Page 10 of The Laird's Dark Obsession

When her eyes averted, he yet again took hold of her cheek and forced her to turn back to him. Once he dried the skin, he began applying an ointment from a small tin.

“I’ll try to escape again. I will nae let ye use me without a fight,” she whispered.

His eyes stayed on her wound as he carefully spread the concoction. “And I will never stop chasing after ye.”

When his gaze met hers, she saw it.

It was a challenge—and she was a fool to accept.

5

Sleep found Kira that night, but it was woeful to say the least. Every time she managed to fall asleep, images of Hunter would appear with fury in his eyes.

The sky swirled with heavy storm clouds and the wind ripped through the trees with enough force she was stunned they didn’t snap in half.

Kira was running along a stone path, her dress ripped and tattered along the skirt from her long, arduous trek through the forest. If she could just find a town, she could call for help. Someone would come to her rescue, wouldn’t they?

He had been chasing her for…

Well, she didn’t know how long it had been. Had it been hours? Days? Years? It felt like they had always been doing exactly that.

Even though she screamed at herself not to look, Kira peered over her shoulder to see Hunter closing the distance between them. His face remained calm and his eyes focused.

When she turned back around, she was overjoyed to see a hamlet coming into view. Digging deep within herself, she found the strength to move faster and faster until she was running between the homes and little buildings.

“Help! Someone help me! He’s going to kill me!” she cried out. But her voice echoing back to her was the only response.

“Is that what ye think?” Hunter taunted from somewhere unseen, laughing too.

Kira cried out again, banging on doors as she passed them, but still no one emerged. She peered into windows and stalls. There was no one in that town. There wasn’t even furniture or food inside the structures. It was all empty rooms and bare walls.

Out of desperation, she flung open one of the doors and stepped inside. “Please! Someone be here!” she shouted.

The hut was empty. It was just her and a barren floor.

The door closed behind her and as she spun around to see, a broad chest was blocking her view. Peering up, she was face-to-face with Hunter. He snatched her up, pulling her by the waist until they were pressed chest to chest.

“No one is coming for ye, Kira,” he tutted. Tears welled in her eyes and he stroked her cheek. “No one is coming and I’m sorry for that.”

His words actually sounded genuine with a twinge of pain in his voice. It hurt him that no one was coming for her, even if his mission had always been to track her down. Was it because it ruined part of the hunt for him? Or did he think she was worthy of being saved?

“Dinnae cry, lass,” he purred. His thumb brushed against her cheek again. “I’ve never said I was going to kill ye.”

“Then why chase me?” she asked as a few tears slid down her cheeks. “Why scare me like this?”

“Silly girl,” he chuckled. His hazel eyes were gleaming with amusement. “It’s because ye’re mine. Mine to chase. Mine to scare. Mine to have.”

His words stole her breath and she felt herself nod. Her eyes flickered to his lips and lingered a moment too long. Hunter snickered. “Even after all that running and all that fright, ye still want me.”

“I do,” she murmured.

His face neared hers and her eyes fluttered closed, ready for him to have her first kiss. Even if they didn’t make sense on paper, it all felt right in her heart.

Hunter was always meant to be her one and only.

Her only first.

Hers.