his hands slides up to cup my breasts, teasing my nipples and pulling on them just enough to make me cry out in pleasure.
…This is without question my new favorite way to wake up.