Page 61 of A Nameless Highland Laird
20
The ride back to the castle was as quiet as the one they had taken leaving it, though he suspected that Charlotte’s silence had more to do with him this time rather than the pesky stable boy.
Despite the fact that guards had shown up in the market, Cameron was in no rush to return to the mountain of responsibility that awaited him. He was in no hurry to end such a perfect afternoon with Charlotte.
For the first time since Alastair had approached him about becoming Laird, he didn’t feel that the task was quite so impossible. He felt that with her by his side, they truly had a chance at rebuilding their clan the way he envisioned it. It was an exhilarating thought. One that made him want to steal as many seconds and as many kisses as he could from her.
His heart still made itself known in his chest though he knew it wasn’t from his breathing attack. It was from Charlotte. He knew he would spend hours tonight thinking of her instead of sleeping. And when sleep did finally claim him, he was sure she would be there in his dreams too.
When they reached the stables, Alec was nowhere to be seen, which Cameron took as a good sign. He didn’t want Alec’s presence to taint the memory of their afternoon together. And without anyone else around, Cameron got to help Charlotte out of her saddle.
“Allow me,” he offered, his hands going to her waist.
She only smiled, her cheeks a beautiful shade of pink, as he lifted her out of her seat and carefully placed her on the ground. He knew he held her much too close than was proper, but he didn’t care. She was going to be his wife anyways and right now, he couldn’t get enough of her.
“Now what?” she asked a bit breathlessly.
He loved knowing he had such an effect on her.
“Now, I think I need to pay Alastair a visit. I ken he will be wearing a hole in my floor with worry. I am sure he will demand answers as to where I have been and what I have been doing.”
“And what will ye tell him?”
She looped her arm through his as they strode through the gardens to get back into the castle.
“I will tell him that I was out with my betrothed, showing her our lands.”
His answer earned him a broad smile from Charlotte. It was the kind of smile that he found himself addicted to, willing to do whatever it took to get the next one. It was a smile that he couldn’t help but return.
“Can I walk ye to yer rooms?”
“Aye. I would enjoy yer company for a wee bit longer.”
He was glad to hear her say that as he was reluctant to end their time together.
The walk through the castle was filled with companionable silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts. They had already shared so much today, asked and answered so many questions that he didn’t know how he wanted more, only that he did.
Her door came into view much more quickly than he would have liked, but he could come up with no other excuse to stay with her. He had put off his duties long enough. Though, that didn’t stop him from stalling at the door for another minute.
“Will ye be joining me for dinner tonight?” he asked, his hands tracing her cheeks.
He tugged on the same strand of hair that had refused to stay in place all day, twirling it between his fingers.
“Aye,” she answered with a smile. “Thank ye for the invitation. I would nae dream of missing another dinner with ye.”
“Then I will hold on to that promise as I suffer through whatever Alastair is about to demand of me.”
She chuckled at his theatrics and he felt an overwhelming sense of victory at having gotten another wide smile from her. Her eyes darted towards the floor but he caught her chin with his hand and lifted her face up to him. She didn’t even have the time to question what he was doing as he lowered his mouth to hers.
He had dreamed of kissing her from the first moment he saw her and after having done it once, he knew he would want to kiss her as often as he could. He wasn’t going to let this moment of solitude slip away without stealing another one.
When they pulled apart, he couldn’t help but share the singular thought that was echoing in his head.
“I cannae wait to make ye my wife.”
* * *
The door slidshut as she eased into her room. The smile was still plastered on her face, unfaltering as his words rang in her mind over and over again.
