Page 33 of A Virgin for the Stone Highlander
“I daenae carry yer name,” Edith retorted, her tone as cold as ice. “Nae truly. That was the agreement.”
Aaron paused. He could not let the matter rest. He did not even think to try.
“Ye were in close quarters with a man,” he said, his eyes narrowing with disdain as he remembered what he had seen. “Me betrothed, dragging me image through the mud.”
Edith’s eyes widened, and her face turned slightly red. “Ahealer,” she corrected him, her eyes flashing with anger. “And he was teaching me. Asyepromised.”
Aaron scoffed. What he had seen was beyond teaching, and her reddening cheeks were not helping him believe otherwise.
“There are boundaries,” he said. “And ye will respect them.”
Edith’s expression sharpened. “And what is it ye think ye saw?” she bit out. “Something improper?”
Aaron did not answer immediately.
He had been thinking it. But admitting it would feel too ridiculous, so he looked away.
Edith let out a sharp breath and stepped closer to him, raising her chin so their gazes met again. “We did nothing wrong, and ye ken that,” she said. “And even if we had, it would be none of yer business. Would it?”
Aaron felt a muscle twitch in his jaw. Admitting concern would be admitting that he cared. But he didn’t. He was certain that he didn’t.
“It would.” He said the words despite himself. His voice was quieter now. More dangerous. “While ye are under me protection, it is very much me business.”
“Protection,” Edith scoffed loudly. “Is that what ye call it?” She took a step closer, only a foot away from him now. “It sounds more likepossession.”
His blood boiled at her words, but his anger was now beyond that. He was angry at himself—at his inability to leave her right there and walk away as he normally would.
“Careful,” he growled.
“Or what?” Edith challenged.
The silence that followed was too charged. Too tense.
Aaron stepped back. “Daenae forget the terms,” he said coldly, and she winced.
“The same goes for ye,” she shot back.
Then she brushed past him, walking away as quickly as she could.
But she did not get far. Aaron caught her arm after only a few steps, turning her back toward him and holding her just one step above him in the narrow stair passage.
“I should remind ye, Edith,” he said quietly. “That ye’re supposed to stay by me side.Only.”
“And I should remind ye, me Laird,” she hissed, “that I’m to be a free woman after one month.”
“A month hasnae passed.”
“But it will,” she replied. “And when it does, I willnae wait to leave yer keep for good.”
Aaron’s chest tightened.
“I cannae wait to see ye leave,” he said, the words coming out colder than he’d intended. And yet his grip on her arm tightened instead of loosening.
Edith winced. She tried to pull away, tugging stubbornly against him.
“Let go of me if ye—” She broke off as her foot slipped on the step, and she stumbled.
A small cry left her as she fell, and Aaron reacted instantly, though he was not fast enough. They went down together, rolling over a few short steps. Aaron wrapped his arms tightly around her sides, taking the brunt of the fall.
