Craving the Highlander's Touch Read Online Free PDF

noise behind her and saw Finian standing there. Though his appearance was haggard, he did look better than last night. “You look pale. Is something wrong?”
    She wrapped her cloak tighter around her. “I saw one of Robert’s knights just now.”
    “What did he want?”
    Alys shielded her eyes from the sun, staring out at the gate where Sir Geoffrey had departed. She didn’t know if there were any other men with him, but she admitted, “He wanted silver. He believes that Robert was hiding a store of coins here. If I don’t bring it to him in the morning, he wants to bring charges of murder against me.”
    Finian’s face turned cold, and his fists tightened at his side, flexing the muscles of his forearms. In that moment, she caught a glimpse of the warrior chief he was. “Where is he now?”
    “He left through the gates and said something about a camp of soldiers nearby.” She took a deep breath, adding, “He knows I gave you sanctuary last night.”
    “We’ll go and find their camp now. Stay here with your maid and watch over Iliana. I’ll leave my kinsman Alan to guard you.”
    “I don’t think you should leave,” she argued. “You haven’t healed enough, and—”
    “I’m well enough to handle any threat to you.” He started to return to the tower, presumably to speak with his brother, when he stopped short and turned back around. “I owe my life to you, Lady Harkirk. And my daughter’s. If anyone dares to speak against you, he won’t live to see the dawn.” The vow was spoken with an edge of deadly intent.
    A lump rose up in her throat, for no man had ever offered his life for hers, nor promised to keep her safe. Her cheeks were heated, but Alys took a step closer. “I’d rather you didn’t ride into their camp. We should leave this fortress so that no one will find us.”
    “What of your family? Won’t they search for you when they learn what’s happened to Harkirk?”
    “I am nothing but a pawn to my father. And my other sisters are wedded with families of their own.”
    Finian reached out to take her hands. His palms were rough but warm. “Whatever is in my power to give you, I will grant. If you want to live among my clan, you may. Or if you’d rather I escorted you somewhere else, I will do so.”
    She tightened her grip upon his hands in silent thanks. “I will go with you and your men for now. And make my decision later.”
    When she tried to pull back, he kept her hands a moment longer. “Last night,” he murmured, “I was caught up in a vision that I believed was only in my mind. I don’t even know if I hurt you, but if I did—”
    “You didn’t,” she answered, her face burning with shame. “You didn’t even know who I was. It was a mistake, and just as much my fault, since I fell asleep at your side.”
    He let out a breath, and she saw the guilt and remorse upon his face. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I ask for your forgiveness.”
    She lowered her head, trying to find the right words. He believed he’d harmed her, when the truth was she’d never felt such arousal in all her life. Pulling her hands back, she gathered the pieces of her courage and faced him.
    “No man ever touched me in that way before,” she admitted, covering her cheeks with her palms. “I didn’t know…that anything could feel like that. You gave me a gift.”
    He stared at her, and Alys fled his side, unable to wait for a reply. She’d told him the truth, though it had speared her pride to admit it. The few moments when he’d caressed her skin, drawing out such a feverish lust, had burned within her until she couldn’t stop thinking of him.
    She strode within the tower, passing by his brother and kinsmen without a word. Hurrying up the stone stairs, she sat down near the curving edge and buried her face in her lap.
    Why had she said anything to him? She should have kept silent, pretending that the moment had never happened. But Finian MacLachor had a strong presence that drew her