Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

he easily caught up. Then she stopped and turned to him. “When you were bringing me here on your horse and I rested my head against your chest, I could hear your heart and it comforted me somehow. Even the sound of your voice gave me peace. I think about that and try to understand it.”
    “Perhaps you would have felt the same with any lad.”
    “I did not feel the same when Thomas held me. He was very kind, but I did not feel the same. With you, I f elt safe. Do you think it odd?”
    He thought about his strange need to hold her when he first saw her. “‘Tis not odd at all, I am your husband, and I want you to feel safe.”
    “Then may I hear your heart now?”
    “The same way as before?” When she nodded, he slowly pulled the length of plaid off his shoulder and opened his shirt. He put the palm of her hand on his chest and covered it with his. Then with his other hand, he cupped the back of her head and slowly drew her to him.
    At last , she was close to him again. She put her ear against his chest, closed her eyes and listened to the peaceful, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Yet that was not all, now that she knew who he was, she loved the feel of his touch and his warmth so much more. Without realizing what she was doing, she wr apped her other arm around him.
    Not two hours before, he had been filled with more rage than he could possibly endure. Yet having her so close seemed to wash away his rage and he thought only of the way her touch felt. He wanted to hold her even closer and thought of the day he could without hurting her. Then he felt her arm go around him, so he put his cheek against the top of her head and closed his eyes. Maybe he needed her touch as much as she needed his. When she moved closer still and her body was against his, it was all he could do to keep from holding her the way he really wanted to.
    Anna didn’t want to move away and was glad he didn’t make her. She couldn’t remember a time when she felt so content. Was this love? She hoped so; she hoped so very much.
    He had a feeling he would remember this and didn’t have the faintest idea why. It was the kind of tender moment he had never experienced before with a woman. Was it because she was so vulnerable and he had a duty to protect her? Or was it something else? He wondered, if only for a second, if he was beginning to love her. He didn’t want her to, but when she started to pull away, he let go.
    They walked further than they had the day before and she didn’t get tired as quickly, but when they turned back, she was glad of it. Perhaps she was expecting too much too soon as Katie suggested. They didn’t talk much on the way back either, but she was content just to be near him. He had given her permission to touch him whenever she wanted and her heart was pounding with excitement and joy. She would touch him, she would even kiss him -- but that was all.
    He heard her let out a long sigh. “Why do you sigh?”
    “I just realized I have shared my burden with you.”
    “Nay, you have given your burden to me.”
    “If that were so, I would not still have a heavy heart.”
    He realized she was right. “When Thomas found you, why did you want to die?”
    “There were two reasons. First, I thought if I was dead, my father’s plan would be useless, and he would have no reason to kill my mother or my sister.”
    “And second?”
    “Father told me you were a cruel man who would kill me and never love me. I was dead either way … or so I thought.”
    “Do you still believe him?”
    “I do not believe you intend to kill me, but...”
    “But what?”
    She had to turn away so he wouldn’t see the twinkle in her eye. “You might find me pleasing someday, but you will never love me.”
    His heart sank. He should never have told her about the woman on the horse. What kind of man would give his wife no hope of ever being loved? Katie said he already did love her and he had to admit he enjoyed her touch and her company very much. She seemed so open and free with him. Even now, she was able to tell him what she felt. Yes, he might learn to love Anna, but how the hell was he going to get the other woman out of his heart?

    When they got back inside, he took the time to show her where everything was and then walked her to her bedchamber.
    Kevin leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Good night. Wake me if you need anything.”
    “Kevin?”
    “What is it?”
    She looked into his eyes and if she could have, she would have