The Hawk (Highland Guard #2)(69)

But it didn’t feel that way.

“How about I let you call me something else?” The glint in his eye told her he was up to no good. “Maybe God? You seem fond of that when you’re about to—”

“You,” she swatted him, “are horrible.” She knew she should be upset that he’d lapsed back into teasing, but perhaps it was a good reminder not to let herself get carried away. She gave him her best nursemaid frown. “And you are endangering your immortal soul by uttering such blasphemies.”

His eyes danced. “My immortal soul was endangered a long time ago—by much worse.”

“I can imagine.”

He heaved a deep sigh and released his hold around her shoulder so they could both sit up. “I’m afraid I need to get back to my men, and you’d better return to the house before your watchdog comes looking for you.”

She blushed. Thomas, now almost fully recovered, had made no secret that he didn’t approve of her going off alone with Hawk the past few days. “He’s not my watchdog.”

He gave her a look that said he wouldn’t bother responding.

They stood up and adjusted their clothing, shaking off the dirt and straw. If Catherine and Edmond could see her now. How many times had she chased her young sister and brother out of the barn, chastising them for dirtying their clothes? Ellie looked as though she’d been rolling in dirt and straw—which she supposed she had.

To add to the illicitness, they were both fully clothed. They couldn’t risk someone walking in on them, and Hawk didn’t have much time. There’d been no time for exploring today. She suspected she knew why. Her fool’s paradise would soon be coming to an end.

He slung his sword over one shoulder and reached for his axe, sword, and targe, which he’d leaned against one of the wooden stalls. From the smell, she suspected it housed the sheep.

“How much longer before we leave?” she asked.

He winced. “Ah, lass, you don’t do much for a man’s confidence. Are you bored already?”

She smiled, but his teasing wasn’t going to distract her. “Your confidence is perfectly intact. When?”

He sighed. “Late tomorrow night.”

Her heart dropped with shock. Dear God, not even two full days. She realized how completely she’d fallen under his spell when the truth hit her: she didn’t want to go home, she wanted him. She bit her lip and gazed up at him, searching for an indication of his feelings, but his expression was unreadable. “So soon?”

He shrugged and gave her a mischievous grin. “I could always decide to keep you.”

Her heart took a sudden leap. But, of course, he wasn’t serious. She managed a wan smile to hide the dull ache in her chest. “I don’t think my family would like that.”

She thought she saw something flicker in his gaze, but it was gone before she could put a name on it.

“I could force you to stay,” he said playfully, though with a strange edge to his voice.

She didn’t believe he meant it for an instant. He was far too honorable to do something so brutish. She knew that now. “The pirate act doesn’t fool me, you know.”

He lifted a brow. “It doesn’t?”

She shook her head. “You know what I think?”

“I dare not guess.”

His sarcasm didn’t deter her. “I think this island was part of the lands stolen from your clan.” That was why he knew so much about it. He roamed over this island the way he’d been doing so for years. The caves. The sauna. And though he’d tried to keep her away from the islanders on their expeditions, those they did meet treated him with extreme deference—almost as if he were their king. “I think when that old villager called you taoiseach, it wasn’t a mistake.”

She watched for any reaction to suggest that she’d guessed correctly, but his expression was perfectly blank. “Back to that, are you?” He shook his head with mock disappointment. “I think you should let me stick to telling stories; I’m better at it than you. Whatever dreams you may have in your head, little one, I am an outlaw. Make no mistake of that.”

She heard the warning in his voice, yet she couldn’t help thinking there was more to it than he wanted her to know. But it was also clear that he wasn’t going to tell her. She would never know whether it would make a difference.

Erik couldn’t believe it. How in the hell had she guessed the truth? He never should have told her about his clan losing their lands. He’d only done so because he didn’t like seeing her hurt. Exactly the way she looked right now.

He should have known she wouldn’t be able to not take it seriously. Ellie was the type of lass who took everything seriously.

He sensed the danger—knew she was getting too attached—but he couldn’t seem to stay away from her. One taste of her wasn’t nearly enough; it had only made him hungry for more. Much more.

As it turned out, it hadn’t been the sauna—his control had been every bit as tenuous today. He didn’t know what it was about the lass that made him lose his mind.

He should be with his men, preparing for the most important battle of their lives and planning for the journey back to Ireland across heavily patrolled waters, instead of sneaking away like a lad with his first maid for a few moments of stolen pleasure.