Page 75 of A Flawed Scotsman

“Father searched for him for years.”

“I remember.”

“Did he say why he left? Why was he gone so long?” Malcolm asked.

Unable to meet Malcolm’s gaze, Ruari focused on the glass between his hands. “Nay, he didn’t say why he left. And I don’t know why he was gone so long.”

His cousin stood and placed a hand on Ruari’s shoulder. “I cannot dare to know how ye feel. But know that my father loved ye as his own. Ye had no need for Conor Ross.”

“What ye say is true.” Ruari let out a breath. “I am tired.”

Guilt that was not his to bear made it hard to think clearly. That the man had lost it all, wife, land and clan, because of a betrayal was not fair. Perhaps it was up to him to do something.

“Ye should seek yer bed,” Malcolm said. “Yer wife will be glad to see ye.”

“I would like to discuss this more in the morn.”

Malcolm nodded.

As he trudged up the stairs, his body was heavy with the weight of what he’d learned that day.

*

Esme was instantly awake when Ruari entered the bedchamber and she sat up. Her husband pushed the door closed behind him and heaved a long sigh.

“I was worried,” she began, but stopped at noticing he’d yet to lift his head. “Did something happen?”

Slipping from the bed, she went to her husband.

The expression on his face when he met her gaze was inexplicable, a collision of anger and something else. It was as if he’d seen something horrible. Something or someone that had pushed Ruari to the edge of madness.

“Ruari, tell me what happened?” She gasped when he yanked her forward and took her mouth with so much demand, it took her breath.

“Allow me to fuck ye.” His voice was as gruff and coarse as the words.

Need surged through her with force, the foreign sensation sending waves of heat through every limb.

Instead of a reply, she nodded.

Madness circled them like birds of prey. The sounds of harsh breaths and tearing of clothing filled the air to mix with the aroma of arousal.

“Ah!” Esme called out when Ruari bent her over the nearest table. She wasn’t sure what he would do, but she did not resist.

“Spread yer legs for me.” She did as he commanded, her sex constricting with expectation. When he prodded at her entrance, she held her breath only to let out a cry when Ruari thrust in, filling her with one hard push.

The slaps of their bodies colliding, flesh against flesh and Ruari’s grunts were like music notes to her senses. It was all Esme could do not to lose her grip on the edge of the table while not becoming lost in the moment.

On he continued, pulling out and driving in, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hips.

With an animalistic growl, he pulled out and then took her into his arms and dropped her on the edge of the bed. “Lay back.” His eyes were dark with arousal, his beautiful body gleaming with perspiration.

The sight of his aroused state made her want to touch him, but instinctively she knew it would not be welcome. Instead, she lay back. Ruari pulled her legs over his shoulders and then, once again, pressed against her entrance.

“Take me,” Esme encouraged.

The lovemaking was not gentle. Once again, he moved in and out of her, each thrust hard and deep. One plunge followed by the next.

He did not look at her, but straight ahead, seeming lost in the moment, giving his body control.