Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (Highland Legends #1.5)(27)
Robert saw the deep scowl on her face, but Susanna fled, lifting her skirt into her clenched fists as she charged up the stairs. He jumped onto the third one from the side, taking the stone steps two at a time to catch her.
By the time he hit the landing, she’d already sprinted down the entire hall and burst through her bedchamber door. Robert gave his legs everything they had and slid inside after her, crashing into the frame and the edge of the oak door right as she slammed it shut. The door sprung back and hit Susanna, throwing her backward onto the fur rug on the floor before it banged shut behind him.
“Susanna!” He rushed to pull her up to make certain she wasn’t injured.
She yanked her hand away from his outstretched one, remaining where she sat, the silk of her deep-ruby gown heaped around her. “Nay. I’ll not be kept prisoner here.”
He lowered down onto his knees before her. “’Tis not like you imagine, Susanna.”
“Oh? I’d be free to come and go as I pleased?” she asked.
“Without question,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Even if I chose to leave forever?”
He sighed. “Weel, not exactly. I hope in time, you’ll never want to leave.”
The delicate woman came alive at the suggestion, leaning forward on her knees like a deadly snake ready to strike. “Those were the kind of words spoken to Mama. When Broc stole her away. He threatened her. Hurt her. Things she endured for the love of her family—for the love of me.”
She pressed further forward, and Robert leaned back onto his heels for fear she’d actually bite.
“Doona promise me the last thing I would want in this world.”
Her nostrils flared and her chest heaved. His heart went out to her. She’d clearly lived a horrific life, and he only understood the tiny fragments she’d just shared in her fury.
He sighed and pressed forward before she toppled onto him. She backed off by inches until they both knelt upright, almost touching, staring deep into each other’s eyes. He brushed a stray curl away from her flushed cheek and buried his fingers into her soft hair, gazing down at her.
Hurt, fear, and hope all reflected back to him from eyes that grew glassy with tears. He inhaled slowly, calming the warrior within him longing to do battle for every wrong committed against the innocent, but very brave, woman before him. Instead, he focused on being the gentle man who desperately needed to soothe away the pain she held deep inside. “Susanna, know this, and listen to me carefully: no one will ever hurt you. I will do everythin’ within my power to protect you, even if it means dyin’ for you. You’ll stay here at Brodie Castle as long as you seek my protection. I’d only hoped you’d never want to leave—” he swallowed hard “—because you seek my love.”
Those shimmering blue eyes blinked. She stared at him before lifting her trembling hands to his face. He closed his eyes, reveling in the warm touch of her fingertips across his jaw and up to his cheeks.
“Is that what you’re offerin’, Robert?” she asked, her voice but a whisper.
He opened his eyes, pinning her with a hard look. “I’ll offer you the world. If you want the sun and moon snatched down from the sky, I’ll hunt them down and bring them to you. The countless stars that glitter in the night shall become jewels adornin’ your hair. All the oceans wide will be yours to traverse, and each creature shall treat you as friend and master.
“As for me—” he dropped his lips to her forehead, grazing them across her soft skin “—my heart belongs to you, my soul is yours, and my body yearns to give you pleasure like you’ve never imagined.”
Susanna’s breath caught, and she lowered her face as a lovely blush spread across her high cheekbones. He tucked a finger under her chin, holding her gaze captive, if nothing else. The brave lass in his arms took a deep breath and straightened taller, pressing closer into his body. As she stared back at him, an inner strength manifested in her eyes, and she dropped her hands onto his waist and slid them behind him, just below his bandaged injury.
“I do want what you offer, Robert. But I...I’m afraid.”
“Do you trust that I won’t hurt you?” he asked, not moving a muscle for fear of startling the fragile creature who’d willingly embraced him.
“Aye. I do trust you,” she replied, those sapphire eyes holding him captive.
“Then doona be afraid. Fear and worry are your past now. All you’ll ever have will be safety and happiness. It shall become my life’s mission.”
Her lush lower lip trembled, and he was lost. He dropped his head, and captured those tempting lips, savoring her sweet taste, teasing her with slow sucks. He eased his head back to brush his lips across hers, before pressing back in, licking his tongue across the seam and sliding in deeper as she sighed.
Susanna gripped his lower back with her hands, pulling his hips toward hers as their kiss intensified, her tongue flicking into his mouth and tangling with his. A low moan came from her throat, and he groaned, wanting to take his time despite the urgent desire in his loins.
His hands drifted down from her hair, behind her ears, and skimmed down her graceful neck. He placed small kisses along her jaw and beneath it, his lips following the rapid pulse beneath her skin to her delicate collarbone. With deft fingers, he pulled apart the laces holding her gown in place and the material shifted, sliding down her shoulders.