I have so much more to say, but I feel as if I’ve exhausted every last bit of energy to say this much.
Leith is on his feet, and I look at him in surprise.
“Sometimes you don’t know how much a person can mean to you until they’re taken away,” he says, and the girls hang their heads. I know they must be thinking of their brother Tavish. “But I can promise you this.” He smiles. “This woman here means more to me than you’ll ever know. It’s why I’m determined to make her mine. Why I want her a member of this Clan.” He turns to me. My heart’s racing, my palms are sweaty, as I listen in surprise to what he says. “And I don’t ever want you to question that.”
I shake my head. “How could I?” I whisper.
I think it’s Islan who gives a happy sigh, and an “Awww.”
“A toast,” Leith says. He reaches for his glass, and holds it up in the air.
“A toast!” Tate echoes. Leith looks at me, his eyes shining.
“For brave, wee lasses and the end of dangerous threats. For chance meetings that change the course of a life.” He clicks his glass against mine. “For my brave, beautiful Cairstina.”
I clink his glass back. “For protective brothers, loyal sons, and fearless leaders,” I say, my voice gaining strength the more I use it. “For the Cowen Clan Captain.”
They cheer as Leith bends and kisses me, right in front of everyone. We clink glasses and drink wine, and finish the dinner off with strong tea and Flora’s shortbread. It’s a night to remember.
Leith and I go back to his chalet, hand in hand, as a light snow falls. I shiver, and he draws me closer.
“You’re a bonnie, brave lass,” he says gently, as he leads me home. “And Cairstina, you made me so proud today. And no, it wasn’t just that you spoke after so long being held captive by your inability to do so. No. ’Twas so much more than that, lass. You stood up to my dad. You went after my sister when she was in danger. You inspire me so much to be a better man.”
My belly warms at that, and I make myself whisper, “Thank you.”
He grins. “Most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard.”
I walk beside him, my head tipped to the side, nearly on his shoulder. When we reach the porch, he opens the door and gestures for me to sit on the sofa. Bailey lies by the hearth, dozing after a long day. I’m eager to finish my story.
I bring out my book as Leith stokes the fire, and he grabs a book from the shelf and sits beside me. He takes my feet on his lap, and I snuggle in cozily. I’m so tired. I feel as if I’ve lived a thousand lives today. We stay like this for a while, until I see him shift and put his book down.
“Cairstina.”
I look up at him, putting my own book down.
“Mm?” It’s getting easier and easier to make sounds, as if my voice was locked up and now that I’ve broken the seal, it’s returning to what it always was meant to be.
He smiles, his eyes crinkling around the edges, and my heart flips. I love seeing him smile so.
“Your cheeks are flushed,” he says, running his thumb firmly down the length of my foot. It’s a surprisingly erotic move, and I squirm under his penetrating glare. “What were you just reading?”
Oh, just the hottest sex scene I’ve ever read. I shake my head. I don’t want to tell him.
“Cairstina.” It’s a warning, the way he says it, and I should heed this warning. I jut out my chin and shake my head again.
“Now, listen here, lass,” he begins, pretending to lecture me but using it as an excuse to snatch the book straight out of my hands.
“Leith!”
He chuckles, easily pushing my hands away so he can read.
“Ohhh,” he says, shaking his head from side to side. “Oh my, what a dirty little book this is. Never imagined doing that in a cave.” His eyes come back to me. “Have you?”
I reach for my book and snatch it out of his hand. “I have now.”
The hero in the book’s managed to corner the heroine in a cave. A blizzard storms outside, and she’s trapped, unable to get out. He uses the opportunity to build a fire, to strip her damp, sodden clothes off, and warm her thoroughly…
Leith chuckles. “You keep reading, doll,” he says. “And I will, too.”
The fire’s died down low on the hearth when we finally go up the loft. I yawn widely. He’s so tender, as he sits on the edge of the bed and draws me between his knees. He takes off my clothes with slow, seductive moves, until I’m standing naked in front of him.